Sanctum of Domination Guide
Introduction
This guide was made possible by:
- Altenna (Discord: JudgeJames#0001 | Twitch | Twitter)
- Amani (Discord: Amani#0001 | Discord Server (RU) | Twitch)
- Bloodmallet (Discord: Bloodmallet(EU)#8246 | Website)
- Eokira (Discord: Eokira#7823)
- Gaka (Discord: Gaka#7410)
- HawkCorrigan (Discord: HawkCorrigan#1811)
- Kaldeak (Discord: Kaldeak#1394)
- Sheffy (Discord: Sheffy#4928 | Twitch | Twitter)
This guide has been updated to reflect Season Four. This includes assuming you have an active T28: Fireheart 4p bonus, for the bosses where it is most relevant we will include notes for those who do not have this bonus active.
If you have suggestions to improve the information in this guide please contact Eokira#7823 using the Earthshrine Elemental channel or the Storm, Earth & Lava discord.
Miscellaneous Tips
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GCDs spent on healing and utilities are GCDs not spent on damage, but both are necessary to down a raid boss. Find the balance to optimize your contributions to your raid team.
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Time spent in Ghost Wolf is time spent not doing damage. Practice proactive movement and utilize Spiritwalker’s Grace and instant casts as much as you can for movement heavy encounters.
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Any Single Target orientated fights where you choose to use Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence please note that using Earthquake on 2 or more targets is still a net damage gain despite ignoring your Legendary’s effect. So if adds are present for short periods of time and you are not fully committed to single target then using Earthquake for those short periods is preferred.
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Additional Resources:
Bosses
Click on a boss banner to expand it.
The Tarragrue
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Covenants
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth
- Night Fae with Dreamweaver or Niya
Recommended Legendaries:
Damage:
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace as available during Hungering Mist. Spiritwalker’s Grace is available for every other Hungering Mist phase and lasts the full duration. Otherwise, pool Maelstrom and use instant casts while moving to maintain DPS.
Defensives:
- Grasp of Death is a 40s DoT and is the highest source of non-tank damage. Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables as needed for each application of Grasp of Death. Healing Surge yourself if absolutely necessary.
Utilities:
- After Predator’s Howl is cast, be prepared to use Tremor Totem to dispel any players with Unshakeable Dread. Tremor Totem is available for every other Predator’s Howl cast.
- If talented, Wind Rush Totem is best used during Hungering Mist and is available for every other Hungering Mist phase. Wind Rush Totem can also be used to help players kite during Tarragrue’s last 10%.
Eye of the Jailer
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target / Cleave
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Covenants
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth
- Night Fae with Dreamweaver or Niya (Note: this is mainly if some players struggle dealing with the style of movement on the fight where Soulshape can be useful to them).
Recommended Legendaries:
- Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence - You’re typically only dealing damage to one target at a time during the fight.
- Deeply Rooted Elements - You can use Flame Shock on the Boss to funnel into the eyes and adds and vice versa which suits priority damage well.
- Echoes of Great Sundering - It is possible to deal damage to the Stygian Abductor and the Boss at the same time, this option becomes more viable if Chaotic Essence is present.
Damage:
- Maintain Flame Shock on as many targets as you can.
- While the Stygian Abductor is in the air channeling Dragging Chains, you can cast Chain Lightning off the Eye of the Jailer to damage the Abductor.
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace to maintain DPS while avoiding Annihilating Glare. You can also use instant cast abilities while you’re airborne after Grapple!, so pool Maelstrom and use instant casts while you’re in the air to maintain DPS.
Defensives:
- Use Astral Shift as needed for increasingly high stacks of Ire / Scorn and Titanic Death Gaze.
- As you accumulate more stacks of Immediate Extermination, rotate Astral Shift as available to mitigate as much damage as you can.
Utilities:
- If talented, use Wind Rush Totem to help your raid avoid Annihilating Glare or mitigate the pull from Dragging Chains if absolutely necessary. Wind Rush Totem should be available for every Annihilating Glare, depending on raid damage.
Notes:
- If you are talented into Primal Elementalist, you may have some trouble casting Fire Elemental’s Meteor on Eye of the Jailer, so target a friendly melee player with Meteor instead.
The Nine
Boss Fight Profile: Cleave / Single-Target
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Aftershock or Elemental Blast
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper or Ascendance
Recommended Covenants
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth. (Note: as the suggestion is to use Deeply Rooted Elements you can consider swapping Plaguey’s Preemptive Strike for Shake the Foundation).
Recommended Legendaries:
- Deeply Rooted Elements - Given the structure of the fight this legendary should replace Echoes of Great Sundering as the Phase 1 choice for maximising damage, in addition to Deeply Rooted Elements being better on average than Echoes of Great Sundering at the single target portion in Phase 2.
- Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence - Provides little value in Phase 1 as when two or more targets are present you still cast Earthquake, remains the best legendary choice specifically for Phase 2 however.
Damage:
- Maintain Flame Shock on both Kyra and Signe.
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace as needed to maintain DPS during Fragments of Destiny or any of the Call of the Val’kyr abilities.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables for Fragments of Destiny.
Utilities:
- Rotate interrupts between Signe’s Song of Dissolution and Soulful Blast as well as Formless Mass’s Siphon Vitality, prioritizing Song of Dissolution. Song of Dissolution is cast approximately 20s apart.
- Use Thunderstorm as needed to knock back the Formless Mass into melee to cleave down. Use Capacitor Totem as needed to stun it.
- Use Tremor Totem as needed to dispel anyone feared by Reverberating Refrain.
- If talented, use Wind Rush Totem to help your raid navigate any of the Call of the Val’kyr abilities.
Remnant of Ner'zhul
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target / Funnel
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast or Aftershock
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper or Ascendance
Recommended Covenants
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth (Note: structure of the fight prefers funnelling into the boss from the orbs when they are shielded, and nuking the orbs when they are not shielded so Shake the Foundation might not suit this style of play as relatively few Earthquakes will be cast.
Recommended Legendaries:
- Deeply Rooted Elements - Attempts to take advantage of the multiple orbs that spawn throughout the encounter, this is used to fuel Funnel damage into the boss for the most part.
- Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence - Reliable Single Target damage that increases available movement globals on a fight where movement is not negligible.
Damage:
- Maintain Flame Shock on Orbs of Torment to enable funnel damage through Lava Surge procs. Skybreaker’s Fiery Demise (if equipped) will heavily capitalize on this despite Eternal Torment.
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace to maintain DPS while airborne from Malevolence dispels or for avoiding volleys from Shatter. Otherwise, pool Maelstrom and utilize instant casts while you are airborne from Malevolence dispels.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables for Torment, especially if Torment overlaps with Malevolence dispels or if you accumulate multiple Torment stacks.
Utilities:
- Pick up Orbs of Torment in Ghost Wolf form to not be hindered by Sorrowful Procession.
Soulrender Dormazain
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target / AoE
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast or Aftershock
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements or Storm Elemental
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Covenants
- Night Fae with Korayn for First Strike. (Note: for Mythic difficulty managing the adds is very important, if you find yourself needing to do AoE damage on this fight Night Fae with Echoes of Great Sundering remains the best option).
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth. (Note: if you want to play the fight as Deeply Rooted Elements then this remains the best Covenant option to support it, you should swap Plaguey’s Preemptive Strike for Shake the Foundation here).
- If you intend to play Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence then either of the above choices will produce similar results, with Necrolord relying less on being able to stand still during burst windows to achieve maximum potential.
Recommended Legendaries:
Damage:
- Soulrender Dormazain casts Call Mawsworn two times, each a minute apart, before every Tormented Eruptions cast. Consider holding Stormkeeper for these add spawns.
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace as needed to maintain DPS during Torment or maneuver Brand of Torment.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables for every phase of Unleashed Tyranny.
Utilities:
- Use Thunderstorm as needed to help group together the Mawsworn Agonizers. On Mythic difficulty, you may opt to Thunderstorm to knock away Mawsworn Agonizers or Hex to control them, depending on vicinity to Mawsworn Overlord.
- Use Capacitor Totem to stun Mawsworn Agonizers as needed.
- If talented, use Wind Rush Totem as needed to help your raid move to a safe position from Torment and Tormented Eruptions.
Painsmith Raznal
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Covenants
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth. (Note: The additional defensive from Fleshcraft can be very valuable on higher difficulties).
- Night Fae with Dreamweaver or Niya. (Note: Some players may find Soulshape helps greatly when dealing with Shadowsteel Chains and Spiked Balls simultaneously.
Recommended Legendaries:
Damage:
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace as needed to maintain DPS if affected by Shadowsteel Chains or during intermission.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables as needed for Flameclasp Eruption.
Utilities:
- If talented, use Wind Rush Totem to help your raid avoid spikes during Phase 2. Place strategically to allow your raid to refresh the movement buff.
Guardian of the First Ones
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Covenants
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth.
- Night Fae with Dreamweaver or Niya.
Recommended Legendaries:
Damage:
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace to maintain DPS to position Threat Neutralization or while moving between Energy Cores.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables as needed for Purging Protocol, Unstable Energy, or Meltdown.
Utilities:
- If talented, use Wind Rush Totem to help your raid position Threat Neutralization and move between Energy Cores.
Fatescribe Roh-Kalo
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target / Cleave / AoE
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast or Aftershock
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Covenants
- Night Fae with Korayn for First Strike
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth.
Recommended Legendaries:
Damage:
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace to maintain DPS while moving with Grim Portent (Mythic), dropping Call of Eternity, or avoiding Fated Conjunction.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables as needed for Twist Fate, especially if Twist Fate overlaps with other mechanics (e.g. Invoke Destiny, Grim Portent (Mythic)).
Utilities:
- Interrupt Anomalous Blast from Fatespawn Anomaly as needed.
- Use Capacitor Totem as needed to stun Fatespawn Anomaly and Burden of Destiny.
- Use Thunderstorm as needed to group Fatespawn Anomaly or to create more distance from Burden of Destiny.
- If talented, use Wind Rush Totem as needed to help your raid avoid Fated Conjunction.
Kel'Thuzad
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target / Cleave / AoE
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Aftershock or Elemental Blast
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements or Storm Elemental
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Legendaries:
- Echoes of Great Sundering
- Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence
- Note on why Deeply Rooted Elements is not recommended here but may still see use: This fight on higher difficulties requires you to reliably hit DPS checks in all phases, adding RNG choices to this mix may not be the best solution during progress for your group - particularly when the fight structure does not suit the type of damage brought very well. It may still see use simply because people enjoy using it, but having control over your damage is also very important here so make the decision that best suits you, your playstyle, and your group.
There are different ways to approach this fight based on various target priorities in each phase.
If you are not assigned to the Phylactery realm, you may opt for Echoes of Great Sundering. Select your talents based on your raid composition needs for priority damage or AoE.
If you are assigned to the Phylactery realm, you may opt for Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence to focus single-target damage on Remnant of Kel’Thuzad.
Damage:
- Maintain Flame Shock on any priority targets.
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace as needed to drop Oblivion’s Echo or avoid Frostbound Devoted fixating you. If assigned to Phylactery realm, use Spiritwalker’s Grace as needed to avoid Shadow Fissure.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables as needed for Frozen Destruction.
Utilities:
- Rotate Wind Shear and Capacitor Totem to interrupt Piercing Wail from Soul Shard. Earthquake can also knock down the Soul Shard and interrupt Piercing Wail, but don’t rely on it.
- Interrupt Banshee’s Cry from Soul Reaver as needed.
- Use Earthbind Totem, Capacitor Totem, and Thunderstorm as needed to control Frostbound Devoted.
- If assigned to Phylactery realm, use Wind Rush Totem if talented to help your raid avoid Shadow Fissure.
Sylvanas Windrunner
Boss Fight Profile: Single-Target
Talents:
- 15: Echo of the Elements
- 25: Elemental Blast
- 30: Spirit Wolf
- 35: Master of the Elements
- 40: Nature’s Guardian or Wind Rush Totem
- 45: Primal Elementalist
- 50: Stormkeeper
Recommended Covenants
- Night Fae with Korayn for First Strike. (Note: this is mostly effective in Phase 1 and Phase 2 to provide very efficient AoE damage whilst maintaining decent damage on Sylvanas herself).
- Necrolord with Plague-Deviser Marileth.
Recommended Legendaries:
- Windspeaker’s Lava Resurgence
- Echoes of Great Sundering (Note: if you are choosing to play Night Fae then this choice compliments it well}
Damage:
- Use Spiritwalker’s Grace to maintain DPS while being pulled by Domination Chains.
Defensives:
- Rotate Astral Shift and healing consumables as needed for:
- in P1, P2, & P3: Shadow Dagger, especially if Shadow Dagger overlaps with other mechanics (e.g. Barbed Arrow stacks, Wailing Arrow, Banshee Wail, Banshee’s Fury).
- in intermission: Banshee Wail.
Utilities:
- Decurse raid members with Curse of Lethargy from Mawforged Summoner during Phase 2.
- If talented, use Wind Rush Totem to help your raid:
- in P1: run from Domination Chains or avoid Veil of Darkness.
- in intermission: run from Domination Chains and avoid Rive and Riven Debris.
- in P2: avoid Haunting Wave.
- in P3: move even more quickly between platforms.