Mad World

Mad World is no longer available after pre-patch.

The guide is now up and running, which means this post going forward will only serve as a log of what has been (it's in the spoiler tag unedited since 20/03). All future updates will be done in the guide! Cheers all for the support so far.

Spoiler

Post updated 20th March as I have this since the 18th. Disclaimer: at cloak rank 15 these are supposed to be challenging but manageable. They're far from trivial but practice makes perfect. After the cloak's upgraded fully, I'd try to keep doing one run a week for the 470, but farm 4-mask runs for Mementos (granted the last remark depends a little bit on the severity of Madnesses for the given week)

I can give some insights on this feat of strength from a personal point of view. In the rank 12 week I've done five runs in Orgrimmar that I sadly failed. Two weeks later with my cloak still on 13 I managed Orgrimmar and the first run the week thereafter (with still cloak 14) I oneshot Stormwind. I've done it on a Havoc whom are arguably one of the easier specs to get this done. However, each class and spec will have it easy with certain aspects and harder with others.

In a nutshell, you are running Visions solo, with the mobs buffed by 125% hp, half max Sanity (575), two Madnesses per area, leaving zones behind you, taking 500% regular Sanity drain from abilities and spawn Horrific Effigies below 50% Sanity. All in all, there's as good as no room for major error, and slowing down or minor errors make things harder.

Pre-tips

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• I wrote this comment on cloak rank 12; obviously, the 5% decreases to Sanity reduction that are still to come will help, but not trivialize it.
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• You want as good as all upgrades from the Titan Archive sans the group ress. You could go without Destabilization (I failed barely with 1/3), but that's about it.
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• Get a Gift tracker; getting Gift to proc on elites and bosses is a huge difference, especially those where avoiding mechanics is harder.
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• Go full raid buffed: flask, food (healing baseline > movement speed > CC reduction from Vision food), pots, buff scrolls.
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• Bring plenty K'Babs. These will restore a good chunk, more efficient in the Tainted area.
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• Know where the Vision buffs are and what to do; use HandyNotes for quick reference.
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• Know how the potions work (WeakAuras are available). IMO, buffs are a trade off as the negative effects are nasty.
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• Mixed dps build is key: eventually the zone bosses will be biggest challenge throughout.
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Run
General

• 
  
• The largest threat are the elites & bosses, as missing a Sanity drainer can pretty much one shot you.
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• In fact, timing elite and boss pulls around the Gift cooldown is key; check [order-advancement=792] on my comment how to try and bait it.
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• Get the potion color immediately after starting, and consider correct colored pots as a ~20% Sanity restore.
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• As timing is less relevant if you have K'Bab, get easy to reach buffs first. These are all relatively close by and will help in Lost areas.
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• Know your status of the Cranial Defibrillator (solo ress). If it's still available, you can take small risks, though you want to keep it for the final boss.
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• Trying to keep Vision Hunter up will speed up the run eventually, though for longer paths you'll mount anyway.
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Area severity danger:

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• The Tainted area gives respite. You can't stay forever, but Sanity's worth more in here than outside.
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• Corrupted areas are relatively harmless: elites should upkeep your Sanity mostly throughout, just watch out on bosses and don't overpull.
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• Lost areas are a literal nightmare: you do have to keep pace due to increased drain, but misjudging elites can easily deplete you instantly.
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Orb use

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• Orgrimmar: [npc=156161], [npc=155098] and [npc=152698].
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• Stormwind: [npc=158157], [npc=158035] and [npc=152718].
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Haste cooldown use

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• Orgrimmar: [npc=156143] + [npc=152874]* & [npc=155098].
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• Stormwind: [npc=158157] & [npc=152718].
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*arguable, but you don't need it on Thrall if you don't do a major screw up due to easier Madnesses.

Vision specific guide
I will break down the Vision on Gift or orbs uses, as this is the make or break point on whether you should move forward. Mind that this is a loose guideline. What you dps and how quick depends what you can use for procs and/or buffs; always make the correct decision on the fly. For Gifts I'll state what to proc it on (it requires kills which makes planning key), what to use it on and what to do during its cooldown. A few notes: I expect you to know what to avoid and not, use other guides for that. I abbreviated Tainted, Corrupted and Lost areas to just the first letter, a Gift in bold means that's the haste cooldown and a Gift in cursive is the zone clear.

Orgrimmar
As we're using the haste cooldown on the Lost area bosses we can start anywhere: I used to start right so I could use it on Rexxar and Thrall. I'm thinking though that starting left is slightly better due to elite placement. If utilized right, you shouldn't need an orb on the left side; this will give a lot more freedom on the right.

Know-how beforehand

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• Always kill [npc=158565] (+10% damage), [npc=161140] (+10% haste) and [npc=161198] (+10% crit) if up. Ignore [npc=158588] as the health increase's negligible.
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• Ignore the two caster pack in Wisdom: getting chain stunned can be fatal even without elites.
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• Valley of Honor can be partly skipped. Depending on how comfortable you are, clearing it is slightly less risky.
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• Using Gift on the Inquisitor is nigh impossible: you could zerg Misha and run back but that's sub-optimal.
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• Baiting Gift before Rexxar and Thrall can be frustrating, but highly worth your while.
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Run by Gift & orb use

1. 
   
2. Grommash Hold (T): proc Gift on right side mobs; use it on mobs towards Naros and Hold guards (and Naros). Spend the cd on potion color, K'Bab and clearing mobs towards the Drag.
3. 
   
4. Valley of Spirits (C): proc Gift on Zek'han's mobs; use it on [npc=153943], aim Rush towards Wisdom. Spend the cd to access Wisdom, clear middle and pack before the bridge.
5. 
   
6. Valley of Wisdom (L): proc Gift on the Horror pack; use it on [npc=156653]; spend the cd on Hulk thrash and chests.
7. 
   
8. Valley of Wisdom (L): proc Gift on [npc=156143]; use it on [npc=152874]; spend the cd to go towards Valley of Spirits.
9. 
   
10. Valley of Spirits (C): proc Gift on totem mobs; use it on remaining totem mobs (and Bjemba); spend the cd on K'Bab and chests.
11. 
    
12. Valley of Spirits (C): proc Gift on the two Elemental trash; use it on [npc=153244]; spend the cd running & clearing to the Drag.
13. 
    
14. The Drag (C): proc Gift on the Annihilator pack; use it on [npc=153942]; spend the cd clearing the Drag (and Warpweaver).
15. 
    
16. The Drag (C): ORB (two orbs) as Gift's not proccable and kill [npc=156161] (watch for Torrent!).
17. 
    
18. Valley of Honor (L): likely Gift procced on the Inquisitor; use it on [npc=155656]; spend the cd clearing up to the Mindhunter.
19. 
    
20. Valley of Honor (L): proc Gift on a corpse A'qir; use it on [npc=153532]; spend the cd clearing up to Rexxar and chests.
21. 
    
22. Valley of Honor (L): ORB (one orb) whenever the haste cooldown is ready. Max sanity, one orb.
23. 
    
24. Valley of Honor (L): proc Gift on the remaining A'qir pack; use it on [npc=155098]; spend the cd walking back (totems can disconnect you).
25. 
    
26. Grommash Hold (T): give yourself some respite if you have an orb left. Check all buffs, chests if you want, possibly buff potions as just Thrall's left.
27. 
    
28. Grommash Hold (T) LAST ORB, proc Gift on left side Hold thrash; use it on [npc=152698]. Enjoy your credit and 470 loot.
29. 
    

Thrall's Mad World:

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• The boars are your number one prio at the start. They should not live to cast at all.
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• Defiled Ground is the only thing that can actually kill you. Just circle around him properly.
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• Surging Darkness take a fair amount of time to explode. Plan accordingly (especially if a Defiled Ground follows).
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• Hopelessness is harmless but can screw up your orientation; get rid of it but still prio Defiled & Darkness.
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• Cries of the Void might get you low and/or proc Cranial. You can risk if you still have Cranial to just ignore it completely.
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Stormwind
Stormwind updated, as I now have Mad World since 18th March. The optimal path is Dwarven District, Old Town, Trade District and Mage Quarter; the opposite route is sub-optimal as you'd either need to teleport back and lose time mounting or run back down the Mage Tower.

Know-how beforehand

• 
  
• Stormwind is arguably quite a bit harder than Orgrimmar; doing it before cloak 15 is tricky.
• 
  
• Always get the buffs: damage mine (+10% damage), kill [npc=160404] (+10% haste), [npc=161293] (+10% crit) and/or [npc=157700] (+7% Vers) if up.
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• Stormwind is linear, but has a more free navigation within zones; pull non-elites around Gift procs accordingly.
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• Corrupted areas are easier (despite the vision as whole generally being harder); use this to your advantage.
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• Most of the Growths should probably just be ignored, especially if you have a combat drop.
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• Using Gift on Umbric is only possible if you get it from the Horrific Effigy; not recommended but use it if it happens.
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• Baiting Gift before Shaw and Alleria can be frustrating, but as with Rexxar and Thrall, worth your while.
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Run by Gift & orb use

1. 
   
2. Cathedral Square (T): proc Gift on the first mobs; use it on the Cathedral guards, pack towards Dwarven and the available buff; spend the cd on on potion color, K'Bab and the Dwarven bridge.
3. 
   
4. Dwarven District (C): proc Gift on the Forge Guard pack; use it on [npc=158158]; spend the cd on (the buff mine and) clearing all but a center pack.
5. 
   
6. Dwarven District (C): proc Gift on the last pack; use it on [npc=156577]; spend the cd on K'Bab and getting to Old Town.
7. 
   
8. Old Town (L): proc Gift on the stealthies; use it on [npc=156949]; spend the cd on clearing (slowly).
9. 
   
10. Old Town (L): proc Gift on the pack before Alx'kov; use it on [npc=152809]; spend the cd on clearing and chests.
11. 
    
12. Old Town (L): open Shaw's gates, ORB (two orbs) and pull the closest by pack.
13. 
    
14. Old Town (L): proc Gift on the pulled pack; use it and its cd on [npc=158157]. Go out the way we came to avoid mobs.
15. 
    
16. Trade District (C): avoid the tentacle before the entrance; proc Gift on the packs before the Inquisitor; use it on [npc=158136]; spend the cd clearing the outskirts.
17. 
    
18. Trade District (C): proc Gift on the pack before Ul'rok; use it on [npc=153541]; spend the cd on ([npc=161293] and) cages.
19. 
    
20. Mage Quarter (L): go right, proc Gift on the starter pack; use it on the first Portal Keeper; spend the cd on the second Portal Keeper to Zar'deth.
21. 
    
22. Mage Quarter (L): proc Gift the randomly spawning mobs; use it on [npc=158371]; spend the cd on clearing up to Mage Tower behind Zar'deth.
23. 
    
24. Mage Quarter (L): proc Gift on the Portal Keeper pack before Boundless; use it on [npc=152939]; spend the cd on the final Portal Keeper and chests.
25. 
    
26. Mage Quarter (L): go up, ORB (one orb) and kill [npc=158035]: prio interrupting Entropic Missiles (Poly is no Sanity drainer). Teleport back.
27. 
    
28. Cathedral Square (T): give yourself some respite if you have an orb left. Check all buffs, chests if you want, possibly buff potions as just Alleria's left.
29. 
    
30. Cathedral Square (T): LAST ORB, proc Gift on the pack towards Trade; use it on [npc=152718]. Enjoy your credit and 470 loot.
31. 
    

Alleria's Mad World:

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• The Eye is a cowardly load of b*llcr*p. Ticks take about 30 Sanity and will be your biggest drainer.
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• Void Eruption is a practical one shot. Don't. Risk. This.
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• Chains is a practical near one shot. Don't. Risk. This.
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• Melee should kick (interact) Ordnances away; ranged can just sidestep it.
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• Darkened Sky should be sidestepped; similar to the Defiled Ground on Thrall.
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• Interrupt Tainted Polymorph; it's the only interruptible cast.
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And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad world
Mad world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4