Survival Hunter Artifact Weapon: Talonclaw

By Wowhead Updated: 2025/10/17

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The Highmountain tribe lost their greatest weapon, the ancient spear of Huln Highmountain, long ago to a magically corrupted monstrosity.

They ask you to travel to Stormheim, kill their nemesis, and reclaim the spear for the fight against the Legion.

The Spear in the Shadow

Apata yells: "I hope my brother didn't go after the beast himself. He can be... impulsive.

"There is his signal! Let us land and see what he learned."

"Wuho! Have you found the monster?"

Wuho says: "Not yet, but it is indeed the foe we seek. The Kvaldir here speak of a giant cat that made its lair in the deep swamps. They raised a wall of magic wards to keep it at bay."

Apata says: "We must find a way through! Wuho, you and I should examine the wards while our friend searches the harbor."

Apata says: "Calm yourself, Wuho!

"Patience, brother. To gaze upon Talonclaw will be a sight to remember. Look! Our friend returns!"

Wuho says: "Our tribe's greatest weapon and its ancient enemy are but a few strides away! I will not be stopped by some foul fog and magic!"

Apata says: "Wonderful! I can just attach them here and... It is done. Let us go across!"

Apata says: "It is... eerily quiet."

"I cannot sense any beasts at all!

"And yet, I am certain we are being watched...

Apata yells: "The beast is there! An'she protect us!"

Apata says: "It went into that deep patch of mist. It could be hiding anywhere! Do you have a trap strong enough to hold the beast?

"It claws at us from the mist! Hurry! Hold off these lesser beasts until the trap is sprung!

"It worked! Slay the monster!"

Apata yells: "Wuho! No!"

"Beloved brother... I should never have brought you!

"You shall be avenged! We must finish this, Dakarr. Follow the monster!"

Apata yells: "Not again, beast! I will-- AAARGHH!!

"It is... over for me... you must... finish this.

"Slay... the monster. Find... Talonclaw..."

Dorro says: "At long last, the monster is dead and our relic reclaimed. My spirit can finally move on from this place...

"Hero, I sense your destiny lies with the ancient night elf who started you on this journey. Before I depart, I can send you back to the city in the sky.

"May Talonclaw serve you well."

Artifact Book Text

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods

Crafted before the War of the Ancients, this spear has a unique tip, curved to resemble an eagle's beak, and it is infused with the energies of animal Ancients, or Wild Gods. Talonclaw has helped the tauren defend the world of Azeroth against all enemies, and it was passed to the greatest hunter of the Highmountain tribe until it was lost. Its wielder will be honored among the tauren, to whom it is legendary, but they will be hunted and reviled by the Legion.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part One

Long before the War of the Ancients, tauren tribes roamed the sprawling wilds of ancient Kalimdor. The Highmountain tribe was led by Chieftain Moren Highmountain, who saved Ohn'ahra, a Wild God in the form of a giant eagle spirit, from an attack by fire elementals. In thanks, the eagle infused a portion of her essence into Moren's spear, gifting it with powerful magical abilities. Moren carved Ohn'ahra's name onto the haft of his weapon, which his people took to calling the Eagle Spear in her honor.

To commemorate other heroes he encountered, enemies he bested, and events he witnessed, Moren carved their names onto the Eagle Spear. As the spear was passed down to his descendants, they, too, carried on this tradition. In this way, the spear became a living history of the Highmountain tribe.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Two

Moren's granddaughter Eruna was expected to become her tribe's leader. But before she could believe herself worthy of this responsibility, she took the Eagle Spear with her on a pilgrimage, a rite of passage to prove herself. In the northern lands, she rushed to defend a family of night elves from a cabal of tentacled beings issuing forth from a vast cave, wielding sinister magic--servants of the Old Gods who slumbered in dark places but were now awakening. She was joined in the struggle by a mighty bear, who revealed himself as an Ancient named Ursoc. Together, Eruna and Ursoc drove the strange creatures away.

In the aftermath of Eruna Highmountain's battle alongside Ursoc, the colossal bear took Eruna's measure and judged her worthy. Ursoc told her that a great darkness was coming and that the world would need strong warriors and leaders like her to face it. To aid her, he blessed her spear, adding his might to its enchanted power. In gratitude, Eruna carved Ursoc's name into the weapon, continuing the living story of the Eagle Spear, and returned to her people, ready to lead them.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Three

Long after Eruna's passing, the spear was handed down to Huln Highmountain. Facing a devastating invasion from the Burning Legion, Huln unified other tauren tribes under his banner to join the night elves in fighting the demons.

During one heated battle, Huln tried to protect the two-headed wolf Ancient, Omen, from the forces of the Legion, but the great beast was gravely wounded and poisoned with fel energy. Before he succumbed to demonic corruption, Omen gave his last breath of purity to the spear, adding to the powers that other Wild Gods had left therein. Huln placed the Ancient's name on his spear so that his courage would always be remembered.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Four

During the War of the Ancients, Huln fought alongside many warriors who would go on to become legends in their own right. Among them was the night elf Jarod Shadowsong, who saved Huln's life from a demon attack in one of the last battles of the war. Huln carved their names into the Eagle Spear as well. He even crossed paths with the greatest of all druids, Malfurion Stormrage.

From legends related by the elders of the Highmountain tribe: "Huln handed the spear to the druid, who examined the weapon closely, remarking on the sharp, curved end fashioned to resemble the eagle's beak, and on all the names carved into the shaft by the tauren and his ancestors. Malfurion communed with the spirits within and approved."

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Five

Tauren elders still tell that the doomlord Xyburn made it his personal mission to eradicate their race, and that Huln swore to kill him. The two bitter foes finally clashed during the battle for the Well of Eternity, and their fight ended only when Huln, seemingly beaten, landed a near-killing strike to Xyburn's face with his spear. The demon narrowly deflected the weapon, which, imbued with spirit powers, nonetheless struck him in the left eye, blinding him on that side.

Huln won his battle, but before he could slay the doomlord, Xyburn--along with most of the demons in central Kalimdor--was expelled from Azeroth. Back in the Twisting Nether, he licked his wounds, awaiting the Legion's next campaign and vowing revenge on Huln, all tauren, and the weapon that had taken his sight. But there was no rest for Huln; shortly thereafter, the Well of Eternity imploded, creating massive earthquakes that tore through the world. As the land of Kalimdor shuddered and began to break apart, Huln and his people fled for their lives.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Six

Following the War of the Ancients, the tauren tribes went their separate ways. With their ancestral land destroyed in the Great Sundering, Huln led his people on a quest to find a new home. They traveled far and saw many parts of the reshaped Azeroth before making their way to the Broken Isles, where they built the village of Thunder Totem in the shadow of the isles' tallest peak.

Having led his tribe to safety, Huln Highmountain bequeathed the Eagle Spear to his successor, and he went to join his ancestors. Legend has it that Ohn'ahra herself appeared to carry the spirit of the great chieftain into the sky.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Seven

Years after the legendary Huln's passing, the Highmountain tribe found itself led by twin sisters, Arien and Gardrel. Although Arien was the greater warrior and had an affinity to the wilds, Gardrel was acknowledged to be wiser and a strong diplomat. Rather than divide the tribe or place its well-being in the wrong hands, the aging chieftain named Gardrel the new chieftain, and Arien became Protector of the Mountain, possessor of the Eagle Spear.

The sisters were happy with their roles, and Arien kept the tribe safe for many years, tapping into the blessings that the Wild Gods had bestowed on the weapon. She gave it the name Talonclaw, honoring the Wild Gods her ancestors had befriended.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Eight

From the journal of Arien Highmountain, describing her tribe's encounter with an order of night elves called the Unseen Path:

"Gardrel and I led the night elves up the slopes of a nearby mountain. As we approached the summit, Talonclaw began to glow, emanating power. Instinctively, I held it up to the sky, and all were amazed--none more so than I--to see a cascade of golden energy pour from the spearhead and take the shape of a great eagle! But Gardrel and I remembered the lore of our tribe and realized that Ohn'ahra herself had blessed this site. At that very moment, we knew this sacred place should be renamed Talon Peak."

It was only with the help of the Highmountain tribe that the hunters of the Unseen Path--who had come to the Broken Isles specifically to guard against the Legion--were able to build their new home, Trueshot Lodge. From the trio of towers known as the Three Talons, they watched over the land and vowed to be ready should the Burning Legion return. The elves and the tauren learned much from each other, and Arien eventually joined the Unseen Path, becoming one of its greatest members.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Nine

The tradition of passing Talonclaw to the greatest hunter of the Highmountain tribe was carried on for many generations. If there were threats to the tribe or challenges to be conquered, the spear would be brought into battle.

When word came that a mysterious beast was stalking the wilds of Stormheim, Nalmus Highmountain took up the spear and set out to tame the creature--or destroy it. The hunter was sent off with a great feast, and the epic "Song of Talonclaw" was sung to bring Nalmus success in his quest. All felt sure he would restore peace and calm to the land.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Ten

When weeks passed without any word from Nalmus, a search party was dispatched. Though they looked far and wide, no trace of the famed hunter or his spear could be found, and several party members were lost to the unknown beast that prowled the mists.

Over the years, many other brave hunters would set out to find the creature. Most were never heard from again, and the treasured spear had not been seen since Nalmus disappeared--until you, with the guidance and blessing of Ohn'ahra herself, recovered the legendary weapon. In so doing, you became a hunter whose name will long be remembered.

Talonclaw, Spear of the Wild Gods,
Part Eleven

With the Spear of the Wild Gods in hand, you are a hunter with few equals in all of Azeroth. Your strength, agility, and fierceness are sure to give you the edge over nearly any prey--or any foe you set your sights upon. And unlike other hunters with their rifles or bows, you--like Huln Highmountain--prefer to stand toe-to-toe with your enemies. You have perfected your trapping, hunting, and killing abilities on the ground, but now you have a unique appreciation for how it feels to strike like the great eagle Ohn'ahra. The spear enhances your survival skills, allowing you to become a true master of the wilds-and like the eagle, you need no help, for you have no peer.

Talonclaw's spiritual power is such that shrines or temples that resonate with the force of the Wild Gods may respond to it, and priests of the Wild Gods may sense its presence. Its owner would be an honored guest in any tauren settlement (provided that they have not shown themselves to be an enemy of the tauren). On the other hand, the spear is also likely to draw the attention of the servants of chaos, so do not wield it carelessly.

Comments

Comment by linda535

The Trap you need is in the mists. Ignore the attacking beast and use Flare to see the trap. Set the trap to start attacking the beast.

Comment by Melandroso

You can set any trap you want. Once you have "thrown" it, just go to it and activate and then the quest proceeds.

Survival Hunter Artifact Weapon: Talonclaw

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