TheWoWDB
Dungeon - Cataclysm
The Vortex Pinnacle
3 encounters, 13 boss abilities and 59 drops, with the Adventure Guide’s own ability and strategy notes for each fight. Every drop links to its item page; tradeable drops carry a live Auction House price.
Located in Uldum
The Vortex Pinnacle exists within the elemental plane of Skywall. Its elegant structures, crowned with bronze and gold, sit atop platforms bridged by pure air. Yet behind its exterior beauty, the pinnacle harbors Neferset tol'vir, as well as Al'Akir the Windlord's merciless elemental legions. As long as the barrier between Skywall and Azeroth remains open, terror will rain down on Uldum from the skies.
Quick Facts
| Type | Dungeon |
|---|---|
| Expansion | Cataclysm |
| Located in | Uldum |
| Encounters | 3 |
| Boss abilities | 13 |
| Drops | 59 |
| Item level | 30 to 250 |
| Tradeable drops | 0 |
| Difficulties | Normal, Heroic, 10 Player, 25 Player, Mythic Keystone, Timewalking |
Difficulties and Lockouts
The Vortex Pinnacle has 5 difficulties in the game data: Heroic resets daily; Normal, Mythic, Mythic Keystone and Timewalking can be run again at any time.
| Difficulty | Players | Level range | Lockout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | 5 | 30 to 35 | None |
| Heroic | 5 | 35 | Daily |
| Mythic | 5 | 35 | None |
| Mythic Keystone | 5 | None | |
| Timewalking | 5 | 10+ | None |
Mythic+ timer, The Vortex Pinnacle: 30:00 (+2 at 24:00, +3 at 18:00).
Loot Table Value
Every one of The Vortex Pinnacle’s 59 drops is Bind on Pickup, so none of this loot can ever reach the Auction House. The table below the bosses is the complete reward list; its value is item level, not gold.
Where It Is
The entrance to The Vortex Pinnacle is in Uldum at 76.8, 84.6.
RamkahenSchnottz's LandingOasis of Vir'sarUldum TourZidormiEntrance 76.8, 84.6Uldum, from the game’s own world map art. The framed marker is the Adventure Guide entrance; gold diamonds are the zone’s landmarks.
3D Model
First-party render from the game files. Model © Blizzard Entertainment.
Instance Map
The Adventure Guide places 3 bosses of The Vortex Pinnacle on 1 map. Numbers follow the encounter order; each links to that fight below.
1Grand Vizier Ertan2Altairus3Asaad, Caliph of Zephyrs- 1 Grand Vizier Ertan 55.0, 44.8
- 2 Altairus 52.0, 82.2
- 3 Asaad, Caliph of Zephyrs 30.0, 38.0
Encounters
NNormalHHeroic10P10 Player25P25 PlayerM+Mythic KeystoneTWTimewalking
Grand Vizier Ertan
Ertan defends the Vortex Pinnacle under the command of her master, Asaad, against any ground-dwellers who dare intrude on the realm. To fulfill her duties, the elemental noble has been granted mastery over the primal forces of lightning and wind.
Abilities & Strategy
Storm's Edge
Lightning Bolt
Grand Vizier Ertan blasts her current enemy target with lightning, inflicting Nature damage.
Summon Tempest
Lurking Tempest
The Lurking Tempests will only attack players if no one is looking at them.
Lethal Current
The Lurking Tempest blasts its current enemy target with lightning, inflicting Nature damage.
Loot
19 drops · item level 37 to 250 · 7 slots (Head, Neck, One-Hand, Shoulder, Trinket, Two-Hand +1 more) · all Bind on Pickup
Biting WindBiting Wind
Choker of Stolen ThunderChoker of Stolen ThunderChoker of Stolen Thunder
Fallen Snow ShoulderguardsFallen Snow Shoulderguards
Headcover of FogHeadcover of Fog
Ionized ChokerIonized ChokerIonized Choker
Rainsong
Red Sky PendantRed Sky PendantRed Sky Pendant
Stratosphere BeltStratosphere Belt
Thundercleaver AxeAltairus
The immense storm wyrm Altairus maintains an unyielding vigil over the hovering platforms of the Vortex Pinnacle. The very energies of the storms pulse through this being, and he is said to command the wind currents that buffet the elemental fortress.
Abilities & Strategy
Call the Wind
Altairus periodically calls to the wind, creating a constant wind in one of four cardinal directions. Depending on the direction of the wind, the player's location, and Altairus' location, the player receives either the Upwind of Altairus effect or the Downwind of Altairus effect.
Twisting Winds
Altairus' platform fills with fast moving twisters. Any player that touches a twister is dealt Nature damage and knocked straight up.
Loot
19 drops · item level 30 to 250 · 9 slots (Back, Feet, Finger, Neck, One-Hand, Ranged +3 more) · all Bind on Pickup
Reins of the Drake of the North Wind
Amulet of Tender BreathAmulet of Tender Breath
Axe of the EclipseAxe of the Eclipse
Billowing SkydrapeBillowing Skydrape
Darksky Treads
Hail-Strung BeltHail-Strung Belt
Mantle of Bestilled WindsMantle of Bestilled Winds
Sandals of the West WindSandals of the West Wind
Skyshard RingSkyshard RingSkyshard Ring
ThundercallThundercleaver AxeAsaad, Caliph of Zephyrs
The fearsome elemental Asaad was named guardian of the Vortex Pinnacle by Al'Akir himself. With Siamat, Lord of the South Wind, imprisoned by the Neferset tol'vir, Asaad believes he may ascend to the Conclave of Wind if he performs his duties well.
Abilities & Strategy
Unstable Grounding Field
Asaad uses his command of lightning to form a triangular field at a random location on the platform. Any spell targeting a unit standing within the boundaries of the field is redirected away.
Supremacy of the Storm
Asaad calls down an immense storm of lightning, inflicting Nature damage every 0.5 second on every player on the platform for 6 sec.
Loot
21 drops · item level 37 to 250 · 7 slots (Back, Finger, Hands, Head, Legs, Ranged +1 more) · all Bind on Pickup
Billowing CapeBillowing Cape
Gloves of HazeGloves of Haze
Heart of ThunderHeart of Thunder
Ion-Cage Signet
Leggings of Iridescent CloudsLeggings of Iridescent Clouds
Legguards of Winnowing WindLegguards of Winnowing WindLightningflashLightningflashLunar HaloLunar Halo
Ring of Frozen RainRing of Frozen RainRing of Frozen Rain
Shadow of Perfect BlissShadow of Perfect BlissThundercallQuests
3 quests Blizzard’s quest data files under The Vortex Pinnacle, all for level 30 to 35:
- Choose one:13 gold74 silver 500 reputation with Ramkahen
- Reward:1 gold37 silver 10 reputation with Ramkahen
- Choose one:13 gold74 silver 500 reputation with Ramkahen
Achievements
6 achievements tied to The Vortex Pinnacle, worth 50 achievement points in total.
Heroic: The Vortex Pinnacle Guild RunDefeat Asaad in the Vortex Pinnacle on Heroic difficulty while in a guild group.10- The Vortex PinnacleDefeat Asaad in the Vortex Pinnacle.10
- Heroic: The Vortex PinnacleDefeat Asaad in the Vortex Pinnacle on Heroic Difficulty.10
- Keystone Hero: The Vortex PinnacleComplete The Vortex Pinnacle at Mythic Level 20 or higher, within the time limit.Max Level Unlock: Teleport to The Vortex Pinnacle
No Static at AllCompletely avoid the Static Cling effect during the Asaad encounter in the Vortex Pinnacle on Heroic Difficulty.10
Extra Credit Bonus StageCollect 5 Golden Orbs in a single visit to the Vortex Pinnacle on Heroic Difficulty.10
More Cataclysm Dungeons
Other dungeons from the same expansion.