If you’ve been eagerly awaiting your chance to revisit one of World of Warcraft’s most iconic raid experiences, now’s your moment. Blizzard has officially opened testing for the Dragon Soul Raid on the Cataclysm Classic PTR, offering players a preview of this epic encounter before its full release. This special test period runs from Friday, January 24 at 1:30 p.m. PST until Monday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m. PST. Whether you’re a veteran raider or new to the Cataclysm era, this is the perfect opportunity to dive in, explore, and provide valuable feedback.
Getting Started
Before you plunge into the heart of the Dragon Soul, there are a few things you should know to prepare:
- No Specific Raid Templates
While there aren’t any exclusive character templates for Dragon Soul testing, Blizzard has set up vendors to equip you with everything you’ll need. This includes gems, consumables, glyphs, and other essential items. - Meet Dragon Soultar
A special vendor named Dragon Soultar awaits in Stormwind and Orgrimmar. He provides Firelands Raid tier gear—perfect for boosting your power—and even stocks the legendary Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa’s Rest. Make sure to gear up before taking the fight to Deathwing. - Accessing the Raid
The entrance to Dragon Soul is located in the Caverns of Time in Tanaris. Once inside, you’ll travel through pivotal events and confront some of Azeroth’s most fearsome foes.
Encounter-Specific Details
Ultraxion
One of the raid’s most iconic battles involves the might of the Dragon Aspects against Ultraxion. However, there’s a current known issue with the Heroic Will extra action button—it doesn’t automatically appear during the encounter. To address this:
- Speak with Trop the Heroic, an NPC stationed at the top of Wyrmrest Temple (the Ultraxion encounter platform).
- He will give you a Heroic Will item, allowing you to cast the ability manually.
- The item has 50 charges, so if you run out or wipe, just pick up a fresh one before retrying the fight.
Madness of Deathwing
In the climactic final encounter against Deathwing, Ysera’s “Enter the Dream” spell is currently unavailable due to another known bug. This healing and protective ability is a key element of the fight, and Blizzard plans to address the issue in an upcoming PTR update.
Tips for a Smooth Testing Experience
- Stock Up on Supplies: Use the vendors in Stormwind and Orgrimmar to acquire all the potions, flasks, and gems you’ll need.
- Test Multiple Roles: If possible, try the encounters as a tank, healer, and DPS to provide comprehensive feedback.
- Report Bugs Promptly: The main goal of this PTR phase is identifying issues. When you encounter any bugs—like the missing extra action buttons—report them to help Blizzard improve the final release.
- Communicate with Other Testers: Joining a guild group or forming a premade can make your testing experience more organized and efficient.
Conclusion
Blizzard appreciates your participation and patience during this PTR phase. They’re working diligently to fix the remaining Dragon Soul issues, especially those affecting Ultraxion and the Madness of Deathwing encounter. While these challenges might be frustrating, they’re an essential part of refining Cataclysm Classic so that, upon full launch, the raid runs smoothly for everyone.
Don’t miss this chance to step back into Dragon Soul, one of the most memorable raids from World of Warcraft’s history. Whether you’re aiming to relive the glory days or experience this storyline for the first time, now is the time to join the fight, gather precious data, and help shape the final version of Cataclysm Classic. Good luck, and may your blades—and spells—strike true against Deathwing’s corruption!
