Attunements Guide: Attunements Walkthrough, Quests and Locations - TBC Classic

By Rokman Updated: 2026/08/26

Changes to Attunements in TBC Classic Anniversary EditionBest Route to Attunement in TBC ClassicBefore you get startedAttuneNormal Mode Dungeon Attunements in TBC ClassicShadow LabyrinthShadow Labyrinth KeyThe ArcatrazFull Triangle

Accept the first quest in the chain, Consortium Crystal Collection from Nether-Stalker Khay'ji in Area 52, Netherstorm.

Loot a Arklon Crystal Artifact from the demons near Arklon Ruins and return to Nether-Stalker Khay'ji. Pick up the next quest, A Heap of Ethereals

Loot Zaxxis Insignia from the Zaxxis Raiders to the south of Area 52.

The next quest requires a group to slay Warp-Raider Nesaad, which roams in the same area.

After Warp-Raider Nesaad is slain, you'll need to head to Gahruj in the Eco-Dome Midrealm for the quest Request for Assistance.

The next quest, Rightful Repossession, requires you to pick up Box of Surveying Equipment from inside the Eco-Dome.

Once that is complete, you'll head to the Stormspire and seek an audience with Image of Nexus-Prince Haramad.

Triangulation Point One requires you to use Triangulation Device near Manaforge Ultris to the east of the Stormspire.

Triangulation Point Two requires the same thing near Manaforge Ara to the west.

Full Triangle requires you to head north to the Ruins of Farahlon, where you'll need to kill Culuthas and loot Ata'mal Crystal.

Once that is completed, you'll head back to Shattrath and talk to A'dal, picking up the last quest in the chain, How to Break Into the Arcatraz.

Get a group together for The Mechanar and defeat the final boss, Pathaleon the Calculator. Loot the Bottom Shard of the Arcatraz Key from the boss.

Get a group together for The Botanica and defeat the final boss, Warp Splinter. Loot the Top Shard of the Arcatraz Key from the boss.

With boss fragments looted from the Tempest Keep dungeon bosses, return to A'dal and pick up your Key to the Arcatraz!

The Black Morass

To The Master's Lair - Find the dragon Steward of Time just inside the entrance of the Caverns of Time cave complex in Tanaris, /way 66.0 49.6. Accept a ride down into the Caverns of Time. Speak to the child Andormu, /way 58.4 54.2.

The Caverns of Time - Follow the Custodian of Time around the cavern. This is the part that takes time -- just over 7 minutes total. You don't have to follow the quest giver around; you can AFK at the quest giver while the tour goes on, and you won't get dropped from the quest. Speak to Andormu again when it's over.

Old Hillsbrad - Andormu sends you inside Old Hillsbrad Foothills to speak to Erozion, a dragon inside the dungeon.

Complete the quests inside the dungeon, Taretha's Diversion, Escape from Durnholde, and Return to Andormu.

Return to AndormuAndormuThe Black MorassKeepers of TimeThe Shattered Halls

Kill Smith Gorlunk in Shadowmoon Valley and loot Primed Key Mold off his corpse, accepting the first Quest in the chain, either Entry Into the Citadel or Entry Into the Citadel, depending on your faction.

Turn that quest in either Honor Hold or Thrallmar. Pick up the follow-ups, Grand Master Dumphry, and then Grand Master Dumphry or Grand Master Rohok, and then Rohok's Request.

You'll need 4 Fel Iron Bar, 2 Arcane Dust, and 4 Mote of Fire to turn in to either Dumphry or Rohok. Once that is completed, pick up the last quest in the chain, Hotter than Hell, which requires you to form a group and kill a Fel Reaver roaming around Hellfire Peninsula!

Kill a Fel Reaver and use the corpse to turn Unfired Key Mold into Charred Key Mold.

Return the Charred Key Mold to either Dumphry or Rohok and obtain Shattered Halls Key!

Heroic Mode Dungeon Attunements in TBC ClassicAcquiring Heroic Dungeon KeysHellfire Citadel, Coilfang Reservoir, Auchindoun, Tempest Keep, and Caverns of Time

Key Name

Dungeon Hub

Faction Required

Flamewrought Key

Hellfire Citadel

Honor Hold / Thrallmar

Coilfang Reservoir

Auchindoun

Tempest Keep

Caverns of Time

Karazhan Attunement in TBC ClassicArchmage Alturus Quests for Karazhan in TBC Classic

Find Archmage Alturus in Deadwind Pass near Karazhan entrance

Accept Arcane Disturbances and Restless Activity and complete the tasks nearby

Turn the two quests in and accept Contact from Dalaran

Find Archmage Cedric in Alterac Mountains, accept the next quest Khadgar

Find Khadgar in Shattrath, accept the next quest Entry Into Karazhan

Obtaining the First Key Fragment

Before you can venture into the Shadow Labyrinth dungeon, you'll need the Shadow Labyrinth Key. Thankfully, this isn't difficult at all; you'll just need to find a group for Sethekk Halls and kill the final boss, Talon King Ikiss. Once defeated, loot the chest that spawns and pick up the Shadow Labyrinth Key!

After obtaining Shadow Labyrinth Key, get a group together for Shadow Labyrinth and clear the entire dungeon.

After defeating Murmur, open the Arcane Container behind Murmur. Doing so will spawn First Fragment Guardian, which needs to be killed. Loot First Key Fragment.

Return to Khadgar in Shattrath, accept the next quest The Second and Third Fragments

The Second and Third Fragments

Get a group together for The Steamvault and clear up to the first boss, Hydromancer Thespia.

Underneath the water near the boss's platform, open the Arcane Container, which will spawn Second Fragment Guardian. Once killed, loot Second Key Fragment.

After obtaining Key to the Arcatraz, get a group together for The Arcatraz and clear up to the first boss, Zereketh the Unbound.

Near the boss is a room filled with Voidwalkers. Open the Arcane Container, which will spawn Third Fragment Guardian. Once killed, loot Third Key Fragment.

With both key fragments, return to Khadgar and pick up the next quest, The Master's Touch, obtaining Restored Apprentice's Key.

Opening the Dark Portal in TBC Classic

With The Master's Touch and The Black Morass in the quest log, get a group together for The Black Morass.

Inside The Black Morass dungeon, speak with Sa'at, turn in The Black Morass, and accept the next quest, The Opening of the Dark Portal.

Defend Medivh and witness the Opening of the Dark Portal.

Once the dungeon is finished, turn in Hero of the Brood to Sa'at and The Master's Touch to Medivh. Pick up the follow-up, Return to Khadgar.

Return to Khadgar in Shattrath and turn in the quest, obtaining The Master's Key! Congratulations!

Archmage Khadgar will also offer a follow-up quest, The Violet Eye which you'll turn in at Karazhan when you get there.

Serpentshrine Cavern Attunement in TBC ClassicThe Cudgel of Kar'deshThe Slave PensMennu the BetrayerSkar'this the HereticThe Cudgel of Kar'deshThe Earthern SignetGruul's LairGruul the DragonkillerEarthen SignetObtain the Blackened Urn

When you are Honored with The Violet Eye, you can pick up the quest Medivh's Journal from Archmage Alturus outside Karazhan.

Inside Karazhan, you'll find Wravien after clearing four bosses. Once you find him, you can turn in Medivh's Journal and pick up two new quests, In Good Hands and Kamsis.

Gradav is in the same room as Wravien, so that is an easy quest! After finding Kamsis, she'll offer a follow-up quest, The Shade of Aran. Which requires you to kill Shade of Aran.

Loot Medivh's Journal and return to Kamsis, picking up the next quest, The Master's Terrace.

Once you find the book, read the journal entry, and witness some roleplay, head back to Archmage Alturus outside Karazhan.

Pick up the next quest from Archmage Alturus, Digging Up the Past, which requires you to pick up Charred Bone Fragment. You can't do this quest in a raid group, so leave your raid group if you are in one.

The next quest, A Colleague's Aid, requires you to bring the Charred Bone Fragment to the Netherstorm. Speak to Kalynna Lathred outside Area 52.

Pick up Kalynna's Request from Kalynna Lathred, which will require you to run some dungeons!

Get a group together for Sethekk Halls, kill the first boss Darkweaver Syth, and loot Book of Forgotten Names from the boss's corpse.

Get a group together for The Shattered Halls, kill the first boss Grand Warlock Nethekurse, and loot Tome of Dusk from the boss's corpse.

Return to Kalynna Lathred and get the final quest in the chain, Nightbane, which will also give you Blackened Urn

With the Blackened Urn, you can now summon Nightbane inside Karazhan.

The Blazing SignetKarazhanBlackened UrnNightbaneBlazing SignetThe Mark of VashjEarthen SignetBlazing SignetThe Slave PensThe Cudgel of Kar'deshThe Mark of VashjThe Cipher of Damnation - Tempest Keep Pre-Quest in TBC ClassicThe Hand of Gul'dan

The opening quest for this chain begins with The Hand of Gul'dan, found in Wildhammer Stronghold, or The Hand of Gul'dan, found in Shadowmoon Village.

You'll head to Earthmender Torlok, near the Deathforge in Shadowmoon Valley, to pick up the next quest, Enraged Spirits of Fire and Earth.

Place Totem of Spirits on the ground next to Elementals before killing them, collecting their souls for the next three quests in the chain, Enraged Spirits of Fire and Earth, Enraged Spirits of Water, and Enraged Spirits of Air.

Once all three of the elemental quests have been turned in, Earthmender Torlok will give you the quest Oronok Torn-heart, sending you to the northern part of Shadowmoon Village to find Oronok Torn-heart.

Oronok Torn-heart will give you the next quest, I Was A Lot Of Things..., requiring you to collect Shadowmoon Tubers by calling a boar with a whistle to dig them up.

The next quest, A Lesson Learned, requires you to destroy 10 Ravenous Flayer Egg in the area.

Once that is completed, accept the next quest, The Cipher of Damnation - Truth and History, and listen to Oronok Torn-heart's roleplay.

The First Fragment of the Cipher of Damnation

Pick up Grom'tor, Son of Oronok from Oronok Torn-heart and head to Coilskar Point, to find Grom'tor, Son of Oronok.

Grom'tor, Son of Oronok, will give you the quest The Cipher of Damnation - Grom'tor's Charge, requiring you to loot the First Fragment of the Cipher of Damnation, which can be obtained from Coilskar Chest around Coilskar Point.

Once obtained, pick up the quest The Cipher of Damnation - The First Fragment Recovered and return to Oronok Torn-heart.

The Second Fragment of the Cipher of Damnation

Pick up Ar'tor, Son of Oronok from Oronok Torn-heart and head to Illidari Point, to find Ar'tor, Son of Oronok.

Ar'tor, Son of Oronok, will give you the quest Demonic Crystal Prisons, requiring you to kill Painmistress Gabrissa and loot Crystalline Key, before returning to Ar'tor.

The next quest, Lohn'goron, Bow of the Torn-heart, requires you to loot the Lohn'goron, Bow of the Torn-heart, which drops from the demons around Illidari Point.

Once completed, the next quest The Cipher of Damnation - Ar'tor's Charge requires you to collect Second Fragment of the Cipher of Damnation, which drops from Veneratus the Many.

After looting the Second Fragment, return to Ar'tor and get the next quest The Cipher of Damnation - The Second Fragment Recovered, which has you return to Oronok Torn-heart.

The Third Fragment of the Cipher of Damnation

Pick up Borak, Son of Oronok from Oronok Torn-heart and head to Eclipse Point, to find Borak, Son of Oronok.

Borak, Son of Oronok, will give you the quest Of Thistleheads and Eggs..., requiring you to loot Rotten Arakkoa Egg from an Arakkoa Egg near Eclipse Point.

Once the Rotten Arakkoa Egg has been collected, you'll need to take it to Shattrath and speak to Tobias the Filth Gorger, which will give you the next quest, The Bundle of Bloodthistle. Sending you back to Borak.

The next quest, To Catch A Thistlehead, requires you to place Bundle of Bloodthistle at the end of a nearby bridge and wait for Blood Lord Zarath to interact with Envoy Icarius and leave. Once the Blood Lord leaves, you'll be able to safely attack and kill him, looting Stormrage Missive off of Envoy Icarius.

Once that is completed, the next quest The Shadowmoon Shuffle will have you killing Blood Elf enemies around Eclipse Point and looting Eclipsion Armor.

Then, you'll use Blood Elf Disguise to complete the follow up quest What Illidan Wants, Illidan Gets..., requiring you to talk to Grand Commander Ruusk.

The next quest is a group quest, The Cipher of Damnation - Borak's Charge, requiring a group of players to kill Ruul the Darkener, an elite mob that roams near Dragonmaw Fortress. Once killed, loot Third Fragment of the Cipher of Damnation.

The Cipher of Damnation - The Third Fragment Recovered will have you return to Oronok Torn-heart.

The Cipher of Damnation

Oronok Torn-heart will now offer the final quest in this chain, The Cipher of Damnation, which is another group quest requiring the group to kill an elite mob.

Use The Cipher of Damnation to summon Cyrukh the Firelord and kill him as a group.

Once defeated, return to Earthmender Torlok and complete the quest.

Completing this quest chain will send the player a Letter from Shattrath in the mail, which allows the player to advance to the next step in the attunement process for Tempest Keep, where they'll go on four Trials to be deemed worthy by A'dal.

Tempest Keep Attunement in TBC ClassicThe Tempest KeyKhadgarThe Tempest KeyA'dalTrial of the Naaru: MercyThe Shattered HallsShattered Hand ExecutionerUnused Axe of the ExecutionerTrial of the Naaru: StrengthThe SteamvaultWarlord KalithreshKalithresh's TridentShadow LabyrinthMurmurMurmur's EssenceTrial of the Naaru: TenacityThe ArcatrazHarbinger SkyrissMillhouse ManastormTrial of the Naaru: MagtheridonMagtheridon's LairMagtheridonA'dalPhoenix-fire BandThe Tempest KeyAttunements: With The Tempest Key, unlocks Tempest KeepMount Hyjal Attunement in TBC ClassicSoridormiThe Vials of EternityKeepers of TimeVashj's Vial RemnantSerpentshrine CavernLady VashjVashj's Vial RemnantKael's Vial RemnantTempest KeepKael'thas SunstriderKael's Vial RemnantAttunement to Hyjal SummitVashj's Vial RemnantKael's Vial RemnantYou're fully attuned to TBC Classic Phase 1 and Phase 2!Black Temple Attunement in TBC ClassicAkamaMaiev ShadowsongMedallion of KaraborIllidan StormrageBlessed Medallion of KaraborThe Secret CompromisedThe Ashtongue Quest Chain

Tablets of Baa'ri (Aldor) or Tablets of Baa'ri (Scryer) will send the player to obtain 12 Baa'ri Tablet Fragment from the Ruins of Baa'ri. Once completed, return to either the Altar of Sha'tar or the Sanctum of the Stars.

Oronu the Elder (Aldor) or Oronu the Elder (Scryer) requires the player to find and kill Oronu the Elder inside the Ruins of Baa'ri, found on a balcony to the north. Oronu the Elder will drop Orders From Akama, which is needed to complete this quest.

The Ashtongue Corruptors (Aldor) or The Ashtongue Corruptors (Scryer) will have players traveling around Shadowmoon Valley, searching for the Elders and collecting Medallion Fragments.

Eykenen's Medallion Fragment drops from Eykenen, found in the Fel Pits near the center of Shadowmoon Valley

Haalum's Medallion Fragment drops from Haalum, found near Netherwind Pass, south of Sanctum of the Stars

Lakaan's Medallion Fragment drops from Lakaan, found near Coilskar Point to the North

Uylaru's Medallion Fragment drops from Uylaru, found in the Fel Pits near the Hand of Gul'dan

Akama's Promise

Pick up The Warden's Cage (Aldor) / The Warden's Cage (Scryer) and then head to the Warden's Cage and interrogate Sanoru.

Proof of Allegiance will require the player to kill Zandras, which patrols around the Warden's Cage.

Akama sends the player down into the depths below the Warden's Cage, completed by speaking to Akama.

Seer Udalo requires you to get a dungeon group together for The Arcatraz. Find Udalo inside the dungeon.

A Mysterious Portent will return the player to Akama in Shadowmoon Valley.

The Ata'mal Terrace & Akama's Promise is the final step in this chain. Get a group together and head to the Ata'mal Terrace, the northern half of Black Temple. Kill Shadowlord Deathwail and loot the Heart of Fury from the corpse. Bring the Heart of Fury back to Akama, who will give you the quest Akama's Promise, sending you to Shattrath to speak to A'dal. Completing this quest will allow the player to pick up the next quest in the chain, The Secret Compromised.

Entry into the Black Temple

Inside Serpent Shrine Cavern, kill Fathom-Lord Karathress. Once defeated, Seer Olum will spawn and offer the quest The Secret Compromised, which sends the player to Akama at the Warden's Cage.

Akama will offer the next quest in the chain, Ruse of the Ashtongue, which requires the player to use Ashtongue Cowl and defeat Al'ar inside Tempest Keep.

Next, Akama will give the quest An Artifact From the Past, which will send you to the Caverns of Time for the Battle of Mount Hyjal raid. Defeat Rage Winterchill and loot Time-Phased Phylactery from the boss, before returning to Akama in Shadowmoon Valley.

After completing "An Artifact From the Past," Akama will offer The Hostage Soul, sending the player to speak to A'dal in Shattrath City. A'dal will give the quest Entry Into the Black Temple, sending the player to The Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley.

Lastly, A Distraction for Akama is offered from Xi'ri outside of The Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley. Speak to Xi'ri and complete this quest, which will reward the player with Medallion of Karabor.

Comments

Comment by Claythorne

Karazhan attunement requires level 68 to begin and level 69 to turn-in the master key quest.

Comment by r8response

Check out the addon Attune

The author has started it in preparation of TBC.

Comment by Vendevorex

Attunement is not complete once you have access to Hyjal Summit! You need to defeat the first boss in there, Rage Winterchill, in order to get his Time-Phased Phylactery while on the quest An Artifact From the Past in order to obtain access to Black Temple. While that isn't terribly hard, the access to Black Temple is the final attunement, not access to Hyjal.

Comment by RichardMNixon

I love attunements so much. They make endgame feel like something you have to unlock, give a great story lead-in, and are a great way to onboard people to raiding. It's very disappointing that they stopped being a thing.

Comment by nishav101822

The guide should be updated regarding the flying mount requirement. Any main doing this is going to have their flying mounts but it is important to note for alts that they can be Warlock summoned to every part of the attunement steps.

Comment by Elevated11

The attunement map embodies what wow used to be, with so much interaction among Dgs and raids, giving a plus to ending content, and what is missing in expansions nowadays, with hard-fought achievement.
I really miss that kind of fun :(

Comment by Avnxt

Been making a spreadsheet for our guild with informations like gear, enchants, attunements and reputations! Wish this was availiable back when I did the Attunement part! Very detailed! Well done! :)

Comment by sandreid87

The Black Temple Attunement is missing. It starts in Shadowmoon Valley, with the "Tablets of Baa'ri"-Quest.

Comment by Erkon91

I believe rogues with max lock picking skill can unlock normal mode dungeons like Arcatraz and Shattered Halls without doing the quests required to obtain the keys.

Comment by MyPPSmal

The Box of Surveying Equipment for the Rightful Repossession quest, are actually located outside Manaforge Duro and not inside Eco-Dome like it's said in the guide.

Comment by Sacredchao

Man those are a lot of words to basically convey the same information as this old thing: https://i.imgur.com/sHjrAPm.png

Comment by vicioushunter

So does this guide not tell us which attunements are available in phase 1 and which attunement quests we cannot start until a later phase? Those seem like key points so that when a new phase releases players are not already behind the curve.

Comment by KJLawell

Do you need to be attuned to summon Nightbane to loot the item needed for the SSC attunement, or can you loot the item when somebody else summons Nightbane?

Comment by globalseoshop

Thank You So much

Comment by Bloodylightadin

Killing him before any prisoners have been executed will make Unused Axe of the Executioner Unused Axe of the Executioner drop, which is required for this quest.

On TBC Anniversary, this is no longer true for the TK attunement quest "Mercy." You only need to kill the last boss and the executioner before he kills the LAST prisoner. The prisoners before the last can be executed and the axe will still drop off of the executioner. I am unsure of the exact time, but this should give you about an hour and 15 minutes to complete the dungeon with the last prisoner remaining and still get the quest done.

Attunements Guide: Attunements Walkthrough, Quests and Locations - TBC Classic

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