Thorim (tactics)

For character biography, see Thorim.

Thorim
Race	Titanic watcher (Giant)
Level	?? Boss
Health	14,600,000 (heroic), 2,900,000 (normal)
Location	The Clash of Thunder
Status	Defeatable
See
Ulduar
The Siege of Ulduar Flame Leviathan Ignis the Furnace Master Razorscale XT-002 Deconstructor (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) The Antechamber of Ulduar The Assembly of Iron Kologarn Auriaya (lore) (lore) (lore) The Keepers of Ulduar Mimiron Freya Thorim Hodir (lore) (lore) (lore) (lore) The Descent into Madness General Vezax Yogg-Saron (lore) (lore) The Celestial Planetarium Algalon the Observer (summoned) (lore) Other Ulduar instances Halls of Stone (5) Halls of Lightning (5)

Thorim is one of the watchers boss encounters in Ulduar. The encounter has two phases, in the first, the raid has to split in a gauntlet and an arena team. The arena team must fight waves of adds while the gauntlet team makes its way through some trash and a few mini-bosses to Thorim. Upon reaching the boss, he and the gauntlet group join the arena team, starting the second phase which lasts until Thorim is subdued.

Both, fire and nature resistance are useful. When attempting hard mode, a little frost resistance gear is recommended.

Thorims Abilities

Phase 1

• Charge Orb: Charges a nearby orb with electricity. Orbs affected by this ability gain a periodic effect that fires a Lightning Shock every second, inflicting 2831 to 3169 Nature damage to enemies within 25 yards.
•   Sheath of Lightning: Encases the caster in a sheath of pure electrical energy, reducing all damage taken by 99%.
• Stormhammer: Throws a stormhammer, dealing 2451 to 2551 damage to an enemy, knocking down and stunning the target for 2 sec, and causing a Deafening Thunder to all enemies nearby the target.
• Summon Lightning Orb: Summons a supercharged ball of energy, laying waste to all in its path. This ability is used if either a) no one is in the room below where Thorim stands, or b) if five minutes pass and no one reaches Thorim.

Phase 2

•   Chain Lightning: Strikes an enemy with a blast of lightning that inflicts 3700 to 4300 Nature damage (4625 to 5375 on heroic). The bolt will arc to additional nearby enemies, inflicting 50% more Nature damage to each successive target.
•   Lightning Charge: Absorbs a torrent of electrical energy, inflicting 13875 to 16125 Nature damage (17344 to 20156 on heroic) to enemies in a cone between the caster and the power source, and gaining a stacking buff called "Lightning Charge" that increases Thorim's melee damage and attack speed by 15%, and Nature damage dealt by 10%. When he uses this ability, the "power source" used is one of the pillars with the orbs attached. About 10 seconds cooldown.
• Melee strike: deals increasing amounts of physical damage.
•   Unbalancing Strike: Inflicts 200% weapon damage and leaves the target unbalanced, reducing their defense skill by 200 for 15 sec.

Sif's Abilities

• Frost Bolt Volley - Inflicts 11250 to 13750 frost damage to all raid members and slows movement for 4 sec. 8 sec cooldown. Instant.
• Frost Nova - Inflicts 14138 to 15862 frost damage to targets within roughly 8 yards and roots them for 6 sec. 2.5 sec cast.

Adds

Initial mobs

• 1 Jormungar Behemoth
• 1 Dark Rune Acolyte
• 1 Captured Mercenary Captain
• 3 Captured Mercenary Soldiers

These mobs aren't much of a threat - killing the healer (Acolyte) first is a good idea though.

Gauntlet mobs

Runic Colossus

• Health: 134,810 (Heroic: 808,860)
• Abilities
  • Charge - Charges an enemy, inflicting 4625-5375 (Heroic: 6938-8062) Physical damage and knocking the enemy back.
  • Runic Barrier - A shield of runic power surrounds the caster, reducing all damage taken by 50% and inflicting 2000 Arcane damage to attackers.
  • Smash - Deals 37000 to 43000 Physical damage to all enemies within a 10-yard cone in front of the caster.

Ancient Rune Giant

• Health: 202,215 (Heroic: 808,860)
• Abilities:
  • Rune Detonation - Immobilizes a target with a runic ward that detonates after 4 seconds to inflict 11250 to 13750 Fire damage around the target.
  • Runic Fortification - Fortifies nearby allies. Damage done increased by 50%. Attack and cast speed increased by 50%. Health increased by 100%.
  • Stomp - Inflicts 8313 to 10687 Physical damage to nearby enemies and knocks them back.

Arena mobs

Dark Rune Warbringer

• Health: 33,702 (Heroic: 190,000).
• Abilities
  • Melee strike.
  • Aura of Celerity: 20% spell and melee haste to allies.
  • Rune Strike (melee strike + 1000 nature damage).

Dark Rune Evoker

• Health: 33,702 (Heroic: 162,000).
• Abilities:
  • Runic Lightning: 45 yards range, 1.5 sec cast; strikes an enemy with a blast of runic lightning, inflicting 7875 to 10125 Nature damage.
  • Runic Mending: 40 yards range, 2 sec cast; heals an ally for 18500 to 21500, then heals for an additional 6000 every 1 sec for 15 sec.
  • Runic Shield: 30 yards range, 0.5 sec cast, 6 sec cooldown; surrounds the caster with a runic barrier, absorbing 120,000 magical damage and reducing all physical damage taken by 50% (lasts 1 minute).

Dark Rune Champion

• Health: 53,924 (Heroic: 296,582).
• Abilities:
  • Charge: Charges an enemy, inflicting normal damage plus 75 and stuns the opponent for 2 sec.
  • Mortal Strike: Inflicts 250% weapon damage and leaves the target wounded, reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 50% for 5 sec.
  • Whirlwind: Attacks nearby enemies in a whirlwind of steel that inflicts normal damage plus 100.

Dark Rune Commoner

• Health: 8,820 (Heroic: 25,200).
• Abilities:
  • Low Blow: Lands a cheap shot on an enemy, inflicting Physical damage and reducing the target's damage dealt by 3% for 20 sec.
  • Pummel: Pummels an enemy for 15 damage and interrupts the spell being cast for 5 sec.

Phase 1

The fight is started by killing the trash mobs in the Arena (healer first). Thorim casts Sheath of Lightning on himself, making him almost invulnerable. After the mobs are down, the lever next to the gate on the left becomes active. The raid should now split in two, one part goes down the hallway to reach Thorim, and the other part stays in the arena to fight waves of adds.

The Gauntlet

The gauntlet team needs one tank and one healer. In 10 player mode, 1-3 damage dealers suffice, in 25 player mode an extra healer and about 7 damage dealers should be sent. Ranged DPS is better suited for the gauntlet, mages in particular. The gauntlet team must move quickly, because after 5 minutes Thorim wipes the raid.

There are 3 groups of 3 Warbringers. They can be Crowd Controlled, (Polymorph in particular). Two mobs should be CC'd while the others are killed. At the end of the hallway is a large golem. In regular intervals it raises one arm and does damage to anyone on that side of the hallway, much like Skadi. A short time after it is engaged it gains a buff which decreases damage taken by 50%, so if using cooldowns it's best to use them early.

After defeating the golem, the door behind it opens and mobs start spawning on top of the stairs. Defeat or CC the two sets of two mobs already standing there and quickly run up. When the giant aggros, he buffs any adds still alive, but the adds stop spawning. The healers must have LOS to the tank but stand outside the giant's stomp. When the giant is positioned at the top of the stairs, the healer can stand about halfway down.

After the giant is defeated the gauntlet team runs towards Thorim and jumps down into the arena. Someone must use any ability on Thorim to make him join. While running the large circles on the ground must be avoided, they are traps which briefly stun players standing on them.

Arena

Those raid members which are positioned closest to Thorim gain initial aggro from all adds wich spawn.

A simple setup for the arena team is to stack up dead center in the room. This avoids getting hit by the charged orbs, and also greatly increases the effects of both, AoE healing and AoE damage. The disadvantage of this method is that it makes the raid more susceptible to Stormhammer - it's possible to just take Stormhammer, but the group can also try to quickly spread out when it hits.

The most dangerous mobs are the Dark Rune Champions which do a whirlwind attack. They need to be kept away from the main raid, and/or disarmed. The Evokers casts heals-over-time that heal for massive amounts and also cast magic damage shield that can be stolen by mages. Both are dispellable and need to be dispelled/stolen quickly. Wound poison helps to reduce the amount healed.

Phase 2

Once Thorim is activated, he jumps down into the Arena. The mob waves stop spawning. During the whole of Phase 2, Thorim gains an extra Lightning Charged buff every 10 seconds. This buff stack progressively increases damage and attack speed, it's in effect a passive enrage timer. From about 7 stacks on, healers and tanks need to use some CDs to survive, after about 15 buffs Thorim's melee hits can one-shot even the best geared tank.

After Thorim is in the arena, he needs to be picked up by the MT immediately. The raid should spread out to avoid extra damage from Thorims' chain lightning. Every time Thorim uses Unbalancing strike (which is every 15-20 seconds), tanks need to taunt him off each other. When Thorim uses Lightning Charge, small lightning balls come from a column. After a short time, that column deals large amounts of AoE damage in a 60 degrees angle, this damage may be enough to one-shot players after the third Lightning Charge.

Hard mode: Lose your Illusion

The illusion of Sif controlling Thorim

If the gauntlet team reaches Thorim within 2:45 min (6:15 on Heroic) of killing the adds in the entrance, the illusion of Thorim's wife Sif joins the fight. Additionally, Thorim gets +43% health and +67% damage compared to Normal Mode (it is not only +30%/+40%, since the debuff Touch of Dominion being applied for Normal Mode reduces his stats by -30%/-40% from the Hard Mode values).

While the increased damage is not a large deal, the additional HP make the fight longer, which means a substantially higher stack of Lightning Charged.

In hard mode, Thorim's Chain lightning is very dangerous to melee, so it is advisable to form 2-3 melee camps more than 8 yards from each other around the boss, as with Kel'Thuzad at 60.

Raid Positioning

Sif herself is unattackable. She has four abilities which when chained together can kill raid members very quickly.

• Frostbolt Single: This does 11,000-13,000 Frost damage and is chain cast on random targets when Sif isn't casting anything else.
• Frostbolt Volley: This is the same damage as her single target frostbolt and hits everyone in the room every 10-15 seconds.
• Frost Nova: Sif frequently teleports to a random location starts a 2.5 sec cast of Frost Nova. It does high amounts of damage (13,000-15,000) so avoiding it by running away is paramount but not always possible due to the snares.
• Blizzard: Much like Shade of Aran Sif conjures a Blizzard which orbits the centre of the room, making the centre 'safe'. It does 4,500 Frost damage every 2 seconds and snares targets by 50%.

When Thorim is defeated 'Sif' reveals itself for what it is: an influence tentacle of Yogg-Saron.

Tips

Demoralizing Shout cuts the damage the tank receives from unbalancing strike by 40%.

Shadow priests can MC a Dark Rune Warbringer. Besides dealing high damage, they also give all nearby allies a permanent buff called "Aura of Celerity", increasing melee, ranged and spell haste by 20%, practically a permanent Bloodlust (also requirement for the achievement  Who Needs Bloodlust? /  Heroic: Who Needs Bloodlust?). When mind controlled, these mobs also do more DPS than most player characters.

Quotes

Aggro

• Interlopers! You mortals who dare to interfere with my sport will pay... Wait--you...
• I remember you... In the mountains... But you... what is this? Where am--

Special

• Behold the power of the storms and despair!
• Do not hold back! Destroy them!
• Have you begun to regret your intrusion?

Thorim jumps down

• Impertinent whelps! You dare challenge me atop my pedestal! I will crush you myself!

Killing a player

• Can't you at least put up a fight!?
• Pathetic!

Wipe in Arena

• Failures! Weaklings!

Berserk

• My patience has reached its limit!

Defeated

• Stay your arms! I yield!

Outro on Normal Mode

• I feel as though I am awakening from a nightmare, but the shadows in this place yet linger.
• Sif... was Sif here? Impossible--she died by my brother's hand. A dark nightmare indeed....
• I need time to reflect.... I will aid your cause if you should require it. I owe you at least that much. Farewell.

Outro on Hard Mode

• You! Fiend! You are not my beloved! Be gone!
• Behold the hand behind all the evil that has befallen Ulduar! Left my kingdom in ruins, corrupted my brother and slain my wife!
• And now it falls to you, champions, to avenge us all! The task before you is great, but I will lend you my aid as I am able. You must prevail!

Required for Yogg-Saron's encounter

• Golganneth, lend me your strengh! Grant my mortal allies the power of thunder!

Sound files

See Sound Files of Ulduar: Thorim

Drops

Main article: Cache of Storms

Normal Mode

Spaulders of the Wayward Conqueror Item Level 80 Disenchants into: Not disenchantable Binds when picked up Classes: Paladin, Priest, Warlock Requires level 80 Sell Price: 5 Spaulders of the Wayward Protector Item Level 80 Disenchants into: Not disenchantable Binds when picked up Classes: Warrior, Hunter, Shaman Requires level 80 Sell Price: 5 Spaulders of the Wayward Vanquisher Item Level 80 Disenchants into: Not disenchantable Binds when picked up Classes: Rogue, Death Knight, Mage, Druid Requires level 80 Sell Price: 5 Belt of the Blood Pit Item Level 219 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Mail Waist 731 Armor +53 Agility +67 Stamina +45 Intellect Durability 50 / 50 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves haste rating by 41. Equip: Increases attack power by 158. Equip: Increases your armor penetration rating by 36. Sell Price: 6 15 38 Guise of the Midgard Serpent Item Level 219 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Leather Head 475 Armor +101 Agility +77 Stamina Meta Socket Blue Socket Socket Bonus: +32 Attack Power Durability 70 / 70 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 60. Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 53. Equip: Increases attack power by 146. Sell Price: 7 63 38 Handwraps of Resonance Item Level 219 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when equipped Cloth Hands 194 Armor +59 Stamina +60 Intellect +53 Spirit Durability 35 / 35 Requires level 80 Equip: Increases spell power by 99. Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 52. Sell Price: 4 40 38 Legacy of Thunder Item Level 219 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Mace One-Hand Speed 1.70 194 - 361 Damage (163.2 damage per second) +35 Strength +69 Stamina Requires level 80 Equip: Increases defense rating by 26. Equip: Increases your dodge rating by 34. Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 23. Sell Price: 22 41 69 Leggings of Unstable Discharge Item Level 219 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Cloth Legs 272 Armor +107 Stamina +81 Intellect +53 Spirit Durability 75 / 75 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 70. Equip: Increases spell power by 124. Sell Price: 8 17 43

Normal Hard Mode

Combatant's Bootblade Item Level 232 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Dagger One-Hand Speed 1.40 200 - 301 Damage (178.9 damage per second) +44 Agility +40 Stamina Red Socket Socket Bonus: +4 Haste Rating Durability 75 / 75 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves haste rating by 34. Equip: Increases attack power by 74. Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 32. Sell Price: 23 50 93 Gauntlets of the Thunder God Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Plate Hands 1467 Armor +51 Stamina +56 Intellect Blue Socket Red Socket Socket Bonus: +6 Critical Strike Rating Durability 55 / 55 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 41. Equip: Improves haste rating by 54. Equip: Increases spell power by 99. Sell Price: 8 1 48 Mjolnir Runestone Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Unique Trinket Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 102. Equip: Your melee and ranged attacks have a chance to increase your armor penetration rating by 612 for 10 sec. Sell Price: 11 39 40 Pendant of the Shallow Grave Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Neck +45 Stamina +43 Intellect Yellow Socket Socket Bonus: +4 Critical Strike Rating Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 41. Equip: Improves haste rating by 31. Equip: Increases spell power by 74. Sell Price: 7 56 23 Sif's Remembrance Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Unique Trinket Requires level 80 Equip: Increases spell power by 110. Equip: Each time you cast a spell, there is a chance you will gain up to 156 mana per 5 for 15 sec. Sell Price: 11 39 40

Heroic Mode

Crown of the Wayward Conqueror Item Level 80 Disenchants into: Not disenchantable Binds when picked up Classes: Paladin, Priest, Warlock Requires level 80 Sell Price: 5 Crown of the Wayward Protector Item Level 80 Disenchants into: Not disenchantable Binds when picked up Classes: Warrior, Hunter, Shaman Requires level 80 Sell Price: 5 Crown of the Wayward Vanquisher Item Level 80 Disenchants into: Not disenchantable Binds when picked up Classes: Rogue, Death Knight, Mage, Druid Requires level 80 Sell Price: 5 Belt of the Betrayed Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Mail Waist 739 Armor +57 Agility +67 Stamina +43 Intellect Durability 50 / 50 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 44. Equip: Increases attack power by 170. Equip: Increases your armor penetration rating by 56. Sell Price: 6 43 71 Leggings of Lost Love Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when equipped Cloth Legs 275 Armor +99 Stamina +81 Intellect +86 Spirit Red Socket Blue Socket Socket Bonus: +6 Spirit Durability 75 / 75 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves haste rating by 41. Equip: Increases spell power by 115. Sell Price: 8 61 54 Scale of Fates Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Unique Trinket Requires level 80 Equip: Increases spell power by 125. Use: Increases your haste rating by 432 for 20 sec. Sell Price: 11 30 40 Sif's Promise Item Level 226 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Unique-Equipped Finger +72 Strength +72 Stamina Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 42. Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 42. "As shall my love never fail, neither shall the strength of your rule." Sell Price: 7 56 23 Vulmir, the Northern Tempest Item Level 232 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Mace One-Hand Speed 2.60 325 - 605 Damage (178.8 damage per second) +52 Agility +51 Stamina Durability 105 / 105 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves hit rating by 37. Equip: Increases attack power by 74. Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 29. "Carry with you the thunderous strength of the storm." Sell Price: 21 66 72

Heroic Hard Mode

Embrace of the Gladiator Item Level 239 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Leather Chest 609 Armor +112 Agility +127 Stamina Yellow Socket Blue Socket Red Socket Socket Bonus: +8 Agility Durability 120 / 120 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 70. Equip: Improves haste rating by 85. Equip: Increases attack power by 140. Sell Price: 11 87 88 Fate's Clutch Item Level 239 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Unique-Equipped Finger +51 Strength +96 Stamina Yellow Socket Socket Bonus: +6 Stamina Requires level 80 Equip: Increases defense rating by 48. Equip: Increases your dodge rating by 39. Equip: Increases your expertise rating by 41. Sell Price: 7 56 23 Pauldrons of the Combatant Item Level 239 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Mail Shoulder 1015 Armor +82 Stamina +69 Intellect Yellow Socket Blue Socket Socket Bonus: +7 Spell Power Durability 85 / 85 Requires level 80 Equip: Increases spell power by 92. Equip: Improves haste rating by 48. Equip: Restores 25 mana per 5 sec. Sell Price: 10 77 73 Skyforge Crossbow Item Level 239 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Crossbow Ranged Speed 2.80 465 - 657 Damage (200.4 damage per second) +40 Agility +40 Stamina Durability 90 / 90 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves hit rating by 23. Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 28. Equip: Increases attack power by 58. Sell Price: 18 7 78 Warhelm of the Champion Item Level 239 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Plate Head 1966 Armor +122 Strength +145 Stamina Meta Socket Yellow Socket Socket Bonus: +8 Strength Durability 100 / 100 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves hit rating by 61. Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 86. Sell Price: 12 40 52 Wisdom's Hold Item Level 239 Disenchants into: [Abyss Crystal]: 1-2 Binds when picked up Shield Off Hand 8130 Armor 227 Block +70 Stamina +48 Intellect Blue Socket Socket Bonus: +5 Spell Power Durability 120 / 120 Requires level 80 Equip: Improves critical strike rating by 40. Equip: Improves haste rating by 47. Equip: Increases spell power by 75. Sell Price: 15 4 14

Related achievements

•  Don't Stand in the Lightning (10 player)
•  I'll Take You All On (10 player)
•  Siffed (10 player)
•  Who Needs Bloodlust? (10 player)
•  Don't Stand in the Lightning (25 player)
•  I'll Take You All On (25 player)
•  Siffed (25 player)
•  Who Needs Bloodlust? (25 player)

Hard mode

The following achievements are for the encounter's hard mode:

•  Lose Your Illusion (10 player)
•  Lose Your Illusion (25 player)

Videos

Solo encounter

How to Solo Thorim Hard Mode MoP

10-man encounter

25-man encounter

25-man Hard mode encounter

Patch changes

•  Hotfix (2009-05-19): "Thorim's Chain Lightning will no longer affect more than 8 targets in normal and heroic difficulty."
  
•  Hotfix (2009-05-19): "Thorim's Unbalancing Strike ability will no longer be able to miss and will now function as an "on next swing" ability."
  
•  Hotfix (2009-05-13): "Thorim's Unbalancing Strike ability will now be used at more consistent intervals."
  
•  Hotfix (2009-05-07): "The Impale ability used by the Iron Ring Guards in the Thorim encounter should now hit the player tanking them and only that player tanking them."
  
•  Hotfix (2009-05-04): "In the Thorim encounter, the Iron Ring Guard's Whirling Trip ability will now only hit the tank."
  
•  Hotfix (2009-04-21): "For the Thorim encounter, the Dark Rune Champion should no longer whirlwind after being disarmed and the Runic Colossus should no longer melee when it charges."
  
•  Hotfix (2009-04-17): "The damage done by Thorim and Sif in hard mode has been increased in multiple ways."
  

External links

• Wowhead
• Thottbot
• WoWDB

Wowraid Strategy guide for the Hard Mode of Thorim based on live boss kills.

World of Raids Tactics for Thorim based on PTR testing.