Do you want to get old transmog and ancient rewards? With a new secret, you can access the “old” Naxxramas from the Classic era in World of Warcraft.
When a new expansion starts, sometimes old content disappears from World of Warcraft. This was the case for the original version of Naxxramas. Actually the final raid from “Vanilla” WoW, the necropolis moved to Northrend with “Wrath of the Lich King”. Many rewards, like the Tier 3 set, were lost in the process.
With Patch 10.1.5 Time Rifts, however, WoW has introduced a new secret that allows you to unlock a special version of Naxxramas. There are many new features to discover and numerous old transmogs to find.
Step 1: Unlock the old Scholomance
To be able to unlock the old Naxxramas, you must first unlock the old Scholomance. You should plan for about an hour. We have a step-by-step guide to unlock the old Scholomance here for you.
Step 2: Find the Pin
Now head into the old version of Scholomance and into the basement, where you can find the boss Rattlegore. When you enter the room, you will see several piles of bones on the walls. The first pile of bones on the left side of the room is your target. On top of this pile of bones, there is a very small clickable object. Loot it to obtain the “Broken Pin of the Argent Dawn”.
You really have to look very closely; the pin is extremely small.
Step 3: Repair the Pin
This step is quite simple. You need to repair the pin and gather some resources for that. You need:
- 1x Righteous Sphere
- 4x Silver Bars
Both items can usually be obtained quite cheaply at the auction house. They should cost just a few hundred gold together – if at all. Use the materials with the pin to turn it into the “Pin of the Argent Dawn”.
Step 4: Kill the Dark Master
Now equip your Pin of the Argent Dawn and clear the old version of Scholomance. The final boss, Dark Master Gandling, will then drop a “Dark Master’s Scourge Stone” – this starts a quest. You turn in the quest to Lord Nicholas Zverenhoff. You will find him in the Chapel of Hopeful Light, in the Eastern Plaguelands.
Step 5: The Eye of Naxxramas
Equip the new Pin of the Argent Dawn and enter Stratholme through the main entrance. Fight your way through the dungeon towards the Cathedral of the Crusaders (staying on the “left” side).
Loot the supply crates that are scattered throughout the dungeon and make sure you have at least 1x “Holy Water of Stratholme”.
During the fight against some mob groups, an “Eye of Naxxramas” will appear, which you also need to kill. This should leave behind a “Protection of Naxxramas”.
Step 6: The Quick Run Through Stratholme
Attention: You are under high time pressure for this step. Character classes without quick movement abilities should buy vials that increase their movement speed.
First, make sure that you have not killed a single enemy in the “undead” (eastern) part of Stratholme. If an enemy is already dead there, you will have to reset the dungeon once. To do this, leave the dungeon, right-click on your portrait, and select “Reset all instances”.
Now head directly from the main entrance to the Cathedral of the Crusaders. Before the entrance to the cathedral, turn left. There, you will see a passage that is closed by a gate.
Now use the “Protection of Naxxramas”. Then, you will see a strange crystal right before the gate for 2 minutes.
Use the “Holy Water of Stratholme” and throw it at the crystal.
Attention: From now on, a time limit of 5 minutes begins.
Within this time limit, you must sprint to the other side of Stratholme and clear the three ziggurats to clear the path to the slaughterhouse. There, kill all the monstrosities. Then the boss Ramstein appears, which you also need to kill. Following that, more small undead will rush in, and they must also be killed. Finally, the elite guards will appear, which you also take down, and afterward, the final boss Baron Aurius Deathsworn.
If you did everything correctly, there will be only a few seconds left. Exit the final boss’s building and turn right. Run to the passage from which the small undead came earlier.
Here, you will see a large shade protected behind a gate. Close to the gate, you will get a new action button that you need to press to eliminate the shade.
An emote will indicate that you have done everything correctly and that it is now “time to inform someone”.
That was the hardest part.
Step 7: Unlock the Terror Necropolis
Now leave Stratholme and seek out Archmage Angela Dosantos. She is located either at the Cathedral of Hopeful Light in the Eastern Plaguelands or – if you haven’t completed the quests in the Plaguelands – then at the entrance to the ruins of the Scarlet Enclave (“Tyr’s Hand”).
Use her dialogue option. Although she does not believe you, she still gives you access to a quest to unlock Naxxramas. Depending on the reputation you have with the Argent Dawn, the quest costs different amounts.
Friendly
- 6x Large Shining Fragment
- 5x Arcane Crystal
- 1x Righteous Sphere
- 60 Gold
Respectful
- 3x Large Shining Fragment
- 2x Arcane Crystal
- 30 Gold
Awe-inspiring
- Free
All materials can be purchased from the auction house.
Once you have completed this quest, you will receive the achievement for unlocking Naxxramas.
How to get to Naxxramas now? The old Naxxramas is accessible through a special portal that you will find at coordinates 38 / 29 in the Eastern Plaguelands. There you will see a suspicious crystal that you simply need to click on.
Note that this is not really the “old” Naxxramas from the Vanilla era, but a modified version of Naxxramas from “Wrath of the Lich King” – albeit with many old mechanics.
Additionally, this version of Naxxramas has countless secrets – such as hidden mounts, the appearance of the T3 sets, new crafting materials, and a grappling hook to visit previously inaccessible areas of the necropolis. More guides on these details will follow shortly.
Now you can enjoy the old Naxxramas and try to explore the various secrets there. Because not everything is as it was back then – and many secrets are still being explored by the WoW community.
