The Lunar Festival is one of Azeroth's longest holidays, spanning several weeks between January and February. Like other holiday events in World of Warcraft, this one comes with a series of new Achievements and the unique title of Elder.
One of the tasks that players have to accomplish to get this title is one of the most difficult and time-consuming of any Achievement. It's also one of the meta-Achievements required for the Time-Lost Proto Drake, one of the game's rarest, most popular, and most coveted flying mounts.
The Elders Of Azeroth
There are a total of 13 dungeon elders, and six of them are in instances located in Old Azeroth. Higher-level players have an advantage here because they can enter most of these dungeons with a smaller group or even alone.
Elder Wildmane, Zul'Farrak
Also referred to as ZF, this level 35 dungeon is famous for many reasons, the main one being that killing the final boss finishes a quest that rewards the much coveted Carrot-On-A-Stick trinket.
- Elder Wildmane is standing next to the large reflecting pool that hides the optional boss, Gahz'rilla.
- The dungeon is open-concept, so it's possible to skip some mobs to get to this point.
- The easiest path to the end of the dungeon is to simply stay to the left.
- At the end of the long corridor that leads northwest from the big open room filled with graves is the room where Elder Wildmane awaits.
Elder Splitrock, Maraudon
It used to be that players who didn't have the Wand of Celebras couldn't access this portal, which means they either had to run the whole dungeon to reach the end. This has been fixed and now anyone can use the portal.
Most players expect this to be the easiest elder to find because Maraudon is the lowest-level dungeon at level 35. It's about the same as Zul'Farrak when it comes to levels, but it's much bigger, which is why Elder Splitrock is probably the most difficult to reach because he's deep in the heart of the dungeon.
To Find The Portal:
- There's a shortcut, of course, thanks to the portal that can take players into the "green" section of the dungeon, which is where the Elder is waiting.
- Follow the passage downward and go through the passage flanked by two stone centaurs.
- Stay to the left, and the portal should be in a room straight ahead.
Inside Maraudon:
- The portal brings the player to Earthsong Falls.
- Jump down the falls and head south through the caves.
- The path turns left out of the water flanked by two large sunflowers.
- Follow this passage and when it branches off to the right, towards a bunch of snakes, stay to the right.
- Move forward and stay to the right. This leads down, slow-fall or parachute might be faster.
- Keep following the passage south to Zaeter's Grave.
- Cross the bridge on the left.
- Stay to the left. The Elder is standing on the southern side of the wall.
Elder Farwhisper, Stratholme
Stratholme is level 60 and the highest-level dungeon in Azeroth that hides an elder. Whether players go in through the front door or use the servant key, Elder Farwhisper is about the same distance either way and easy to find on Festival Lane.
Those who have the Servant's Key can enter the dungeon from a different entrance to the east and bypass the dreaded "rat trap." Level 80 characters won't have any problems walking in on their own either choice.
Front door:
- Move south to the end of the lane, and turn right.
- Move forward, take a right, and go south again.
- Go through the "rat trap" and turn right.
- Continue down the street.
- The Elder is to the right.
Servant's Entrance:
- Stay to the left through Elder's Square.
- Turn right on Festival Lane.
- Walk straight ahead. The Elder is on the left this time.
Elder Starsong, Sunken Temple
A level 45 dungeon, and one of the Trool dungeons included in the lore, the floorplan can be confusing. As long as a player can reach the Dragonkin floor, which is the very bottom of this dungeon, they can find Elder Starsong, although it's much easier with a full party or a higher-level character.
- In the first room, enter the passage to the top-right.
- Turn right. Take the stairs going up for three flights.
- Another passage should open up to the right at this point. Follow it.
- This leads to a boss. Fight him or not, the important part is that the players drop down from this platform to the Pit of Sacrifice below.
- The Elder is in a dead-end passage on the northeastern part of the room.
Elder Stonefort, Lower Blackrock Spire
One of two elders hidden in the massive mountain of Blackrock, this is one of the easier ones to find, especially with a higher-level character or a class with stealth abilities.
- Stay to the left in the first room.
- Turn to the room with the broken stairway.
- Jump down. Stay to the left.
- Follow the passage to Hordemar City.
- Hug the wall to the left.
- Continue to move downward until a rope bridge appears.
- Elder Stonefort is on the opposite side of the bridge.
Elder Morndeep, Blackrock Depths
It's not as tough to find this Elder as it could be, considering how big this place is, but some major landmarks and a key make it easier to find. The elder can be found in the Arena which is behind the Grim Guzzler. At level 40, this is another easy one for advanced-level 'toons.
Interacting with this elder will trigger a boss fight. Be prepared if the party or character is low-level.
Without Key:
- Go straight from the entrance.
- Pass through the big room filled with dwarves and dogs.
- Exit through the passage called the Halls of Law to the east.
- Stay to the left.
- The passage opens up into the Ring of Law, and Elder Morndeep is standing in the middle of it.
With the Shadowforge Key:
- Turn left and open the door.
- Move straight down the passage.
- Open the first door on the right.
- Go through the East Garrison door on the left.
- Go up the stairs on the right and enter the Grim Guzzler.
- Continue up the stairs and enter the Ring of Law.
- Jump down and talk to the elder.
The Elders Of Northrend
Northrend has its own impressive roster of dungeons and hidden elders. There aren't any dungeons on this northern continent that compare in size to anything in Old Azeroth, so the elders aren't stowed under waterfalls or behind portals.
Instead, these elders are behind a "level wall" and only high-level players can access them. This portion of the Achievement can only be completed by characters level 70 or higher.
There are three different levels of difficulty in Northrend dungeons; Normal, Heroic, and a new designation, Heroic+. The third has more difficult mechanics and raid-level rewards. The elders will be present in the dungeons regardless of the difficulty level and the easiest way to find them is to get a group and just run the dungeon.
Elder Killas, Drak'Tharon Keep
Find Elder Killas next to the hulking King Dred, the dungeon's third boss.
- Enter the dungeon and stay to the left.
- When the stairs branch off, go right to the Warlord's Terrace.
- Run up the stairs straight ahead.
- Turn right into the Draknid Lair and take the passage on the right.
- This leads into the Temple of the Forgotten and the lair of the second boss, Novos the Summoner.
- Leave through the passage on the southwest corner and enter the Aviary.
- Exit through the southern door into the raptor pens.
- Stay to the left. King Dredd is in a giant pen on the right.
- Elder Killas is just inside.
Elder Ohanzee, Gundrak
What makes this elder a bit harder to find is that he's past a tough boss, Sseratus, which is waiting in the very first room of the dungeon. It's possible to skip him if the only goal is the elder.
- Enter the dungeon and jump down to the pool below.
- Fight Sseratus or stay to the left and avoid him.
- Go straight through the piles of bones to the Tomb of the Ancients.
- There's a second boss here, the Drakkari Colossus, and the elder is standing on the far side of it.
- Either kill the boss or distract it long enough to speak to the elder.
Elder Yarauk, Halls Of Stone
This elder is found in the Crystalline Quarry, a distinctive area in the center of the dungeon.
- Enter the dungeon, and go straight until a hallway opens up to the right.
- Turn right and continue ahead until a rough cave opens up on the right side.
- Turn right and follow the quarry to the far western side to speak with Elder Yarauk.
Elder Nurgen, Azjol-Nerub
It's possible to find this elder alone, but there's no getting around the bosses that have to go down to get to him. At least the first two have to go down. After fighting the first boss, Krik'thir the Gatewatcher, it's possible to proceed into the rest of the instance.
- Continue straight across the bridge.
- Turn to the right and move down to find the lair of the second boss, Hadronox.
- Fight them and exit through the downward passage to the right.
- Go straight and drop down through the break in the webbing.
- Jump down the hole and prepared to drop a very long way.
- Elder Nurgen is chilling out on the shore by the northern side of the Brood Pit pond.
Elder Igasho, The Nexus
One of the easier elders to find because he's fairly close to the entrance and in a part of the dungeon that's not behind any bosses or tough mobs. He's in the singing grove, which is on the right side of the dungeon, and there are various ways to get there.
- Turn right in the first room and continue straight.
- Go through the archway with the white trees and enter the Singing Grove.
- Follow the passage left.
- When the passage turns, follow it to the right.
- The elder is standing by the wall next to the second boss, Anomalus.
Elder Chogan'gada, Utgarde Pinnacle
This elder is tucked in a weird spot near the end of this dungeon, but at least this uncomplicated floor plan is easy to navigate.
- Exit the Observance Hall to the right. This is the room where Svala Sorrowgrave lurks.
- Go up two flights of stairs and take a left.
- Fight through the Trophy Hall.
- After fighting Skadi the Ruthless, pass through a room on the right that leads into a broken stairway.
- The Elder is in a room underneath the stairway.
Elder Jarten, Utgarde Keep
Like Utgarde Pinnacle below it, Utgarde Keep is also fairly easy to navigate as long as stairs aren't a problem. There's only one straightforward path through the Keep with little variation.
- Enter the dungeon and kill the blacksmith NPCs working the bellows.
- Pass through the passage on the top right into the Dragonflayer Pens.
- Exit the room and follow the passage, which turns left.
- Go up the stairs.
- The elder is in a room on the right.
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