This Throne of the Four Winds guide will equip you with the knowledge to conquer this raid and claim its treasures. TFW is a raid instance introduced in World of Warcraft Cataclysm Classic. It challenges players with two boss encounters, Conclave of the Wind and Al’Akir, while offering epic loot and a chance at rare mounts. We also recommend that you read our Blackwing Descent Guide.
What is Throne of the Four Winds?
TFW is a two-boss raid encounter in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Classic that can be a 10-player raid and a 25-player raid. It provides epic Tier 11 armor and a possibility to get Reins of the Drake of the South Wind rare mount. The raid is available in normal and heroic modes, so it is suitable for players of different levels of difficulty.
Throne of the Four Winds Location
Throne of the Four Winds raid in Cataclysm Classic is located in the Kalimdor continent, more specifically in the southwest of the Uldum zone. You can use these coordinates (/way 38. 5, 80. 5.) to get to the entrance of Throne of the Four Winds.
How to Get to Throne of the Four Winds?
Here’s how to find Throne of the Four Winds raid:
- Head to the southwestern area of Uldum.
- Look for a landmass called Al’akir’s Spire.
- Fly west from Al’akir’s Spire and you’ll see the Throne of the Four Winds floating in the sky.
Important note: A flying mount is absolutely necessary to access the Throne of the Four Winds. You won’t be able to reach it without one.
What Level is Needed for Throne of the Four Winds?
You need to be at least level 85 to enter the Throne of the Four Winds raid in Cata Classic. It is also important to know that this raid is also quite difficult mechanically, so even if you are of the required level, it is better to have a group of people who will be able to coordinate themselves to take this raid. To increase your chances of success, equip yourself with Pre Raid Gear.
Throne of the Four Winds Layout
Blackwing Descent Map Explained
A – Entrance
- Rohash
- Anshal
- Nezir
TFW is a floating structure with five platforms, each of which is unique. When you get there, you will be on a central platform with four others around it. Each of them holds an enemy, but the starting platform is empty:
These bosses, with their companion pets, have to be defeated before moving on to the final boss of the instance, Al’Akir, who will appear on the central circular platform.
The good news is that you can use mounts within the Throne, and a fall will not be fatal. Strong winds will simply push you back to the platform that you were on.
Between these platforms, there are wind bridges that allow maneuvering and attacking each enemy strategically. After the three enemies, the Conclave of Wind, are defeated, a concentrated wind current will appear in the middle of their platforms. Engage with these winds to move forward and face Al’Akir in the final battle.
When you defeat the mighty Al’Akir, the central platform will collapse. Do not be afraid now, for the winds themselves will now bear you up and allow you to go in any direction you please. Climb up to the flashing blue gem to collect your rewards!
Throne of the Four Winds Resets
TFW follows the weekly raid lockout schedule. This means that after you defeat Al’Akir, the final boss, you’ll have to wait until the next weekly reset to attempt the raid again and have a chance at loot. Here is the Throne of the Four Winds raid reset timer:
| Date | US Reset Time | EU Reset Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 4, 2024 | 8 p.m. PST | |
| June 5, 2024 | 9 a.m. CET | |
| June 11, 2024 | 8 p.m. PST | |
| June 12, 2024 | 9 a.m. CET | |
| June 18, 2024 | 8 p.m. PST | |
| June 19, 2024 | 9 a.m. CET | |
| June 25, 2024 | 8 p.m. PST | |
| June 26, 2024 | 9 a.m. CET |
Throne of the Four Winds Loot Drops
The size of your raid group does not impact the item level of the gear that drops, but 25-player raids offer more loot from each boss. Additionally, Heroic mode offers more valuable rewards compared to Normal mode.
| Mode | Item Level |
|---|---|
| Normal | 359 |
| Heroic | 372 |
You can purchase Tier 11 gear tokens from vendors using Essence of the Forlorn, a currency that only drops from Heroic Al’Akir.
| Faction | Vendor | Trades | Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Toren Landow | Tokens for gear | Hall of Champions, Stormwind City | 79.0, 70.1 |
| Alliance | Faldren Tillsdale | Essence of the Forlorn | Hall of Champions, Stormwind City | 79.1, 69.4 |
| Horde | Rugok | Tokens for gear | Valley of Strength, Orgrimmar | 48.2, 71.8 |
| Horde | Jamus’Vaz | Essence of the Forlorn | Valley of Strength, Orgrimmar | 48.7, 71.7 |
Tier tokens are acquired from specific bosses:
| Class | Al’Akir (Normal) | Al’Akir (Heroic) |
|---|---|---|
| Paladin Priest Warlock | Helm of the Forlorn Conqueror Mantle of the Forlorn Conqueror | Crown of the Forlorn Conqueror Shoulders of the Forlorn Conqueror |
| Warrior Hunter Shaman | Helm of the Forlorn Protector Mantle of the Forlorn Protector | Crown of the Forlorn Protector Shoulders of the Forlorn Protector |
| Rogue Death Knight Mage Druid | Helm of the Forlorn Vanquisher Mantle of the Forlorn Vanquisher | Crown of the Forlorn Vanquisher Shoulders of the Forlorn Vanquisher |
Now let’s look at all the loot drops from each boss in the Throne of the Four Winds raid.
Conclave of Wind Drops
10-Player Normal
| Slot | Item | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Waist |  Soul Breath Belt | Cloth Armor |
| Waist |  Gale Rouser Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist |  Wind Stalker Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist |  Lightning Well Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist |  Star Chaser Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist |  Sky Strider Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist |  Tempest Keeper Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist |  Thunder Wall Belt | Plate Armor |
| Finger |  Mistral Circle | Ring |
| Finger |  Permafrost Signet | Ring |
| Finger |  Planetary Band | Ring |
10-Player Heroic
| Slot | Item | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Soul Breath Belt | Cloth Armor |
| Waist | Gale Rouser Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist | Wind Stalker Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist | Lightning Well Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist | Star Chaser Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist | Sky Strider Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist | Tempest Keeper Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist | Thunder Wall Belt | Plate Armor |
| Finger | Mistral Circle | Ring |
| Finger | Permafrost Signet | Ring |
| Finger | Planetary Band | Ring |
25-Player Normal
| Slot | Item | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Soul Breath Belt | Cloth Armor |
| Waist | Gale Rouser Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist | Wind Stalker Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist | Lightning Well Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist | Star Chaser Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist | Sky Strider Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist | Tempest Keeper Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist | Thunder Wall Belt | Plate Armor |
| Finger | Mistral Circle | Ring |
| Finger | Permafrost Signet | Ring |
| Finger | Planetary Band | Ring |
25-Player Heroic
| Slot | Item | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Soul Breath Belt | Cloth Armor |
| Waist | Gale Rouser Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist | Wind Stalker Belt | Leather Armor |
| Waist | Lightning Well Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist | Star Chaser Belt | Mail Armor |
| Waist | Sky Strider Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist | Tempest Keeper Belt | Plate Armor |
| Waist | Thunder Wall Belt | Plate Armor |
| Finger | Mistral Circle | Ring |
| Finger | Permafrost Signet | Ring |
| Finger | Planetary Band | Ring |
Conclave of Wind Drops
10-Player Normal
10-Player Heroic
25-Player Normal
25-Player Heroic
Achievements
The Throne of the Four Winds raid offers a challenge for both individual players and guilds. Here’s a breakdown of the 8 achievements you can earn.
Personal Achievements
Players earn these basic achievements by defeating the bosses in Throne of the Four Winds.
- Throne of the Four Winds
- Heroic: Conclave of Wind
- Heroic: Al’Akir (rewards the %s of the Four Winds title)
Guild Achievements
These require defeating bosses as part of a guild group.
- Throne of the Four Winds Guild Run
- Heroic: Al’Akir Guild Run
- Realm First! Al’Akir (awarded to the first guild in the realm to achieve this)
Specific Achievements
These tasks need to be completed during boss encounters to contribute to the Glory of the Cataclysm Raider meta-achievement:
- Stay Chill: Kill the Conclave of Wind when all players have at least 7 stacks of the Wind Chill status effect applied to them. This needs proper synchronization to handle the debuff and defeat all the bosses within a given period.
- Four Play: Defeat Al’Akir on Heroic difficulty while he is under the effects of Feedback, a buff that is granted when a Stormling add dies. This achievement is rather simple, it just requires to have one Stormling alive during Phase 3 and to kill it just before Al’Akir dies.
Rewards
Beyond gear, the TFW raid boasts a collection of cosmetic rewards. It contributes to the following achievements:
- Glory of the Cataclysm Raider: Completing this meta-achievement awards the mount, Reins of the Drake of the East Wind.
- Defender of a Shattered World: This achievement grants the title %s, Defender of a Shattered World.
- Guild Glory of the Cataclysm Raider: Guilds that complete this meta-achievement are rewarded with the mount, Reins of the Dark Phoenix.
Conquering Al’Akir in Heroic difficulty grants a special title, %s of the Four Winds, and the achievement, Heroic: Al’Akir. An additional reward awaits – Al’Akir has a chance to drop the mount, Reins of the Drake of the South Wind, on both raid difficulties. However, the drop rate is slightly higher in the 25-player version.
The Best Classes for Throne of the Four Winds
Unlike other raids, Throne of the Four Winds focuses heavily on mechanics rather than raw damage output. That being said, some classes still perform better due to their utility and ability to handle specific mechanics. Here’s a breakdown of the strongest classes for TFW to add to your team composition.
- Fire Mage: High burst damage and strong single-target focus.
- Survival Hunter: Consistent damage and good utility with traps.
- Marksmanship Hunter: Another strong ranged DPS with solid AoE damage.
- Shadow Priest: High damage potential and strong DoTs.
- Affliction Warlock: Powerful DoTs and good self-sustain.
- Unholy Death Knight: Strong damage and good pet utility.
These classes bring a good mix of single-target and AoE damage, which is valuable for various encounters in TFW. For further reference, you can use our DPS tier lists for Cataclysm Classic.
- Elemental Shaman: Strong AoE and good utility with totems.
- Retribution Paladin: Solid single-target damage and utility with buffs.
- Combat Rogue: Good single-target damage and utility with crowd control.
These classes offer different strengths and can be valuable depending on your raid’s specific needs and composition. And to quickly prepare your character for Throne of the Four Winds raid, use our Power Leveling.
Important Note: While these are some of the top performers, remember that player skill and experience are crucial factors in raid success. A well-played class of any type is more valuable than a poorly-played top tier class.
The Best Throne of the Four Winds Consumables
In TFW raid in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Classic, optimizing your character with the best consumables is crucial for maximizing performance and ensuring a successful raid. Here’s a list of the recommended consumables for Throne of the Four Winds:
Flasks
Flasks provide a significant boost to primary stats and persist through death, making them the preferred choice for raiding. You can buy them or make them yourself. For the second option, you need to learn Alchemy.
Elixirs
Elixirs are less commonly used due to flasks’ convenience, but they can be combined for specific stat needs if desired.
- Elixir of the Cobra
- Elixir of the Master
- Elixir of Impossible Accuracy
- Prismatic Elixir
- Elixir of Deep Earth
Potions
Potions can provide powerful temporary buffs and are best used during crucial moments in a fight.
Food Buffs
Food buffs provide a valuable stat boost and are essential for raiding.
Bandages
Bandages are useful for self-healing during moments when healers are unable to assist.
Throne of the Four Winds All Bosses Strategies
There are 2 boss encounters in the raid: Conclave of Wind and Al’Akir. Here you can find tactics and strategies on how to kill bosses in Throne of the Four Winds. But if you don’t want to waste your time learning mechanics and mastering strategies, our All Raids Bundle will help you defeat all Cataclysm raid bosses.
Conclave of Wind
The Conclave of Wind encounter is composed of three mini-bosses: Anshal, Nezir, and Rohash, each of which is on his own platform in the center of the boss arena. This fight will require your raid team to utilize strategies for each platform in order to win.
Platform 1: Anshal
Anshal’s main abilities are based on summoning adds and having a cooldown ability called Soothing Breeze which stuns players within its range. Here’s how to kill Anshal:
- Engage with one tank, one healer, and three DPS.
- For the adds, AoE down them fast to prevent them from receiving any healing effects.
- Do not stand in the green swirling circles if you do not want to be silenced.
Platform 2: Nezir
Nezir is a dangerous character due to his stacking debuff and damaging skills. Here’s еру strategy on how to defeat Nezir:
- Begin with one tank and one healer.
- Nezir has a stacking debuff called Wind Chill that increases the damage taken by the target.
- He will also be able to use slowing Ice Patches.
- It is important for the Tank and the Healer to swap positions after a while to control the debuff properly.
Platform 3: Rohash
Rohash’s abilities are not as complex as other bosses, and therefore, it is easier to defeat. Let’s figure out how to conquer Rohash:
- Start with two DPS and one healer.
- Be careful of wind attacks, calling Tornado and Wind Blast, which will push players off the platform.
- Be careful when he is casting animation for Wind Blast to avoid being knocked off.
Key Mechanics
- Every boss has a yellow bar below the health bar which gradually fills up.
- When the bar is filled to 90 percent each boss uses a special ability.
- Anshal has a healing ability, Rohash can summon Hurricane, and Nezir can cast a damaging Sleet Storm.
Execution
At 80 of 90 on the yellow bar, execute the platform-switching strategy on how to fight Conclave of Wind:
- Players from Anshal’s side move to Nezir’s side.
- Tank and healer from Nezir’s platform move to Anshal’s platform.
- DPS from Rohash’s platform to jump to Nezir’s platform.
- Continue to jump between platforms and switch tanks whenever necessary until all the bosses are destroyed.
This strategy focuses on dealing as much damage as possible and handling mechanics at the same time.
If the platform strategies are well coordinated and implemented, then the Conclave of Wind encounter can be overcome easily. Always make sure to coordinate with your team, look for mechanics, and be aware of the conditions that are present.
Important note: In this strategy, we described a 10-player raid setup, but based on it you can easily coordinate your 25-player raid group.
Al’Akir
Al’Akir is the last boss in Throne of the Four Winds. This encounter is one of the most difficult and dangerous ones in the game due to the possibility of a raid wipe with a single mistake. Now, let’s discuss how to fight Al’Akir:
Phase 1
This Phase is chaotic and requires constant movement to avoid a variety of damaging abilities. Here’s what you need to know:
- Do not use Ice Storms, which spawn blizzards and deal ongoing damage.
- Be cautious of Electrocute, especially for melee players as it interrupts spells and deals damage.
- Dodge Lightning Strikes which are powerful attacks that hit enemies in a cone formation.
- Watch out for Wind Burst, a move that pushes players backward and deals damage.
- Squall Lines will produce tornadoes, which will make the gameplay more challenging.
Phase 2
This Phase is slightly less hectic but introduces new mechanics that still require coordination. Here’s how to handle it:
- Acid Rain stacks up and increases in damage over time, so focus on killing Stormlings to reduce damage taken from Al’Akir.
- Stay in position and do not use Squall Line and minimize the effects of Acid Rain.
- Stack debuffs on Al’Akir to get the most out of the cooldowns used by the raid on Stormling kills.
Phase 3
This Phase involves floating through the air, dodging numerous abilities, and managing limited space effectively. Here’s what to expect:
- Players receive more movement points but lose them when they step on a Lightning Cloud tile which damages them greatly.
- Maintain movement to avoid Lightning Clouds while making sure to stack for maximum DPS on Al’Akir.
- Be on the lookout for lightning strikes and other mechanics and respond to them as soon as possible.
Key Strategies
- To reduce the effects of Lightning Strike and Electrocute, ensure that the structures are well-spaced.
- Stack Stormling to deal more damage on Al’Akir during Phase 2.
- Synchronize the movements to steer clear from environmental threats such as Squall Line and Lightning Cloud.
- The main focus should be on keeping oneself alive and dealing as much damage as possible during the fight.
Advanced Tactics
- In Phase 3, it might be wise to keep a Stormling alive for the extra damage and the possible achievement.
- Move and position yourself in a way that will allow for maximum DPS and survivability.
Al’Akir is a fight that is not very difficult but still, it needs good coordination, fast reactions, and good execution. If your raid knows how each Phase works and employs the right tactics, this boss can be defeated. It is important to remain on track, share information with your team, and be prepared for changes. Break a leg, and may the wind be in your sails!
If well coordinated, well executed, and with a little bit of luck, your raid team should be able to overcome the challenges of the Throne of the Four Winds and come out victorious. This TFW raid guide has provided you with the tools to defeat the bosses, comprehend the drops, and enhance your character for victory. So pull together your raid group, get ready, and take control of the winds as your own!
