Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian, is one of the most famous Legendary weapons in WoW Classic Anniversary. Unlike other Legendaries, Atiesh is not crafted from a single rare drop but instead requires players to collect many fragments, clear multiple raids, and complete a demanding questline. Because of this, obtaining Atiesh is a long-term project that usually involves the support of an entire guild.
In this guide, we will explain how to obtain Atiesh in WoW Classic Anniversary, which classes can wield it, the unique mechanics of its questline, and why it remains one of the most prestigious items in the game.
Key Steps to Obtain Atiesh:
The Atiesh questline is broken into several stages, each requiring raid progress, rare drops, and finally a solo encounter in Stratholme. To briefly summarize the process:
- Collect 40 Splinters of Atiesh from bosses inside Naxxramas.
- Combine the splinters into the Frame of Atiesh, which begins the questline.
- Speak to Anachronos at the Caverns of Time, requiring at least Neutral reputation with the Brood of Nozdormu.
- Defeat Kel’Thuzad in Naxxramas and C’Thun in Ahn’Qiraj to recover the Head and Base of Atiesh.
- Purify the staff in Stratholme by summoning and defeating Atiesh, Hand of Sargeras.
- Return to Anachronos to claim your class-specific version of Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
Unlike some other raid drops, Splinters of Atiesh are not tradable. Each player must personally loot all 40 required pieces before they can begin crafting their staff.
4.9Classes That Can Use Atiesh
Only four caster classes are eligible to complete the questline and wield Atiesh in WoW Classic Anniversary. Each class receives the same legendary staff, but with slightly different stat allocations to suit their role.
- Druids – Atiesh provides spell power, mana regeneration, and bonuses useful for both Balance and Restoration specs. Their version of the staff is: Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
- Mages – Atiesh grants critical strike chance and spell power, making it a best-in-slot weapon for raid DPS. Their version of the staff is: Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
- Priests – Atiesh boosts healing and mana efficiency, a massive benefit for endgame raiding. Their version of the staff is: Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
- Warlocks – Atiesh adds stamina and spell power, strengthening both survivability and damage output. Their version of the staff is: Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian.
While the differences are minor, they ensure the staff is tailored to each class. Regardless of which version is completed, all carry the same legendary prestige. If you want to level up a character to use Atiesh yourself, we can save you a ton of time here at Overgear.
How to Get Atiesh in WoW Classic Anniversary
Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian, is the legendary weapon introduced with Naxxramas in Phase 6 of WoW Classic Anniversary. Unlike most raid loot, Atiesh is assembled through a long quest chain that requires multiple rare drops and significant raid progression.
Here we have prepared a step-by-step guide on how to get Atiesh in WoW Classic Fresh.
Step 1: Get 40 Splinters of Atiesh
The first stage of the questline requires collecting 40 Splinters of Atiesh. These splinters drop randomly from bosses in Naxxramas, but not every boss kill guarantees one. As a result, completing this step often takes many weeks of full raid clears.
Once 40 splinters are collected, they can be combined into the Frame of Atiesh, which starts the official questline. This mechanic makes Atiesh a guild project, as raid groups must decide which player is allowed to collect splinters each week until the set is complete.
Alternatively, you can let our players obtain Atiesh for you.
📌 Because of the slow drop rate, only a small number of Atiesh staves typically exist on a server before The Burning Crusade launches.
Step 2: Obtain the Head and the Base of Atiesh
After forming the Frame, the next step is to seek out Anachronos, one of the bronze dragonflight. He is located outside the Caverns of Time in Tanaris. If you want to talk to him, you would need at least a Neutral reputation with the Brood of Nozdormu. This is a faction tied to the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj raid.
Anachronos sends the player on a quest to recover two missing pieces of the staff:
- Staff Head of Atiesh – a guaranteed drop from Kel’Thuzad, the final boss of Naxxramas;
- Base of Atiesh – a guaranteed drop from C’Thun, the end boss of Ahn’Qiraj.
Both of these encounters are among the hardest in WoW Classic. Obtaining these items requires not only personal dedication but also a coordinated, progression-oriented guild.
Step 3: Purification
Once the Head and Base are recovered, Anachronos instructs the player to purify the staff. This final step takes place in Undead Stratholme, specifically on Festival Lane.
By using the corrupted Atiesh in this location, players summon the demon form of Atiesh. This encounter can be challenging even for well-geared players. Because of this, it is highly recommended to bring support from a raid group.
Fight Mechanics
The summoned Atiesh fight includes several mechanics, and here are the most important ones:
- Atiesh will cast Breath of Sargeras, a curse that lowers attack power. Bring a class capable of curse removal.
- He has roughly 200,000 HP.
- Atiesh periodically casts Shadow Bolt for 1,500 damage.
- He has a shadow aura that ticks for 400 damage over time.
- His weapon, Andonisus, Reaper of Souls, can be disarmed. If disarmed, Warriors or Rogues can temporarily equip it, though it drains 5% max health every two seconds.
Successfully defeating the demon purifies the staff. Returning to Anachronos completes the questline and rewards the player with their class-specific version of Atiesh.
4.9Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian, represents the pinnacle of caster weapons in WoW Classic. Its lengthy questline, strict class restrictions, and requirement for full raid clears make it one of the rarest and most respected Legendaries in the game. For Druids, Mages, Priests, and Warlocks who manage to complete it, Atiesh is not just an item but a mark of prestige that reflects months of dedication, teamwork, and success in the hardest raids Classic WoW has to offer.
