Northrend Beasts Strategy Guide - Trial of the Crusader Raid WotLK Classic

By Beanna Updated: 2024/05/10

Northrend Beasts Strategy for Trial of the Crusader in Wrath of the Lich King ClassicNorthrend BeastsGormok the ImpalerAcidmawDreadscaleIcehowlAcidmawDreadscaleGormok the ImpalerIcehowlPhase 1 - Gormok the Impaler

Gormok the Impaler

Level	83 (Boss)
Type:	Humanoid
Health:	11.9M (25-man Heroic)
8.9M (25-man)
2.8M (10-man Heroic)
2.2M (10-man)

Gormok the ImpalerGormok the ImpalerImpaleImpaleImpaleImpaleGormok the ImpalerStaggering StompSnobold VassalFire BombFire BombStaggering StompFire Resistance AuraFire Resistance TotemSnobold VassalRising AngerSnobold VassalstunninginterruptingSnobolled!Snobolled!Snobold Vassalpad their DPSSnobolled!Phase 2 - Acidmaw & Dreadscale

Acidmaw & Dreadscale

Level	83 (Boss)
Type:	Beast
Health:	6.7M (25-man Heroic)
5M (25-man)
1.6M (10-man Heroic)
1.2M (10-man)

Gormok the ImpalerAcidmawDreadscaleDreadscaleAcidmawDreadscalemobileAcidmawstationaryDreadscaleAcidmawmobilestationaryAcidmawDreadscale

When they are mobile, Acidmaw and Dreadscale will spawn a Slime Pool at their position that will deal nature damage to everyone standing in it and grow in size for 45 seconds (1 minute in heroic), similar to Grobbulus' clouds. Thus the mobile jormungar needs to be dragged around the arena after every Slime Pool. This mechanic also makes stacking the two bosses together for cleave damage rather dangerous.

Also like Grobbulus, the mobile jormungar will cast a frontal cone Spew attack every 15 seconds, which they will channel for 2.5 seconds, dealing ~5k damage every 0.3 seconds for a total of ~40k magic damage. For Dreadscale, the first mobile jormungar, it's the Molten Spew while for Acidmaw it's the Acidic Spew.
To avoid dealing a ton of damage to the raid, the tank in charge of the mobile jormungar must keep the boss facing away from the raid at all times while dragging it around the arena away from Slime Pools.

Finally, the mobile jormungar will also use a Bite ability every 20 seconds on top of its melee attacks, that deals magic damage and applies a 60 seconds debuff to the tank. The fiery Dreadscale will use Burning Bite, which applies the Burning Bile debuff, and the poisonous Acidmaw will use Paralytic Bite, which applies the Paralytic Toxin debuff. More on these debuffs and how to deal with them throughout the fight later.

When they are stationary, Acidmaw and Dreadscale will stay planted into the ground at the position they emerged. The stationary jormungar doesn't melee the tank anymore but instead will continuously cast a Spit ability at its target, dealing ~8k magic damage (~11k in heroic) with each cast. Dreadscale will use Fire Spit, dealing fire damage, and Acidmaw will use Acid Spit, dealing equivalent nature damage.

Every 20 seconds, they will use the Sweep ability, dealing ~9k physical damage (~11k in heroic) to every player within 15 yards of the boss and knocking them back. This ability is similar to Ouro's Sweep.

Lastly, the stationary jormungar will cast a Spray ability towards a random raid member. The Spray deals ~10k magic damage (~14k in heroic) to the targeted player and splashes to any raid member within a 10 yards radius of that player, so ranged players should stay spread out just like against Gormok the Impaler to avoid hurting each other. Dreadscale uses a Burning Spray, which applies the Burning Bile debuff to any player hit, and Acidmaw uses Paralytic Spray, which applies the Paralytic Toxin debuff.

Mobile:

Slime Pool that forces the tank to drag the boss around the arena.
Spew in a frontal cone so watch out for the boss orientation.
Bite the tank which applies Burning Bile or Paralytic Toxin on the tank.

Stationary:

Spit deals only magic damage to the tank.
Sweep that pushes everyone in melee range away.
Spray that targets a random raid member and damages players around, also applying Burning Bile or Paralytic Toxin to all players hit.

Burning Bile & Paralytic Toxin

Dreadscale's abilities Burning Bite (mobile, tank only) and Burning Spray (stationary, random player) will apply the Burning Bile debuff for 60 seconds, which deals ~6k fire damage (~9k in heroic) to the targeted player every 2 seconds and also damages every nearby raid member within 10 yards. It can't be removed.
Acidmaw's abilities Paralytic Bite (mobile, tank only) and Paralytic Spray (stationary, random player) will apply the Paralytic Toxin debuff for 60 seconds, which deals ~3k nature damage (~5k in heroic) to the targeted player every 2 seconds and gradually reduces the player's movement speed by 10% every tick, paralyzing the player after 20 seconds.
Players afflicted by the Paralytic Toxin can cleanse this debuff by running in range of a player affected by the Burning Bile debuff, which AoE fire damage ticks neutralize the toxin. It can also be removed by abilities such as Cloak of Shadows, Vanish, Ice Block, Divine Shield, etc.

When you engage the fight against the two jormungars, Dreadscale is the first mobile boss while Acidmaw is stationary. This means only the tank assigned to Dreadscale will carry the Burning Bile debuff applied by Burning Bite, and all raid members afflicted by the Paralytic Toxin from Acidmaw's Paralytic Spray will have to rush towards Dreadscale's tank to take a tick of fire damage and cleanse their toxin before they're paralyzed. Be careful not to stand next to the tank when Dreadscale uses his frontal cone Molten Spew.
Alternatively, players afflicted by Paralytic Toxin can stay put for maximum DPS output and the tank carrying Burning Bile will have to run from player to player to free them of their paralysis when both jormungars burrow for a few seconds.

After the jormungars submerge and swap positions, now the tank assigned to the mobile Acidmaw will be the only one afflicted by Paralytic Toxin from Paralytic Bite, which will lead to their paralysis after a few seconds and will stop them from being able to move the boss away from Slime Pool. Dreadscale's Burning Spray will now hit multiple players with Burning Bile, and they will be in charge of cleansing the tank.

AcidmawDreadscaleDreadscaleHeroismBloodlust— ideally before the first submerge —Burning BileUlduarDreadscaleAcidmawParalytic ToxinBurning BileDreadscaleAcidmawDreadscaleEnrageBurning BileAcidmawParalytic ToxinParalytic BiteDreadscaleBurning BileParalytic ToxinAcidmawParalytic ToxinPaladinDivine InterventionPhase 3 - Icehowl

Icehowl

Level	83 (Boss)
Type:	Beast
Health:	18.1M (25-man Heroic)
13.2M (25-man)
4.2M (10-man Heroic)
3.5M (10-man)

IcehowlAcidmawDreadscaleIcehowlFerocious ButtWhirlIcehowlWhirlChampion of HodirUlduarIcehowlArctic BreathFrost Resistance AuraAura MasteryDivine GuardianIcehowlMassive CrashTrampleIcehowlSurge of AdrenalineTrampleIcehowlFrothing RageTranquilizing ShotAnesthetic Poison IITrampleIcehowlStaggered DazeSurge of AdrenalineStaggered DazeIcehowlMassive CrashWhirlArctic Breath

Recommended Raid Composition
Tanks: 1-2 Tanks — Most groups will use 2 tanks to drop Impale stacks against Gormok the Impaler and to tank Acidmaw & Dreadscale, but 1 tank is enough for Gormok the Impaler with very high raid DPS and Acidmaw can be tanked easily by a Warlock as an alternative.
Healers: 3-5 — The raid damage varies between each boss but managing debuffs against Acidmaw & Dreadscale in heroic difficulty can put pressure on your healers.
DPS: 18-21 — High raid DPS is required to kill each boss before the next one enters the arena in heroic difficulty, but it also makes Gormok the Impaler and Acidmaw much easier.

Northrend Beasts Tips for Trial of the Crusader in Wrath of the Lich King ClassicTips for Tanks on Northrend Beasts

Use defensive cooldowns when you reach 3-5 stacks of Impale bleed to mitigate the damage received while still tanking the boss.

Always face Acidmaw and Dreadscale away from the raid while mobile.

The jormungars reset threat when they submerge so be quick to grab them every time they swap positions.

Nitro Boosts is amazing to free up your paralyzed raid members before the jormungars emerge back when you're carrying Burning Bile.

Reposition Icehowl against a wall or into the gate as fast as possible after every Massive Crash.

Tips for Melee on Northrend Beasts

Stack on the same position against Gormok the Impaler and move together to avoid filling the space around the boss with fire.

Split in two groups to mitigate the collateral damage from Burning Spray, Paralytic Spray and Arctic Breath that can greatly hurt your DPS uptime.

Make sure your Nitro Boosts are ready to close the gap after Massive Crash and capitalize on the burst window with maximum uptime.

Tips for Ranged on Northrend Beasts

Snobold Vassal ignore most AoEs but multi-DoT works wonders to kill them.

Acidmaw and Dreadscale do not heal back up to full after one dies so multi-DoT to your heart's content.

Refresh your DoTs before Icehowl's Massive Crash so they don't time out while you're stunned.

Stay spread out the entire fight to mitigate the collateral damage from Fire Bomb, Burning Spray, Paralytic Spray and Arctic Breath that can greatly hurt your DPS uptime.

Tips for Healers on Northrend Beasts

Don't stop healing both tanks against Gormok the Impaler because they will still take constant damage from Impale bleeds even when not tanking.

Position between the two tanks to not be out of range of the tank dragging the mobile jormungar around the arena.

Coordinate with the raid leader to rotate defensive cooldowns to mitigate Arctic Breath's damage.

Stay spread out the entire fight to mitigate the collateral damage from Fire Bomb, Burning Spray, Paralytic Spray and Arctic Breath.

Northrend Beasts Abilities for Trial of the Crusader in Wrath of the Lich King Classic

Gormok the Impaler

Ability

Description

Impale

Inflicts 150% of weapon damage to an enemy and causes it to bleed for 3938 to 5062 damage per application every 2 sec. for 40 sec.

Staggering Stomp

Deals a staggering stomp that inflicts 11700 to 12300 Physical damage to all enemies within 15 yards and interrupts spellcasting for 8 seconds.

Rising Anger

Growing rage increases damage dealt by 15%.

Acidmaw

Ability

Description

Sweep

Whirls around, dealing 10175 to 11825 Physical damage to enemies within 15 yards and knocking them back.

Acid Spit

Deals 10175 to 11825 Nature damage to an enemy.

Paralytic Spray

Sprays acid at an enemy and nearby targets, dealing 12950 to 15050 Nature damage and applying a debilitating paralytic toxin.

Acidic Spew

Deals 4625 to 5375 Nature damage per 0.3 sec. to enemies in front of the caster.

Paralytic Bite

Inflicts 18500 to 21500 Nature damage on an enemy and injects them with a paralytic toxin.

Paralytic Toxin

Applies a paralytic toxin that inflicts increasing Nature damage every 2 sec. and reduces movement speed over time until the victim is entirely paralyzed. Exposure to Burning Bile neutralizes Paralytic Toxin.

Dreadscale

Ability

Description

Slime Pool

A poison cloud appears which grows in area over 30 sec.

Fire Spit

Deals 10175 to 11825 Fire damage to an enemy.

Burning Spray

Sprays fluid at an enemy and nearby targets, dealing 12950 to 15050 Fire damage and coating them with burning bile.

Molten Spew

Deals 4625 to 5375 Fire damage per 0.3 sec. to enemies in front of the caster.

Burning Bite

Inflicts 18500 to 21500 Fire damage to an enemy and coats them with burning bile.

Burning Bile

Coats enemies with burning bile, inflicting periodic Fire damage to them and their nearby allies. The burning bile of a jormungar is known to neutralize paralytic toxins.

Icehowl

Ability

Description

Ferocious Butt

Delivers a ferocious headbutt to an enemy, inflicting 83250 to 96750 Physical damage and stunning for 2.50 sec.

Whirl

Whirls around, dealing 12950 to 15050 Physical damage to all nearby enemies and knocking them back.

Arctic Breath

An icy breath that freezes targets in a cone in front of the caster, inflicting 30000 Frost damage over 5 sec.

Massive Crash

Leaps into the air and crashes down with massive force, dealing 16188 to 18812 Physical damage to all enemies, stunning them, and knocking them back.

Trample

Tramples enemies within 12 yards, dealing 50000 Physical damage.

Raid Composition

Comments

Comment by zoobis

there's a mistake regarding Icehowl's engage - it can be dispelled using tranquilizing shot no matter the difficulty. confirmed this on my last 25HC run. there's also a comment from 2009 claiming that it worked in HC then too, so idk where your claim even came from.

Comment by likemike42

Burning bile lasts 24 seconds, not 60 seconds as stated in the guide: "Dreadscale's abilities Burning Bite (mobile, tank only) and Burning Spray (stationary, random player) will apply the Burning Bile debuff for 60 seconds"

Comment by Biftard

I entirely disagree with the killing dreadmaw first strat, at least in 25 man. I don't think it matters either way in 10 man. I'm sure there are different viewpoints on this, but in 2-3 25 man kills every lockout since release, I have seen far more wipes when dreadmaw is killed first. I feel that as a strategy, it relies too heavily on timing when the bosses die, and perfect execution from the tanks and the DI or BRs, and when it goes wrong, the dominoes fall, and there are too few tanks or healers or dps to complete the encounter. It can work fine IF you have perfect execution, or enough BRs to carry it through, but its too inconsistent when you are going for 50/50 attempts remaining.

The ONLY issue with killing acidmaw first seems to be the zug zug melee that refuse to spread out before dreadmaw casts spew, and they all die en masse. Even with most of the melee dead, we usually have no issue killing icehowl before enrage. And if you can convince your melee to do the one simple mechanic of spread 10 yards before the spew, dreadmaw dies without issue. Even enraged, dreadmaw's damage output is inconsequential. I just think killing acidmaw first is by far the safer plan. They are both zerg strats technically. At least explain both versions.

Northrend Beasts Strategy Guide - Trial of the Crusader Raid WotLK Classic

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