Arcane Mage Artifact Weapon: Aluneth, Greatstaff of the Magna

By Wowhead Updated: 2025/10/17

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Aluneth was most notably wielded for a time by Aegwynn, the only female Guardian of Tirisfal, although it is far older than she.

Towards the end of Aegwynn's life, she entrusted the staff to the Blue Dragonflight.

Deeming the staff too dangerous to use, they locked it away in a secret vault, where it remains still.

Kept Secret, Kept SafeAluneth

"So, you seek Aluneth? A dangerous weapon, to be sure.

"Long ago, the Kirin Tor entrusted the blue dragonflight to its safekeeping. It was locked away in the only place that could contain its rampant power—the Nexus Vault.

"I have not been there in some time, however. After the blue dragonflight was dissolved, the Nexus was abandoned. There is no knowing whether the Nexus vault is still intact—or what may be waiting in the Nexus itself."

A New Threat

"This portal is very similar to the ones the Ethereals used in Outland. Could it be them? What did Malygos promise?

"This appears to be exploiting the void energy released when Malygos forced Azeroth's ley lines into the Twisting Nether. The design looks very familiar...

"This weapon has been corrupted with energy from the Twisting Nether. Whomever wielded it must seek to weaponize the void. But for what purpose?

"Yet more evidence of ethereal technology! This may be an unfortunate turn. I guess there's only one way to find out who's really behind this."

A Forgotten Enemy

"I thought I had ordered all to return to the Nexus?!

"What's this? Another intruder come to claim the artifacts from the Nexus Vault?

"You are too late, Mage! Even now, the power of the artifacts serve to widen the breach within the Twisting Nether.

"With this power, the Ethereum will become an unstoppable force. We will become void!"

"So, the Ethereum has taken the Nexus—and yet, that seems the least of our worries. If they truly seek to widen the breach into the Twisting Nether, then they pose a threat to all of Azeroth. It would seem that fate has set you on this path for a reason. Not only must you recover the artifact, but you must put a stop to the Ethereum as well!

"I regret that I cannot assist you more directly, but I will guide you as I can."

Eyes of the Dragon

"Whatever the Ethereals are up to, they are generating an incredible amount of void energy.

"Those Surge Needles must be what they're using. Let's take a closer look.

"So, the Ethereum have altered Malygos' Surge Needles to tap into the void energy caused by the rift. Their power must also be feeding the shield around the Nexus. Now, let us take a look at the foundation.

"The vault must be weakened. I can see the energy from your artifact breaking its way free."

Harnessing the ArcaneArcane Unleashed

"He must have returned to the Nexus to secure the artifacts in the vault. Malygos always trusted him to watch over the magical items in the care of the flight."

The Nexus VaultThe Beyond

"So, the lock on the Nexus is broken, and by a common human no less. Will wonders never cease?

"If you've come to engage in battle in hopes to obtain some spurious trinket, I'm afraid you're too late. The Ethereum have been quite effective in taking the bite out of this old dragon before I could acquire anything you would deem useful.

"If it's looting you desire, as your kind so often do, then I would take the fight to them."

"Wait, are you here after them? In that case, I could use a hand here...

"The Nexus Vault must be weakening, and that holy fire can only mean Light's Wrath is no longer fully contained. It is a powerful, yet quite chaotic artifact. It will lash out at us as we try to approach, be prepared.

"The fire seems to have superheated the ground here. I hope you have some way to get us over it.

"We're here. Now, let me see if I can find a way into the vault...

"It's as I suspected, the main entrance to the vault was broken off when Malygos created the breach into the Twisting Nether during the Nexus Wars.

"There must be some other way to reach it if all the powers held inside can still be felt within the Nexus..

"A-ha! That's...wait a minute...the energy from the vault is surging. Brace yourself.

"That was too close. If the artifact continues to go unchecked for much longer, it will bring this whole place down around us!

"Quickly, we must head to the rift. It's the only way!"

"Hah! so much the all-powerful void. You know, you're not so bad for a little human.

"You should be able to access the vault through the rift here. I can open a portal, but I'll have to remain here to keep it open.

"The way open is. Hurry, little human - I can't keep this open for long.

"You made it! Now, you'll need to gain control of the artifact if you wish to leave this place with it."

Aluneth

"You must have done something, because the energies from the vault seem to be stabilizing. Now hurry back before this portal closes and locks you in the vault!

"I am impressed. Never have I seen a mage capable of controlling Aluneth."

"The Ethereals have been routed, and you have the weapon you came for. Your business is done here, but mine has just begun.

"I thank you for freeing me. You have given me the greatest gift of all... that of time.

"I will use that time to secure the Nexus. It is obvious that we cannot let it fall into the wrong hands again.
The portal will take you back to Kalecgos. Give the old blue my regards, will you?"

A Gift of TimeArtifact Book Text

Aluneth

Azeroth is filled with legendary relics and artifacts, but none compare to Aluneth. For hundreds of years, Guardian Aegwynn used this greatstaff to defend Azeroth from the Burning Legion.

Yet that alone is not what makes this weapon unique. An entity of pure arcane energy known as Aluneth is bound to the greatstaff. Harnessing this unruly being and its power requires tremendous precision and focus. An ordinary mage could never hope to control Aluneth.

Fortunately, you are no ordinary mage.

Aluneth, Part One

The wise and mirthful blue dragons were the first creatures on Azeroth to discover Aluneth. While manipulating the fabric of reality, they tapped into another realm of existence and made contact with the strange arcane entity.

The blue dragons loved unraveling mysteries and delving into the secrets of the universe. They were so intrigued by Aluneth's existence that they summoned the entity into the world for further study. Aluneth immediately went on a rampage through the blue dragons' lair, the Nexus. The arcane presence destroyed countless rare artifacts and tomes of power before finally being contained. The dragons were not angry about what had happened--they were delighted by Aluneth's capricious nature.

After years of conducting harmless experiments on Aluneth, the blue dragons satisfied their curiosity and sent the entity back to its own realm.

Aluneth, Part Two

From chapter forty-three of Ancient Magic and How to Wield It Without Destroying the World:

"And so we come to the story of the Highborne named Meitre and the source of his power, Aluneth. Few subjects are as hotly debated. Last year alone, five magi were treated for severe burns after their discussion of Meitre escalated into a fiery brawl. Let us put the rumors to rest and focus on the facts.

"Meitre lived during the height of the night elf empire, and he was one of his race's most gifted sorcerers. As the story goes, he spent years exploring the world in search of knowledge. His extensive travels brought him into contact with an unknown blue dragon, from whom Meitre discovered the existence of the arcane being named Aluneth and the otherworldly plane where it dwelled.

"The sorcerer never enslaved Aluneth--the being was far too strong and unwieldy for that. Yet Meitre found a way to draw power from the entity, thereby using its energies to enhance his own spells."

Aluneth, Part Three

From chapter fifty of Ancient Magic and How to Wield It Without Destroying the World, concerning the Burning Legion's first invasion of Azeroth:

"Most Highborne sorcerers sided with the Burning Legion and used their powers to help the demons invade the world. Meitre did not. He joined the Night Elf Resistance and fought to defend the world. It was during these troubling years that Meitre mastered his connection with Aluneth.

"In one battle, he and a group of night elf defenders found themselves surrounded by an overwhelming force of demons. Death was imminent, but Meitre did not abandon hope. He called on Aluneth's energies and wove a mass teleportation spell that transported him and his comrades to safety.

"Let this be a lesson that what makes magi great is not only their ability to destroy but their ability to save lives. True wisdom is knowing the right time to use one instead of the other."

Aluneth, Part Four

From chapter sixty-one of Ancient Magic and How to Wield It Without Destroying the World, concerning the aftermath of the War of the Ancients:

"Following their victory over the Legion, the night elves outlawed the use of arcane magic. They believed that the sorcerous arts were not safe and that wielding them would only lead to another disaster like the War of the Ancients.

"Meitre could not give up magic. Doing so would mean breaking his connection with Aluneth. The sorcerer quailed at the thought of losing his ability to draw on the entity's power. Perhaps he lacked confidence in his own skills. Whatever the case, Meitre retreated from society and became a recluse."

Aluneth, Part Five

No one knows exactly what became of Meitre, but he left behind a wealth of scrolls that would form the basis of modern magic. His writings included a number of spells that the sorcerer had created himself.

Even thousands of years after the War of the Ancients, high elf and human magi continued learning from Meitre's knowledge. The ability to cast spells from his scrolls was seen as an important milestone in a young apprentice's education and a measure of a pupil's aptitude.

Though many magi delved into Meitre's scrolls, no one knew of Aluneth. The entity that had played such a critical role in the sorcerer's life was forgotten... until the time of Guardian Aegwynn.

Aluneth, Part Six

Aegwynn was the Guardian of Tirisfal, a sorceress imbued with extraordinary power and charged with protecting Azeroth from the Burning Legion.

Like all magi of her era, Aegwynn was familiar with Meitre and his scrolls. During her apprenticeship, she had mastered the ancient elf's spells much earlier than the other students.

Something had always perplexed Aegwynn about Meitre. While studying his writings, she realized that the elf had wielded immense power-more than any regular sorcerer should have been capable of. After Aegwynn inherited the mantle of Guardian, she became obsessed with finding out how.

Aegwynn discovered a series of lost scrolls written by Meitre. They described Aluneth in detail, and even included spells the elf had used to tap into the being's power.

Aluneth, Part Seven

Guardian Aegwynn believed she could use Aluneth as a formidable weapon against the Burning Legion. Yet unlike Meitre, she would not simply tap into the entity's energies; she would bring the being into Azeroth and bind it to her will.

Aegwynn summoned Aluneth with ease, but it would not obey her commands. The fickle creature thrashed against the Guardian's containment magics and nullified her spellwork. Aegwynn reveled in the challenge of taming Aluneth.

After many setbacks, Aegwynn finally bound the entity to an enchanted greatstaff. The task of containing Aluneth was done, but it would take the Guardian years to truly harness its power.

Aluneth, Part Eight

An excerpt from Fire in the North: The Battle between Aegwynn and Sargeras, by the historian Llore:

"Of all the trials Aegwynn faced, of all the foes she fought, none rivaled Sargeras. In the frozen wastes of Northrend, the Guardian confronted the ruler of the Burning Legion.

"This was not Sargeras in his true form, only an avatar containing a portion of his strength. Even so, Aegwynn's opponent was powerful beyond measure.

"Aegwynn raised Aluneth high and called down a storm of arcane magic to annihilate Sargeras. Nothing happened. The entity bound to Aegwynn's weapon resisted her command. As she struggled to assert her will over Aluneth, Sargeras launched a furious assault against the Guardian.

"Ultimately, Aegwynn put Aluneth aside and opted for a more reliable weapon. She summoned Atiesh, a mighty staff passed from Guardian to Guardian, and renewed her attack against Sargeras."

Aluneth, Part Nine

Though Aegwynn defeated Sargeras, the battle changed her forever.

Unbeknownst to the Guardian, the Legion's ruler had transferred a portion of his spirit into her soul. Aegwynn's demeanor darkened. As the years passed, she grew suspicious of the Council of Tirisfal, the order of magi that had imbued her with power and given her the mantle of Guardian.

To distance herself from the council, Aegwynn used Aluneth to forge a secret refuge.

Atop a nexus of magical ley lines that coursed through Azeroth, the Guardian crafted her spell. She harnessed the full potential of Aluneth's energies, and reality warped and shifted around Aegwynn.

Legend has it that a great tower then rose from the earth. It would become known as Karazhan.

Aluneth, Part Ten

For centuries, Aegwynn strengthened her control over Aluneth. She dispatched the Legion's demons with ease and secured Azeroth's safety for generations.

Aegwynn eventually gave birth to a boy named Medivh, who would become the next Guardian. In time, Aegwynn planned to bequeath Aluneth to her son, but that day would never come.

The spirit of Sargeras had passed from Aegwynn to Medivh. Over many long years, the demon lord twisted the new Guardian's thoughts. Sargeras used Medivh to help the mighty orcish Horde invade Azeroth and bring war to the world.

Aluneth, Part Eleven

An excerpt from The Fate of Aegwynn, by the historian Llore:

"When Aegwynn learned of Medivh's actions, she confronted him. Mother and child unleashed the full fury of their magics upon each other in a battle that would decide Azeroth's future.

"Even with Aluneth at her command, Aegwynn could not best Medivh. She only narrowly survived her encounter with the corrupted Guardian.

"Medivh was later vanquished, but that brought Aegwynn little solace. She was tormented by what had become of her son, by the darkness that she had unwittingly passed to him. For a time, Aegwynn retreated from society, and she entrusted Aluneth to the Kirin Tor of Dalaran.

"To prevent anyone from abusing Aluneth's power, the Kirin Tor locked the greatstaff away. For years, it would remain in an enchanted vault, under the watchful eyes of blue dragons."

Comments

Comment by kodora1316

When fighting the Nexus guy you are NOT on Azuregos. The dragon flies you to the platform and drops you off. (I know because I'm doing that fight right now)

Edited for auto correct.

Comment by derjarjarbinks

When you enter the room after killing the prince, you'll see 3 purple bubbles on the ground. Go stand in the middle of the bubble and a icon will appear what you can click.

Comment by 467020

This guid how ever well made is no longer accurate and it doesn't reflect the state of the quest on LIVE

Comment by Elyseon

So... the research still doesn't say much about how Aegwynn ultimately managed to get Aluneth to obey, and the scrolls alone probably couldn't do it, only confine it, considering how it's repeatedly stated that Aluneth is too powerful to coerce. I'm guessing both her and Meitre before her made some kind of pact with the elemental.

Comment by bcuthbertson

Killing the Nexus Prince: the lazy mage way

Killing the Nexus Prince to get the Legion arcane staff artifact is a royal pain, since the dude regains full health if you die. I admit I'm not the best arcane mage on Azeroth, but I just couldn't fight him directly because of this. I did the quest series 4 times before I found a way. My ultimate solution was to use my mirrors as surrogates - at least the Prince doesn't regain full health when they die. So on my 5th try, I came equipped with lots of bandages, my mirrors, and Displacement, which returns you to where you were within 10 secs of a blink.

This was a battle of patience and grind: once my mirrors were ready, I called them up, threw on ice shield, moved to the base of the ramp, blinked up the ramp, hit the boss once to give my mirrors a target, then got the heck out of there back down the ramp - using Displacement as necessary if the Prince yanked me up to the top (which he managed to a few times). My mirrors would do some damage and die. Then I'd bandage myself up if necessary, wait for my mirrors to return, and repeat the whole process, over and over.

It was indeed a slow go: sometimes the mirrors would die immediately; sometimes they would do some decent damage. I spent most of my time out of the Prince's reach at the back of the bottom, bandaging, reading email, playing with my WoW toys, and then leading my mirrors back up the ramp when they became available. What a way to fight a battle! Eventually though, my mirrors wore him down, and it was OH SO SWEET when the dude finally evaporated.

Laugh if you like, but hey, it worked: I didn't die once, and I finished the battle at full health, basically as a cheering section for my mirrors. The only thing required with this approach is a LOT of patience, but ya do what ya have to do. If you have a better, faster way, by all means go for it - you're a better mage than I.

Comment by Aleszyl

There is one artefact appearence missing in your list, although I have no idea where/when/how to find it, or even if it's been implemented yet :

http://wow.zamimg.com/uploads/screenshots/normal/500005-staff-2h-artifactaegwynsstaff-d-06.jpg

Comment by 1613338

When casting Conjure Refreshment, Aluneth has a chance to whisper "Your considerable talents are wasted on...pudding."

Arcane Mage Artifact Weapon: Aluneth, Greatstaff of the Magna

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