Is the endless march through Blackrock Foundry starting to feel like a chore instead of an epic adventure? Are you tired of clearing the same trash, week after week, just for a chance at that elusive mount or a missing transmog piece? What if I told you there's a way to bypass most of that grunt work and get straight to the good stuff?
Yes, my fellow adventurer, it's true! Blackrock Foundry, a sprawling raid from the Warlords of Draenor expansion, has a hidden skip that can save you a significant amount of time. Whether you're a dedicated transmog collector, a mount farmer, or simply looking to complete old raid achievements more efficiently, this guide is your key to unlocking a smoother Blackrock Foundry experience.
Let's dive in and learn how to make your weekly BRF runs a breeze!
Mastering the Blackrock Foundry Skip: Your Step-by-Step Guide
This guide will walk you through the process of unlocking and utilizing the Blackrock Foundry skip, allowing you to bypass the initial bosses and head straight for the mighty Warlord Blackhand.
Tip: A slow, careful read can save re-reading later.
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| How To Skip Blackrock Foundry |
Step 1: Laying the Groundwork - The Initial Clear (One-Time Requirement)
Alright, adventurer, let's start with the most important part: you can't just walk in and skip everything right away! This skip requires a one-time full clear of the raid on your chosen character and difficulty. Think of it as proving your worth to the Iron Horde before they let you take shortcuts.
- 1.1 The Full Clear:
- What to do: You'll need to clear all bosses in Blackrock Foundry on a single character for the first time. This includes Gruul, Oregorger, The Blast Furnace, Hans'gar and Franzok, Flamebender Ka'graz, Kromog, Beastlord Darmac, Operator Thogar, The Iron Maidens, and finally, Warlord Blackhand.
- Difficulty matters: The skip is unlocked per difficulty. So, if you clear it on Normal, you unlock the skip for Normal. If you want it for Heroic or Mythic, you'll need to clear those difficulties fully at least once as well.
- Preparation is key: While modern characters at level 70 and above can solo most Warlords of Draenor content with ease, it's still wise to be familiar with the basic mechanics of each boss for your initial full clear. Check out guides on reputable sites like Icy Veins or Wowhead if you're unsure.
- The Reward: Upon defeating Warlord Blackhand after a full clear, you'll complete a hidden quest that permanently unlocks the skip for that character and difficulty. There's no visible quest to pick up beforehand; it simply triggers upon completion.
Step 2: Entering Blackrock Foundry and Activating the Skip
Once you've completed your initial full clear, subsequent runs become significantly faster!
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2.1 Getting to Blackrock Foundry:
- Location: Blackrock Foundry is located in northern Gorgrond, on the continent of Draenor.
- Travel Options:
- Garrison Hearthstone: If you have your Garrison in Draenor, use your Garrison Hearthstone and fly or mount directly to the raid entrance.
- Ashran Portal: In Stormwind (Alliance) or Orgrimmar (Horde), you can find a portal to Ashran, which is the main hub in Draenor. From Ashran, you can fly or mount to Gorgrond.
- Dark Portal: You can also take the portal to the Blasted Lands from your faction's capital city, then go through the Dark Portal into Draenor. From there, it's a longer journey to Gorgrond.
- Exact Coordinates: The entrance is at approximately 51.4, 28.7 in Gorgrond, a massive industrial gate built into the mountains.
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2.2 Activating the Skip - The Blackrock Artifact:
- Step Inside: Enter Blackrock Foundry on the character and difficulty for which you've unlocked the skip.
- Initial Trash: You will still need to clear a small amount of trash mobs right at the beginning of the raid. These are typically just a few packs of enemies.
- Locate the Artifact: After clearing the initial trash, as you approach the large gate leading further into the raid (the one that's usually closed with flames), look to either side of it. You'll see a "Blackrock Artifact". It's a small, interactable object, often glowing faintly.
- Click and Confirm: Click on the Blackrock Artifact. You'll get a prompt asking if you wish to activate the skip. Confirm your choice.
- The Magic Happens: Upon confirmation, the large gate will lower, the flames will dissipate, and you'll find yourself able to proceed directly to the final boss, Warlord Blackhand. No more Gruul, Oregorger, or conveyor belt shenanigans!
Step 3: Confronting Warlord Blackhand
With the skip activated, your focus shifts entirely to the formidable Warlord Blackhand.
Tip: Don’t skip the details — they matter.
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3.1 Reaching Blackhand:
- Direct Path: Follow the newly opened path. It's a straightforward route, and you shouldn't encounter any more trash mobs.
- Lore and Location: You'll traverse through the heart of the foundry, eventually arriving at Blackhand's Crucible, where the Warlord awaits atop his searing platform.
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3.2 Defeating Blackhand (Solo Strategy Considerations):
- Boss Mechanics: While current character levels make Blackhand largely trivial on lower difficulties, here are some general tips:
- Phase 1 (Normal Platform): He'll hit hard and summon adds. Focus on bursting him down.
- Phase 2 (Falling Down): He'll break the floor, causing you to fall to a lower level. Be mindful of knockbacks if you're not drastically overgeared, as falling off the platform can reset the fight. Try to position yourself with your back to a wall.
- Phase 3 (Final Descent): The floor will break again. Keep attacking him.
- Current Power Levels: At current retail levels (Dragonflight and beyond), most classes can simply nuke Blackhand down in seconds on Normal, Heroic, and even Mythic difficulty, often skipping entire phases. Your main concern will likely be avoiding accidental knock-offs if you're not paying attention.
- Boss Mechanics: While current character levels make Blackhand largely trivial on lower difficulties, here are some general tips:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Skipping Blackrock Foundry
Here are 10 common "How to" questions about the Blackrock Foundry skip, with quick answers:
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How to: Unlock the Blackrock Foundry skip?
You unlock the skip by completing a full clear of Blackrock Foundry, defeating all 10 bosses including Warlord Blackhand, on a specific character and difficulty.
How to: Get to Blackrock Foundry?
Travel to Gorgrond in Draenor (via Garrison Hearthstone, Ashran portal, or Dark Portal) and head to coordinates 51.4, 28.7.
QuickTip: Slow scrolling helps comprehension.
How to: Activate the skip once inside?
Clear the initial trash, then interact with a "Blackrock Artifact" located on either side of the first large, flaming gate you encounter.
How to: Know if the skip is active?
Once activated, the large flaming gate will lower, and you'll be able to walk directly to Warlord Blackhand's area without fighting the previous bosses.
How to: Skip Blackrock Foundry on different difficulties?
The skip must be unlocked separately for each difficulty (Normal, Heroic, Mythic) by completing a full clear on that specific difficulty.
QuickTip: Skim the first line of each paragraph.
How to: Farm the Ironhoof Destroyer mount efficiently using the skip?
Unlock the Mythic skip, then each week, enter Mythic BRF, activate the skip, and defeat Blackhand for a chance at the mount.
How to: Reset Blackrock Foundry to do multiple runs in a week?
You can only get loot from each boss once per week per difficulty. For repeated attempts at Blackhand on Mythic (for the mount), you'll need to use separate characters, as Mythic raid lockouts are instance-based and not shareable for skips. However, you can extend your lockout on a character that hasn't killed Blackhand for others to join.
How to: Deal with Blackhand's mechanics when soloing with the skip?
At higher levels, simply burst him down. On Mythic, be mindful of knockbacks in Phase 2 and 3; try to position yourself near walls.
How to: Tell if you've already unlocked the skip?
There's no explicit in-game notification. The best way to check is to enter the raid on a character you believe has unlocked it, clear the initial trash, and see if the "Blackrock Artifact" is interactable.
How to: Avoid the Blackrock Foundry intro questline (for a fresh Draenor character)?
While not directly related to the raid skip, for new characters, you can bypass the Warlords of Draenor intro questline by speaking to Chromie in your capital city and selecting "The Iron Horde" Timewalking Campaign, then abandoning the quest from Khadgar.
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