Neltharion’s Flame

Objective: Use Neltharion’s Flame to cleanse the summoning area in the back of the Maw of Neltharion, then kill Rothin the Decaying and return to Serinar.

Quick Facts

• Location: Obsidian Dragonshrine, Dragonblight [38, 31]
• Chain Position: 2 of 3 in the Serinar series (Defiling the Defilers → Neltharion’s Flame → Tales of Destruction)
• Pairs With: Defiling the Defilers (if not already completed)

Walkthrough

Getting to the Summoning Area

• The cave entrance to the Maw of Neltharion is at approximately [37, 31], on the western edge of the Obsidian Dragonshrine. The cave layout can be disorienting, as it shares its map with Ragefire Chasm beneath Orgrimmar.
• Navigate to the back of the cave toward the lava. The summoning area where you need to use the quest item is around [31, 31] on the minimap. For the precise spot, aim for [31.45, 30.95].

Using the Flame and Fighting Rothin

• Rothin the Decaying is visible and targetable before you use the flame, but he’s immune to damage. You can use /tar Rothin to locate him and plan your route through the cave.
• Use Neltharion’s Flame from your inventory near the summoning area. This cleanses the dragon bones Rothin has been using to raise Magmawyrms for the Scourge.
• After the bones are cleansed, Rothin loses his immunity and attacks. He yells: “Foolish errand boy/girl… you will die for interrupting my work!”
• Rothin is a level 75 Cult of the Damned necromancer. His abilities include Shadow Bolt, Shadowflame (frontal cone dealing Shadow and Fire damage), and Aegis of Neltharion (a self-buff reducing damage taken by 20% and increasing his damage by 20%). Face him away from yourself if possible to avoid Shadowflame, and burn through the Aegis buff quickly.
• After killing Rothin, return to Serinar at the front of the cave to turn in.

Efficiency Tips

• Clear the cave of Burning Depths Necrolytes on the way in to avoid unnecessary adds during the Rothin fight.
• If you haven’t completed Defiling the Defilers yet, stamp out the Necromantic Runes along the cave floor on the same trip.
• The follow-up quest Tales of Destruction sends you back to Nalice at Wyrmrest Temple, so plan your flight path accordingly.
• Tailors (WotLK Classic specific): The Maw of Neltharion was historically the location required to craft Ebonweave (Patch 3.0.8 through 3.3.3). If your tailoring cooldown is up, craft it while you’re here.

Lore Context

Serinar is a black dragon in human form defending the Obsidian Dragonshrine from the Cult of the Damned, who have been desecrating the bones of dead black dragons. He’s unusually cooperative for a member of the black dragonflight, though he still condescendingly calls you an “effective tool.”

Rothin was resurrecting the ancient remains of black dragons as Magmawyrms to serve the Scourge, a particularly offensive act to Serinar since these are the bones of his brood.

The reward Lord Prestor’s Drape references Lord Daval Prestor, the human alias Neltharion/Deathwing used to infiltrate the royal court of Lordaeron. A fitting nod, given this quest takes place in the cave bearing his original name.

Cross-Expansion Connections

Serinar’s Fate

• After Deathwing’s death in Cataclysm, Wrathion claims to be the last living black dragon. However, Blizzard developers confirmed that “it is possible that some black dragons on Azeroth have managed to evade Wrathion’s detection.” Serinar has not appeared since WotLK, leaving his survival an open question.