Blackrock Foundry, the second raid of World of Warcraft's Warlords of Draenor expansion pack, will go live in a matter of weeks. Blizzard released the full schedule for the raid's staggered release today.
Blizzard's rollout of Blackrock Foundry is similar to Highmaul's: Normal and Heroic modes are available on day one, with the more difficult Mythic released a week later. The Raid Finder difficulty, the easy setting designed for public matchmaking, will be released over several weeks.
Blackrock Foundry is a massive fortress in northern Gorgrond. Warlord Blackhand leads his clan in constructing advanced weaponry such as tanks that the Iron Horde will use to conquer Draenor and invade Azeroth. Players can deal a crippling blow to the Iron Horde, however, by defeating the 10 bosses spread throughout the base.
On the same day that Blackrock Foundry debuts, Blizzard will introduce a new world boss. Rukhmar is a fiery bird that roams Spires of Arak. In addition to ilevel 665 gear, Rukhmar has a chance to drop Solar Spirehawk, a mount that looks like a miniaturized version of her.
Here's the full unlock schedule announced by Blizzard:
February 3, 2015:Blackrock Foundry opens with Normal and Heroic difficulties available.World boss Rukhmar becomes available in Spires of Arak.February 10, 2015:Mythic difficulty becomes available.February 17, 2015:Raid Finder Wing 1: Slagworks (Gruul, Oregorger, and The Blast Furnace) unlocks.February 24, 2015:Raid Finder Wing 2: The Black Forge (Hans’gar and Franzok, Flamebender Ka’graz, and Kromog ) unlocks.March 10, 2015:Raid Finder Wing 3: Iron Assembly (Beastlord Darmac, Operator Thogar, and The Iron Maidens) unlocks.March 24, 2015:Raid Finder Wing 4: Blackhand’s Crucible (Blackhand) unlocks.
If you want to play the Raid Finder difficulty of Blackrock Foundry, you'll need a minimum item level of 635. That shouldn't be hard to attain. You can get item level 640 gear from running the Raid Finder of Highmaul or getting player-crafted items. The two current world bosses, Drov and Tarlna, each drop level 650 items. You've got plenty of time to get to 635 before even the first wing of Blackrock Foundry unlocks.
Blizzard is also working on Patch 6.1, the first major update to the game since Warlords of Draenor's launch. While it may arrive around the same time as Blackrock Foundry, Blizzard says that the raid isn't actually part of that patch:
Patch 6.1 will continue the Legendary ring questline of the expansion. It will also introduce new activities for players' garrisons, including a chance to earn a Legendary follower. Heirlooms, account-bound items that boost experience point gains, will also return to the game with a new upgrade system. The patch's data also contains some information on a Veteran Edition of the game, which may be a new type of free trial.
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