Summary
World of Warcraft Classic: Season of Discoveryis blazing a trail through the game’s old-school content. Players can experience the minimally-altered vanillaWoWjourney like before, but this time with a changed Blackfathom Deeps. A new raid has been introduced for the first time since the Classic saga began, shaking things up for the next generation of Classic gameplay.
Blackfathom Deeps is an instance that already exists in both Classic and RetailWorld of Warcraft, but as a simple leveling dungeon. In Season of Discovery, however, it will be transformed into a proper raid for Phase 1 players, who are currently capped at level 25. The 10-player raid will feature the same bosses, only juiced up and possessing a new loot table.
There are also new secrets to uncover within these dark, flooded crevices, including mysteries that reward epic crafting recipes. These recipes are for Void-touched Armaments, and making the items triggers an intriguing Easter egg that possibly teases Xal’atath fromWoW’s upcoming expansion, The War Within. Recently, this dungeon has also been featured inWarcraft Rumble, the franchise’s new mobile game.
The Origin of Blackfathom Deeps Within World of Warcraft
Blackfathom Deeps is nestled within a series of flooded caves, filled with flesh-eating fish and dastardly naga sorcerers. Spelunking players have to get their feet wet, and without any scuba gear, it’s a good idea to bring a warlock friend. InSeason of Discovery, warlockshave a special interest in this dungeon anyway, given they need it to attain Metamorphosis. There are many twists and turns, with hidden nooks and plenty of vicious wildlife, so even with water-breathing, the murky water is a risky place to be.
Abandoned After the Sundering 10,000 Years Ago
Located on the rainy shores of Zarom Strand in the northeastern corner of Ashenvale, lies an ancient ruin. These waterlogged stones were once part of a sacred night elf temple to their moon goddess Elune, but that was some ten millennia ago. When the Sundering plunged most of the world’s land beneath the ocean in the greatestnatural disaster Azerothhas ever seen, the temple broke apart.
A Monstrous Hydra Takes Up Residence
Although not fully submerged, the temple was abandoned, falling into ruins in the ten thousand years since. It eventually became home to a particularly nasty creature. Aku’mai, the three-headed monster, was a favored pet for anOld God, most likely N’Zoth, and reveled in the swampy detritus of Blackfathom. It made its home beneath the ruins, saturating the surrounding sands with Void energy.
The Arrival of the Twilight’s Hammer Cult
This corruption soon drew the attention of mortals, attracting them like moths to a flame. Any who sought power, particularly if they were fond of theOld Gods, flocked to Blackfathom Deeps. The naga, satyr, and Twilight’s Hammer cultists were the most devoted to Aku’mai, nurturing the beast, so it could one day wreak havoc on the surface. The Twilight’s Hammer leaders even fed their followers to Aku’mai as living sacrifices to sate its endless hunger.
WoW Players Will Once Again Thwart the Void
Canonically, it wasWoWHorde adventurerswho eventually slew Aku’mai and everything else within Blackfathom Deeps. They had a personal history with the Twilight’s Hammer, after all, so it was only fitting that they were the ones to swing the ax. Years later, the site would be revisited by Rexxar and Zekhan to confirm that the evil there remained vanquished.
Taking on a new version of the multi-headed hydra Aku’mai is an exciting challenge for Season of Discovery players, and reinventing old dungeons like this is a definite win. Going forward, it’s practically guaranteed thatWorld of Warcraft Classicwill give other dungeonsthe same treatment, taking old content and giving it some extra love. After all, that’s whatWoW Classicis all about.
