World of Warcraft Dragonflight’s latest update, Embers of Neltharion, will bring players the second raid of the expansion—Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible. Despite defeating Raszageth in Vault of the Incarnates, there are more Incarnates to take down in an effort to protect the Dracthyr, the Titans, and the Dragon Aspects.
In Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible, players will be tasked with diving into Neltharion’s old labaratory and dealing with his experiments that got out of hand. The instance is filled with ominous, hell-like red, orange, and black color schemes filled with magma, akin to what one would expect from the early raids in the original WoW or Cataclysm.
Here’s everything you need to know about Aberrus, including its release date, its nine bosses, and the many treasures you’ll find within.
When does WoW Dragonflight Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible release?
Dragonflight’s first major content, Embers of Neltharion, dropped on May 2, and Aberrus will launch one week later on May 9 alongside the release of Dragonflight‘s second season. Just like with Vault of the Incarnates, the first raid of Dragonflight, Blizzard will release all Aberrus difficulties, excluding Looking-for-Raid, simultaneously. We’ll once again have an exciting Race to World First on our hands on May 9.
WoW Dragonflight Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible bosses
In total, Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible features nine unique bosses with Scalecommander Sarkareth being the final boss of the instance. Prior to taking him on, players will need to fight Neltharion himself, along with a host of dragons and monstrosities, the first of which was a prototype for Deathwing’s infamous elementium armor.
Here’s the full list of bosses in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible alongside the official lore behind them:
Kazzara, the Hellforged
“Although Neltharion would not use them himself until much later, he experimented with elementium plating in the early days of Aberrus. The end result of elementium and shadowflame was Kazzara, who was deemed far too unstable for release. Driven mad by the excruciating pain of her elementium plates, she now serves as the guardian of the Shadowed Crucible.”
The Amalgamation Chamber
“The Eternal Blaze burns with the heat of a thousand suns, while the Essence of Shadow blooms with darkness incarnate. Although exceptionally powerful on their own, when combined they surge with the unchecked might of shadowflame, creating a whirlwind of ultimate destruction.”
The Forgotten Experiments
“The development of the dracthyr produced many iterations, some more successful than others. Early versions of the experiment proved far too volatile to destroy. Kept dormant for thousands of years, these creations have now awakened, and seek to test their prowess against the champions of Azeroth.”
Assault of the Zaqali
“Led by Warlord Kagni, the Zaqali warband has launched an all-out assault against the Shadowed Crucible in search of their missing Elder, Rashok. Brutal and ruthless, Kagni is willing to employ any tactic to succeed.”
Rashok, the Elder
“Shackled within the Crucible for millennia, the Zaqali elder Rashok has been perpetually drained to power Neltharion’s twisted laboratory. Existing on the cusp of death for so long has driven the Elder mad. Should he break free, his vengeance will scour the halls of every living creature within.”
The Vigilant Steward, Zskarn
“Long ago, Zskarn was tasked with testing the mettle of Neltharion’s experiments. Only the most powerful would pass muster and keep their lives. The latest visitors to the Shadowed Crucible have attracted his unwavering attention–but his approval will be much harder to earn.”
Magmorax
“Raised from a pup by Neltharion, the only thing stronger than the loyalty of Magmorax is his appetite. The lava hydra guards the passage into the deepest chambers of the Shadowed Crucible, keeping his master’s secrets safely hidden from prying eyes.”
Echo of Neltharion
“Tucked away in the depths of the Shadowed Crucible, Neltharion’s sanctum was a place of refuge and research for the Earth-Warder. Some say that echoes of his powerful presence still linger here, contemplating the future of the black dragonflight and how to obtain the power to ensure its success.”
Scalecommander Sarkareth
“As leader of the Sundered Flame, Scalecommander Sarkareth broke away from the rest of the dracthyr to forge a new future. He has since led his forces to Aberrus, intent on claiming the legacy he believes rightfully belongs to his kind and willing to do anything to obtain it.”
Rewards in Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible
Three powerful class-specific trinkets will drop from the penultimate boss of Aberrus, Echo of Neltharion. For the sake of consistency, all numbers that appear in this section were taken from the items’ Mythic difficulty versions.
- Neltharion’s Call to Chaos: Your area effect spells and abilities have a chance to grant you 2,443 primary stat and increase damage you receive by five percent for 18 seconds.
- Classes: Warrior, Paladin, Mage, Demon Hunter, and Evoker
- Stats: 651 Critical Strike
- Neltharion’s Call to Suffering: Your harmful debuffs, periodic spells, and abilities have a chance to grant you 3,493 primary stat and suffer 55,209 Shadow damage over 12 seconds.
- Classes: Rogue, Priest, Death Knight, and Druid
- Stats: 537 Versatility
- Neltharion’s Call to Dominance: Casting spells and abilities has a chance to grant you a stack of Domineering Arrogance up to 10. Using your major cooldown grants you 1,171 primary stat per stack and reduces your movement speed by 10 percent for 10 seconds.
- Classes: Hunter, Shaman, Warlock, and Monk
- Stats: 651 Haste
And here are the remaining weapons and trinkets that are also available in Aberrus:
- Screaming Black Dragonscale (Trinket): Your attacks and abilities have a chance to grant you ephemeral dragon wings, increasing your Critical Strike by 1,017 and your Leech by 319 for 15 seconds. Use: Call upon an echo of Neltharion’s power to crash to the ground below you, dealing 32,227 Shadowflame damage to nearby enemies if you have traveled at least 15 yards (three minute cooldown).
- Djaruun, Pillar of the Elder Flame (Polearm): Use: Ignite the Elder Flame to siphon the heat from nearby enemies, dealing 5,946 Fire damage to them and causing your melee abilities to unleash waves of ancient lava, dealing 17,838 Fire damage split between all enemies struck for 10 seconds.
- Voice of the Silent Star (Cloak): Whenever nearby allies take damage, the Voice has a chance to beckon you. Upon hearing its call 10 times you fully submit to its influence, stealing 132 of the four nearest allies’ lowest secondary stat, and giving you the stolen amount plus 1,979 to your highest secondary stat for eight seconds.
