WoW SoD Stratholme Live Guide

It’s time to cleanse the city once and for all! SoD introduces numerous updates to the dungeon, particularly concerning loot. This guide will detail how to access Stratholme Live, highlight the updated gear, and provide links to strategies for all the bosses.

WoW SoD Phase 4 Stratholme Overview

Stratholme is an old human city in the northern Eastern Plaguelands. Once a stronghold of Lordaeron, it was destroyed by Arthas Menethil, who became the Lich King. The city, once purged of undead, is now infested by the Scourge again.

Sections Of Stratholme

Stratholme is divided into two parts: Strat Live and Strat Undead.

Strat Live – populated by living Scarlet Crusaders.
Strat Undead – inhabited by the undead.

Each section can be accessed from within the dungeon, but Strat Undead has a separate entrance known as the Service Gate.

In SoD Phase 4 Stratholme Live is a level 55-60 dungeon. There can be 5 people in the group at the same time to enter Stratholme, no more.

Stratholme Location

Located at the northern tip of the Eastern Kingdoms, reaching Stratholme is a long journey, especially for Alliance players. Both factions should fly to Light’s Hope Chapel.

Horde players – the flight from the Undercity is shorter.
Alliance players – the flight from Ironforge is longer.

Closest Flight Paths:

Below is a map showing the dungeon entrances and the nearest flight paths for both factions.

The Argent Dawn Reputation In Stratholme

Obtaining the Argent Dawn Commission

To maximize your reputation gains with the Argent Dawn while exploring Stratholme, it’s essential to obtain and equip an Argent Dawn Commission trinket. This trinket allows you to loot Scourgestones from undead mobs in the Western and Eastern Plaguelands, which can be turned in for reputation points.

How to Get the Trinket

Alliance Players – obtain the trinket from the Argent Dawn at Chillwind Camp in the Western Plaguelands.
Horde Players – obtain the trinket from the Argent Dawn at the Bulwark in Tirisfal Glades.

Getting to Stratholme Live

To access the Live Wing of Stratholme, enter through the main gate in the northwest of the Eastern Plaguelands. Once inside, you’ll find two distinct sections:

Eastern Section – the main city area filled with ghosts and undead mobs.
Western Section – controlled by the Scarlet Crusade faction.

Stratholme Live Layout

Starting Point

Entrance – begin by going down the main road.
Left Turn – turn left into a small side street with a mailbox to find the quest target Ezra Grimm (if needed).

Navigation Paths

North Path – if Ezra Grimm is not required, go north instead.

Gate – after passing through the gate, you can choose:

Eastern Path: Leads to The Unforgiven (an optional boss and rare spawns).
Western Path: Leads to the rest of the dungeon.

Key Bosses

Skip The Unforgiven – head west to encounter Timmy the Cruel.
Scarlet Crusade Area – proceed further to face Malor the Zealous.
Hall with Two Doors:

First Door – leads to Cannon Master Willey and Crimson Hammersmith.
Second Door – leads to Archivist Galford and the final boss.

In Stratholme Live, the presence of Undead mobs despite the Scarlet Crusade’s dominance highlights the need for comprehensive preparation. Securing the Scarlet Key is essential for a complete dungeon run. Players who have completed Scarlet Monastery dungeons in the past may already have the key, but those who do not can efficiently acquire it through solo or duo runs. This additional step ensures that all areas of the dungeon are accessible and clears the way for a thorough exploration and loot acquisition.

Navigating Stratholme Live requires familiarity with its layout. The main areas to focus on are the eastern city filled with undead and the western section dominated by the Scarlet Crusade. Prioritize key bosses like Timmy the Cruel, Malor the Zealous, and make strategic decisions on whether to engage optional bosses like The Unforgiven. Following this path ensures an efficient and successful dungeon run.

WoW SoD Phase 4 Stratholme Live Rewards

This comprehensive list includes valuable items from various armor types and accessory slots found in Stratholme Live. Each piece contributes to different class needs and playstyles, from cloth and leather to mail and plate armor, as well as an assortment of weapons and trinkets. Equip the appropriate gear to enhance your performance and strategy in the dungeon.

Weapons

Slot	Item
Held In Off-Hand	Book of the Dead
Held In Off-Hand	Scepter of Interminable Focus
One-Hand	Bone Slicing Hatchet
One-Hand	Gift of the Elven Magi
One-Hand	Skullforge Reaver
Ranged	Willey’s Portable Howitzer
Two-Hand	Hammer of the Grand Crusader
Two-Hand	Peacemaker
Two-Hand	Runeblade of Baron Rivendare

Plate Armor

Slot	Item
Head	Grand Crusader’s Helm
Head	Helm of the Executioner
Legs	Chitinous Plate Legguards
Waist	Rainbow Girdle
Wrist	Morlune’s Bracer
Wrist	Vambraces of the Sadist

Mail Armor

Slot	Item
Feet	Timmy’s Galoshes
Hands	Dracorian Gauntlets
Hands	Gauntlets of Deftness
Head	Crown of Tyranny
Legs	Woollies of the Prancing Minstrel

Leather Armor

Slot	Item
Chest	Songbird Blouse
Chest	Tunic of the Crescent Moon
Head	Mask of the Unforgiven
Legs	Plaguehound Leggings
Wrist	Magistrate’s Cuffs

Cloth Armor

Slot	Item
Chest	Ironweave Robe
Chest	The Postmaster’s Tunic
Feet	The Postmaster’s Treads
Hands	Shadowy Laced Handwraps
Head	The Postmaster’s Band
Legs	The Postmaster’s Trousers
Shoulder	Shroud of the Nathrezim
Shoulder	Soulstealer Mantle
Waist	Grimgore Noose
Waist	Thuzadin Sash

Cloak

Slot	Item
Back	Royal Tribunal Cloak

Accessories

Slot	Item
Finger	Seal of Rivendare
Finger	The Postmaster’s Seal
Neck	Nacreous Shell Necklace
Neck	Star of Mystaria
Trinket	Cannonball Runner

WoW SoD Phase 4 Stratholme Live Strategy

Rare Mobs

Skul

Type – level 58 Undead rare elite.
Spawn – locations: Multiple spots within the main city area.
Mechanics – skul does not have notable mechanics despite being an elite mob.

Hearthsinger Forresten

Details – another rare mob is found in the Live Wing.

Boss Tactics

Jarien and Sothos

Location – balnazzar’s room.
Use the Brazier of Beckoning to summon them. Focus on one boss at a time to reduce incoming damage. Be mindful of their shared loot table.

Ezra Grimm

Clear the area before summoning him. Spread out to avoid AoE abilities. Focus fire on him to take him down quickly. Collect Siabi’s Premium Tobacco for the related quest.

Malor the Zealous

Be ready to interrupt or out-damage his healing ability. Manage the chest behind him for the quest item. Use a standard tank-and-spank approach.

Crimson Hammersmith

Clear the area before summoning him. No special mechanics are involved, so use a straightforward fight strategy. Blacksmiths should be prepared for the recipe drop.

The Unforgiven

Engage immediately upon entering the northern gateway. Clear minor adds first, then focus on the boss. Use a standard tank-and-spank approach.

Postmaster Malown

Kill Stratholme Couriers to obtain postbox keys. Open three postboxes to summon Malown. Be ready for Fear, Curse of Tongues, and Curse of Weakness. Use Fear Immunity and dispel Curses as necessary.

Timmy the Cruel

Clear the courtyard leading up to the Scarlet building door without opening it. Wait for Timmy to approach from behind. Watch out for Enrage and Ravenous Claw abilities. Use cooldowns to manage increased damage during Enrage.

Cannon Master Willey

Prepare for Crimson Rifleman add spawns. Use AoE abilities or cannons to handle adds. Be cautious of the Knock Away ability and reposition if needed. Coordinate add control while focusing on the boss.

Archivist Galford

Avoid or mitigate the Burning Winds ability. Have healers ready to provide extra healing to the Burning Winds target. Deal with Fire Nova and spread out to reduce damage.

Grand Crusader Dathrohan/Balnazzar

For Dathrohan, use a tank and spank strategy until he reaches 50% HP. When he changes into Balnazzar, make sure that ranged DPS and healers stay far away to avoid his Psychic Scream. Use crowd control on players affected by Domination, interrupt Mind Blast, and wake up players affected by Sleep. Maintain consistent DPS while managing mechanics.

Conclusion And Analysis

Stratholme Live offers a variety of challenges, from rare mobs to several key bosses. Understanding each boss’s mechanics and preparing for their abilities will help ensure a smoother dungeon run. Prioritize clearing adds, managing mechanics, and coordinating with your team to handle the diverse encounters effectively.

Even with this guide, running the dungeon over and over again is nobody’s idea of fun. Try using our SoD Dungeon boost to have a team of pros run the dungeon for you, so that you don’t have to waste your own time on the repetitive and boring busywork.