Grand Empress Shek'zeer is the Sha-corrupted ruler of the mantid, and the final boss of the Heart of Fear. The empress seems to be under full control from the Sha of Fear.
The ancient Klaxxi order has come to a mournful decision: the tainted grand empress Shek'zeer must be deposed. Traditionally, mantid rulers are displaced in their old age by a carefully chosen successor. However, Shek'zeer's intended replacement is still too young and weak to unseat her, leaving the Klaxxi with no choice but to kill the current empress. If action is not taken against her soon, all of Pandaria may crumble before the mantid's ravenous swarms.
Elite
Grand Empress Shek'zeer
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LFR:
Phase 1 - Kill boss.
Phase 2 - Kill adds.
Phase 3 - Kill boss more (maybe more adds, maybe not, we got 2 rounds of adds in one attempt and only one in the second, but I got into an LFR group with a 50% guild run so life was fairly easy.)
Phase 4 - Everyone dies.Phase 4 is the problem. She takes 50% of everyone's remaining health often. Don't stand in front of her (big damage + AoE fear). Healers need to keep people at around 40% health, with tanks a bit higher. Healing people up more than that just means that they'll be taking more damage. Healers won't have any mana. This is when you use Bloodlust and healers will need mana cooldowns and all of that. Use personal heals as much as you can, as well as defensive cooldowns.
Best of luck.
A short guide for this boss (normal 10 man):
On the first phase you will fight the boss alone. Its main ability on this phase is [spell=123184], which creates two vortexes. The vortexes have 60 health, which indicates time until its explosion. Players standing inside the vortexes will not be able to receive healing, and any spells cast will reduce the vortex timer. Vortex explosion deals 200k physical damage to the whole raid.
Additionally, [spell=123792] will be cast on a random player, making it periodically damage all allies. Standing inside the vortex suppresses this damage, so players with the debuff should do so unless low on health (or if a vortex is about to explode). Additionally, they should cast some spells while in the vortex to desynchronize them so they don't explode at the same time.
The boss will also stack [spell=123707] on the current tank, so tanks should switch to avoid getting 5 stacks.When the boss energy reaches 0 (after 150 seconds), the boss retreats and summons minions. On each side, one [npc=63591] and three [npc=64453] will spawn, which have to be picked up by a tank. The minions buff each other's damage by 30% when standing close, so they should not be drawn together, and one minion has to be quickly killed on each side before the tanks run out of defensive cooldowns. The small adds sometimes cast whirlwind that does a lot of damage in melee range and should be interrupted, and the large add uses a large frontal cleave.
Small adds will also sometimes fixate on random players and follow them, just kite them until its over.
Big adds have around 40 million health, so you should not waste damage trying to kill them. Instead, small puddles will appear on the ground, debuffing players that walk over them with [spell=124097]. When two players with this debuff come close, a larger puddle will appear, where additional debuffs can be dropped until the puddle forms a large trap. The large add should be brought into this trap (do not hesitate to walk over it, it doesn't work on players), where it will die. Small adds will attempt to break the trap, and should be killed at this point (do not kill them too early or you won't have enough resin for two traps; also, be careful not to trap them instead of the large add).
After this phase, the boss will go back to phase one.When the boss reaches 30% health (ideally, after two phase one's and with only one add phase), phase three will begin. There shouldn't be any vortexes remaining (if there are, stop dps until they explode, there is always time to do so).
Everyone should gather behind the boss in order to make it easier for healers to heal through the massive damage on this phase. In addition to casting [spell=123707] on the tank, and a few raid damage abilities, the boss will use two other abilities of note:
[spell=124863]: places a debuff on two random players, and after 4 seconds these players will be feared and will start dealing damage to everyone around them. These players should quickly run out of the raid and get dispelled after 4 seconds.
[spell=124849]: does a significant amount of damage and fears all players in a large cone, used in a random direction. Easy to avoid.
The only real difficulty with this phase is surviving the transition, healing in the phase itself doesn't seem to be too difficult. Note the [spell=124845] ability: don't get freaked out by everyone losing so much health all of a sudden.
Details
This roster comes from the current game client's data files, so it is not a complete list of every NPC in the game - older world NPCs that are no longer in the modern client are absent.
Achievement: Ahead of the Curve: Grand Empress Shek'zeer
Killing Grand Empress Shek'zeer counts toward Ahead of the Curve: Grand Empress Shek'zeer. Its in-game description: “Defeat Grand Empress Shek'zeer in Heart of Fear on Normal difficulty, before the release of patch 5.2.”
Achievement: Cutting Edge: Grand Empress Shek'zeer
Killing Grand Empress Shek'zeer counts toward Cutting Edge: Grand Empress Shek'zeer. Its in-game description: “Defeat Grand Empress Shek'zeer in Heart of Fear on Heroic difficulty, before the release of patch 5.2.”
Boss Encounter
Grand Empress Shek'zeer appears as a raid or dungeon boss. See the encounter page for its instance.
Abilities & Strategy
What the in-game dungeon journal describes for the Grand Empress Shek'zeer encounter. Every ability links to its spell page.
Abilities & Strategy
Stage One: A Perilous Battle!
Dissonance Field
The Empress creates a dissonance field which disrupts the sound associated with magic. The dissonance field absorbs nearby magical effects until it runs out of resonance. Once its resonance depletes, the field erupts in a Sonic Discharge. Players casting magical effects inside the dissonance field also deplete it of resonance.
Sonic Discharge
The Sonic Discharge inflicts Physical damage to all players.
Corrupted Dissonance Field
The Sha of Fear corrupts a dissonance field, causing it to inflict Shadow damage to random players until the dissonance field discharges.
Eyes of the Empress
The Empress gazes deeply into the eyes of her current target, inflicting the target with the Eyes of the Empress effect. This effect stacks up to 5 times. The Empress charms and transforms a player into a Servant of the Empress if the effect reaches maximum stacks.
Servant of the Empress
A player transformed and charmed by the Empress into her servant inflicts 200% more damage and 100% more healing, has 300% increased health, and becomes immune to crowd control effects and snares.
Dread Screech
In 25 Player raids, Shek'zeer looses a Dread Screech at five random players.
Cry of Terror
The Empress incites terror on a random player, causing them to inflict Shadow damage to players every 2 sec.
Stage Two: The Empress Retreats!
When the Empress runs out of sha energy, she retreats to her chrysalis and calls for her royal guard. Once she is fully recharged, or all of the Set'thik Windblades are defeated, the empress will emerge from her chamber.
Band of Valor
Members of the Empress' Royal Guard inflict 30% more damage for every other member of the Royal Guard within 8 yards.
Set'thik Windblade
Fixate
The Set'thik Windblade fixates on a random player.
Dispatch
The Set'thik Windblade periodically shoots blades at random players, inflicting Physical damage.
Sonic Blade
The Set'thik Windblade slashes his current target with a sonic blade, dealing 150% weapon damage and interrupting spellcast.
Sticky Resin
The Set'thik Windblade coats the ground in a sticky resin which clings to players that pass through it, slowing their movement speed by 30% and inflicting Nature damage every 1 second. When resin comes into contact with other resin, it will slide off of the player and back onto the ground. Amassing enough amber resin into one area causes it to congeal and harden, forming an Amber Trap.
Kor'thik Reaver
Poison Bomb
The Kor'thik Reaver hurls poison bombs at random players, inflicting Nature damage initially and damage every 2 seconds to a random enemy.
Toxic Slime
The Kor'thik Reaver inflicts Nature damage to players in a 30 yard cone in front of it.
Poison-Drenched Armor
The poison-drenched blades of the Kor'thik Reaver seeps into every pore of his current enemy target, causing them to erupt with a toxic substance. The fumes from this poison cause the attacks of nearby friendly players to occasionally deal additional Nature damage.
Stage Three: Ultimate Corruption!
At 30% remaining health, the Sha of Fear breaks the Empress' chrysalis and imbues her with a profound corruption.
Eyes of the Empress
The Empress gazes deeply into the eyes of her current target, inflicting the target with the Eyes of the Empress effect. This effect stacks up to 5 times. The Empress charms and transforms a player into a Servant of the Empress if the effect reaches maximum stacks.
Servant of the Empress
A player transformed and charmed by the Empress into her servant inflicts 200% more damage and 100% more healing, has 300% increased health, and becomes immune to crowd control effects and snares.
Sha Energy
Grand Empress Shek'zeer emits Sha Energy at two random players, inflicting Shadow damage. In 25 Player raids, Shek'zeer emits Sha Energy at five random players.
Calamity
The Empress inflicts Shadow damage to each player equal to 50% of their current health.
Consuming Terror
The Empress unleashes a Consuming Terror in a 70 yard cone in front of her, inflicting Shadow damage and fearing players within the cone for 8 sec.
Amassing Darkness
Grand Empress Shek'zeer weaves shadows at a random player, inflicting Shadow damage. This effect will hit an additional enemy every 2 seconds, until it is eventually hitting all enemy players. This effect will hit an additional enemy every 6 seconds, until it is eventually hitting all enemy players.
Visions of Demise
The Empress inflicts on two random players a vision of their own demise. The vision reveals itself to the player after 4 sec., causing them to suffer in fear and inflict Shadow damage every 1 sec. The Empress inflicts on five random players a vision of their own demise.
Heart of Fear
The Empress unleashes a swirling heart of dark energy, which targets a random player and inflicts Shadow damage in their direction. If a player stands between the heart and a targeted player, then they take the damage instead of the target.
3D Model
First-party render from the game files. Model © Blizzard Entertainment.
Drops in Heart of Fear
Loot the dungeon journal lists for the Grand Empress Shek'zeer encounter.
What is shown is the loot the game's own dungeon journal lists for this encounter.
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Achievements whose criteria involve Grand Empress Shek'zeer, from the current game data.
Collectibles Grand Empress Shek'zeer Drops
- Ravenous Prideling (battle pet): its in-game source line reads “Drop: Grand Empress Shek'zeer”.
Level and Map Tracking
The game data tunes Grand Empress Shek'zeer for level 35, Mists of Pandaria content.
What Each Drop Is
The Grand Empress Shek'zeer encounter lists 31 items in the dungeon journal, item levels 39 to 40. Equip slots covered: One-Hand, Head, Legs and Shoulder. Every piece binds when picked up, so none of it reaches the Auction House.
- Chest of the Shadowy Conqueror Miscellaneous, item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Paladin, Priest and Warlock. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Chest of the Shadowy Protector Miscellaneous, item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Warrior, Hunter, Shaman and Monk. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Chest of the Shadowy Vanquisher Miscellaneous, item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Rogue, Death Knight, Mage and Druid. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Claws of Shek'zeer One-Hand (Fist Weapon), item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility, Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. Tooltip: “Sha-Touched” A vendor pays 35g 82s for it.
- Crown of the Doomed Empress Head (Mail), item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Haste and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 61g 11s for it.
- Hood of Dark Dreams Head (Mail), item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Mastery and Haste. A vendor pays 60g 71s for it.
- Kri'tak, Imperial Scepter of the Swarm One-Hand (One-Handed Mace), item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect, Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. Tooltip: “Sha-Touched” A vendor pays 10g 92s for it. Equip: Sha-dowfiend.
- Leggings of Shadow Infestation Legs (Cloth), item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Intellect, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 81g 94s for it.
- Legplates of Regal Reinforcement Legs (Plate), item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Strength or Intellect, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 81g 70s for it.
- Shadow Heart Spaulders Shoulder (Leather), item level 40, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Critical Strike and Haste. A vendor pays 60g 94s for it.
- Chest of the Shadowy Conqueror Miscellaneous, item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Paladin, Priest and Warlock. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Chest of the Shadowy Conqueror Miscellaneous, item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Paladin, Priest and Warlock. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Chest of the Shadowy Protector Miscellaneous, item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Warrior, Hunter, Shaman and Monk. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Chest of the Shadowy Protector Miscellaneous, item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Warrior, Hunter, Shaman and Monk. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Chest of the Shadowy Vanquisher Miscellaneous, item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Rogue, Death Knight, Mage and Druid. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Chest of the Shadowy Vanquisher Miscellaneous, item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Usable by Rogue, Death Knight, Mage and Druid. A vendor pays 50g for it. Use: Create Item.
- Claws of Shek'zeer One-Hand (Fist Weapon), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility, Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. Tooltip: “Sha-Touched” A vendor pays 34g 66s for it.
- Claws of Shek'zeer One-Hand (Fist Weapon), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility, Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. Tooltip: “Sha-Touched” A vendor pays 34g 66s for it.
- Crown of the Doomed Empress Head (Mail), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Haste and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 60g 48s for it.
- Crown of the Doomed Empress Head (Mail), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Haste and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 18g 30s for it.
- Hood of Dark Dreams Head (Mail), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Mastery and Haste. A vendor pays 60g 7s for it.
- Hood of Dark Dreams Head (Mail), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Mastery and Haste. A vendor pays 59g 44s for it.
- Kri'tak, Imperial Scepter of the Swarm One-Hand (One-Handed Mace), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect, Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. Tooltip: “Sha-Touched” A vendor pays 9g 45s for it. Equip: Sha-dowfiend.
- Kri'tak, Imperial Scepter of the Swarm One-Hand (One-Handed Mace), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect, Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. Tooltip: “Sha-Touched” A vendor pays 9g 45s for it. Equip: Sha-dowfiend.
- Leggings of Shadow Infestation Legs (Cloth), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Intellect, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 81g 8s for it.
- Leggings of Shadow Infestation Legs (Cloth), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Intellect, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 80g 23s for it.
- Legplates of Regal Reinforcement Legs (Plate), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Strength or Intellect, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 80g 85s for it.
- Legplates of Regal Reinforcement Legs (Plate), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Strength or Intellect, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 79g 99s for it.
- Shadow Heart Spaulders Shoulder (Leather), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Critical Strike and Haste. A vendor pays 60g 30s for it.
- Shadow Heart Spaulders Shoulder (Leather), item level 39, requires level 35. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Agility or Intellect, Critical Strike and Haste. A vendor pays 59g 66s for it.
- Essence of Pride Miscellaneous, item level 1. Bind on Pickup. Tooltip: “Teaches you how to summon a Ravenous Prideling.” Use: Learning. Effect: Ravenous Prideling.
Read from the current game build's item data. Listed prices come from our latest US Auction House scan; a drop that binds when picked up never has one.