Molten Core Uses a Shortcut; Onyxia Requires a Carried Amulet
For original level-60 WoW Classic, Molten Core attunement unlocks Lothos Riftwaker's transport, while Onyxia's Lair requires the Drakefire Amulet in your bags. Completing a dungeon objective is not always the final step: return to the quest giver to finish the attunement.
This guide covers the original Classic raids and their attunements, including the rules described for the December 2024 Anniversary release. It does not use Retail, Season of Discovery or WoW Forever rules. Blizzard's raid-access overview identifies both as 40-player raids designed for level 60.
| Raid | What to finish before the raid |
|---|---|
| Molten Core | Return the Core Fragment to Lothos to unlock his transport and avoid the long route through Blackrock Depths. |
| Onyxia's Lair | Complete your faction's chain, receive the Drakefire Amulet, and carry it in your bags when entering the lair in Dustwallow Marsh. |
Molten Core's attunement is a convenient entrance shortcut. The Drakefire Amulet is an actual Onyxia entry requirement; leaving it in the bank defeats that preparation.
Molten Core: Collect the Fragment, Then Return to Lothos
- Speak to Lothos Riftwaker in Blackrock Mountain. Accept Attunement to the Core, available from level 55.
- Enter Blackrock Depths and reach the Molten Core entry portal. Collect the Core Fragment near that portal. Plan this objective with your dungeon group instead of assuming any BRD boss kill completes it.
- Bring the fragment back to Lothos. The completed quest enables his transport into Molten Core. Simply collecting the fragment is not the completed attunement.
The quest's completion text explicitly grants transport. This is why a character can have visited the deep dungeon entrance yet still need the final conversation with Lothos.
Alliance Onyxia Route: Windsor, Stormwind, Then Haleh
The Alliance route moves between Burning Steppes, Blackrock Depths, Stormwind, Winterspring and Upper Blackrock Spire. These milestones show where the chain leads and which return trips matter.
- Start with Helendis Riverhorn in Burning Steppes. Dragonkin Menace leads into the True Masters referrals and eventually to Marshal Windsor in Blackrock Depths.
- Complete Windsor's BRD investigation and escape. After Abandoned Hope, the route continues through A Crumpled Up Note and A Shred of Hope. Recover the information from General Angerforge and Golem Lord Argelmach, then complete Jail Break! and report to Marshal Maxwell.
- Follow the Stormwind stages. Stormwind Rendezvous directs you to Squire Rowe at the city gates. During The Great Masquerade, follow Reginald Windsor through the city; the quest ends with Highlord Bolvar Fordragon.
- Take the fragment to Haleh, then collect Drakkisath's blood. The Dragon's Eye leads to Haleh in Winterspring. Her Drakefire Amulet quest requires Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire. Return to Haleh to receive the amulet.
Drakkisath supplies the final quest material. The amulet itself is Haleh's reward after the return trip, so an UBRS clear alone does not finish the chain.
Horde Onyxia Route: Goretooth, Thrall, Rexxar and the Dragon Tests
The Horde route also uses multiple dungeon visits and outdoor stages. Pick up the active quest before heading into the relevant dungeon; reaching the boss early does not skip the earlier chain.
- Begin with Warlord Goretooth in Kargath. Warlord's Command requires Highlord Omokk, War Master Voone, Overlord Wyrmthalak and the Important Blackrock Documents in Lower Blackrock Spire. Eitrigg's Wisdom then requires speaking with Eitrigg and reporting to Thrall.
- Return Rend Blackhand's head to Thrall. For The Horde! is the Upper Blackrock Spire stage. What the Wind Carries and The Champion of the Horde lead onward to Rexxar.
- Follow Rexxar to Myranda the Hag. The Testament of Rexxar sends you to her in Western Plaguelands. Oculus Illusions requires 20 Black Dragonspawn Eyes; the subsequent Emberstrife quest supplies the disguise used in Emberstrife's Den.
- Complete the dragon tests, then return to Rexxar. Emberstrife's Test of Skulls quests cover Scryer, Somnus and Chronalis, followed by Axtroz. Ascension... sends the dull amulet back to Rexxar.
- Collect Drakkisath's blood and return again. Rexxar's Blood of the Black Dragon Champion requires General Drakkisath's blood from UBRS. Rexxar activates and awards the Drakefire Amulet on turn-in.
The Rend visit, dragon tests and final Drakkisath visit serve different stages. Having the dull amulet or the General's blood is not the same as holding the completed entry item.
Before Travelling to the Raid Entrance
- Molten Core: confirm the fragment was turned in and Lothos offers transport.
- Onyxia: confirm the final Haleh or Rexxar turn-in is complete and the Drakefire Amulet is in your bags.
- Groups: compare actual quest stages before arranging BRD, LBRS or UBRS runs. Different players may need different objectives in the same dungeon.
These checks catch the common last-step problems without assuming the whole faction chain can be completed in one dungeon visit.
