With the release of WoW SoD Phase Two, at least six new Runes were added for every class to collect. As was the case in Phase One, each class has one Rune tied to the same questline, which for SoD Phase Two is the Dark Rider questline.
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Instead of running around to grind out a bunch of random items for Grizzby, players need to group up to locate and beat all SoD Dark Riders. This guide to the SoD Phase Two Dark Rider Rune questline goes over how to start the quest and what you are required to do, and details each Dark Rider location throughout the world.
Dark Rider Rune Quest Basic Walkthrough
How To Start The Dark Rider SoD Quest
To start the SoD Dark Rider quest line, players will need to head to Deadwind Pass, in the far southeast of the Eastern Kingdoms. Alliance players have the easiest time getting here, as it's just a few minutes' walk east of Darkshire, in Duskwood. Horde players will need to head to Stranglethorn, travel north to Duskwood, then avoid Alliance NPCs as they navigate to the entrance to Deadwind Pass.
Follow the path through the north of the zone while avoiding its deadly high-level mobs, and look for a path leading north just before the entrance to the Swamp of Sorrows. You should find Ariden's Camp here, in the northeastern part of the zone, and a Dalaran Agent NPC. Talk to them to get Ariden's Sigil, an item that can reveal nearby Dark Riders, and get details on what exactly you must do.
Find Each Dark Rider & Collect The Dalaran Tomes
The objective of the Dark Rider quest is to collect seven lost Dalaran Tomes that have been spread out throughout Azeroth. Each of the Dark Riders is a Level 41 Elite enemy, one that is extremely tough to solo (or even duo). You will need to either have a balanced group that travels with you to each location, or find a new group at each SoD Dark Rider location.
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When you are near a Dark Rider, you will get a debuff called Dark Presence, represented in-game with a pair of eyes that appear over your character. Use Ariden's Sigil when this pops up to reveal the exact location of a nearby Dark Rider. Once defeated, each Dark Rider will drop a different version of the item Dalaran Tome.
Collect all seven, then return to Ariden's Camp in Deadwind Pass – after turning them into the Dalaran Agent, they will reward you with a Supply Bag. Open this bag to get a Rune specific to your class.
All SoD Dark Rider Locations
When you get close to the areas encircled in the maps below, use Ariden's Sigil to reveal the Dark Rider and begin combat.
1: Arathi Highlands Dark Rider Location
2: The Badlands Dark Rider Location
3: The Barrens Dark Rider Location
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4: Desolace Dark Rider Location
5: Duskwood Dark Rider Location
6: Deadwind Pass Dark Rider Location
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7: Swamp of Sorrows Dark Rider Location
All Dark Rider Runes in SoD
Dark Rider Druid Rune: King of the Jungle
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King of the Jungle Effect
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- Tiger's Fury now increases all physical damage you deal by 15% and has a 30-second cooldown that's no longer tied to the GCD.
- Instantly grants 60 Energy.
Dark Rider Hunter Rune: Melee Specialist
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Melee Specialist Effect
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- Reduces Raptor Strike cooldown to 3 seconds and is now instant
- Removes the cooldown entirely from Mongoose Bite
- Raptor Strike has a 30% chance on each attack not to trigger its cooldown
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Dark Rider Mage Rune: Missile Barrage
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Missile Barrage Effect
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- Arcane Blast has a 40% chance, and Fireball and Frostbolt has a 20% chance, to reduce the duration of your next Arcane Missiles spell by 50% and reduce the mana cost by 100%
- Also fires missiles every 0.5 seconds
Dark Rider Paladin Rune: Infusion of Light
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Infusion of Light Effect
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- Increases the damage of Holy Shock by 20%
- Damaging critical strikes with this ability reset the cooldown for both Holy Shock and Exorcism, and refunds the cost of Holy Shock
Dark Rider Priest Rune: Spirit of the Redeemer
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Spirit of the Redeemer Effect
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- Become the Spirit of Redemption for 10 seconds on activation
- While in this form, all Healing spells cost no mana, but you cannot move, attack, be attacked, or be targeted by any spells or effects
- Requires the Spirit of Redemption talent, and prevents you from turning into a Spirit of Redemption upon death
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Dark Rider Rogue Rune: Two-Handed Mastery
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Two-Handed Mastery Effect
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- Every time you hit an enemy with a Two-Handed weapon, you gain 30% Attack Speed exclusively with Two-Handed Weapons for 10 seconds
Dark Rider Shaman Rune: Waylay
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Waylay Effect
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- Using Ambush or Backstab on a target increases the time between their melee attacks by 10% for 8 seconds
- Also reduces the target's movement speed by 50% for 8 seconds
Dark Rider Warlock Rune: Demonic Knowledge
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Demonic Knowledge Effect
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- Increases your Spell Damage and Healing by 10% of your Demon's total Stamina plus Intellect combined
Dark Rider Warrior Rune: Precise Timing
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Precise Timing Effect
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- Slam becomes an instant-cast ability, but gains a 6 second cooldown
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
