Operator Thogar is one of the most memorable bosses in the Blackrock Foundry raid, mainly because of the trains barreling through the room mid-fight. While the mechanics are hectic, actually starting the fight can sometimes be confusing, especially if you’re coming back at higher levels to solo the encounter.
This guide covers everything you need to know about how to start the Operator Thogar fight and what to do if the encounter doesn’t trigger properly.
Where to Find Operator Thogar
Operator Thogar is located in the Blackrock Foundry raid in Gorgrond, Draenor. After you’ve cleared the lower wings of the raid, make your way to the Slagworks wing. Thogar’s room is a massive railway station with several train tracks running through it, which is a clue to what you’ll face once the fight starts.
When you enter the room, you’ll see multiple NPCs and orcs milling around the platforms. Thogar himself stands at the far end, near the center of the tracks.
How to Start the Fight Normally
The encounter doesn’t start automatically when you walk into the room. Instead, you need to pull Operator Thogar directly. This can be done by either:
- Attacking Thogar himself where he’s standing, or
- Aggroing him by getting close enough if you’re in range.
Once he’s engaged, he’ll leap onto the train tracks, and the fight begins. Waves of adds and trains will start cycling in as part of the mechanics.
Soloing the Encounter
If you’re farming Blackrock Foundry solo at a higher level, the start works exactly the same. Simply run up and tag Thogar to pull him. Sometimes the room can feel like it’s empty, but you need to be sure you’re targeting Operator Thogar and not just his guards.
When soloing, you’ll likely burst him down quickly, but be aware that trains still come in even if your DPS is high. Watch for the rails lighting up, which signals an incoming train, so you don’t get instantly killed by standing in the wrong spot.
If the Encounter Doesn’t Start
Some players run into the issue where Operator Thogar doesn’t engage properly. If this happens:
- Make sure you are pulling Thogar himself, not just the nearby mobs. Killing his guards without pulling him won’t trigger the fight.
- If he doesn’t move or the event seems stuck, you may need to reset the instance. Leave the raid, right-click your character portrait, and choose “Reset All Instances.” Then re-enter and try again.
- If you’ve already killed him in your lockout, he won’t respawn until the weekly reset, so check your raid progression.
Tips for First-Time Raiders
Back when Blackrock Foundry was current content, Operator Thogar was considered one of the most chaotic fights because of the trains. Even though you may be overgeared now, it’s still worth noting:
- The rails glow red just before a train arrives.
- Staying grouped up made dodging easier during progression.
- The fight was a heavy test of awareness and positioning rather than just raw DPS.
Today, most of that challenge is gone, but it’s still one of the coolest encounters to revisit.