Excavation Site: Wetlands dungeon guide

Overview

The Explorers' League has its eye on a corner of the Wetlands frozen in time, where titan constructs still stand guard. The route runs in one direction: a crocolisk lake, a raptor path through tall grass, the Highland, and finally the Relic Guardian's chamber. Saltspine patrols the lake shore and Shadetooth walks the raptor path.

The grass is what kills groups here. Thicket Lurkers and Stalkers wait in it invisibly in packs of three, and Shadetooth's fear runs players straight into them. Past the raptors, the Dragonmaw camp brings Saboteurs that drop area bombs, Warders with Mortal Strike and a 10 second Net, and Thaumaturgists whose fire elemental you kill first.

Getting there

The entrance and Meeting Stone sit near the Dun Algaz pass, at the foot of the mountain you climb above Whelgar's Excavation. Alliance comes from Thelsamar or Menethil Harbor. Horde rides in from Hammerfall in the Arathi Highlands, which is a slightly longer trip.

Bosses

1Saltspine

A giant crocolisk patrolling the edge of the crocolisk lake. Pull him on his own and give the tank a head start on threat.

• Dust StormHeavy area damage that also makes attacks miss and cuts the tank's threat. DPS wait a few seconds after the pull and again after each storm.
• Fatal BiteA hard bite on the tank. Healers keep the tank high before it lands.
• Tendon RipSlows the tank's movement. Fight him where he stands instead of dragging him around.

Tank

Wait until his patrol leaves the other crocolisks behind, then pull. Build threat before the first Dust Storm.

DPS

Melee stay out of the storm where you can. Nobody pulls threat right after a storm.

Healer

Stand at range and heal through the storm damage on the whole group.

• Glinteye SlippersCloth · Feet
• Saltscale GirdleMail · Waist
• Supple Bellyskin LeggingsLeather · Legs

2Shadetooth

The hardest fight here: a raptor that patrols with two Thicket Hunters and fears players into the tall grass.

• Terrifying RoarAn AoE fear that sends players running into the hidden raptor packs in the grass. Tremor Totem or Fear Ward on the tank helps; clearing the grass first helps more.
• RendA bleed on the tank for 77 damage every 3 seconds.
• Infected WoundHis Thicket Hunters apply a disease. Dispel it quickly.
• EnrageAt 20% health he gains 30% attack speed and extra physical damage. Save stuns and cooldowns for this point.

Tank

Drag him out of the grass to the open ground by the lake before the fight really starts.

DPS

Kill the two Thicket Hunters, then the boss. Keep your stuns for the enrage.

Healer

Stand close to the tank, away from the grass. The invisible raptors there are the real danger.

• Raptorclaw GreavesMail · Feet
• Raptor's GazeHeld in off hand
• Garb of Florid FeathersLeather · Chest

3Highland HorrorOptional

A Highland creature that only matters for the Alliance quest Horrors in the Highland. It drops nothing but the quest item.

• Entangling RootsRoots players in place. Ranged keep casting; melee wait it out.
• Wild RegenerationHeals him over time. Kill him fast so the healing never adds up.

• Horrible RootcoreQuest item

4Relic Guardian

A level 31 titan construct, the final boss. Wake him at the Titan Control Panel beside him.

• Higher levelAt level 31 he dodges and parries more against a lower group, so threat builds slowly. Give the tank time.
• Arcing SmashA frontal cleave. The tank turns him away from the group.
• KnockawayKnocks the tank back and drops threat. Hold damage for a second after each one.
• Thunderclap and War StompThunderclap slows attack speed nearby. War Stomp knocks back and stuns everyone close. Ranged players stay well away.

Tank

Face him away and expect to lose threat on every Knockaway. He can be stunned and slowed, so a hunter or shaman can kite him if you die.

DPS

Ranged stay out of Thunderclap and War Stomp range. Watch the threat meter after every Knockaway.

Healer

Stand back with the ranged. A stunned healer cannot save a tank who just took an Arcing Smash.

• Ring of Power RegulationRing
• Golemsight Long GunGun · Ranged
• Reliquary MantleMail · Shoulder
• Titan RelicQuest item

Quests

• Songblade SearchAlliance

  Quest giver

  Dorin Songblade, Lakeshire, Redridge Mountains (25.6, 46.6)

  Task

  Find Daewyn's body in a tent in the Dragonmaw area past Shadetooth. It gives Fallen in the Fen; take that back to Dorin.

• Lost in the Thicket ThingsAlliance

  Quest giver

  Caitlin Grassman, Menethil Harbor (11.9, 58.8). Optional breadcrumb: Seeking Caitlin from Llana, Astranaar (35.0, 48.5)

  Task

  Find Ardin on a wooden structure near the Site of the Guardian. He gives Heartwoven to carry back to Caitlin.

  Rewards

  Satchel of Potions

• Highland HidesAlliance

  Quest giver

  James Halloran, Menethil Harbor (8.6, 55.7), after Young Crocolisk Skins

  Task

  Collect 4 Thicket Raptor Hides in Stalker's Thicket.

• Horrors in the HighlandAlliance

  Quest giver

  Rethiel the Greenwarden, Wetlands (56.3, 40.3), after the Tramping Paws, Fire Taboo and Blisters on the Land chain

  Task

  Kill Highland Horror and loot the Horrible Rootcore.

  Rewards

  Ironwood DestroyerCurl of LifeHornbeam Heft

• Lost Relic CarryAlliance

  Quest giver

  The Titan Relic, dropped by Relic Guardian

  Task

  Bring the relic to Prospector Whelgar (38.8, 52.3). It leads to Prehistoric Prism.

• Prehistoric PrismAlliance

  Quest giver

  Prospector Whelgar, after Lost Relic Carry

  Task

  Take the prism to High Explorer Magellas in Ironforge (69.4, 19.1).

  Rewards

  Explorer's League DustcoverHealer's StaffHeavehammer

• Changing TastesHorde

  Quest giver

  Borstan, second floor of The Drag, Orgrimmar (57.3, 53.3)

  Task

  Collect 4 Thicket Raptor Meat from the Thicket Hunters, Lurkers and Stalkers.

  Rewards

  Satchel of PotionsSerrated Raptor Claw

• Open the MawHorde

  Quest giver

  Deathstalker Agent, Wetlands (51.4, 59.2). Breadcrumb: Dragonmaw Rumors from Zaruk, Hammerfall (74.4, 35.6)

  Task

  Kill 2 Dragonmaw Saboteurs and 4 Dragonmaw Warders, then loot the Dragonmaw Dispatch from a Thaumaturgist. You also get a soulbound Bloody Map.

  Rewards

  Knife-Polishing RagDirt-Heavy Bracers

• Elder KnowledgeHorde

  Quest giver

  The Titan Relic, dropped by Relic Guardian

  Task

  Bring the relic to Bashana Runetotem on Elder Rise, Thunder Bluff (70.8, 33.7). It leads to Earthen Echo.

• Earthen EchoHorde

  Quest giver

  Bashana Runetotem, after Elder Knowledge

  Task

  Find Muln Earthfury on Skywatcher Plateau, Mulgore (33.4, 22.5). The path up starts near 40.3, 17.6.

  Rewards

  HeavehammerHealer's StaffFurs of the Earthen Ring

Items

Every item in our item database that comes from Excavation Site: Wetlands, grouped by where it drops.

Tips

• Healers and ranged stay right behind the tank in the grass. Raptor packs there are invisible until they hit you.
• Fight Shadetooth on the open ground by the lake, away from the grass.
• Cleanse Infected Wound from Thicket Hunters and poison and disease from Highland Lurkers and Spiders.
• Blessing of Freedom breaks a Dragonmaw Warder's Net.
• Loot the Titan Relic from the Relic Guardian. It starts a follow-up chain for both factions.
• Skinners can farm the crocolisks in the lake at the entrance.

FAQ