TheWoWDBBoss
Kel'Thuzad
Kel'Thuzad - Sanctum of Domination
Kel'Thuzad is a boss encounter in Sanctum of Domination.
Found In
Encounter Facts
In the game's encounter order for Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad comes 9th of 10, after Fatescribe Roh-Kalo and before Sylvanas Windrunner.
3D Model
First-party render from the game files. Model © Blizzard Entertainment.
Model
Background
Instance Entrance: The Maw
Sanctum of Domination entranceThe Sanctum of Domination entrance is in The Maw, at 69.7, 32.0 on the The Maw map.
Abilities & Strategy
What the in-game dungeon journal describes for this encounter. Every ability links to its spell page.
Abilities & Strategy
Overview
Kel'Thuzad can only be truly defeated once his phylactery is destroyed. Until then, when Kel'Thuzad reaches 0 health remaining he calls forth his minions to protect him while the phylactery opens and empowers him. During this window, players may enter the phylactery and attempt to destroy the Remnant of Kel'Thuzad. Once fully recovered, Kel'Thuzad gains a stack of Necrotic Surge and engages the players once more. When the Remnant is destroyed, the phylactery shatters and Kel'Thuzad summons a Deep Freeze to unleash all his power before death can finally take him.
Damage Dealers
- Soul Shards continuously cast Piercing Wail inflicting damage to the raid.
- Enemies alive at the end of Stage Two receive Necrotic Empowerment.
- Kel'Thuzad cannot be defeated while the Remnant of Kel'Thuzad is alive.
Healers
- Frost Blast roots players during moments when mobility is paramount.
- Sinister Miasma continually stacks damage on players within the phylactery.
Tanks
- Each Soul Shard created applies Soul Exhaustion to its summoner which cannot be removed until it is absorbed.
- Unstoppable Abominations inflict heavy damage.
Stage One: Chains and Ice
Kel'Thuzad is a master of frost and shadow and until the phylactery is destroyed, remains immortal.
Howling Blizzard
Spell details
Dark Evocation
Spell details
Soul Fracture
Spell details
Soul Shard
Spell details
Glacial Wrath
Spell detailsGlacial Spike
Once summoned, the Glacial Spike loses 5% health every 2 sec. Upon death the spike erupts, causing Frozen Destruction.
Oblivion's Echo
Spell detailsFrostbound Devoted
These skeletal constructs move towards a random player and detonate if they reach them.
Frost Blast
Spell details
Frozen Binds
Spell details
Ice Shard
Spell detailsStage Two: The Phylactery Opens
When Kel'Thuzad is defeated, the phylactery opens and restores him to life once more. While open, players can enter the phylactery to battle the last remnant of Kel'Thuzad's soul. It is during this time Kel'Thuzad uses March of the Forsaken to summon his minions to protect his exposed phylactery.
Sinister Miasma
Spell details
Necrotic Surge
Spell detailsIn Mythic difficulty, Kel'Thuzad starts with applications of Necrotic Surge.
Necrotic Empowerment
Spell details
Vengeful Destruction
Spell details
March of the Forsaken
Spell detailsUnstoppable Abomination
The Unstoppable Abomination's unholy strength allows it to inflict punishing melee attacks.
Soul Reaver
Soul Reaver's periodically unleash Banshee's Cry.
Undying
Spell detailsRemnant of Kel'Thuzad
At 60% and 20% health, the Remnant of Kel'Thuzad attempts to destroy anyone reamining within the phylactery with Undying Wrath and interrupts Kel'Thuzad's cast of Vengeful Destruction.
Foul Winds
Spell details
Shadow Fissure
Spell detailsIn Mythic difficulty, Shadow fissures create Shadow Pools.
Freezing Blast
Spell details
Glacial Winds
Spell details
Undying Wrath
Spell details
Soul Marked
Spell detailsStage Three: The Final Stand
With the phylactery destroyed, true death awaits. Kel'Thuzad unleashes his full power to make his violent last stand.
Sinister Miasma
Spell detailsDeep Freeze
Spell details
Onslaught of the Damned
Spell detailsUnstoppable Abomination
The Unstoppable Abomination's unholy strength allows it to inflict punishing melee attacks.
Soul Reaver
Soul Reaver's periodically unleash Banshee's Cry.
Frostbound Devoted
These skeletal constructs move towards a random player and detonate if they reach them.
March of the Forsaken
Spell detailsSoul Reaver
Soul Reaver's periodically unleash Banshee's Cry.
Frost Blast
Spell detailsFrozen Binds
Spell detailsIce Shard
Spell detailsAbility Spells
Every ability the Adventure Guide lists for this encounter, with its spell's school, cast time and duration and the description the game gives it.
Howling Blizzard
Frost · Instant · Lasts 20 sec
When depleted of mana, Kel'Thuzad summons a blizzard that creates ice patches. Standing in an ice patch inflicts Frost damage every 1 sec. These patches grow over 20 sec before exploding, inflicting Frost damage to enemies.
Dark Evocation
Shadow · Instant · Lasts 6 sec
Kel'Thuzad revives Frostbound Devoted to stalk his enemies. In addition, all slain players are resurrected and become thralls of Kel'Thuzad until they are slain once more.
Soul Fracture
Shadow · 2.5 sec cast
Kel'Thuzad flays his current target, inflicting Shadow damage and knocking the player away.
Soul Shard
Physical · Instant
Once slain, their creator can collect their essence by touching the to remove one application.
Soul Exhaustion
Physical, Shadow · Instant · Lasts 1 min
s bind the essence of the target, increasing Physical damage taken by 500% for 1 min. If this effect is not removed before the duration expires the target is slain outright.
Glacial Wrath
Physical · 1 sec cast
Kel'Thuzad summons Glacial Spikes at player destinations, inflicting Frost damage to players and knocking them back.
Frozen Destruction
Physical · Instant · Lasts 40 sec
The spike erupts, inflicting Frost damage to all players and an additional Frost damage every 1 sec for 10 sec. This effect stacks.
Oblivion's Echo
Physical · 1 sec cast
Kel'Thuzad shrouds random players with necrotic energy for 6 sec, causing them to silence and pacify all players and Soul Shards within 10 yards. Upon expiration, the wearer drops a field of silence at their destination that summons a Frostbound Devoted after 6 sec.
Relentless Haunt
Shadow · 1.5 sec cast
Frostbound Devoted erupt upon reaching their target, inflicting Shadow damage to enemies.
Frost Blast
Physical · 3 sec cast
Kel'Thuzad hurls a chunk of ice at an enemy, inflicting Frost damage divided evenly among players and inflicts Frost damage every 1 sec for 8 sec. In addition, this effect applies.
Frozen Binds
Frost · Instant · Lasts 8 sec
Targets effected by Kel'Thuzad's are bound by icy restraints, rooting them for 8 sec.
Ice Shard
Physical · 1 sec cast
Hurls an ice shard at the current target that inflicts 75% attack damage as Physical.
Sinister Miasma
Shadow · Instant · Lasts 6 sec
Continually inflicts Shadow damage every 2 sec as long as a player is within the phylactery. This effect stacks.
Necrotic Surge
Physical · Instant
Each time Kel'Thuzad is revived by the phylactery, necrotic power surges through him increasing his damage done by 5%. Additionally, each application also increases the number of players targeted and.
Necrotic Empowerment
Physical · Instant
After being revived by the phylactery, Kel'Thuzad empowers any of his minions still alive, increasing their damage by 25% and making them immune to all loss of control effects until they are slain.
Vengeful Destruction
Shadow · 45 sec cast
Kel'Thuzad unleashes a wave of death, inflicting Shadow damage to all players. This cast is interrupted if the Remnant of Kel'Thuzad is killed or loses 40% of its max health.
March of the Forsaken
Physical · Instant
Kel'Thuzad drags souls from oblivion and onto the battlefield.
Demolish
Shadow · 3 sec cast
The Unstoppable Abomination unleashes a wave of necrotic energy in a line towards a random player, inflicting Shadow damage to all players caught in the effect.
Drops
Loot the dungeon journal lists for this encounter in Sanctum of Domination.
What is shown is the loot the game's own dungeon journal lists for this encounter.
Collectibles from Kel'Thuzad
1 collectible whose in-game collection entry names Kel'Thuzad as a source.
Battle pets (1)
Adventure Guide Entry
The in-game Adventure Guide text for the Kel'Thuzad encounter in Sanctum of Domination.
The nefarious Kel'Thuzad awaits at the apex of the soul river, allowing the lich to draw upon an unlimited well of power. All his countless schemes and machinations have led to this final confrontation, where he has plotted the mortal champions' ultimate demise in service of his true master.
What Each Drop Is
The Kel'Thuzad encounter lists 26 items in the dungeon journal, item level 233. Equip slots covered: Wrist, Waist, Legs, Trinket, Shoulder, Neck, Two-Hand, One-Hand and Head. Every piece binds when picked up, so none of it reaches the Auction House.
- Bands of the Fallen House Wrist (Mail), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility or Intellect, Stamina, Versatility and Haste. A vendor pays 44 gold73 silver for it.
- Ceremonial Construct Clasp Waist (Mail), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility or Intellect, Stamina, Haste and Mastery. A vendor pays 42 gold47 silver for it.
- Elite Aranakk Breeches Legs (Leather), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility or Intellect, Stamina, Versatility and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 82 gold25 silver for it.
- Forbidden Necromantic Tome Trinket, item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect. A vendor pays 67 gold47 silver for it. Use: Forbidden Necromancy.
- Frame of the False Margrave Shoulder (Cloth), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect, Stamina, Versatility and Haste. Tooltip: “Dress for the job you'll take - not the job you have.” A vendor pays 64 gold66 silver for it.
- Interplanar Keystone Neck, item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 36 gold32 silver for it.
- Jaithys, the Prison Blade Two-Hand (Two-Handed Sword), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Strength, Stamina, Critical Strike and Haste. A vendor pays 161 gold64 silver for it. Use: Render Tribute.
- Maledict Opus Two-Hand (Staff), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect, Stamina, Critical Strike and Mastery. A vendor pays 159 gold39 silver for it.
- Relic of the Frozen Wastes Trinket, item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility. A vendor pays 74 gold4 silver for it. Use: Frostlord's Call.
- Resonant Silver Bell Trinket, item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect. A vendor pays 73 gold77 silver for it. Equip: Spectral Feline.
- Sash of Duplicitous Magics Waist (Cloth), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Intellect, Stamina, Versatility and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 43 gold12 silver for it.
- Spaulders of the Crooked Confidant Shoulder (Leather), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Agility or Intellect, Stamina, Haste and Critical Strike. Tooltip: “Pity about the House of Plagues.” A vendor pays 62 gold75 silver for it.
- The Devouring Cold One-Hand (One-Handed Sword), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Strength, Stamina, Critical Strike and Versatility. A vendor pays 123 gold90 silver for it.
- Valorous Visage of Krexus Head (Plate), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Strength or Intellect, Stamina, Mastery and Critical Strike. A vendor pays 67 gold78 silver for it.
- Vyraz's Parade Cuffs Wrist (Plate), item level 233, requires level 60. Bind on Pickup. Stats: Strength or Intellect, Stamina, Mastery and Haste. A vendor pays 41 gold35 silver for it.
- Chilled to the Core Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Cryo-Freeze Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Deadly Tandem Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Eradicating Blow Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Floral Recycling Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Holy Oration Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Inspiring Presence Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Quick Decisions Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Untempered Dedication Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Withering Bolt Consumable, item level 145. Bind on Pickup. Use: Learning.
- Mawsworn Minion Miscellaneous, item level 1. Bind on Pickup. Tooltip: “Teaches you how to summon this companion.” A vendor pays 1 copper for it. Use: Learning.
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.
Achievements for Defeating It
10 achievements list a victory over Kel'Thuzad among their criteria.
