The Gilneas Reclamation Questline (Patch 10.2.5)

Key Takeaways

Patch 10.2.5 "Seeds of Renewal" added the questline in which the Alliance, aided by the Forsaken, reclaimed Gilneas from the Scarlet Crusade.
Alliance players began near the Valdrakken portals and flew to Gilneas with King Genn Greymane; Horde players began at Pyrewood Village in Silverpine Forest with Calia Menethil and Lilian Voss.
Genn's daughter Tess Greymane brokered the uneasy alliance with the Forsaken over her father's initial objections.
The Scarlet leader Inquisitor Fairbell transformed into a Light elemental, the Hallowed Monstrosity, during the final fight at Light's Dawn Cathedral.
With the Scarlet Crusade driven out, Genn named Tess the new ruler of Gilneas in the cutscene "Beginning a New Dawn."
The story closed with Genn visiting his son Liam Greymane's tomb, reflecting on the wall that once cut Gilneas off from the world.

⚠️ Spoiler warning: this recap walks through the full Patch 10.2.5 Gilneas storyline, including its ending. If you want to play the Reclamation of Gilneas firsthand first, bookmark this and come back.

Where the Questline Begins

The Reclamation of Gilneas opened differently for each faction, but both paths converged on the same goal: pushing the Scarlet Crusade out of the cursed kingdom.

For Alliance characters, a Greyguard Elite near the portals in Valdrakken summoned the player to meet Lord Greymane in Stormwind. From there, the player joined Genn Greymane on a flight to Gilneas, where he laid out the situation. The Scarlet Crusade had turned the city into a stronghold, and it was time for the Alliance to take it back. Genn admitted he knew little about the Crusade, since they had risen to power after Gilneas walled itself off from the rest of humanity.

Horde characters started instead with "Clandestine Movements," which sent them to meet Calia Menethil and Lilian Voss at Pyrewood Village in Silverpine Forest. These unlikely allies intended to retake Gilneas from a common enemy. Calia highlighted the long tension between King Greymane and the Forsaken, while Lilian explained that the Scarlet Crusade had once fought the Scourge before fanaticism twisted them into hating anyone who would not join their cause.

An Unexpected Alliance

Both factions arrived in Gilneas to witness a tense meeting between the Greymanes and the Forsaken leaders. Genn resented their presence at first, still blaming the Forsaken for Gilneas' downfall. His daughter Tess Greymane argued that their hard-won experience against the Scarlet Crusade made them valuable allies. Reluctantly, Genn agreed to accept their help, and the shared goal of reclaiming Gilneas held the uneasy partnership together.

Assaulting the Scarlet Crusade

The early tasks had the player thinning out Scarlet forces and killing one of their commanders to send a message. Along the way, a recovered Red Missive revealed the Crusade's plan for Gilneas: build a base, "cleanse" the land, and wipe out anyone they judged tainted. In response, Tess and Lilian led the player to a secret tunnel into the city, where a chain of explosions opened a path toward the Scarlet stronghold.

The Battle at Light's Dawn Cathedral

With the path open, the player confronted the Scarlet leader, Inquisitor Fairbell, inside Light's Dawn Cathedral. Halfway through the fight she invoked the Light and transformed into a towering Light elemental, the Hallowed Monstrosity. The player and their allies brought her down regardless, and Princess Tess Greymane declared the victory. The Alliance, with Forsaken support, had driven the Scarlet Crusade out of Gilneas.

Gilneas Restored

The victory marked the moment Gilneas finally returned to the Greymane family. In the cutscene "Beginning a New Dawn," Genn apologized to Tess for years of neglect and named her the new ruler of Gilneas. He then asked for time alone, and Tess sent the player to check on him in the follow-up quest "What We Left Behind."

The player found Genn at Liam Greymane's tomb, where he reflected on the lessons of the past and the consequences of the wall that had isolated his kingdom. He admitted he would never know how things might have gone had he chosen differently, then assured his fallen son that Gilneas was in capable hands and that Tess would lead it with pride. It was a quiet, personal close to a questline that had spent its run on cooperation between old enemies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What patch added the Gilneas reclamation questline?

Patch 10.2.5 "Seeds of Renewal," the Dragonflight content update that launched on January 16, 2024. The questline was one of its headline story additions.

Do both factions get the Gilneas questline?

Yes. Alliance players begin near the Valdrakken portals and travel with Genn Greymane, while Horde players begin at Pyrewood Village in Silverpine Forest with Calia Menethil and Lilian Voss. Both paths end with the Scarlet Crusade driven out.

Who becomes the ruler of Gilneas?

Tess Greymane, Genn's daughter, is named the new ruler in the cutscene "Beginning a New Dawn." Genn steps back after years of carrying the crown through exile.

Who is the final boss of the questline?

Inquisitor Fairbell, the leader of the Scarlet Crusade in Gilneas. During the fight at Light's Dawn Cathedral she transforms into a Light elemental called the Hallowed Monstrosity before she is defeated.

Why do the Forsaken help the Alliance reclaim Gilneas?

Calia Menethil and Lilian Voss share a common enemy in the Scarlet Crusade and bring real experience fighting them. Tess Greymane convinces her father to accept the help despite the long history between Gilneas and the Forsaken.

Is the questline still playable?

Yes. As Seeds of Renewal story content, the Reclamation of Gilneas remains available to play through, so newer characters can still see Gilneas returned to the Greymane family.

Last reviewed 2026-06-29 against Patch 10.2.5 Seeds of Renewal. Maintained by WowCarry's WoW team.