Azeroth’s mightiest protectors have defeated a seemingly endless procession of memorable foes over the years, and while the legions of heroes have since
moved on to more pressing threats, those old foes from the past still brood in their lairs. There they sit, lording over their loot, agonizing over their
defeats, just waiting for a chance to unleash vengeance. And you can head back into their strongholds to put them back in their place.
We’d like to help those who have never given taking on an older raid a shot to feel more comfortable exploring the older content. Even if visiting and
looting these locales is old hat, you might still find something of value within. If you’ve never given it a try at all, there are actually plenty of good
reasons to visit older instances:
Lore - Running past raids and dungeons is a great way to catch up on lore and have experiences that you might otherwise have missed.
Transmogrification - Even if the gear itself doesn’t offer any power to a max-level character, set pieces and random drops from older raids can fill out
your wardrobe of Transmogrification items quite nicely.
Pets – A number of older bosses now have a chance to drop Battle Pets that you can collect or cage and sell.
Mounts - Many players dive into old raids specifically to pick up rare mounts, such as the much sought after Ashes of A’lar.
Tip: Keep in mind that some mounts, such as Mimiron’s head, will only drop from specific versions of an encounter or when certain conditions are fulfilled,
so be sure to read up and plan accordingly!
Reputations - Some players use old school raids as a way to bolster their list of Exalted reputations for achievement titles such as Exalted and Beloved.
Fun - Perhaps most importantly, it can be great fun to explore the environments that are featured in older content, or play up the fantasy of being the
lone adventurer exploring an enemy’s fortress, facing down hordes of bad guys, and standing against the odds to defeat a great evil. Often music and
environments are exclusive to certain Raids, and there’s nothing quite like experiencing the art in its original context. Going it alone can also allow you
to take your time and let you to take in the sights when that isn’t always possible if a group is waiting on you.
Going Solo
As a level 90 character, you should be able to beat most Raid encounters from classic through Wrath of the Lich King without breaking a sweat. If you’re
particularly well geared and have the right class tools at your disposal, even Cataclysm encounters might be possible. Gear, class abilities, and individual
skill all play a significant role in what you can actually handle. Please keep in mind that World of Warcraft isn’t balanced with soloing past raid content
in mind, so some classes might be better suited to the task than others. You might want to bring a friend along if a particular encounter is proving too much
for you to handle. That said, it can add to the fun and challenge to see what you can do on your own.
We’ve delved into other raids from the past, like Molten Core and the Black Temple. Now we prepare to make a house call on the early days of the Burning
Crusade. That’s right, next stop: Karazhan.
Positioned as the first raid in the newly released Burning Crusade expansion, Karazhan houses mystery upon mystery. Let us unlock the gate, pull open the
creaking doors, and explore the Last Guardian’s creepy abode.
Medivh’s Magnificent Mansion of Madness
Medivh, the Last Guardian, made his home in Deadwind Pass, in the bright tower of Karazhan. Though he was the greatest wizard of his day (and humanity's
intended custodian) Medivh was secretly possessed by the dark spirit of Sargeras, the Destroyer of Worlds. Through Medivh, Sargeras opened the Dark Portal
and allowed the orcs to wage war upon the kingdoms of Azeroth.
As the war progressed, Medivh fought against Sargeras' control. The raging conflict within him finally drove the wizard irrevocably insane, until his
childhood friend, Anduin Lothar, aided Medivh's young apprentice, Khadgar in storming Karazhan and slaying their former comrade. Since that day, a terrible
curse has pervaded both the tower and the lands around it - casting a dark pall over Deadwind Pass and the region that is now known as Duskwood.
In recent years, nobles of Darkshire ventured into Deadwind Pass to investigate the blight that had settled over the region. None who entered the dark tower
ever emerged.
Karazhan finally became accessible to intrepid explorers in Burning Crusade patch 2.0.3., way back in 2007 (yes, it’s been that long). Like the flavor text
says, to get to Karazhan, you’ll need to get to the Eastern Kingdoms and then travel to Deadwind Pass. Karazhan is festering in the southern reaches of the
zone, and unless you have Atiesh, you’ll have to fly or ride to get there, as there aren’t any flight points in the area.
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