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While half ofWorld of Warcraft: Dragonflight’sSeason 2 dungeons are found on the Dragon Isles, some older instances have been revamped and added to the current system. Cataclysm’s Vortex Pinnacle has received a large mechanical update and provides an interesting challenge for players, even those who are familiar with the older version.
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This guide will teach you how to navigate and complete the Vortex Pinnacle dungeon. It will cover all enemy abilities and strategies, the best route, and what loot you might receive from completing a key.
Ertan Trash
The layout of the Vortex Pinnacle is quite straightforward, with only linear corridors to progress down. The initial two packs can be quite annoying with all theAoE knock-upsandCloud Shields, so take your time. Most enemies in this section are fairly low damage, so you’re able to do some big pulls if your group has coordinated crowd controls and interrupts.
The major thing to watch out for in this section is theLurking Tempests. These enemiescannot be killedand will become inert if a player is facing them, so always attempt to have somebodylooking towards themuntil the group has moved past.
Armored Mistral x4
Pressurized Blast
A large AoE zonal cost that knocks up any player into the air and deals high Nature damage.
Run out of the large white AoE.
Cloud Guard
Projects a shield in a random direction, blocking all spells and abilities.
You will have to run around to either the side or behind this enemy, making positioning important.
Wind Flurry
Cast that increases these enemies’attack speedfor the next three attacks.
This enemy does not inflict much damage even with this buff, so just cleave them down.
Rushing Wind
Randomly rushes at a player, dealinglight Nature damageand leaving behind a Nature DoT.
Healers should try todispel this DoT, as it will help reduce the group’s overall damage taken.
Cyclone
Banishesa random player for six seconds.
Very nasty cast, as although you are immune to damage while banished, you will not be able to be freed. Try tointerruptthis whenever you’re able to.
Cloud Prince x3
Turbulence
AoE pushback that also deals light Nature damage to all players.
Try toposition yourself in front of a wall, so you don’t get pushed off any edges.
Bomb Cyclone
Summons a large AoE bomb, which inflictshuge Nature damageand knocks back any player in its radius when it explodes.
Run out of the big white swirlie.
Grand Vizier Ertan
The first boss, Ertan is a relatively simple fight reliant on being able to dodge numerous orbs. Save healing cooldowns for hisCyclonephase, and otherwise kick and dodge as much as you can.Spreading out around the arenahelps to cover all theLurking Tempestswith vision.
Lightning Bolt
Cast that hits a random player formedium Nature damage.
Interruptas many of these as you can, to help reduce any group damage.
Storm’s Edge
The edges and middle of the arena dealhuge Nature damageto anyone standing within them.
Don’t stand at the very edge, or inside the boss.
Cyclone Shield Fragment
Small lightning orbs will constantly fly around in random patterns, dealing Nature damage to anyone hit. They will alsodebuff the player’s Haste and movement speed by 30 percent.
Dodge as much as possible. There are numerous orbs, so this mechanic can be quite challenging.
Cyclone Shield
Draws allCyclonesinto himself and pulses AoE Nature damage to all players.
Run away from the boss to avoid the Cyclones, and then use a healing cooldown to heal through the damage.
Summon Tempest
Lurking Tempestswill spawn at the edges of the arena.
Make sure the group is facing in different directionsotherwise the Tempests will chain cast.
Altairus Trash
After Ertan is defeated,click on the large tornadoat the top of his arena. There is not much trash between the first and second boss, but some of it is especially nasty. TheYoung Storm Dragonis a very powerful enemy, so you shouldtry to skip the second one, as you can make up the percentage later on.
Cloudburst
Cast that damages nearby players formedium Frost damage.
Kick when you can, as this is the only real source of damage this enemy deals.
Storm Shield
Applies a shield to itself, that ticks forlight Nature damagewhile it holds.
These can be purged or dispelled, but also easily cleaved through if your group doesn’t have any of those spells.
Young Storm Dragon x1
Healing Well
A large green zone, this willheal any player or enemywhile they stand inside.
Players can stack up in this zone for free healing.
Icy Buffet
Inflicts medium Frost damage to all players and leaves them with a nastynine-second Frost DoT.
This DoT is best countered by standing inside the Healing Well, or with a healing cooldown.
Chilling Breath
A high damage Frost frontal.
Dodge the big blue cone, even if it means moving out of the Healing Well.
Empyrean Assassin x8
Assassinate
Teleports to a random player and slashes them formedium Physical damage.
Not much counterplay, these mobs should be crowd controlled to reduce any random damage.
Vapor Form
A three-second cast that makes this enemyIncorporeal on completion, reducing their damage taken by 90 percent.
Randomly rushes at a player, dealing light Nature damage and leaving behind aNature DoT.
A wild cast, you won’t be able to be freed. You have tointerruptthis.
Altairus
The second boss,Altairus is a challenging encounter, especially for your healer. The heavy movement requirement alongside constant ticking damage makes for a difficult fight, so bring your A-game on this one. Focus on positioning around the winds and properly timing your Downburst jump.
Biting Cold
Constant Frost damagewill tick onto every player.
The hardest part of this fight, this constant damage makes Altairus a big healer check
Upwind/Downwind of Altairus
Winds will constantly blow in one of four directions. Being Upwind of Altairus will grant you a 30 percent Haste buff while being Downwind will reduce it by 30 percent, and deal ticking Frost damage to you.
The tank should pull the boss into the middle of the roomto give everyone room, and all players should focus on positioning themselvesUpwindof the boss at all times.
Twisting Winds
Numerous tornados will swirl around the arena,knocking up any playerhit and slowing their falling speed.
Dodge these until theDownburstphase.
Downburst
Spawns a rapidly expanding bomb, that dealsmassive Nature damageto any player hit by its outer ring.
Run into aTwisting Windto be knocked up and over the growing white ring.
After killing Altairus,click on the large tornadoat the top of his arena, which will port you over to the last section. The following enemies can be quite tough, sofocus on interrupting Greater Healand taking down your priority targets.
The first pack ofSkyfall Starscan be skipped bykeeping to the right of the roomand jumping down next to the staircase.
Executor of the Caliph x4
Rally
Cast thatincreases the healthof nearby enemies by 50 percent for 20 seconds.
This is a good cast to interrupt, as if it goes off these packs will take much longer to kill.
Temple Adept x4
Desperate Speed
Buff that increases thisenemy’s casting speed, by 60 percent for 12 seconds. They will occasionally gain this during combat.
This enemy should be nuked down and crowd-controlled. Try to purge the casting speed buff.
Greater Heal
Cast that heals an ally for 30 percent of their maximum health.
This is your priority interrupt, as you do not want them to start chain-healing all the other enemies.
Save your interrupts and crowd control for the other abilities.
Servant of Asaad x8
Sure Strike
Physical damage striketo the current target.
This enemy will hit a player with this after charging them.
Charge
Charges to a random player.
Won’t do much damage so keep focused on the other enemies.
Minister of Air x2
Lightning Lash
Channels lightning to a random player, dealinghuge Nature damage.
If you are targeted by this, run into the large electricalGrounding Fieldto avoid the damage.
Overload Grounding Field
Channels damage into the Grounding Field, causing it to deallarge Nature damageto any player standing inside.
Starlight
Constantly fires at a random player.
Nasty spell, especially as there are so many of these. Try to crowd control and nuke them down as quickly as possible.
The final boss is another rough one, with a high DPS requirement.Nuking the Skyfall Nova is criticalas if you get two adds up at the same time your healer will struggle. Don’t greed any casts duringStatic Clingand if you can kill the add quickly enough then the rest of the encounter is simple to complete.
Strategy
Chain Lightning
Blast a random player with lightning, dealing high Nature damage to them and any other player within eight yards.
Spread out and make sure you are not standing close to other players when this ability comes out.
Static Cling
A long cast that deals high Nature damage to any player on the ground when it completes, anddebuffs their movement speed by 90 percent.
Jump right at the end of this cast, and healers can dispel any player that receives the debuff.
Unstable Grounding Field
Createsa triangular zone of safetybefore teleporting above it and covering the rest of the arena in lightning.
Run into the triangle to avoid any damage.
Skyfall Nova
Spawns an add, which pulses Arcane damage to all players until killed.
Nuking this add is your top priority, as it has a lot of health and can be a real problem for your healer to manage.
Rainsong
Intellect Trinket
Passive: Your healing spells can grant you a large Haste buff, which can also grant healed allies a smaller Haste buff
Reins of the Drake on the North Wind
Axe of the Eclipse
Heart of Thunder
Versatility Trinket
Passive: Melee attacks that strike you have a chance to deal AoE Nature damage to nearby enemies.
