by Ratboy on Apr 09, 2005
Location
Dire Maul is an ancient night elf city located in the center of Feralas. Nestled in some mountains, Dire Maul is accessible by a large ramp that leads into the city itself. From the city one can enter any of the various entrance points to the Instance.
Time
Dire Maul is a branched Instance with several different sides. The "East" part is filled with lower level mobs and can be done in anywhere from an hour to two hours. The "West" Portion of the Instance can be done in around three hours total. The North can take anywhere from two to three hours depending on group and speed.
Levels
Dire Maul is meant for characters of level 56+ with mobs and loot that even level 60's can find useful. .
The MOBs in Dire Maul range from 55 elite to 58 elite. The quest MOBs are up to 60 elite.
Tactics East
The Eastnern side of Dire Maul is composed mainly of elemental enemies of the plant variety, as well as several satyrs deeper within the Instance. There are several things to be aware of with these enemies; first off there are chances that they will drop Thornling Seeds which will summon a Thornling that will attract enemies. When these seeds drop, use them.
Beware of the larger tree like plants, such as the Warpwood Treants and Crushers, these MOBs have high hp and deal a fair amount of damage on attacks. Have your main tank keep agro and eventually these beasts will fall to sheer firepower.
Party Composition
Since Dire Maul is one of few Instances that are capped at a max of 5 people, there is no rushing of the Instance with a raid group. Party composition in Dire Maul is extremely important and rushing in with an unbalanced party will easily result in death within the instance.
The first suggestion for running Dire Maul is to take at least two characters capable of resurrection, preferably a priest and another, but as sometimes priests are hard to find you may consider taking a paladin/shaman + druid. After getting your healer selected, the next best slot to fill is that of a main tank, usually a warrior (but again, could be something else of the nature).br>
With the last two slots I would suggest a DPS class to come along, usually mages, rogues, hunters, & warlocks. These classes are all good for supplementing the base you have already, and especially in the case of Warlocks and Wizards; can make good use of the Instance loot, as much of it is geared for cloth spell casters.
Quests
There are two faction specific quests & 8 neutral quests located in Dire Maul. These quests can be found all across the world, and some will give great rewards for completing them. For ease they are listed below.
Pusillin and the Elder Azj'Tordin
Starting NPC / Location: AzjTordin (Feralas)
Level Obtained: 58
Quest Level: 54
XP Reward: 7750
Item Reward: Sprinters Sword (Sword, Two-Hand) or Spry Boots (Boots)
Objectives: Travel to Dire Maul and locate the Imp, Pusillin. Convince Pusillin to give you Azj'Tordin's Book of Incantations through any means necessary. Return to Az'Tordin at the Lariss Pavilion in Feralas should you recover the Book of Incantations..
Notes: Pusillin is an imp in East Dire Maul. Youll have to chase him a fair way into the Instance, when finally once he is cornered on a balcony will engage in combat. Hell drop a quest item as well as the crescent key for Dire Maul West.
Shards of the Felvine
Start + End NPC / Location: Rabine Saturna (Moonglade)
Prerequisite: A Reliquary of Purity
Level Obtained: 56
Quest Level: 60
XP Reward: N/A
Item Reward: None
Objectives: Kill Find the Felvine in Dire Maul and acquire a shard from it. Chances are you'll only be able to procure one with the demise of Alzzin the Wildshaper. Use the Reliquary of Purity to securely seal the shard inside, and return it to Rabine Saturna in Nighthaven, Moonglade.
Notes: Alzzin the Wildshaper is right at the end of Dire Maul East, he is a fairly straight forward fight, and once he is defeated you can easily pickup the nearby felvine shards.
The Madness Within
Starting NPC / Location: Shendralar Ancient (Dire Maul)
Level Obtained: 56
Quest Level: 61
XP Reward: N/A
Item Reward: None
Objectives: You must destroy the guardians surrounding the 5 Pylons that power the Prison of Immol'thar. Once the Pylons have powered down, the force field surrounding Immol'thar will have dissipated.
Enter the Prison of Immol'thar and eradicate the foul demon that stands at its heart. Finally, confront Prince Tortheldrin in Athenaeum.
Return to the Shen'dralar Ancient in the courtyard should you complete this quest.
Notes: The ShenDralar Ancient is located in the West Wing of Dire Maul and is on the top level above Teldris. To complete this quest you need to kill the Prince after killing the Demon.
The Treasure of the Shen'dralar
NPC / Location: Shendralar Ancient (Dire Maul)
Level Obtained: 51
Quest Level: 61
XP Reward: N/A
Coin Reward: 2g 75s
Item Reward: Blackwood Helm (Mail Hat), Sedge Boots (Leather Feet), or Bonecrusher (2h Mace)
Objectives: Return to the Athenaeum and find the Treasure of the Shen'dralar. Claim your reward!
Notes: After completing The Madness Within you will be given this reward quest by the Ancient.
A Broken Trap
Start Location: Broken Trap (Dire Maul)
Level Obtained: 58
Quest Level: 60
XP Reward: None
Objectives: Repair the trap with a Thorium Widget & Frost Oil.
Notes: This quest is required to get maximum tribute and will take out Guard Slipkik.
Gordok Ogre Suit
Start + End NPC / Location: Knot Thimblejack (Dire Maul)
Level Obtained: 56
Quest Level: 60
Item Reward: Gordok Ogre Suit
Objectives: Bring 4 Bolts of Runecloth, 8 Rugged Leather, 2 Rune Threads, and Ogre Tannin to Knot Thimblejack. He is currently chained inside the Gorduk wing of Dire Maul.
Notes: This quest will get you a Gordok Ogre suit used to bypass captain Kromcrush. This quest is repeatable and is needed to get maximum tribute for killing the king. Once a tailor does this quest he will learn how to make the suit.
Free Knot!
Start Location: Knot Thimlejack (Dire Maul)
Level Obtained: 58
Quest Level: 60
Item Reward: Knot Thimblejacks Cache
Objectives: Use the Gordok Shackle Key to free Knot.
Notes: The Gordok Shackle Key drops off random Ogres in the north section. Knots Cache will contain random leatherworking + tailoring stuff as well as a BoP pattern for either leatherworking or Tailoring.
Unfinished Gordok Business!
Start Location: Captain Kromcrush (Dire Maul)
Level Obtained: 56
Quest Level: 60
Item Reward: Gordoks Handwraps (cloth hands), or Gordoks Gloves (leather hands), or Gordoks Gauntlets (mail hands), or Gordoks Handguards (plate hands)
Objectives: Find the Gauntlet of Gordok Might and return it to Captain Kromcrush in Dire Maul. According to Kromcrush, the "old timey story" says that Tortheldrin - a "creepy" elf who called himself a prince - stole it from one of the Gordok kings.
Notes: This quest can only be obtained once you become the Ogre King, and keep Kromcrush alive. You can receive the quest item for this quest once you kill the Prince of West Dire Maul.
The Gordok Taste Test
Start Location: Captain Kromcrush (Dire Maul)
Level Obtained: 56
Quest Level: 60
Item Reward: Gordoks Handwraps (cloth hands), or Gordoks Gloves (leather hands), or Gordoks Gauntlets (mail hands), or Gordoks Handguards (plate hands)
Objectives: Find the Gauntlet of Gordok Might and return it to Captain Kromcrush in Dire Maul. According to Kromcrush, the "old timey story" says that Tortheldrin - a "creepy" elf who called himself a prince - stole it from one of the Gordok kings.
Notes: This quest can only be obtained once you become the Ogre King, and keep Kromcrush alive. You can receive the quest item for this quest once you kill the Prince of West Dire Maul.