Dungeon Finder Guide

The Dungeon Finder is a way for players in World of Warcraft to easily hop into an instance without having to beg other players to get into an instance. It takes one tank, one healer, and three DPS and automatically matches them across realms in order to find players. It works for players from level 15 to level 80 and works for every 5-man instance in the game. Additionally, there is a raid assist tool for raid leaders and for people looking for raids.

  • How does it work?
  • What does it offer me?
  • What are the alternatives?
  • Raid Finder?

How does it work?

Either you, as a solo player, or your group leader opens the Dungeon Finder interface. It’s available in the mini-menu and looks like the “Blizzard eye” found in Warcraft III when it is searching for additional players. Once it is open you have the option of choosing tank, DPS, or healer at the top. It’s important to note that if you are dual-spec’d and wish to go as a healer or DPS that you keep your gear close at hand. No need to complicate things as your guild waits for you to head back to Dalaran, visit the bank, and then teleport back. Your first step is choosing your role. The last option on the right allows you to be considered for the group leader position, if you so want to do it.


The dungeon finder's interface.

In the middle of drop-down box that will let you choose various options. So before we get into that you’ll need to know a few things. First the dungeon tool will not place you in an instance it deems you not geared for (for WotLK instances). It will not place you in an instance that you have not unlocked (Cavern of Time instances, The Frozen Halls, etc.) and it will not place you into an instance that is red or grey to you (using Blizzard official levels). So you can’t do Deadmines at level 80, you can’t do Pit of Saron without doing the questline first, and you can’t do Utgarde Keep at level 55. You can still go to each zone portal and zone into the instances, of course, assuming you meet the original requirements. The dungeon tool just will not add you into it.

Here are the various options the drop-down box has:

  • Specific Dungeons 
    By selecting this option you will be presented with a list of available dungeons you can do. Select the dungeon that you’re interested in running and then select Find Group to look for a group for that dungeon.
  • Daily Random Dungeon 
    This option is available for Classic, The Burning Crusade, and Wrath of the Lich King. You will have to be eligible for that expansion in the dungeons inside of that expansion in order to select that option (i.e. at level 80 you will not be able to random classic or TBC instances). You will be given a daily item reward (Satchel of Helpful Goods for Classic/TBC and 2 Emblems of Triumphs) for the first random dungeon you do each day. Hit Find Group to find a group for a random dungeon. The Satchel of Helpful Goods contains one free BoP superior quality item.
  • Daily Heroic Dungeon 
    This option is available for The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King. You get no reward for TBC heroics, but you do get 2 Emblems of Frost for the first random WotLK heroic you run and then 2 Emblems of Triumph for each random dungeon you run from there. On this screen just select “Find Group” to search for a group.

There is something you should know about random dungeons, specifically heroics. If you are saved to a heroic then the tool could still allow you to replay that heroic you’re locked to. It makes its best attempt not to place you into an instance that you’re not already locked out of, but there will be instances that you’ll rerun the same heroic in the same day.


When you're in queue, you're in queue.

After you press Find Group you’ll be in the queue. The queue will then assemble a group and present you with the dungeon you’re entering, how many bosses have been defeated, and what your role is. You can choose Enter Dungeon to instantly teleport to the dungeon or Leave Queue to drop out of the queue.

Once you choose Enter Dungeon then you’ll be teleported to the dungeon with the rest of your group. If you don’t know about dungeons in your level range visit our handy dungeon guide portal where we have guides to all of the dungeons you need to know about.

WARNINGS

If you leave the group you’ll get flagged as a deserter and will be forced to wait 15 minutes before you can queue again unless the final boss is dead or the group leader disbands the group. Likewise, once you are given a group through the random dungeon tool (i.e. the popup shows up) you’ll get the Dungeon Cooldown debuff which keeps you from re-queuing for 15 minutes.  Neither debuff stops you from queuing for the specific dungeons, but they will keep you from queuing for the random dungeons.

[protip]If the group leader ditches the group then you won't get the debuff. It's important to avoid the deubff as much as possible because 15 minutes is a lot of time to waste doing nothing.

Looking for More

The above applies for the new Dungeon Finder tool for finding more people for your group. Simply have the group leader follow the above instructions to help you complete your group. This is useful if someone ditches or a group of your friends want to run an instance. Be aware that everyone in your party will need to confirm their role for the tool to work.

Loot

You can’t need on an item if you can’t equip it. You can greed on everything though, so this will keep a Leather wearer from needing on a piece of Plate. Likewise, the disenchant option is available and counts as a greed roll. If you win the greed roll then the item will be disenchanted assuming there is a disenchanter in the group.

Voting People off the Island

You can launch a vote to kick someone from the group if they suck a lot, but remember that it’s hard to get people to click “accept” on a half done instance if they’re looking for a specific one. Only vote to kick the dead weight (as in the people who aren’t doing anything or next to anything) or the under geared tanks/healers that cause you to have no chance at success.

Can I random dungeon as a group of 5?

Yes, but you lose access to the vote kick option. You can random all day long if you want as a full group or a group of 3s or anything between 1 and 5.

Teleporting

When you choose “Enter Dungeon”  you’ll be instantly teleported to the dungeon. From there when you leave the dungeon you’ll be teleported to where you were at, assuming it's still accessible (failing that it returns you to your hearth). On your mini-map will be an option to return to the dungeon automatically.

What does it offer me?

The dungeon tool offers you a quick and easy way to get into a group instead of spamming LFG or begging your guild. That in itself should be reward enough, but there are some bonuses.

Random dungeons in Classic and TBC grant a reward bag with one BoP blue inside of it for the first time you run ‘em. Random dungeons in WotLK give you 2 Emblems of Triumph for the first time you run ‘em. Random WotLK heroics grant you 2 Emblems of Frost and an additional 2 Emblems of Triumph for every time you run it after that.

There are three achievements too. Looking for More is rewarded for grouping with 10 random people (3 dungeon runs). Looking for Many is awarded for grouping with 50 random people (13 dungeon runs). Looking for Multitudes is awarded at 100 random people (25 dungeon runs) and grants the Perky Pug pet.

What are the alternatives?

Does grouping with random people scare you? It shouldn’t, but if you’re not in the mood to deal with the randomness (the bad players, the drama, or a multitude of other problems) then you can still use the Looking For Group channel, general, and trade. You may not have as much success, but it’s still possible to form a group the old fashioned way. Then again, there is also your guild. All dungeon entrances still work so you can easily enter them the old fashion way.

Don’t let the randomness of the tool put you off from it though. I’m often a pessimist when it comes to pugs, but you’ll find a lot of good luck with getting groups. I’ve been matched with other high level guilds on other servers more often than I have with absolute scrubs.

Raid Finder?

Yes, there is a raid finding tool available called the Raid Browser. Go to your social tab and choose “Raid Browser”  and click on the tool there. In the Raid Browser you can set yourself as a Tank, Healer, or DPS and choose which raids you’d like to run. Add in a comment (like your DPS/gear/etc.) then choose List My Group. On the Browse section you can find other raid groups/raiders that are looking for a raid.

The raid finder also applies level/gear checks and won’t let you list yourself if you can’t enter the instance or if your gear is too terrible for it.

Well that is the dungeon finding tools. Hope you have fun and stay safe in Azeroth! 


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Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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Get in the bush with David "Xerin" Piner as he leverages his spectacular insanity to ask the serious questions such as is Master Yi and Illidan the same person? What's for dinner? What are ways to elevate your gaming experience? David's column, Respawn, is updated near daily with some of the coolest things you'll read online, while David tackles ways to improve the game experience across the board with various hype guides to cool games.

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