Tag: World of Warcraft

Patch 7.1 added a lot of exciting content, but also added a problem for a lot of users. Upon going to Dalaran and certain other places, the loading screen would take forever to load, and there is luckily a solution to bypass this problem. After following this guide you will notice a very good improvement upon logging in, switching continents and loading Dalaran.

Here’s how to do it:
Close WoW and open the Battle.net launcher. Click on “Options” and select “Game Settings“. Click on the “Streaming” tab and turn off streaming there. After doing this, save the settings, and your loading times are much better! This will not affect any of the in-game features unless you plan on using the Battle.net launcher to stream to Twitch.

Blizzard offered an alternative solution to the problem in which you could delete your cache folder in the WoW installation folder, but most people don’t get any better loading times by doing this.

Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medals are two new currencies added in patch 8.1, with one for each faction. Despite being two different currencies in-game, they are essentially the same thing with a different name, and you obtain them by the exact same method.

There are a few ways to obtain these Service Medals, and we will list all of the different methods here:

1) Do World Quests in Warfront zones when your faction controls it. Right now this only includes Darkshore and Arathi Highland, but there will presumable be more Warfronts and included zones in future patches. Your faction will need to control the zone for these World Quests to show up, and the controlling faction gets 5 World Quests each day they control the zone. Each WQ gives you one Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medal, so you can get a total of 5 Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medals per day per controlled zone.

2) Complete Faction Assaults. These show up every 19 hours after one begin (12 hours after one end), and last for 7 hours at a time. During this time you can go to your map to see special Faction Assault World Quests. Each faction has 5 of these WQs up at a time, but you only need to complete 4 of these to progress on the main Faction Assault Quest. This short quest first requires you to complete 4 WQs, then a small mission that typically takes a few minutes, and after this you are awarded with 5 Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medals.

3) Do Warfronts. Each new Warfront cycle allows you to complete a quest for winning that Warfront, and these award you with 15 Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medals. Since you can only do this for each new Warfront cycle, this typically gives you 5 extra Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medals per week now that we only have two active Warfronts.

4) Open 7th Legion/Honorbound Paragon Caches. You get these Paragon Caches for every 10k Reputation you obtain after already being Exalted with 7th Legion/Honorbound. Each cache gives you 20 Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medals. This method of obtaining the Service Medals is the only one that is not timegated behind daily resets or Warfront cycles, and there should pretty much always be a way for you to grind these reputations; either from World Quests on the other faction’s continent, by doing Warfronts, doing Warfront WQs, running Island Expeditions etc.

What to buy with Honorbound/7th Legion Service Medals 

There are some interesting items for sale that requires Service Medals to buy. The vendors are called Provisioner Stoutforge for Alliance, in Boralus (TomTom coordinates: 66.82, 25.68, behind the boat) and Provisioner Mukra for Horde, at the Dazar’alor Docks (TomTom coordinates: 51.23, 95.05, near the portal trainer and quartermaster).

Some of the items you can buy include:

– Cloaks in basic faction colors (red or blue) for transmog.

– Heirloom items, including 3 trinkets (75 Service Medals each) and a tanking cloak (50 Service Medals).

– Four different mounts; 2 for Alliance and 2 for Horde. You get a Krolusk mount in your faction colors for 200 Service Medals, and a Moonsaber (Alliance) or a Dreadwing bat (Horde) for 750 Service Medals.

– Some other items like a teleport ting (300 Service Medals), toys (125 Service Medals), and pets (100 Service Medals).

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.

Blackrock Foundry is one of the most iconic raids from World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. It features 10 bosses split across multiple wings, all leading up to the final encounter with Blackhand, the Warlord of the Blackrock clan.

Reaching him can be a little confusing if you’re not familiar with how the raid is structured, especially if you’re going back to solo it for transmog or achievements. This guide will walk you through exactly how to reach the last boss in Blackrock Foundry.

Where the Raid Entrance Is Located

The entrance to Blackrock Foundry is in Gorgrond, in the northern part of the map. The coordinates are roughly 51, 29, inside a large foundry building. When you zone in, you’ll appear in the raid’s hub area, where you can move into the different wings.

How the Raid Wings Work

Blackrock Foundry is divided into three major wings before the final fight. You cannot skip directly to Blackhand; instead, you need to clear all the bosses from these sections first. The wings are:

• The Slagworks
• The Black Forge
• The Iron Assembly

Each wing contains a set of bosses, and once all of them are defeated, the path to Blackhand will open.

Boss Order Requirements

You don’t need to do the wings in any specific order. The important part is that all three wings must be fully cleared. Here’s a breakdown:

• Slagworks bosses: Gruul, Oregorger
• Black Forge bosses: Hans’gar & Franzok, Flamebender Ka’graz, Kromog
• Iron Assembly bosses: Beastlord Darmac, Operator Thogar, The Iron Maidens

After these 9 bosses are down, you’ll have unlocked access to Blackhand.

How to Reach Blackhand’s Lair

Once all three wings are complete, return to the central hub area of the raid (where you first entered). You’ll find a new passage has opened, leading into The Crucible, which is Blackhand’s chamber.

This path takes you down into a massive arena where Blackhand awaits. If you’re running the raid on Mythic difficulty, you’ll also unlock special mechanics and achievements tied to that version, but the unlock process is the same.

Soloing Tip

If you’re running Blackrock Foundry alone for transmog, it’s worth knowing that the layout is pretty sprawling. Use a mount where possible, and remember that killing the bosses in any order works. You don’t need to full-clear trash mobs unless they’re directly blocking a boss chamber.

Common Confusion: Why Can’t I Get to Blackhand?

If you can’t access the final room, it usually means you missed a boss in one of the wings. Double-check your raid info tab or retrace your steps. The most commonly overlooked fights are:

• Iron Maidens, since they’re on a ship you need to board.
• Oregorger, because you have to go further into the Slagworks than many players realize.

Once those are down, Blackhand will always be available.

The Blast Furnace is one of the more complex raid encounters in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. It is the ninth boss fight in the Blackrock Foundry raid, located in the Slagworks wing. Unlike most bosses, you don’t simply pull the boss to begin the fight.

Instead, the event is activated in a specific way that many players overlook, which can lead to confusion when trying to start the encounter. If you’ve ever wondered how to activate the Blast Furnace in WoW, this guide will walk you through the exact steps.

Locating the Blast Furnace

To reach the Blast Furnace, you’ll need to head into the Slagworks section of Blackrock Foundry. Once inside, you’ll enter a large chamber dominated by the massive Blast Furnace itself, with mobs scattered around the room. The fight is a multi-phase encounter against waves of adds, overseen by the Heat Regulators and eventually Foreman Feldspar.

Many players enter this room and expect the fight to start automatically, but the Blast Furnace has to be triggered in a specific way.

How to Start the Blast Furnace Encounter

To activate the Blast Furnace fight, your raid must interact with the Heat Regulators on either side of the massive furnace in the center of the room. Here’s what to do:

1. Clear the surrounding trash mobs before attempting to start the fight. These consist of Slagged Elementals, Security Guards, and Firecallers, which can overwhelm you if left unchecked.
2. Assign players to collect bombs dropped by the Grom’kar Firecallers. These bombs are the key mechanic for starting the fight.
3. Use the bombs on the Heat Regulators. Each Heat Regulator requires multiple bombs to destroy. Once both Heat Regulators are destroyed, the Blast Furnace fight will officially begin.

This is the crucial step that confuses many players. If no one is using the bombs on the Heat Regulators, the fight won’t start, and it can feel like the encounter is bugged.

How to Start the Blast Furnace Encounter if You Solo It

Many players now enter Blackrock Foundry solo for transmog or achievements. The Blast Furnace can be confusing when you’re alone, since you don’t have other players to help with bombs. Fortunately, the encounter can still be started:

• Clear the room yourself to avoid being overwhelmed when you focus on bombs.
• Kill Firecallers until bombs drop. As a solo player, you’ll need to pick these up manually.
• Carry the bombs to the Heat Regulators. You may need to kite or kill additional adds while doing this, but most modern characters can handle it easily.
• Repeat until both Heat Regulators are destroyed. Once they’re down, the fight will trigger even if you are solo.

If you’re struggling to juggle the adds and bombs at the same time, focus on keeping the area clear first. At current expansion levels, most classes can easily wipe the room before starting on the Regulators. After that, it’s just a matter of picking up a few bombs to set the encounter in motion.

Why the Encounter Might Not Start

Sometimes players run into the issue where it seems like the Blast Furnace is not starting. This usually happens for one of a few reasons:

• Trash mobs not cleared: The encounter won’t begin properly if enemies in the room are still alive.
• No bombs used on the Heat Regulators: The fight does not trigger by attacking NPCs directly. Only the destruction of the Heat Regulators activates the event.
• Bombs not picked up quickly: Bombs despawn if not used quickly, so if your raid misses several bombs in a row, progress toward destroying the Heat Regulators will stall.

If the encounter feels stuck, double-check that bombs are being collected and used properly.

Resetting the Encounter

In some cases, you might run into bugs or simply fail the setup. If that happens:

• Have the raid wipe to reset the room.
• Exit the instance and use the Reset All Instances option if needed.
• Once reset, re-clear the room and start again with fresh bombs.

This usually fixes any problems with the encounter not starting.

Tips for a Smooth Start

• Assign at least one dedicated player to pick up bombs and run them to the Heat Regulators.
• Clear the room fully before starting to avoid unnecessary chaos.
• Communicate clearly so bombs aren’t wasted or missed.

Once the Heat Regulators are destroyed, Phase 1 begins, and the real fight is underway. The Blast Furnace is all about coordination, and getting the encounter started correctly is the first test of your raid’s teamwork.

The Shade of Akama is one of the early bosses in the Black Temple raid in World of Warcraft. While the fight itself is straightforward, players often get stuck because the Shade of Akama encounter is not starting.

If you’re farming transmog, chasing achievements, or just exploring, running into this problem can be frustrating. This guide will walk you through how to start the Shade of Akama fight and give you quick fixes if the event doesn’t trigger.

Where to Find the Shade of Akama

The Shade of Akama is located in the Halls of the High Council inside the Black Temple raid in Shadowmoon Valley. After defeating Supremus, move deeper into the temple, clearing trash mobs along the way, until you find Akama standing in the middle of the council chamber. This is where the encounter begins.

Shade of Akama: How to Start

The encounter doesn’t begin automatically when you enter the room. To start it:

1. Find Akama in the middle of the room.
2. Speak to Akama and select his dialogue option.
3. After you talk to him, Akama will walk toward the Shade, and waves of enemies will spawn.
4. Once the scripted waves are done, the Shade of Akama becomes attackable.

If you don’t interact with Akama, nothing happens — which is the main reason people think the encounter is broken.

Common Issue: Shade of Akama Not Starting

Many players run into problems where the Shade event just doesn’t kick off. Here are the usual culprits:

• You didn’t talk to Akama. The fight is triggered only by his dialogue.
• Akama bugged or missing. Clearing too fast or skipping trash sometimes prevents him from appearing properly.
• Script stuck. The event may start but then stall with no enemies spawning.
• Old raid lockout. If you’ve already partially done the event in this lockout, it won’t reset until the weekly reset.

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

If you’re searching for shade of akama not starting, here’s a step-by-step fix you can try:

• ✔ Make sure you clicked Akama’s dialogue.
• ✔ Clear all nearby trash mobs before trying again.
• ✔ Leave the chamber, re-enter, and check if Akama has reset.
• ✔ If that fails, exit and reset the instance.
• ✔ If Akama still doesn’t appear, wait for the weekly raid reset and try again.

Most of the time, simply talking to Akama or resetting the instance solves the issue.

How to Reset if Problems Persist

If the encounter is still stuck after trying the basics, there are a couple of tricks that often help. You can intentionally wipe the fight by pulling extra mobs or letting yourself die, then running back in to see if the script restarts.

Another option is to fully leave the instance, right-click your character portrait, and select Reset All Instances. This forces the raid to reset and respawn everything, usually fixing Akama’s dialogue event. If you’re still locked into a bugged state after that, you’ll need to wait until the next weekly raid reset for a fresh run.

Loot from Shade of Akama

While not one of the raid’s hardest bosses, Shade of Akama still drops notable loot. Players farming transmog can find several pieces of Tier 6 armor tokens here, which are part of some of the most iconic class sets in the game.

He also has weapons like Blade of Savagery and Soul-Cleansing Gloves, along with other epics. Even though he is not the main source of highly prized loot in Black Temple, you’ll need to defeat him to continue deeper toward Illidan and the other major bosses.