Onyxia attunement for the Horde: Rexxar, Emberstrife and the Test of Skulls

The Horde road to Onyxia’s Lair crosses half the world. Blizzard’s raid overview of 20 October lists twelve steps to the Drakefire Amulet, which every member of the 40-player raid must carry when it opens on 9 December. Here they are by destination, so a guild can see where the trips and dungeon runs fall.

Badlands and Lower Blackrock Spire

Start in Kargath, in the Badlands, with “Blood and Thunder” from Warlord Goretooth. It leads directly to “Warlord’s Command”, which takes you through Lower Blackrock Spire.

Orgrimmar, then back to the Spire

Goretooth sends you to report to Eitrigg in Orgrimmar, and then to seek counsel with Thrall. In “For the Horde!”, you return to Blackrock Spire to claim the head of Warchief Rend Blackhand for Thrall.

The overview places that fight in Lower Blackrock Spire. Players who remember the original game will associate Rend with the upper part of the Spire. Do not settle it from memory either way; check which wing the quest sends you to before you form the group.

Desolace and the Western Plaguelands

After Thrall’s discoveries in “What the Wind Carries”, you look for Rexxar, who wanders the roads of Desolace, in “The Champion of the Horde”. Rexxar sends you to deliver his testament to Myranda the Hag in the Western Plaguelands. She gives you “Oculus Illusions”, which asks for Black Dragonspawn Eyes. The overview does not say where those come from.

Dustwallow Marsh and the Test of Skulls

Using your Amulet of Draconic Subversion, you seek out the ancient drake Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh. He tests you with four quests, each beginning “The Test of Skulls”, which send you after four named dragons: Scryer, Somnus, Chronalis and Axtroz. Bring back their skulls.

Back to Rexxar, then Upper Blackrock Spire

Emberstrife gives you the Dull Drakefire Amulet in “Ascension...”. Take it back to Rexxar in Desolace. He sends you to Upper Blackrock Spire in “Blood of the Black Dragon Champion” to take the blood from General Drakkisath. Return to Rexxar to receive the Drakefire Amulet.

The shape of it

Count the stops: Badlands, Blackrock Spire, Orgrimmar, the Spire again, Desolace, the Western Plaguelands, Dustwallow Marsh, Desolace, Upper Blackrock Spire and Desolace once more. Rexxar roams the roads of Desolace rather than waiting in one place, so allow time to find him on each visit. Blizzard advises bringing a few friends for the elite quests, and guildmates on the same step can share the Spire runs.

The amulet needs to be in your inventory to enter, not equipped. The Alliance version is in our Alliance attunement guide.