Welcome to the Elemental Rune Dungeons Guide. The 5-man Heroic Dungeons in Cataclysm Classic have received a new level of difficulty with the Elemental Rune, working very similar to the Titan Rune Dungeons introduced during Wrath of the Lich King Classic. In our guide, you’ll learn how to enable Protocol Twilight by activating the Mysterious Elemental Device in Heroic Dungeons, what to expect from the new difficulty, which rewards are waiting for you, and which vendor will provide you with these items.
4.9Elemental Rune Dungeons Overview
Elemental Rune Dungeons are a new form of the Titan Rune Dungeons added in Wrath of the Lich King Classic. This new difficulty acts as a catch-up mechanic, allowing players to gear up alts quickly or get much-needed powerful equipment on their main characters. It also rewards items from previous raids in Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3.
The feature was more of an addition to the already existing Heroic dungeon difficulty, adding to it a challenge that would permit players to continue to keep up with the current gear requirements for the upcoming raid content.
Phase 4 Protocol Twilight
In Phase 4, the Protocol Twilight version allows you to choose 1 out of 4 buffs after you activate it and talk to an NPC at the start of the dungeon. These buffs can grant you different effects:
| Buff | Effect |
|---|---|
| Gift of the Red Dragonflight | If the player dodges, blocks, or parries they will cast an AOE Fire breath. |
| Gift of the Green Dragonflight | The player gains a stacking haste buff while not taking damage. Stacks fall off if the player takes damage. |
| Gift of the Bronze Dragonflight | Healing done increases damage done and then damage done increases healing done. |
| Gift of the Blue Dragonflight | While not moving, the player gains a stacking damage buff. Stacks fall off if the player moves. |
Additionally, all enemies in a dungeon will receive a Twilight’s Madness effect. It means that every mob and boss receives an increase in health and damage, with bosses receiving the skill Call Blood of Shu’ma, which summons empowering slimes.
Three globules can spawn every 65 seconds, approaching the boss. When a globule strikes the boss, it gives unique effects such as attack speed boost, mana draining, fire damage, summoned adds, acid damage, or a healing-focused shadow explosion. These are similar to Yor’sahj’s in Dragon Soul and serve to prepare players for the raid.
Phase 3 Protocol Inferno
In Phase 3, the Protocol Inferno version used to bring increased health and damage buffs for enemies, similar to Heroic Plus, which made the challenge both engaging and rewarding.
How to Activate Elemental Rune Dungeons
📌 Note: Protocol Twilight Dungeons minimum item level — 353 ilvl or higher; for Protocol Inferno — 346 ilvl or higher.
Elemental Rune difficulty can become available in two ways:
- You can directly enter a Heroic Dungeon and click on the Mysterious Elemental Device;
- You can queue through the Dungeon Finder.
There are a few ways depending on your item level that will help you to unlock the new difficulties:
The Mysterious Elemental Device can always be found at the very entrance of the Heroic Dungeon. To activate this Mysterious Elemental Device, what you need to do is to click on it and select the Protocol you wish to invoke. When you select Protocol Twilight, a shard structure will appear. You can interact with it, channeling it in a way similar to the summoning stone.
In the live version, Heroic Dungeons require all five players to channel and activate the Protocol Inferno. But even if you have a team of five, completing a Heroic Dungeon is no easy task and it requires training and a lot of free time. Our professional players can help you with Cata Heroic+ Dungeons fast and easy!
Elemental Rune Difficulty Levels
Protocol Inferno was the first difficulty level added in Cataclysm Classic’s Phase 3. It turned Heroic dungeons into Heroic+. Now, we have Protocol Twilight for Phase 4. It means, that under this protocol the dungeons will become Heroic++.
Protocol Twilight Dungeons are similar to Heroic Dungeons. The difference, however, is that they are run at a much higher difficulty. Most trash mobs and bosses receive the Twilight’s Madness buff, which increases their overall difficulty. Unlike systems such as Mythic+ and even Protocol Gamma from WotLK Classic, there are no affixes that alter the dungeons further.
These dungeons are designed to be quite a bit harder and require coordination and knowledge of the mechanics. Of course, in the future, they can include more mechanics if the developers decide so.
How to get Obsidian Fragments
In Phase 4, Protocol Twilight Dungeons have introduced us Obsidian Fragments — a unique currency that can be used to purchase items from the Obsidian Fragment Exchange NPC in your capital city (Orgrimmar or Stormwind). Each boss in Protocol Twilight dungeons drops 2 Obsidian Fragments. The final boss will drop 3 Obsidian Fragments, but you need to take down all the other bosses in a dungeon first.
📌 Note: If any boss is skipped, the last boss would reward only 2 Fragments, not 3.
How to get Fissure Stone Fragments
Besides the usual loot table, Elemental Rune Protocol Inferno Dungeons in Phase 3 introduced a new special reward currency system: Fissure Stone Fragments. The new currency is similar to Sidereal Essence or Defiler’s Scourgestone which you can get from Titan Rune Dungeons, and provides a wealth of rewards for players to collect.
Every boss in the Protocol Inferno Dungeons will yield 2 Fissure Stone Fragments per player. Killing the last dungeon boss rewards an additional 5 Fragments. These Dungeons were designed to make sure players would not skip dungeon bosses and finish the whole dungeon.
📌 Note: If any boss is skipped, the last boss would reward only 2 Fragments, not 5.
With these fragments, players will be able to make their way to a new NPC by the name of Kyanite Stonetender in Stormwind and Orgrimmar, depending on their faction, and exchange Fissure Stone Fragments.
Elemental Rune Dungeons Rewards
Rewards that will be available with Obsidian Fragments are the powerful items from previous raids. This list of items and Exclusive Rewards from Elemental Rune dungeons bosses in Phase 4:
- 1 x LFR Weapon or 1 x LFR Jewelry (cloak, neck, trinket, ring);
- A predetermined LFR Weapon and Jewelry drop;
- 1 x LFR Tier Token;
- A chance at one of fifteen random LFR Tier Tokens;
📌 Note: All of these items will also be available via the vendor.
You can also buy the Elemental Rune dungeons special rewards from an Obsidian Fragments Trader in Stormwind or Orgrimmar. For instance, you can obtain Flickering Shoulders if you buy the Satchel of the Flickering Shoulders. The satchel also has a small chance to drop one of these mounts:
Each item that you can buy has a different cost based on power level, which runs from 12 to 80 Fragments.
Elemental Rune Dungeons Tier Tokens
Elemental Rune Dungeons grant you a chance to get a Tier Token. Previously, in Phase 3, you could receive a Tier 12 token from Protocol Inferno dungeons. Now, with Phase 4, you have a chance to loot a Tier 13 token from Protocol Twilight dungeons.
Tier 13 Tokens
Tier 12 Tokens
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Helm of the Fiery Protector Helm of the Fiery Conqueror Helm of the Fiery Vanquisher | Tier Token | 30 |
 Mantle of the Fiery Protector Mantle of the Fiery Conqueror Mantle of the Fiery Vanquisher | Tier Token | 30 |
Elemental Rune Dungeons Armor
The variety of Armor obtainable from the vendor for the Elemental Rune Dungeons’ currency is huge, so we separated all the Armor types into categories that you can see below.
Plate Armor
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Brackenshell Shoulderplates | Shoulder | 30 |
 Backbreaker Spaulders | Shoulder | 45 |
 Dragonfracture Belt | Belt | 45 |
 Goriona’s Collar | Belt | 45 |
 Runescriven Demon Collar | Belt | 45 |
 Stillheart Warboots | Boots | 45 |
 Pillarfoot Greaves | Boots | 45 |
 Treads of Crushed Flesh | Boots | 45 |
 Graveheart Bracers | Bracers | 30 |
 Rockhide Bracers | Bracers | 30 |
 Heartblood Wristplates | Bracers | 30 |
 Gauntlets of the Golden Thorn | Gloves | 45 |
Mail Armor
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Imperfect Specimens 27 and 28 | Shoulder | 30 |
 Girdle of Shattered Stone | Belt | 45 |
 Belt of the Beloved Companion | Belt | 45 |
| Belt of Shattered Elementium | Belt | 65 |
 Treads of Dormant Dreams | Boots | 45 |
 Mindstrainer Treads | Boots | 45 |
 Grotesquely Writhing Bracers | Bracers | 30 |
 Bracers of Looming Darkness | Bracers | 30 |
 Sporebeard Gauntlets | Gloves | 30 |
Leather Armor
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Underdweller’s Spaulders | Shoulder | 30 |
 Belt of Flayed Skin | Belt | 45 |
 Girdle of the Grotesque | Belt | 45 |
 Treads of Sordid Screams | Boots | 45 |
 Interrogator’s Bloody Footpads | Boots | 45 |
| Molten Blood Footpads | Boots | 65 |
 Shadow Wing Armbands | Bracers | 30 |
 Mycosynth Wristguards | Bracers | 30 |
Cloth Armor
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Mosswrought Shoulderguards | Shoulder | 30 |
 Cord of the Slain Champion | Belt | 45 |
 Janglespur Jackboots | Boots | 45 |
 Bracers of the Banished | Bracers | 30 |
 Gloves of Liquid Smoke | Gloves | 45 |
Elemental Rune Dungeons Accessories
If you saved up enough currency, a vendor can provide you with Accessories and Heroic versions of Trinkets for successfully completing dungeons.
Neck
📌 Note: This table showcases Protocol Inferno rewards.
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Caelestrasz’s Will | Neck | 80 |
 Rage of Ages | Neck | 50 |
 Satchel of the Cloudburst Necklace | Neck | 12 |
| Satchel of the Mistral Pendant | Neck | 12 |
| Satchel of the Permafrost Choker | Neck | 12 |
| Satchel of the Planetary Amulet | Neck | 12 |
Rings
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Curled Twilight Claw | Ring | 30 |
 Breathstealer Band | Ring | 30 |
 Hardheart Ring | Ring | 30 |
Trinkets
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Bone-Link Fetish | Trinket | 45 |
 Creche of the Final Dragon | Trinket | 45 |
 Indomitable Pride | Trinket | 45 |
 Soulshifter Vortex | Trinket | 45 |
 Resolve of Undying | Trinket | 65 |
 Eye of Unmaking | Trinket | 65 |
 Eye of Blazing Power | Trinket | 30 |
 Jaws of Defeat | Trinket | 30 |
 Scales of Life | Trinket | 30 |
 Spidersilk Spindle | Trinket | 30 |
 The Hungerer | Trinket | 30 |
 Matrix Restabilizer | Trinket | 45 |
 Variable Pulse Lightning Capacitor | Trinket | 45 |
 Vessel of Acceleration | Trinket | 45 |
Cloaks
📌 Note: This table showcases Protocol Inferno rewards.
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Shroud of Endless Grief | Back | 80 |
| Shadow of Dread | Back | 50 |
| Satchel of the Clouburst Cloak | Back | 12 |
| Satchel of the Mistral Drape | Back | 12 |
| Satchel of the Permafrost Cape | Back | 12 |
| Satchel of the Planetary Drape | Back | 12 |
Elemental Rune Dungeons Weapons
Special weapons that can be acquired through Kyanite Stonetender by exchanging dungeon currency offer players powerful options that we outline below.
One-Handed
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Gatecrasher | Axe | 30 |
 Eye of Purification | Axe | 35 |
 Feeding Frenzy | Dagger | 30 |
 Avool’s Incendiary Shanker | Dagger | 30 |
| Entrail Disgorger | Dagger | 30 |
| Alysra’s Razor | Dagger | 30 |
 Firethorn Mindslicer | Sword | 35 |
 Mandible of Beth’tilac | Sword | 30 |
 Souldrinker | Sword | 70 |
 Shatterskull Bonecrusher | Mace | 30 |
 Ko’gun, Hammer of the Firelord | Mace | 50 |
Two-Handed
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Skullstealer Greataxe | Axe | 45 |
 Zoid’s Firelit Greatsword | Sword | 45 |
 Gurthalak, Voice of the Deeps | Sword | 100 |
 Sulfuras, the Extinguished Hand | Mace | 70 |
 Fandral’s Flamescythe | Staff | 45 |
 Smoldering Censer of Purity | Staff | 45 |
| Funeral Pyre | Staff | 45 |
 Sho’ravon, Greatstaff of Annihilation | Staff | 70 |
Ranged
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Arbalest of Erupting Fury | Crossbow | 45 |
 Stinger of the Flaming Scorpion | Wand | 45 |
 Arathar, the Eye of Flame | Bow | 70 |
Off-hand
Item | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
 Shard of Torment | Shield | 30 |
 Blackhorn’s Mighty Bulwark | Shield | 45 |
 Molten Scream | Off-hand | 15 |
Elemental Rune Dungeons Achievements
The List Of Achievements for Protocol Inferno is impressive, and all of them can be obtained by defeating each of the bosses with the Protocol Inferno buff being active. Defeating the final dungeon boss on the Heroic difficulty awards the player with a Protocol Inferno special achievement for that dungeon.
Protocol Twilight Heroic Dungeons List
Blizzard hasn’t yet published any information about the dungeons that will be available for Protocol Twilight. However, it was stated that 3 new dungeons will be added to the list. We will keep this section of our guide updated.
Protocol Inferno Heroic Dungeons List
In Phase 3 of Cataclysm Classic, you can find nine Heroic Dungeons with Protocol Inferno difficulty. Here, we have collected a list of the current Dungeons:
- Blackrock Caverns;
- Throne of the Tides;
- Lost City of the Tol’vir;
- The Stonecore;
- The Deadmines;
- Halls of Origination;
- The Vortex Pinnacle;
- Shadowfang Keep;
- Grim Batol.
Blackrock Caverns
It is rumored that Deathwing himself carved the underground labyrinth used by the Twilight’s Hammer to covertly transport elementals from the heights of Mount Hyjal to Blackrock Caverns.
Throne of the Tides
Deep within the endless depths of the Abyssal Maw lies the Throne of the Tides. For ages, the Elemental Lord Neptulon the Tidehunter has watched over and defended his aquatic realm from this seat of power.
Lost City of the Tol’vir
The Lost City of the Tol’vir serves as the stronghold of the Neferset, a faction of the feline Tol’vir who allied themselves with Deathwing, seeking a cure for the curse of flesh that had transformed their once-stony hides into vulnerable skin.
The Stonecore
Deep within the Temple of Earth, at the heart of Deepholm, lies The Stonecore. It was in these very caverns that the Twilight’s Hammer worked tirelessly on Deathwing, forging and affixing elementium plates to his body in a desperate effort to bind his shattered form.
The Deadmines
Legend has it that the gold deposits within The Deadmines once made up a third of Stormwind’s treasure reserves. During the chaos of the First War, the mines were abandoned and eventually gained a reputation for being haunted, leaving them largely undisturbed.
Halls of Origination
Built by the great titans, the Halls of Origination are brimming with ancient relics and fearsome guardians tasked with their protection.
The Vortex Pinnacle
The Vortex Pinnacle lies within the elemental plane of Skywall, an elegant fortress crowned with bronze and gold, resting on platforms connected by currents of pure air.
Shadowfang Keep
Shadowfang Keep looms over Pyrewood Village from the southern bluffs of Silverpine Forest.
Grim Batol
Do not be deceived by the modest facade of Grim Batol. Beneath its exterior lies a sprawling network of desecrated chambers hidden deep within the Twilight Highlands.
4.9Cataclysm Classic Elemental Rune Dungeons create a great avenue for players. You can upgrade your gear, prepare for upcoming content, and experience the challenge of gameplay. Adding Protocol Twilight difficulty will enrich the dungeon experience and provide a relevant way to progress for any Cataclysm player. Whether gearing up your main character for harder content or preparing an alt to raid, Elemental Rune Dungeons provide a fresh catch-up opportunity with added enhanced Heroic dungeon content.
