Monday, October 8, 2007

Karazhan - Getting the Key & Additional Information

So you're probably hearing a lot these days about Karazhan. You may wonder what the heck Karazhan is, why should you care, how do you become attuned, etc.

Karazhan is a level-70, 10-person raid instance. It's essentially the next step up in WoW, beyond the 5-person instances that were added with the Burning Crusade expansion. It is much more challenging than the 5-person instances, and the rewards include better "l00tz" which include "hawt epix!" (For here for detailed information on Karazhan, it's history, it's bosses, etc.)

In order to enter Karazhan, you must complete a series of quests that will grant you the key. You may (and should) begin working on this quest chain at level 68. The first quest in the chain can be obtained from Archmage Alturus at the door of Karazhan in Deadwind Pass (the zone directly east of Duskwood that leads to the Swamp of Sorrows). You can obtain detailed information on the quest chain here.

Important FAQz:

  • In order to complete the portion of the quest chain that takes you into the Dark Portal (The Black Morass) in the Caverns of Time, you must successfully complete the main quest for Durnholde in the Caverns of time, Escape from Durnholde Keep.
  • You must acquire a flying mount to get your key to Karazhan. The only exception is for druids (druids can obtain flight form at level 68). This is because you have to visit the Arcatraz obtain a fragment of the key, and the only way to reach the Arcatraz (and the other instances in Tempest Keep), is to fly. You cannot be summoned.
  • Preparing for raiding in Karazhan not only includes the attunement (the process of obtaining the key), but also acquiring a good set of gear for your class. You should look to do 5-person instance runs for gear. This includes working to acquiring the reputation with each faction needed to obtain keys to the heroic instances. Ideally, you should strive to participate or initiate guild runs for this purpose.
  • Grouping with your guildies - your future co-raiders - is essential for learning how to work together and toward creating a strong raiding team. A successful raider, and excellent end-game player, is an individual that is committed to their team. We must work together to ensure our guild remains strong through teamwork founded upon a commitment to the progress of our guildmates. Leaving your guildmates behind is not a recipe for success.
If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to leave a comment on this post. KKT members should also feel free to contact me or any of the guild officers in-game for assistance.