Contents
Overview
Onyxia’s Lair is a 40-player raid for level 60 characters in Dustwallow Marsh, and the shortest raid in Classic: one boss, Onyxia herself, plus a few trash patrols on the way in. She drops the Tier 2 helm for every class.
The fight has three phases. The second, when she takes to the air and starts using Deep Breath, is the most dangerous, so make sure everyone knows the safe spots before the pull.
Location and Attunement
The entrance is in south-central Dustwallow Marsh, at about 56, 71.
Every raider needs their own 
Drakefire Amulet in their bags, not the bank, to enter. Having it on the raid leader isn’t enough. The attunement is a long quest chain, and it’s different for each faction:
- Alliance starts with
Dragonkin Menace from Helendis Riverhorn at Morgan’s Vigil in Burning Steppes. The chain runs through Redridge Mountains and Stormwind City, into Blackrock Depths to free Marshal Windsor, back to Stormwind for The Great Masquerade, where Lady Katrana Prestor is revealed as Onyxia, then to Haleh in Winterspring. It ends in Upper Blackrock Spire, where you loot the 
Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath. - Horde starts with Warlord’s Command from Warlord Goretooth in Kargath, Badlands, which sends you into Lower Blackrock Spire. The chain then sends you to kill Warchief Rend Blackhand in Upper Blackrock Spire, find Rexxar in Desolace, see Myranda the Hag in Western Plaguelands and Emberstrife in Dustwallow Marsh, and kill four elite dragons for The Test of Skulls. It also ends with the Blood of the Black Dragon Champion from General Drakkisath.
Two steps catch people out. For the Alliance, 
A Crumpled Up Note, which drops from the slaves just outside Blackrock Depths as well as mobs inside, restarts the chain after Abandoned Hope seems to end it. For the Horde, Rexxar walks a route between Stonetalon Mountains and Feralas, so running north from Feralas is the surest way to meet him.
Phase Quick Reference
Critical Mechanics
Deep Breath in Phase 2. Onyxia flies to one of eight spots around the room. When the game warns that she is taking a deep breath, everyone in front of her has to move to the sides immediately. Keep track of where she is at all times.
Don’t get knocked into the eggs. Standing near her tail in Phase 1 or 3 means Tail Sweep, which can throw you into the egg nests and spawn a swarm of Onyxian Whelps. Stay at her sides.
Wait for positioning. In Phase 1 and again when she lands for Phase 3, damage before the tank has her turned and in place risks pulling threat and wiping the raid.
Spread out for Fireball. Her Phase 2 Fireball also hits anyone within 8 yards of the target. Greater Fire Protection Potions help here and against the lava in Phase 3.
Onyxian Warders on the way in. These trash patrols cast Fire Nova. Many raids let the tank pull first and have melee wait for one Fire Nova to go off before moving in.
Notable Loot
Onyxia always drops the 
Head of Onyxia, which starts a quest for its holder. Hunters want the 
Mature Black Dragon Sinew for Stave of the Ancients, part of the quest line for 
Rhok’delar, Longbow of the Ancient Keepers. The best loot comes from Onyxia herself rather than from the Warders.
Tips & Tricks
Check everyone’s amulet before you travel. A raider who left the Drakefire Amulet in the bank can’t get in.
Teach Deep Breath before the pull. One player standing in the wrong spot at the wrong time is how most Onyxia attempts end.
Save cooldowns for 65%. Burning her quickly at the start of Phase 2 shortens the dangerous air phase.
Assign the whelps. In Phase 3, give one off-tank the job of gathering whelps so the area damage can clear them before they reach the healers.
Related Guides
- Molten Core Raid Guide (Classic WoW) — the first 40-player raid in Classic
- UBRS (Upper Blackrock Spire) Guide — WoW Classic — where both factions’ attunement ends
- Blackrock Depths Guide (WoW Classic) — where the Alliance attunement frees Marshal Windsor