In this TBC Anniversary Gruul’s Lair guide, we cover one of the core Phase 1 25-player raids and a key source of early Tier 4 gear. Gruul’s Lair is a short and straightforward raid, featuring only two bosses. This guide includes everything you need to know before entering the raid, including the release date, location, loot tables, Tier 4 tokens, and detailed strategies for High King Maulgar and Gruul the Dragonkiller.
TBC Anniversary Gruul’s Lair Key Takeaways:
- Gruul’s Lair is a Phase 1 25-player raid.
- It is launching on February 5th with the start of TBC Anniversary Phase 1.
- No attunement required for Gruul’s Lair.
- The minimum level to enter the instance is 65 but being level 70 is recommended.
- You can loot Tier 4 leg and shoulder tokens from this raid.
- Gruul’s Lair has only two boss encounters.
4.9TBC Anniversary Gruul’s Lair Release Date
Gruul’s Lair launch date is set on February 5th as part of Phase 1 of TBC Anniversary. Like Karazhan and Magtheridon’s Lair, the raid is not available during the pre-patch and only unlocks once the expansion officially goes live.
Gruul’s Lair is a 25-player raid and a core part of Tier 4 progression in Phase 1. There are no attunement requirements, but players must be at least level 65 to enter the raid. Want to hit the max level in the shortest time possible and without the grind? Check out our TBC Leveling here at Overgear!
The Burning Crusade Anniversary Gruul’s Lair Loot
The Burning Crusade Anniversary Gruul’s Lair offers some of the most valuable loot available during Phase 1, making it a must-clear raid for early progression. The raid drops Tier 4 leg and shoulder tokens, allowing players to complete key set bonuses alongside rewards from Karazhan and Magtheridon’s Lair. These tokens are shared across class groups, making Gruul’s Lair an important weekly stop for nearly every raid composition.
In addition to tier tokens, Gruul’s Lair features a strong selection of weapons, trinkets, rings, and cloaks that remain competitive well into later phases. Many of these items are highly contested due to their raw stats and long-term value, especially for tanks and physical DPS. Here we have prepared a full list of all the rewards from Gruul’s Lair in TBC Anniversary.
High King Maulgar Loot
High King Maulgar loot is a selection of powerful early Tier 4 gear. Here is the full High King Maulgar rewards list:
| Item | Type | Slot |
|---|---|---|
| Pauldrons of the Fallen Champion | Paladin, Rogue, and Shaman Tier Token | Shoulder |
| Pauldrons of the Fallen Defender | Warrior, Priest, and Druid Tier Token | Shoulder |
| Pauldrons of the Fallen Hero | Hunter, Mage, and Warlock Tier Token | Shoulder |
| Brute Cloak of the Ogre-Magi | Cloak | Back |
| Belt of Divine Inspiration | Cloth Armor | Waist |
| Malefic Mask of the Shadows | Leather Armor | Head |
| Maulgar’s Warhelm | Mail Armor | Head |
| Bladespire Warbands | Plate Armor | Finger |
| Hammer of the Naaru | 2-hand Mace | Weapon |
Gruul the Dragonkiller Loot
Gruul loot is some of the most sought-after Phase 1 raid gear, including Tier 4 leg tokens. This makes him a very important boss for early gearing and progression in TBC Anniversary. Here is the full Grull the Dragonkiller rewards list:
| Item | Type | Slot |
|---|---|---|
| Leggings of the Fallen Champion | Paladin, Rogue, and Shaman Tier Token | Legs |
| Leggings of the Fallen Defender | Warrior, Priest, and Druid Tier Token | Legs |
| Leggings of the Fallen Hero | Hunter, Mage, and Warlock Tier Token | Legs |
| Eye of Gruul | Trinket | Trinket |
| Dragonspine Trophy | Trinket | Trinket |
| Teeth of Gruul | Necklace | Neck |
| Collar of Cho’gall | Cloth Armor | Head |
| Cowl of Nature’s Breath | Leather Armor | Head |
| Gronn-Stitched Girdle | Leather Armor | Waist |
| Gauntlets of the Dragonslayer | Mail Armor | Hands |
| Windshear Boots | Mail Armor | Feet |
| Gauntlets of Martial Perfection | Plate Armor | Hands |
| Bloodmaw Magus-Blade | 1-Hand Sword | Weapon |
| Axe of the Gronn Lords | 2-Hand Axe | Weapon |
| Shuriken of Negation | Thrown | Thrown |
| Aldori Legacy Defender | Shield | Off-Hand |
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TBC Anniversary Gruul’s Lair Tier Sets
Gruul’s Lair is one of the three Phase 1 raids that award Tier 4 tokens in TBC Anniversary, alongside Karazhan and Magtheridon’s Lair. Unlike Magtheridon, Gruul’s Lair drops Tier 4 leg and shoulder tokens, making it a key stop for completing early raid sets.
Tier Token Classes
- Hero: Hunter, Mage, Warlock
- Champion: Paladin, Rogue, Shaman
- Defender: Warrior, Priest, Druid
📌 Tier 4 leg and shoulder tokens from Gruul’s Lair can be exchanged in Shattrath City at the Aldor or Scryer vendors, depending on your faction alignment.
The Burning Crusade Anniversary Gruul’s Lair Location
Gruul’s Lair is located in the northern part of Blade’s Edge Mountains in TBC Classic Anniversary. The raid entrance sits at the end of a winding path leading up to Gruul’s cavern.
- Zone: Blade’s Edge Mountains (North)
- Nearest Flight Master: Fhyn Leafshadow (Neutral) (61.6, 39.6)
Once you unlock flying mounts (you can learn about it from our TBC Anniversary Flying Guide), players can travel directly to Gruul’s Lair, making access quick and straightforward from Evergrove.
The Burning Crusade Anniversary Gruul’s Lair Attunement
There are no attunement requirements to enter Gruul’s Lair, and players can access the raid freely using the location details above. While the layout is straightforward, both encounters are mechanically demanding, so proper preparation is key before stepping inside. While there is no specific attunement, you should still be prepared by having good consumables. Don’t want to spend your time farming them? Let us handle it for you with our Consumables service.
The Burning Crusade Anniversary Gruul’s Lair Map
Gruul’s Lair is a compact raid made up of two boss encounters with no wings, shortcuts, or optional paths. Upon entering, players will first face High King Maulgar and his council, followed by Gruul the Dragonkiller in the main chamber beyond. The linear layout keeps navigation simple, placing the focus entirely on execution, positioning, and coordination.
TBC Anniversary High King Maulgar Strategy
High King Maulgar is fought alongside his four council members, and the standard kill order is Priest → Warlock → Mage → Shaman → Maulgar. Each ogre has its own abilities that make them dangerous to melee, so ranged DPS are particularly valuable in this fight. The pull is the most critical moment—if it goes poorly, the raid can quickly be overwhelmed. Using Misdirection and careful tank positioning helps ensure each add is under control from the start.
Maulgar himself hits extremely hard with abilities like Arcing Smash, Mighty Blow, and Whirlwind. Melee should be careful to avoid Whirlwind when it’s on cooldown, while the main tank must be well-geared and supported by multiple healers. Keeping Demoralizing Shout and Thunder Clap active at all times significantly reduces Maulgar’s damage and makes the fight more manageable.
Once Maulgar reaches 50% health, the fight becomes more chaotic. He triggers Flurry, which increases his attack speed but lowers his damage slightly, and starts using Berserker Charge and Intimidating Roar, which can knock back or fear players if not handled properly. After the council members are down, there should be two tanks on Maulgar to help absorb the charges and recover quickly from fears. Since Maulgar is tauntable, tank swaps are simple and reliable.
TBC Anniversary Gruul Strategy
Gruul is a pure damage and execution check where the goal is to kill him before his Growth stacks make the fight unhealable. This happens roughly 8 minutes into the fight. Every 30 seconds, Growth increases his damage, which puts more strain on tanks, healers, and anyone hit by Cave In. Because of this, strong raid DPS and clean mechanics are more important than playing overly safe.
Gruul requires two tanks in melee range at all times. The main tank holds boss aggro, while the off-tank soaks Hurtful Strike, which always hits the second-highest threat target in melee. If no valid target is in range, Hurtful Strike will either kill a melee DPS or spike the main tank for lethal damage. Pets cannot soak this ability, so tank positioning and threat management are critical throughout the fight.
Raid positioning is the other major focus. Players should spread loosely to limit damage from Cave In, which places a damaging zone on the ground that ramps up later in the fight. The damage is not instant, so moving out quickly prevents unnecessary strain on healers. Periodic Reverberation silences the raid, so healers should be ready to recover quickly once it ends.
The most dangerous mechanic is Ground Slam followed by Gronn Lord’s Grasp and Shatter. After being knocked back, players must immediately move away from each other while slowed by Gronn Lord’s Grasp. Once Stoned triggers, Gruul will cast Shatter, dealing heavy damage based on how close players are to one another. The more distance between players, the less damage taken—being within 20 yards of others is essential, and standing too close can easily result in death. Immunities do not prevent Shatter damage, so spacing is the only solution.
As Growth stacks increase, tank damage becomes extreme. Talents like Inspiration, Ancestral Healing, and Improved Lay on Hands provide crucial physical damage reduction and should be prioritized by healers. The fight ends when either Gruul dies or the raid runs out of survivability, so clean movement, strong healing coordination, and maximizing damage are the keys to success.
📌 Once Gruul is engaged, the gate to his room closes, so make sure the entire raid is inside and positioned past the entrance pillars before pulling.
Gruul’s Lair Guide FAQ
Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions players have about Gruul’s Lair in TBC Anniversary.
When Does Gruul’s Lair Release in TBC Anniversary?
Gruul’s Lair launches on February 5th with the start of Phase 1 of TBC Anniversary. It is not available during the pre-patch.
Where Is Gruul’s Lair Located?
Gruul’s Lair is located in the northern Blade’s Edge Mountains. The nearest neutral Flight Master is Fhyn Leafshadow at Evergrove (61.6, 39.6).
How Many Bosses Are in Gruul’s Lair?
There are two boss encounters: High King Maulgar and Gruul the Dragonkiller.
What Tier Tokens Drop in Gruul’s Lair in TBC Anniversary?
Gruul’s Lair drops Tier 4 leg and shoulder tokens. Tier 4 tokens can be exchanged in Shattrath City at the Aldor or Scryer vendors, depending on your faction alignment.
Is There an Attunement Requirement for Gruul’s Lair?
No. There are no attunement requirements to enter Gruul’s Lair. However, your character must be at least level 65 to enter the instance.
4.9Gruul’s Lair may be short, but it plays a major role in early TBC Anniversary Phase 1 progression, offering great loot and Tier 4 tokens. With only two bosses, the raid is easy to schedule and repeat weekly, but success depends heavily on preparation and coordination.
