Day of the Dead (November 1st - 3rd)

By Wowhead Updated: 2025/11/01

Day of the DeadDay of the Dead: November 1st to November 3rd, 2025New to Day of the Dead for 2025Day of the Dead Flower CrownsHeartblossom Crown of the DeadLotus Crown of the DeadMarigold Crown of the DeadOrchid Crown of the DeadStarflower Crown of the DeadDay of the Dead Skull MasksHeartblossom DeathmaskLotus DeathmaskMarigold DeathmaskOrchid DeathmaskStarflower DeathmaskDay of the Dead Remembrance VeilsHeartblossom Remembrance VeilLotus Remembrance VeilMarigold Remembrance VeilOrchid Remembrance VeilStarflower Remembrance VeilDay of the Dead Event BasicsTip: Get some Simple Flour and Ice Cold Milk (at least 1 of each) before heading to a graveyard. This will save you traveling time when doing the quest below.CatrinaLa Calavera CatrinagraveyardDead Man's PartyHonor the DeadChapmanOrange MarigoldNote that in this post-Cataclysm, post-Battle of Lordaeron era you may need to seek out a bronze dragon to allow you to see some zones the way they were.Day of the Dead QuestThe Grateful Deadyour race's home areaShattrath CityDalaranDalaran

Race

Graveyard

Quest

Quest Giver

Waypoints

Draenei

Azuremyst Isle

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Draenei Spirit

/way #97 47.6, 55.8

All Races

Dalaran

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Dalaran Spirit

/way #125 34.6, 38.6

All Races

Dalaran

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Dalaran Spirit

/way #627 34.0 38.6

Night Elf

Darnassus

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Night Elf Spirit

/way #89 68.6 40.0

Worgen

Darnassus

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Worgen Spirit

/way #89 69.8, 40.6

Dwarf, Dark Iron Dwarf

Dun Morogh

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Dwarf Spirit

/way #87 61.6, 37.4

Gnome

Dun Morogh

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Gnome Spirit

/way #87 61.6, 37.4

Goblin

Durotar

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Goblin Spirit

/way #1 47.2, 18.0

Durotar

/way #1 47.4, 17.6

Durotar

Cheerful Troll Spirit

/way #1 47.4 17.8

Blood Elf

Eversong Woods

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Blood Elf Spirit

/way #94 48.0, 49.4

Human, Kul Tiran

Stormwind

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Human Spirit

/way #110 47.6, 26.6

All Races - Aldor

Terokkar Forest

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Aldor Spirit

/way #108 39.8, 21.8

All Races - Scryer

Terokkar Forest

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Scryer Spirit

/way #108 40.0 22.2

Tauren

Thunder Bluff

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Tauren Spirit

/way #88 56.8, 17.6

Undead

Undercity

The Grateful Dead

Cheerful Forsaken Spirit

/way #90 68.2, 15.2

Orange MarigoldMarigold Petal Offering BowlChapmanBread of the DeadPan de MuertoSimple FlourIce Cold MilkMacabre MarionetteDay of the Dead VendorChapman

Item

Type

Cost

Whimsical Skull Mask

Consumable

Spirit Candle

Consumable

Recipe: Bread of the Dead

Cooking Recipe

Candy Skull

Food or Drink

"Blooming Rose" Contender's Costume

Holiday

"Night Demon" Contender's Costume

Holiday

"Purple Phantom" Contender's Costume

Holiday

"Santo's Sun" Contender's Costume

Holiday

"Snowy Owl" Contender's Costume

Holiday

Cliffside Wylderdrake: Day of the Dead Armor

Mount Armor

Marigold Petal Offering Bowl

Quest Item

Orange Marigold

Quest Item

Bouquet of Orange Marigolds

Transmog

Whimsical Skull Mask

Transmog

Heartblossom Crown of the Dead

Transmog

Lotus Crown of the Dead

Transmog

Marigold Crown of the Dead

Transmog

Orchid Crown of the Dead

Transmog

Starflower Crown of the Dead

Transmog

Heartblossom Deathmask

Transmog

Transmog

Transmog

Transmog

Transmog

Heartblossom Remembrance Veil

Transmog

Lotus Remembrance Veil

Transmog

Marigold Remembrance Veil

Transmog

Orchid Remembrance Veil

Transmog

Starflower Remembrance Veil

Transmog

Day of the Dead RewardsMount ArmorCliffside Wylderdrake: Day of the Dead ArmorChapmanPetMacabre MarionetteSourceThe Grateful DeadSpeciesBreedAbilitiesMacabre MaracaDeath and DecayDead Man's PartyBone BiteSiphon LifeBone BarrageThese possessed puppets are given a semblance of life by whimsical spirits of the departed.Toys"Purple Phantom" Contender's Costume"Night Demon" Contender's Costume"Snowy Owl" Contender's Costume"Santo's Sun" Contender's Costume"Blooming Rose" Contender's CostumeChapman

Quick Punch: Strike contenders directly in front of you for 10% health.

Strong Sweep: Sweep contenders in a 4-yard cone for 20% health and knock them down for 0.5 sec.

Jump Attack: Jump forward and strike contenders in a 2.5-yard circle for 30% health and knock them down for 1.5 sec.

TransmogWhimsical Skull MaskSourceonly transmoggable during the eventBouquet of Orange MarigoldsSourceHeartblossom Crown of the DeadSourceCostLotus Crown of the DeadSourceCostMarigold Crown of the DeadSourceCostOrchid Crown of the DeadSourceCostStarflower Crown of the DeadSourceCostHeartblossom DeathmaskSourceCostLotus DeathmaskSourceCostMarigold DeathmaskSourceCostOrchid DeathmaskSourceCostStarflower DeathmaskSourceCostHeartblossom Remembrance VeilSourceCostLotus Remembrance VeilSourceCostMarigold Remembrance VeilSourceCostOrchid Remembrance VeilSourceCostStarflower Remembrance VeilSourceCostDay of the Dead AchievementsDead Man's PartyDance with Catrina to become a skeleton during the Day of the Dead. CatrinaHonor the Dead

To The Afterlife: Defeat a contender while wearing a contender's outfit purchased during Day of the Dead.

Vientos!: Defeat 20 contenders while wearing a contender's outfit purchased during Day of the Dead.

Calavera: Defeat 50 contenders while wearing a contender's outfit purchased during Day of the Dead.

Past UpdatesNew to 2023Cliffside Wylderdrake: Day of the Dead ArmorNew to 2017Bouquet of Orange MarigoldsWhimsical Skull MaskduringNew to 2016New to 2015New to 2014New to 2013

Comments

Comment by Lituanus

I completed this event this year, and this guide does a great succinct job of describing it. Good job!

Comment by arcadeforever

Starts at 11am, not first thing in the morning

Comment by Phraax

As always, a great step by step guide to help even the most clueless (like me).

Comment by mythmage

Pet is now a permanent battle pet as of 2013. These can be caged so you can collect them to sell later if you wish.

Comment by alkemist

Pandarens can go to Dalaran for the quest to get Macabre Marionette

Comment by 1070257

If you don't feel like jumping from a very high height in your race's home city, then here are directions to the graveyards.
HORDE
Orcs, Goblins, and Trolls need to exit Orgrimmar into Durotar and follow the road straight. Won't take long.
Tauren need to exit Thunderbluff by way of the northern elevator and take a right at the bottom. It's right around the bend.
Blood Elves need to exit Silvermoon City and take a right. Follow the city wall. Doesn't take long.
Undead simply need to go to the courtyard of Undercity. The Ruins of Lordaeron.
ALLIANCE
Night Elves and Worgen need to head to Darnassus. If you're looking at the map, where you want to go is in the middle of the script 'Warriors Terrace'.
Humans need to head to Stormwind City. Facing the cathedral in Cathedral Square, go along the left side of the Cathedral and take a right behind it. Go along the back of the Cathedral and head up the stairs. Take a left down the next set of stairs and veer to the right at the bottom. Follow that lane and then take a right (no, not the right that runs into the lake, the next one). It's a straight shot from there.
Draenei need to head to Azuremyst Isle. Head south along the road leaving Azure Watch. You can't miss it (you shouldn't).
Dwarves and Gnomes need to head to Ironforge. Upon leaving Ironforge, follow the mountain trail to the left. If you don't fall off the mountain, will you tell Chapman I said "hey buddy".

Shattrath City is available to all races (that includes Panda People). Exit through the east exit and veer to the right. See the pond? Well, there you go. It's between Shattrath City and Cenarion Thicket.
Dalaran is also available to all races (Panda People too). To the right of The Violet Citadel is a little grassy area. Take off your shoes and dance with Catrina in the grass.

Comment by Atypisk

In order to get to this quest and receive the new battle pet whose name goes under Macabre Marionette

1) Log in during Day of the Dead.
2) Buy some ice cold milk and simple flour. Milk from innkeeper (not Dalaran) and simple flour from cooking supplier. (Stormwind Trade District/ Org Valley, has got milk.) Flour is simply purchased of any Cooking vendor.
3) Port to Dalaran. This will work for all races.
4) Go to the graveyard just north of the staircase where you'd exit the Violet Citadel in the grassy area, you'll see some seasonal NPCs.
5) Buy an Orange Marigold and the Recipe: Bread of the Dead from the seasonal vendor there.
6) Learn the recipe. Be ready to accept and turn in quest at same time; you have only 30 seconds per flower usage.
7) Use the cooking fire beside the questgiver to make the bread.
8) Use the flowers to make the invisible dead visible. Some spirits including a quest giver will appear (Cheerful Dalaran Spirit).
9) Accept quest: The Grateful Dead. Because you've already made the bread it will change directly to a completion.
10) Turn in quest and receive marionette (appears as skull in inventory) as quest reward.

*Edit* Same procedure for the following factions. Links shows their positions on maps.
Alliance:
Human
Draenei
Dwarf
Gnome
[url=http://www.wowhead.com/npc=34479Link Night Elf
Worgen

Horde:
Orc
[url=http://www.wowhead.com/npc=34480Link Tauren
Goblin
[url=http://www.wowhead.com/npc=34483Link Blood Elf
Troll

Multi:
Aldor
[url=http://www.wowhead.com/npc=35261Link Scryer

Comment by Tenjen

arent night elf ghosts supposed to be wisps @w@

Comment by Noyzification

When the new Costumes can be used throughout the entire Year, does that mean we can get die Achievement everytime we want or do we have to do them while Day of the Dead is active ?

Comment by Ylts

Easy mode:
Get friend or your 2nd account.
Both go to graveyard and stand next to Spirit Healer. Bonus points if there are objects against what target can stand so you can use jump ability without moving.
Get naked and bank your gear so you won't get repair bill.
Talk to Spirit Healer for instant respawn when you don't want to wait 2 min.
Use macro:
/script RepopMe();
/script RetrieveCorpse();
/run RepopMe()AcceptResurrect()AcceptXPLoss()

Comment by perculia

Just updated the guide with more details on the items we've previously datamined, the abilities you get as a contender, as well as images of the costumes!

Comment by Ninkasi

Due to the new costumes, everyone is battling in Halaa to farm the achieve/Halaa tokens for the Talbuk mounts.

Comment by 1213742

thank mr. skeltal

Comment by menace97

it's unfortunate that you can't CTRL-left click on these (or masks) to view them on your own character in the Dressing Room pane. yes, i see the screenshots here... i can't see why blizzard won't allow us to view these items we buy like we can other items.

Comment by Malysef

"NEW" addition to this event in 2015!
Do not forget to buy all costumes from Chapman as they are now classified as toys (as opposed to previous year).
"Purple Phantom" Contender's Costume
"Night Demon" Contender's Costume
"Snowy Owl" Contender's Costume
"Santo's Sun" Contender's Costume
"Blooming Rose" Contender's Costume
Each of them costs 100G.

Comment by aaluah

The Ghostly Cooking Fire required to bake your bread of the dead is located by Chapman as a small blue blazier.

Comment by Tawerner

All-in-one macro for one button (ignore the errors):

/click StaticPopup1Button1
/duel
/use "Night Demon" Contender's Costume
/cancelaura Strong Sweep
/cancelaura Jump Attack
/click ExtraActionButton1

initiates a duel
accepts a duel
activates a toy
cancels stuns (not really needed anymore)
activates combat abilities

Have fun :)

Comment by Aralnda

anyone have a macro to tell how many you have done for the contender achievements? Some helpful things. If your a dk, your health gaining 10 percent vanish the costume before the final hit sometimes. Try not to use a dk, You do not have to wait for full health to duel for it to count. You must have both parties wearing the costumes for duel contenders to count.

Comment by 1544857

As of 2015, the Contender Costumes buffs only last for 2 minutes, instead of the previous 10.

Comment by 266682

At the moment there is a bug which allows you to be nigh-invincible while using the Contender's Costume. Getting the Well-Fed bonus from Fighter Chow will allow you to regenerate at an insane rate, which apparently bypasses the healing nerf the Contender's Costume puts on you.

Comment by Parallax1712

Thank you for always providing so helpful and informative guides !

Comment by Evaelrie

Holy Priest spec is bugged. If you wear the costume and get defeated, you die instead of the costume buff just dropping off. Switch specs if you are a Holy Priest and plan to get this achievement.

Comment by Liinxy

It'd be nice if Blizzard could create a UX that tells you when holiday events are occurring, especially for this 2 day only event. The in-game calendar is not a good source of finding out this information when the calendar is spammed with resets, raid sign-ups, and weekly events. (Turning off these settings in the calendar is not a good solution)

Now on to year 3 of missing the new items and achievements... :/

Comment by valera156

Demon Hunter's Spectral Sight works for getting the quest "The Grateful Dead"

Comment by SiegmundFretzgau

new in 2017:
Bouquet of Orange Marigolds and Whimsical Skull Mask (permanent version) transmogable during the holiday

Comment by RoarTachitoes

Has this been nerfed? I can't find Catrina at any of the graveyards (Horde) this year?

Comment by Purgatorywolf

Dang nothing new this year, I guess the trend now is every other year gets new stuff?

Comment by lifeslowlydies

Allied races can get the quests in Northrend, Dalaran & Shattrath

Comment by guatafu

Dalaran graveyard is between the Violet Citadel & the Magus Commerce Exchange.

Comment by Noritam

What I learned for my first Day of The Dead.

Bread of the Dead:
Do not make a whole bunch for alts, you can't mail them as they are a "Limited Time Item". The Ghostly Cooking Fires for Alliance in Stormwind are 2 blue braziers behind Chapman by the columns. In Orgrimmar are at Dranosh'ar Blockade just outside the Gates of Orgrimmar.

Only one is needed to obtain the Macabre Marionette. Pick your alt whose race has an easy access graveyard i.e. Human, Orc, Dwarf, Tauren, or just go to either Dalaran.
Note: Draenei the graveyard is just outside The Exodar, not down the hill from Azure Watch.
Goblin and Orcs nearest graveyard is at Dranosh'ar Blockade just outside the Gates of Orgrimmar.

Day of the Dead Costumes and Duels
- it's not PvP duels,
- when you put a costume on, you get 3 options on your Extra Action Button that rotate randomly: punch, swipe, jump. No control, you get each randomly.
- You don't "kill" your opponent, you knock their costume off. You don't lose durability on your gear, you don't get sent to a Spirit Healer, you can do it anywhere.
- Don't bother healing, it just takes longer,
- 50 "bouts" takes a bit of time, track the achievement Calavera so you know how many you've won.
- 3 people works better than two, so no waiting for the toy costume cooldown. That is to say, 3 people will not take longer than 2 people.
- Having more than one costume does not speed things up, they are all on the same toy cd.

Spirit Candles:
Have a 5 minute CD so you can't place a line of them.

I wasted time and money on buying multiple Recipes for Bread of the Dead, can't mail them.
I made several lifetimes supply of Bread of the Dead on my Main, can't mail them, can't use them outside of the event.
I bought one of each costume, intending to mail them to alts, but I forgot they are toys so everyone can use them anyway. Not the cheapest way to add toys to my collection.

Comment by cepheiv

The better thing to do for the duel achievement series, that doesn't require finding an instance, is to go to is to just challenge the another person to a duel. It counts towards the achievement and it doesn't kill the oponent because the duel ends when you get the other person to low health.

Comment by Didymuscle

Use a WoW Starter Account, multiboxing was the only way to reliably get Brewfest Sausage eating content done and working wonders with this 50 wins on Vientos! I'm using same 3 starter account lvl 1 that I had parked at Brewfest, toys are in the box from linked account, sit them against a wall so you don't have to mess with jumpbacks and health is scaled anyway. Goes by so fast. Turn WARMODE OFF so you don't have to deal with spirit running back.

Comment by Peppermynt

When you're a Pandaran who isnt old enough to get to Dalaran or Shatt on their own...and there isnt a high volume of players on to buy ports from... -_______-

Comment by Swordy

very minor world event, only useful thing here is the pet which is both cool looking and actually good

Comment by Savie

Where is vulpera?

Comment by ekrietlow

As of 10.0 we were doing this as a party and it wouldnt kill us, i was consistently at 1-18% and just gave up the fight, counting for her credit on the achievement. We were in an instance just to be safe since Violet Hold is right there in Legion Dalaran, but it really wasnt necessary for us.

Comment by Phoenyxphiyre

No one seems to have compiled a unified list of where (other than Shattrath or one of the Dalarans) the various Allied Races can pick up The Grateful Dead yet, so here you go...

Dark Iron: Ironforge
Mechagnome: Ironforge
Lightforged Draenei: Exodar
Kul Tiran: Stormwind
Void Elf: Darnassus

Mag'har Orc: Orgrimmar
Vulpera: Shattrath or one of the Dalarans - appears to be only one with no access via a regular capital city
Nightborne: Silvermoon City
Highmountain Tauren: Thunder Bluff
Zandalari Troll: Orgrimmar

Comment by A7Capone

Demon Hunter can use Spectral Sight to see Quest NPC !

Comment by Zarilla

The Legion Dalaran has got to be one of the easist. There are like six graves. You see the quest giver right away. Made the bread before hand and it was done. It would not show for me in Stormwind (Night Elves have no home right now.)

For Hunters: The bouquet of orange marigold is a pain. You have to have an off-hand weapon and then you transmog it. But there there is no real way to use it. I tried everything. I finally had a someone explain it to me. Just go by the cheapest off-hand and do it. No swords and daggers do not work and there can be nothing in your main hand.

Contender's Costumes - Be careful with people wanting you to be in a group. All they will do is beat you up for their own score.

Comment by KKATSUMI

New for 2023; Chapman sells a "Cliffside Wylderdrake: Day of the Dead Armor" Customization for 50,000 Gold. Can be purchased at any graveyard.

Comment by Illy1

new in 2013 is Cliffside Wylderdrake: Day of the Dead Armor 50000 bucks just for you!

Comment by WolfmanXX77

The current Catrina quest in TWW seems to be completely bugged. At least at the start. Can't see Chapman or anyone for that matter.

Comment by Stormeey

I have done all the pre-requisites. I did the dance & transformed. I see Catrina and Chapman. I made the bread at the ghostly fire. But no quest. (Am on Azuremyst Isle - am Draenei)

No quest shows up. Nov 1, 2024 1:15 pm EST

EDIT:

Buy marigold from Chapman, use it .. and the ghostly quest giver pops up

Comment by Celebriian

Got every single item last year (2024) on Day of the Dead (or Día de Muertos, as we refer to it in my neck of the woods). Except the Cliffside Wilderdrake inscription. Even as a collector, I just cannot justify the 50k gold cost for that thing, especially when I need that gold for more important things. Ouch.

Comment by Primalcrux

Those new masks look fantastic.

Comment by Doloria

You won't see a quest marker for "The Grateful Dead" quest until you get a glimpse of the spirit world at the graveyard for your faction and race. IMO this quest is best with your people. See the list of graveyard locations at the beginning of the Guide.

Looking for the Dalaran, Broken Isles graveyard (default choice)? It’s a few headstones found between the sewer entrance and the semi-circle of trade shops.

Before you go, buy Simple Flour and Ice Cold Milk. You'll need to bake one loaf of Bread of the Dead at the graveyard as an offering to the Cheerful Spirit quest giver. If your character doesn’t know the Level 1 Recipe: Bread of the Dead, buy it at the graveyard. Use a brazier with a blue flame to bake the bread. Leave it in your bags — if you click on it, you end up eating the bread yourself.

At the graveyard you'll see only Chapman, the Day of the Dead vendor, and Catrina. As the Guide says, you'll need to buy marigolds to see the spirits: either a reusable Marigold Petal Offering Bowl or a few single use Orange Marigolds. (The bouquet is just an off-hand transmog.) It's also a good idea to buy Spirit Candles because they let you see more spirits.

To see the spirits celebrating the day, click on Marigold Petal Offering Bowl or Orange Marigold. Use the Spirit Candle. Look around for the "Cheerful Spirit" quest giver. (The title is in large green letters.) Click to accept the quest. Your offering of Bread of the Dead in your bag is automatically accepted. You receive a Macabre Marionette.

Your time with the spirits is less than a minute. Summon the spirits again.

Day of the Dead (November 1st - 3rd)

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