Onyxia attunement for the Alliance, stage by stage

Every member of a 40-player raid needs their own key to Onyxia’s Lair. Blizzard’s raid overview of 20 October sets out the faction-specific chain for the Drakefire Amulet. The raid opens on 9 December, and Blizzard’s advice is to start early, bring a few friends for the elite quests and leave plenty of time for several trips into high-level dungeons.

This is the Alliance chain, grouped into the four places it takes you.

1. Burning Steppes

It begins with “Dragonkin Menace” from Helendis Riverhorn. Helendis then sends you on the first of six quests all named “The True Masters”, which investigate the Black Dragonflight’s hold over the Blackrock orcs. The chain leads to Marshal Maxwell at Morgan’s Vigil.

2. Blackrock Depths

Maxwell sends you into Blackrock Depths to find Marshal Windsor, or proof of his death, in “Marshal Windsor”. Windsor sends you back to Maxwell in “Abandoned Hope”.

The story continues from a drop. A Crumpled Up Note comes from enemies in Blackrock Depths and starts “A Crumpled Up Note”; take it to Windsor in his cell. In “A Shred of Hope”, you recover Windsor’s lost information from Golem Lord Argelmach and General Angerforge. Then “Jail Break!” has you help Windsor escape before you report back to Maxwell.

The overview does not give a drop chance for the note, so budget for more than one run.

3. Stormwind

Maxwell sends you to Stormwind in “Stormwind Rendezvous”, to a squire at the city gates who can summon Windsor. “The Great Masquerade” follows, and Blizzard tells you to gather allies for it; if Windsor is not present, speak to the squire again. Highlord Bolvar Fordragon then sends you on “The Dragon’s Eye”, to search Azeroth for someone capable of helping. The overview does not name who that is.

4. Upper Blackrock Spire

The final quest, “Drakefire Amulet”, takes you into Upper Blackrock Spire to take the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath. Bring it back and you receive the Drakefire Amulet.

Before you enter

The amulet must be in your inventory. It does not need to be equipped. Blizzard also warns that Onyxia’s fire attacks punish an unprepared raid and recommends building fire resistance before you go in.

Veterans will recognize the shape of this chain from the original game. Treat the official list as the reference, and check any shortcut you remember against the launch client before planning your guild’s runs around it. The Horde version is in our Horde attunement guide.