Bridge to Shadowmoon Valley

This is the bridge that connects Terokkar forest to Shadowmoon Valley. Unlike the bridge to Netherstorm, this one only crosses water, not the great Nether.

Shadowmoon Village

Shadowmoon Village is the Horde base in this zone. Inside, you will find your usually base contents — an Inn, a Flight Master, various vendors, and several quest givers. Most important of all, though, is the flying trainer and mount vendor. Shadowmoon is very difficult if you are unable to fly.

Outside the Village

Just outside the village, our friends the Orcs are fending off these Infernal Attacker demons. One or your initial tasks is to help them do their job. I guess they can’t handle it alone…

Fel Lava Pools

All around Shadowmoon are these fel lava pools. Nearby the pools, you can find some Felfire Diametradons and these piles of smoking dirt, both of which are early quest tasks.

Shadowmoon Fauna

Other native fauna to Shadowmoon Valley include these Felboar and Vilewing Chimaera. Someone wants these guys’ body parts… and they say the Forsaken are creepy, geez…

Legion Hold #1

South of Shadowmoon Village is the Legion Hold. Just outside there is a fel lava pool around which these unique looking creatures, the Mutant Horror, are gathered. I believe there is the first half of a part you need for a quest at the bottom of the pool that you need.

Legion Hold #2

In front of the Legion Hold are some demons which are surrounding this portal to another section of Shadowmoon Valley. We’ll check that out in a few minutes. The other half of your quest part from the pool is also in this area.

Legion Hold #3

The Legion Hold proper contains many, many demons. Fortunately, the quest that brings you in here allows you to also destroy the ranks of demons that are gathered in the distance with one fell swoop. You might need a couple of friends in here anyway to take care of the other demons in the foreground.

Legion Hold #4

The last section of the Legion Hold contains Morgroron, who is a kind of mini-boss and the leader of this group of demons. You will definitely need a few friends to take him out.

Invasion Point: Cataclysm

The portal from a while back leads to this area, Invasion Point: Cataclysm. There are a couple of things to do here including using these remotes to control one of the Fel Reavers at the bottom of the hill to destroy as many demons as possible as quick as possible. This is a fun one! When the remote control ends, be ready to run back to the portal because any left-over demons will attack.

Illidari Point

A large collection of demons, Illidari Point is in the south of Shadowmoon near the alliance base, Wildhammer Stronghold. There are several quests in here including one from an old man we’ll see later to free his dead son’s body from those crystals to the left of the scene.

The Deathforge #1

Approaching the center of the zone, you will come across The Deathforge, which is an underground cavern system full of demons and fel orcs. These two orcs on top of this building ask for your help in dealing with the demons inside. Some of the encounters can get a little tight, so a friend could be very helpful.

The Deathforge #2

Here’s a view of the opening of the cavern system. You can see two fel orcs guarding the entrance.

Coilskar Point

Full of the second worst creatures in the whole nether, Coilskar Point is home to the Coilskar Naga. Kill these guys without abandon! Don’t forget to grab their keys and open their boxes while you’re here. Also here are some water elementals, which add to the quest list for this area.

The Hand of Guldan

The center of the map is a large mountain surrounded by lakes of fel lava. You will need to kill several of these earth and fire elementals for a quest from a questgiver just outside the area.

Arakkoa

To the south (and directly east of Wildhammer Stronghold, the Alliance base) is another Arakkoa camp, Sketh’lon Base Camp. There are a few quests in here including finding a rotten egg, which you take back to a guy in Shattrath City. That guy will eat the egg’s contents which grosses out everyone in the vicinity, causing them to throw up! If you haven’t been in Shattrath when someone brings back an egg yet, you will; it’s only a matter of time.

Eclipse Point

Near by the Sketh’lon Base Camp is Eclipse Point, a large Eclipsion Blood Elf camp. There are a few things to do in and around here including stealing an object from a box — easy pickings if you’re a rogue.. heh heh heh…

Sanctum of the Stars

Heading eastward from Eclipse Point, we come to the Scryers’ base in Shadowmoon Valley, the Sanctum of the Stars. If you have allied yourself with the Shattrath Scryers faction, you will want to pick up quests and the flight point here. If not, don’t get too close!

Altar of Sha'tar

A perfect complement to the Sanctum of the Stars, the Altar of Sha’tar is directly north near the edge of the zone. An exact opposite of the Sanctum of the Stars, the Altar of Sha’tar welcome those that have allied themselves with the Aldor and will attack those that have allied themselves with the Scryers. If you are Aldor, pick up your quests and flight point here.

Oronok the Torn-heart

Northwest of the Altar of Sha’tar and directly in between there and Coilskar point is a mountain ledge where Oronok the Torn-heart resides. A boar rancher, he needs help rounding up boars as well as protecting them from Ravenous Flayers. Also, this is the guy who’s son was trapped in those crystals way back in Illidar Point. I think there were two more sons elsewhere as well. Help him out.

Boars and Flayers

Here’s a boar getting attacked by a flayer elsewhere on Oronok’s ridge, the Shattered Plains.

Enraged Air Spirits

In the far northeast and southeast corners of Shadowmoon are groups of these Enraged Air Spirits. You will need to kill them for materials — they’re just like similar air elementals you’ve encountered before… easy work.

Ruins of Baa'ri

South of the Altar of Sha’tar is a Broken camp called the Ruins of Baa’ri. In here a group of mutated Draenei, called the Broken (which you’ve probably seen elsewhere in Azeroth and Draenor), are working for Illidan Stormrage to dig up some various artifacts.

The Warden's Cage

South of that, and close to the Sanctum of the Stars, is The Warden’s Cage. This is a demon-controlled prison that has jailed some uncooperative Broken (at least from Illidan’s point-of-view). These Broken are members of the Ashtongue Deathsworn faction, giving quests for The Black Temple, Illidan Stormrage’s main base of power (which we will see shortly).

Uvuros

Slightly to the west of The Warden’s Cage, and up on a ledge, is Uvuros. Someone way back in Shadowmoon Village wants him dead. Gather a few friends and take him out, as he is a rather tough encounter. He also makes a really cool pet for a Beast Mastery hunter.

Felspine the Greater

Also near by is Felspine the Greater, a large diametradon, that someone else in the Village wants dead. This guy is easier that Uvuros and may be soloable, however I recommend at least 1 friend for safety’s sake.

Ruins of Karabor

South of the Black Temple’s main entrance is a large ledge called the Ruins of Karabor where some Demon Hunter Blood Elves, members of the Sunfury faction, are keeping this demon Azaloth hostage by magic. If you interrupt them all (by killing them) and cast a magic phrase (from a scroll) you can unleash the demon, which is fun to do. If I remember correctly (and with a rotten undead brain, that’s hard to do), you also have to kill the demon, so bring some friends if the questgiver gives those instructions.

Ata'mal Terrace

Directly north, and on the other side of the Black Temple entrance, is another similar ledge, Ata’mal, occupied by Shadowmoon fel orcs. In addition to doing the tasks given to you by your Scryer or Aldor friends, also kill Smith Gorlunk because he has a key mold that you will need to use to make a key for Shattered Halls in Hellfire Peninsula. What’s cool about this series of tasks is that it involves killing a Fel Reaver in Hellfire Peninsula, which is a great payback for the number of times they kill us while we’re exploring that zone.

The Black Temple

This is the walkway up to the entrance to the Black Temple. As you can see, it is guarded by several demons, including an Illidari Dreadlord way in the back. The Black Temple was once a Draenei holy site, but was overtaken by Illidan Stormrage when he came to this planet. It requires 25 people, so you will need a lot of friends (and a lot of time, I’ve heard) to run through this dungeon. I’m not sure, but there might also be some sort of attunement quest required before you can enter the doors. Check with your local raiding guild to be sure.

Ancient Shadowmoon Spirit

Another major quest chain is given by the Ancient Shadowmoon Spirit near the southeast corner of Shadowmoon. He wants you to gather 3 pieces of Teron Gorefiend’s armor from various places around Shadowmoon. Beware the surprise after giving him all three pieces of armor!

Haalum, the Corruptor of Air

Haalum is being held under control by the totems around him. If you destroy the totems, you will have to kill him. That’s just what you are asked to do, however. This guy as well as two or three similar guys elsewhere in Shadowmoon must be killed for a quest, I believe originating in the Village. They’re not all that tough, and should be easily done solo.

Mordenai

One of the most interesting things to do in the Outlands is to get a Netherwing Drake mount. Following a short quest chain, started at this guy who walks around just east of the Sanctum of the Stars, you will have to do many, many daily quests in, around, and for the Netherwing Ledge, located just off the mainland in Shadowmoon Valley. Let’s take a look at what it takes to get to the Ledge.

Ruul the Darkener

Ruul the Darkener wanders around the area of the Netherwing starter quest chain. Make sure to watch out for him, as he will easily kill you. There is a quest somewhere to kill him, but make sure you have 3 or 4 friends with you before attempting.

Rocknail Flayers and Rippers

In the immediate vacinity of Mordenai are Rocknail Rippers gathered around crystal protrusions. You will need to kill these, or their larger cousins, Rocknail Flayers, to gather corpses to feed the drakes flying overhead. This is the first step in earning the Netherwing Drakes’ trust.

Dragonmaw Orcs

The Dragonmaw Orcs have a fairly sizable base nearby where they, among other things, have enslaved some of the drakes. You will need to kill some orcs and also free some drakes to progress.

Enslaved Drakes

Here you can see the drakes that are enslaved by the orcs. They will be very thankful to you for freeing them.

Neltharaku

After doing a couple of the quests on the ground, you will need to fly up and speak with Neltharaku, who is circling the area. He would like your help in freeing his mate, held captive by the Dragonmaw Orcs.

Karynaku

Here is Neltharaku’s mate, Karynaku. In order to free her, you will need to summon her captor and get the key from him. You will need 4 friends to do this.

Netherwing Ledge

Once you have freed Karynaku, Neltharaku then gives you the ability to make yourself look like a Dragonmaw Orc and make your mount look like a Netherdrake. Before you can continue on to the Netherwing Ledge, however, you must be able to fly a swift mount, so do some other quests to save up the gold necessary. Once you are able to fly a swift mount, head out to the ledge and talk to some of the orcs and goblins in this area. They will give you some quests to start, with more added at each reputation level. Most of the quests you will be doing are actually for the Dragonmaw Orcs.

Netherwing Mines

Beneath the Netherwing Ledge are a series of mines where the Dragonmaw Orcs are working. Inside, they have encountered Nethermine Flayers and Ravagers that are hampering their progress. All told, by the time you have reached Revered, I think you will have 4 or 5 quests inside the mines. Enjoy!

Orc Peons and Nethervine

There are various orc peons scattered around the Ledge mining crystal. Friendly too you once you look like a Dragonmaw Orc, they were needed for a Netherwing pre-quest. Also the nethervine here is used for a quest that you will need to complete before you can assume the form of an orc.

Dragonmaw Transporters

These orcs on netherdrakes are carrying materials back and forth between the base on the mainland and the Ledge. You will need to knock them out of the sky and kill them for an object for a daily repeatable quest given by the goblin in the little encampment seen a few scenes back.

Disobedient Orc Peons

Finally, there are also disobedient, red-looking orc peons in some of the groups of peons. There is a fun quest given by one of the Dragonmaw Orcs in the camp to “boot” this guys back into submission. Before you are able to do this one, you will need to kill Tyrantus, the large dinosaur seen in the northernmost eco-dome in Netherstorm.n

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nWell, that’s it for Shadowmoon Valley and the Outlands. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for a look at the new continent, Northrend, coming in the expansion pack due out this week. Thanks again to Inferious for being our tour guide through Shadowmoon Valley.