Quickening

Quest Giver/Turn-in: Archmage Berinand at the Transitus Shield [33, 34]

Objective: Collect 5 Arcane Splinters from Crystalline Protectors inside The Nexus dungeon.

Quick Facts

• Quest Type: Dungeon (The Nexus)
• Faction: Both
• Pre-requisites: Secrets of the Ancients
• Follow-up: None (chain complete)
• Chain Position: Second and final quest from Archmage Berinand (Research chain)

Walkthrough

Step 1: Enter The Nexus

The Nexus dungeon entrance is at the bottom of the rifts in the center of Coldarra, near where the Arcane Serpents patrol.

Step 2: Find the Singing Grove

Crystalline Protectors are found in the Singing Grove section of The Nexus. This is the crystalline forest area that leads to Ormorok the Tree-Shaper. If going clockwise through the dungeon, this is the right-hand path after the entrance foyer.

Step 3: Kill Crystalline Protectors

These large tree-like elemental creatures patrol the Singing Grove. Each drops an Arcane Splinter at 100% rate, so you need exactly 5 kills.

Tips

• Group Loot: Everyone in the group with the quest can loot Arcane Splinters from the same Crystalline Protector. No need to compete for kills.
• Crystalline Protector Abilities: These mobs hit harder than typical trash and have several abilities to watch for:
  • Crystal Chains: Roots a target in place for 6 seconds while dealing Frost damage
  • Shard Spray: Cone attack dealing Arcane damage in front of the mob
  • Thunderclap: AoE attack that slows attack and movement speed
• Normal or Heroic: The quest works in both difficulty modes.

Soloing Tips:

• Level 80+ characters can solo to the Crystalline Protectors with decent gear.
• Stealth classes have it easiest. Go straight forward from the entrance, then turn right at Keristrasza’s frozen prison room. Stealth past mobs and hug the wall to reach the Crystalline Protectors without clearing much.
• Non-stealth classes will need to carefully pull trash packs. Avoid pulling multiple Crystalline Protectors at once since their CC and damage adds up.
• After completing the quest, you can jump off the platform to die and respawn outside rather than fighting your way back out.

Story Context

Archmage Berinand (quest text): “Though we may be witnessing the end of our existence, I can’t help but marvel. I’ve learned more in my short time here than in decades of studies. These Ancients are being exposed to incredible levels of arcane energy. It’s literally transforming them into something… different. I’m confident that there’s another stage in their metamorphosis. I’ll need you to actually enter the Nexus, and find me some evidence of their final state. Do be careful….”

Completion: “The Crystalline Ancients… Do they exist? Fascinating! And they’re aggressive too, you say. That would suggest that some intelligence is behind this manipulation. It may not be natural at all….”

This quest reveals the full scope of what Berinand’s research uncovered. The Glacial Ancients native to Coldarra are being transformed by arcane exposure: first into Magic-bound Ancients, and finally, inside the Nexus where arcane concentration is highest, into Crystalline Protectors. Berinand’s discovery that the Crystalline Protectors are hostile implies deliberate manipulation rather than natural evolution.

Lore Note: Ormorok’s Connection

The Crystalline Protectors share their area with Ormorok the Tree-Shaper, a giant earth elemental boss. Ormorok and his creations were likely captured and placed in the Nexus to serve as guards, then corrupted by prolonged arcane exposure.

The Crystalline Protectors may represent the same process happening to Coldarra’s ancient trees.

Easter Egg: Highlander

The quest name “Quickening” is likely a reference to the Highlander franchise. In those films and TV series, “The Quickening” is the process by which immortals absorb the energy and power of defeated opponents. Here, you’re collecting Arcane Splinters from defeated creatures that have absorbed tremendous amounts of arcane energy.

Chain Complete: Archmage Berinand’s Research

1. Secrets of the Ancients – Collect samples from Glacial and Magic-bound Ancients outside
2. Quickening – Collect samples from Crystalline Protectors inside The Nexus

Explore Borean Tundra’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Borean Tundra Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.