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Quest

Gaining the Upper Hand

Quest facts and objectives from the current retail game data.

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Top Comments

The highest voted Wowhead comments for this page. They are community notes, not TheWoWDB comments.

1
varenne+134via Wowhead (opens the original comment in a new tab)

Don't forget to talk with Zelling before you go out.
Exit the basement and turn right, take the first stairs into the building.
You need to begin the ritual in the basement. (don't go upstairs)
/way Boralus 71.29 82.64 Door to the basement

Gaining the Upper Hand quest video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmNNU-2HGjY
This quest is part of the Horde War Campaign (gated behind the [faction=2157] reputation).
The Strike on Boralus questchain of the Ready for War <= more info and rep requirement inside.

ID
#
Quest
Questgiver
Zone
Video
88
The Strike on Boralus
Auto Accept
89
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=135691]
Zuldazar
https://youtu.be/AX24I23YKzw
90
1
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140484]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/QE8OG2rujIc
91
2
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140485]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/FZBnUWzCF-I
92
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140485]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/FJ85Qp99pdU
93
1
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140487]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/ISi6-9G1z-Y
94
2
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140487]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/SzQjgEszM9M
95
3
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140487]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/99975Cte1Cg
96
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140487]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/JmNNU-2HGjY
97
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140487]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/Fc8rggNETzw
98
The Strike on Boralus
[npc=140485]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/2F_HewdkQsw
99
The Strike on Boralus Cutscene
[npc=140485]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/mq6AvgTop08
100
The Strike on Boralus [currency=1553]
[npc=135691]
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/fYM_2Xy92GE
101
Tiragarde Sound
https://youtu.be/RXVZ4mlAW9E


Id column is approximate quest № In Kul Tiras storyline (Ready for War <= for more info about order)
# is additional ordering info. Can take multiple quests at the same time if you see a number there

2
cephadex+115via Wowhead (opens the original comment in a new tab)

The ritual you need to perform is in a basement - but it is NOT the same basement as the one where you start out. (That is: it is NOT the basement with the portal). This may seem a bit confusing because on the minimap it looks like your target location is in the room where you start out. But it isn't!

In order to get to the second basement (the one where you will perform the ritual), first talk to Thomas Zelling (to get him to follow you). Then go up the stairs out of the basement. You will then need to get to a different building, and I have included a screenshot here showing where you need to go. As you can see in the screenshot, you will need to turn right and then go up a short staircase into another building. Then once inside that building you will see stairs leading down into yet another basement. Go down those stairs and at the back of the room will be a clickable bowl for you to start the ritual.

3
ShamrockSoup+20via Wowhead (opens the original comment in a new tab)

For anybody curious what the ritual chant was:

Thomas Zelling says: Tides that churn and ties that bind...
Thomas Zelling says: The oceans will remain long after mankind.
Thomas Zelling says: Yet your power permit us to harness, to use...
Thomas Zelling says: Though punish us whilst against your will we abuse.
Thomas Zelling says: Grant me your might to put down our foes...
Thomas Zelling says: Then your boon I shall restore to the powers below!

Read all 25 on Wowhead ↗

Quest facts

LevelLevel 50
LocationTiragarde Sound, Boralus
CategoryHorde War Campaign
Quest ID52190

Check whether you have already completed this quest in-game: /run print(C_QuestLog.IsQuestFlaggedCompleted(52190))

Requirements

FactionHorde only

Read from the Blizzard quest API.

Description

We need to retrieve the Abyssal Scepter and get out of here before the Kul Tirans break our line in Plunder Harbor. I did some research while you were gone. I believe I uncovered the location where the ritual must take place. When you are ready to go, we can make our way over.

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Where to go

Pins are the quest’s own POI points from the current retail client, projected onto the in-game zone map. The game marks one blob as the quest’s turn-in; the rest are objective areas. Points that fall outside a map’s window are dropped rather than guessed at.

Tiragarde Sound Objective area 5 mapped points
Tiragarde Sound map showing where to go for Gaining the Upper HandObjective areaObjective areaObjective areaObjective areaObjective area

In-game waypoint: /way #895 74.6 40.2

Boralus Objective area no plotted point

Coordinates

  • Objective areaTiragarde Sound 74.6, 40.2/way #895 74.6 40.2
  • Objective area (centre of the marked area)Tiragarde Sound 74.6, 39.6/way #895 74.6 39.6

Map coordinates of the pins above. An area the client draws as a shape is given by the centre of its points.

Nearby on the Tiragarde Sound map

Other quests whose map markers the client places on Tiragarde Sound.

Getting there

Horde flight points closest to the quest’s first objective area marker on Tiragarde Sound:

  • Timberfell Outpost, Tiragarde SoundHorde · about 600 yards south
  • Plunder Harbor, Tiragarde SoundHorde · about 1,100 yards south-east
  • Wolf's Den, Tiragarde SoundHorde · about 1,600 yards north-west

Straight-line distances in yards between the quest’s own map markers (QuestPOI) and the client’s flight-point positions (TaxiNodes); flight paths and terrain are not modelled.

Related
Money46 gold80 silver
Experience8,500 XP
ReputationThe Honorbound +150

Reward details

Reputation: The Honorbound +150

A special delegation of the Horde army, focused on disrupting Alliance operations in Kul Tiras.

Reputation group: Battle for Azeroth.

Item facts are the current retail client’s (ItemSparse); the specialisations for a pick-one item are the ones the Blizzard quest API lists; faction and currency text is the client’s own. Lowest listed price = the US commodity auction house now.

Storyline

The Strike on Boralus

Part 8 of 13.

We now have the perfect bait to draw the Kul Tiran military away from their capital city of Boralus. This will buy us time to obtain our ultimate goal: the Abyssal Scepter.

Previous: Forfeit Souls · Next: Return to the Harbor

  1. 1When a Plan Comes Together
  2. 2The Bulk of the Guard
  3. 3Old Colleagues
  4. 4A Well Placed Portal
  5. 5Relics of Ritual
  6. 6Tidesage Teachings
  7. 7Forfeit Souls
  8. 8Gaining the Upper Hand
  9. 9Return to the Harbor
  10. 10Life Held Hostage
  11. 11The Aid of the Tides
  12. 12Champion: Lilian Voss
  13. 13A Cycle of Hatred

Storyline order is the client’s own QuestLine data from the current retail build.

Where this quest fits

Before this quest

Taken from the storyline's own step order.

  • Forfeit SoulsLevel 50

    The tidesages here have given in to dark magics. They have submitted themselves to powers they do not understand, and my people have suffered for it. I knew them once, my brothers and sisters in the tides. But now they are lost. I guess I am too. Redeem the name of the tidesages!

After this quest

Taken from the storyline's own step order.

  • Return to the HarborLevel 50

    With the scepter in hand, let us return to the portal. I believe Stone would agree with me when I say that it is best for us to get away from Kul Tiras for a while.

The storyline at a glance

The Strike on Boralus has 13 steps, from When a Plan Comes Together to A Cycle of Hatred.

Maps its steps are placed on (steps per map): Tiragarde Sound (8), Boralus (2), Zuldazar (2), Orgrimmar (1).

Steps of this storyline count toward:

  • Ready for War Complete the war campaign in Zandalar and Kul Tiras.

Other storylines on the Boralus map

Steps, storylines and map placement from the client’s QuestLine, prerequisite and QuestPOI data; neighbouring quest text is Blizzard’s own (quest API), shortened to its opening sentences.