Kel'Thuzad strategy for Dummies guide (5,600,000 Hit Points normal/ 14,600,000 Hit Points heroic).

Congratulations! Kel'Thuzad is the final boss in Naxx, and drops the ever so wanted Tier 7 Head Tokens.

If you reached this far, it means that you have enough gear, and probably enough raid coordination to finish this encounter.

Kel'Thuzad encounter is divided into 2 main phases: The first one is a 'we're surrounded by undeads, "Thriller" Style' phase. The seconds phase will be the fight against Kel'Thuzad himself, which will be invulnerable during the first one.

Phase One:

During this phase the raid MUST stay inside the round circle in the middle of the room, and fend off the mobs that approach them from around the room. Getting out of the circle in the middle will aggro the many additional mobs standing around, and may cause a wipe to an inexperienced raid.

The mobs that approach and need to be killed are:

Skeletons (Soldiers of the frozen wastes):

Low life. Have to be killed by a range DPS before they reach the middle, or they will cause shadow damage to the raid.

Abominations (unstoppable abominations):

A melee mob with a lot of life (about 75K in normal mode, 200K+ in heroic mode), had to be tanked and downed by the melee DPS. They put a stacking "mortal strike" effect, so they have to be downed ASAP so they not effect raid members in phase 2.

Banshees (Soul Weaver):

They move slowly, and will get slower when DPSed. Should be killed by Range DPS, or they will reach raid member and nock them back 30 yards to pull mobs that shouldn't be pulled (and probably resulting in a wipe).

After 8 banshees and Abominations are pulled Kel'Thuzad will start fighting the raid himself. All remaining Adds should be downed ASAP and phase 2 will begin.

Kel'Thuzad main abilities:

Frost Bolt:

This 2 seconds cast spell is cast at random time and should be interrupted. It causes a huge frost damage (20K+ on heroic, about half of that on normal) on the tank and will slow him for 4 seconds. Make a rotation of interrupts to make sure this doesn't ever go off.

AOE Frost Bolt (15 seconds Cooldown, instant):

Hits everyone in the room and causes mediocre to high frost damage (7-8K on heroic mode).

Mana Detonation:

Mana detonation will be placed on random mana using raid members, and will detonate after 5 seconds, making heavy damage (10K- 20+K on heroic) to all players around them (but not themselves).

Shadow Fissure:

Small AOE placed on random players causing heavy damage over time. It is clearly visible and players that have this appear under their feet should get out of it ASAP.

Frost Blast:

A random player will be caught by an Ice cube, doing damage equal to his life in 4 seconds (meaning if he doesn't get healed instantly, he will die). Will also effect raid members 10 yards away from him, and will "Jump" to them.

Summon Guardians:

At 45% life Kel'Thuzad will summon Adds to assist him. They have as much Hit Points as Kel'Thuzad, so there's no point in trying to kill them. Just put a tank to gather them up till Kel'Thuzad is killed (and they run away). They will gradually increase their own damage, so make sure you pop all Cool Downs and Bloodlust to this stage in the fight.

Chains of Kel'Thuzad (25 man only):

Mind Controls 3 players for 20 seconds. They will grow in size and have chains animation around them, making it visible that they are being controlled. They will attack players with 200% damage and heal and butt Kel'Thuzad with 600% heal ability.

This control can not be dispelled in any way, so the players have to be immediately CCed (Polymorphed, cyclone, stunned, anything goes).

Kel'Thuzad Strategy:

As you've noticed from Kel'Thuzad abilities description, a lot of them are getting out of control when players stand too close to each other. The whole strategy will try to avoid players activating those abilities (such as ice cube or detonate).

1.   Make a clear interrupt order prior to entering the room, to prevent Frost bolt from ever being cast.
It helps when players macro their interrupt button to also "/say" they just interrupted, and the name of the next player to do so.

For example, If I'm the a rogue called "ShadowStabber" I will be saying:
"ShadowStabber Interruped, BrutalSword turn next"

That way everyone knows who's turn it is to interrupt the next cast.

2.   All raid members run into the room and stay inside the green circle in the middle.
3.   Kill the mobs that approach: Skeletons and Banshees by ranged DPS and abominations by the melee ones.
4.   After 8 abominations and 8 banshees are pulled, phase 2 starts. Kill the remaining adds ad take positions:
5.   The tank pulled Kel'Thuzad to the middle of the room. The melee group separates to 2 groups and kill away from the tank. The rest of the raid spreads around the room, making sure they do not stand close to other raid members, That should avoid Ice Cube jumps as well as mana detonations.
6.   Keep an eye for red voids on the floor, and for Ice Cubes, and of course interrupt Ice Bolts.
7.   Whenever someone is being controlled by chains communicate to the rest of the raid and CC that player.
8.   When Kel'Thuzad reaches 45% health he will summon adds. An offtank (in normal mode) or two (in heroic mode) pick them up.
9.   DPS ignores the adds completely. Cooldowns should be used now, as well as Bloodlust / heroism to finish off Kel'Thuzad.

Differences between 10 and 25 man version:

Chains of Kel'Thuzad will occur only on heroic (the mind control thingy).

Tips and Notes

• During Phase one make sure all Raid pets are on Passive so they do not accidentally pull aggro on the mobs around the room.
• Make sure all raid member switched back to their normal gear after using the frost gear on Sapphiron fight.

Good Luck!

Naxx Bosses "For Dummies" Guides:

Naxx strategy FAQ Guide

Anub'Rekhan strategy

Grand Widow Faerlina strategy

Maexxna strategy

Noth the Plaguebringer strategy

Heigan the Unclean strategy

Loatheb strategy

Instructor-razuvious strategy

Gothik strategy

Four Horsemen strategy

Patchwerk strategy

Grobbulus strategy

Gluth strategy

Thaddius strategy

Shappiron strategy

Kel'Thuzad strategy

Related Links:

* Ultimate Complete WOW Guide

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