Reach the hilltop dig above Whelgar’s Excavation, collect every Alliance or Horde dungeon quest and clear Saltspine, Shadetooth, Highland Horror and the Relic Guardian without triggering hidden grass packs.
Quick Overview
| Game | World of Warcraft: Forever |
|---|---|
| Faction | Both |
| Area | Excavation Site: Wetlands |
| Official level range | 24-29; level 26 or higher is recommended because Relic Guardian is level 31 |
| Encounters | Saltspine, Shadetooth, Highland Horror and Relic Guardian |
| Main route | Entrance hill, crocolisk lake, tall-grass raptor path, camp huts and titan dig |
| Watch for | Hidden raptors in tall grass, Shadetooth’s fear, Mortal Strike on Dragonmaw Warders and threat loss on Relic Guardian. |
Before You Start
Most of the dungeon experience comes from quests, so collect the faction set first.
- Bring a tank, healer and three damage dealers. Poison and disease removal help throughout the thicket; Fear Ward or Tremor Totem is especially valuable on Shadetooth.
- Blizzard’s official range is 24-29, but the final boss is level 31. Lower-level tanks and melee attackers will miss more often and should not rush the last pull.
- Alliance quest preparation spans Redridge, Menethil Harbor and the Greenwarden chain. Horde preparation begins in Orgrimmar and Hammerfall.
- The Titan Relic from Relic Guardian starts a faction-specific turn-in after the clear. Every group member who needs it should confirm the item before leaving.
Getting to Excavation Site: Wetlands
Both factions use the hill road south of Thelgen Rock, but their preparation routes differ.
Alliance Route
Travel from Menethil Harbor or Thelsamar, then find the uphill road south of Thelgen Rock. The portal is around 47.8, 56.3.
- Finish the Redridge, Menethil Harbor and Greenwarden prerequisite chains before forming the group.
- Do not search inside Whelgar's original dig; the instance sits on the hill above it.
- Confirm Songblade Search, Highland Hides and Horrors in the Highland before entering.
Horde Route
Approach from Hammerfall through Arathi Highlands and follow the eastern Wetlands road toward Thelgen Rock.
- Collect Changing Tastes in Orgrimmar and the Dragonmaw lead-in before travelling.
- Use the same hill road south of Thelgen Rock to reach the portal around 47.8, 56.3.
- Highland Horror is an Alliance quest encounter; Horde groups can skip it unless another party member needs the objective.
Excavation Site Route at a Glance
The instance runs from the eastern entrance through the lake and thicket to the western titan dig.
Finish prerequisite chains and bring every outside quest.
Use the hill path southeast of Whelgar’s Excavation and enter around 47.8, 56.3.
Clear the patrol area and step out of Dust Storm.
Reveal hidden packs before the boss can fear players into them.
Find the Alliance quest NPCs and clear the optional quest encounter.
Activate the panel, control threat loss and collect the faction turn-in item.
Excavation Site: Wetlands Dungeon Map
This original schematic shows the safe boss order, tall-grass danger and quest stops.
Stage 1 of 6
Faction Quest Preparation
The current route has five Alliance quests and three Horde quests.
| Faction | Quest | Where it starts | Dungeon objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Songblade Search | Dorin Songblade in Lakeshire | Find Daewyn Songblade’s body in a camp hut after Shadetooth. |
| Alliance | Lost in the Thicket Things | Caitlin Grassman in Menethil Harbor; Seeking Caitlin is an optional breadcrumb | Find Ardin Grassman on the platform near Relic Guardian. |
| Alliance | Highland Hides | James Halloran after Young Crocolisk Skins | Collect hides from Thicket enemies. |
| Alliance | Horrors in the Highland | Rethiel the Greenwarden after his chain beginning with Tramping Paws | Defeat Highland Horror and loot the Horrible Rootcore. |
| Alliance | Lost Relic Carry | Titan Relic dropped by Relic Guardian | Take the relic to Prospector Whelgar. |
| Horde | Changing Tastes | Borstan in Orgrimmar | Collect meat from Thicket creatures. |
| Horde | Open the Maw | Deathstalker Agent in the Wetlands; Dragonmaw Rumors from Zaruk is the breadcrumb | Complete the Dragonmaw objectives inside the dungeon. |
| Horde | Elder Knowledge | Titan Relic dropped by Relic Guardian | Take the relic to Bashana Runetotem in Thunder Bluff. |
Common mistake: Highland Hides and Horrors in the Highland do not appear without their earlier Wetlands chains. A party share cannot replace those prerequisites.
Stage 2 of 6
Reach the Entrance Above Whelgar’s Excavation
The portal is on the hill southeast of Whelgar’s Excavation, near the road south of Thelgen Rock.
- Alliance players travel from Menethil Harbor or Thelsamar. Horde players approach from Hammerfall through Arathi Highlands and the eastern Wetlands road.
- Find the new uphill road near the Dun Algaz side of the Wetlands. The entrance is approximately 47.8, 56.3.
- At the portal, repair, compare quest logs and assign poison, disease and fear support before zoning in.
- Inside, pull the first creatures back toward the portal until the tank and healer understand the dungeon’s damage level.
Common mistake: The entrance is above the familiar excavation, not inside Whelgar’s camp. Follow the new hill road instead of searching the original dig.
Important Trash Before the Bosses
These enemies cause more failed runs than the simple first boss.
- Young Riptooth: focus one at a time. Packs use Fatal Bite and can overwhelm the tank when attacked with uncontrolled area damage.
- Thicket Hunters, Matriarchs, Lurkers and Stalkers: cleanse Infected Wound and Rend Flesh. Hidden packs only appear when players move close to the grass.
- Dragonmaw Warders: Mortal Strike reduces healing by 50 percent. Tanks should use defensive abilities while healers wait for the debuff to end.
- Dragonmaw Saboteurs and Thaumaturgists: step out of bomb targets, interrupt casts and kill the accompanying fire elemental first.
Stage 3 of 6
Saltspine at the Crocolisk Lake
Saltspine patrols the lake edge and is dangerous only when pulled with extra crocolisks.
- Clear the lake shore and identify Saltspine’s patrol before pulling.
- Tank the boss away from remaining crocolisks. Ranged players stay outside Dust Storm whenever possible.
- Heal through Fatal Bite and Tendon Rip; do not chase the boss if the tank is slowed.
- Loot the boss, drink and begin clearing toward the thicket one pack at a time.
Common mistake: Dust Storm reduces attack hit chance and makes tank threat less reliable. Damage dealers should pause briefly if the boss changes target.
Stage 4 of 6
Shadetooth and the Tall Grass
This is the dungeon’s main wipe point because Terrifying Roar can send players into invisible packs.
- Walk the grass edges slowly and reveal every nearby Lurker or Stalker before approaching Shadetooth.
- Pull the two Thicket Hunter companions away from the boss patrol and kill them first when possible.
- Use Fear Ward or Tremor Totem on the tank. Without either tool, fight only after the surrounding grass has been completely cleared.
- Dispel Rend from the tank, prepare defensive cooldowns for the 20-percent Enrage and finish the boss without scattering.
Common mistake: Fighting Shadetooth on the edge of uncleared grass turns one Terrifying Roar into several extra elite raptors.
Stage 5 of 6
Camp Huts and Highland Horror
Complete the Alliance quest interactions before descending to the titan dig.
- After Shadetooth, inspect the camp huts along the path for Daewyn Songblade’s body.
- Continue collecting hides or meat from Thicket creatures until the faction quest counters are complete.
- Alliance groups following Horrors in the Highland clear the slimes around Highland Horror before engaging.
- Interrupt or out-damage Wild Regeneration, handle Entangling Roots and loot the Horrible Rootcore.
- Locate Ardin Grassman on the platform beside the final dig before activating Relic Guardian.
Common mistake: Highland Horror is an Alliance quest encounter and does not drop normal boss loot. Horde groups can skip it after confirming no group member needs the objective.
Stage 6 of 6
Relic Guardian and the Titan Relic
The level-31 final boss must be activated at the nearby Titan Control Panel.
- Clear the entire dig platform and let the group recover before using the control panel.
- The tank faces Relic Guardian away from the party so Arcing Smash cannot cleave melee or the healer.
- Ranged players stay outside War Stomp. Thunderclap slows nearby attacks, while Knockaway can reduce the tank’s threat.
- After each threat loss, damage dealers pause until the tank has control again. Lower-level players should expect extra misses and dodges.
- Loot the Titan Relic. Alliance starts Lost Relic Carry; Horde starts Elder Knowledge. Confirm every player has the required item before leaving.
Common mistake: Activating the panel before the quest NPC and surrounding area are checked removes the group’s clean preparation window.
Excavation Site: Wetlands Dungeon FAQ
What level is Excavation Site: Wetlands?
Blizzard lists the dungeon for levels 24-29. Because Relic Guardian is level 31, a level-26-or-higher group is a more comfortable choice for a first clear.
Where is the Excavation Site dungeon entrance?
It is on the hill southeast of Whelgar’s Excavation, reached by a new road south of Thelgen Rock. The portal is approximately at 47.8, 56.3 in the Wetlands.
How many bosses are in Excavation Site?
There are three normal loot bosses: Saltspine, Shadetooth and Relic Guardian. Highland Horror is a fourth quest encounter for Alliance players.
How many dungeon quests are available?
The currently verified route has five Alliance quests and three Horde quests, including the faction-specific quest started by the Titan Relic after Relic Guardian.
Why is Shadetooth wiping the group?
Terrifying Roar can fear players into hidden raptors in the tall grass. Clear the surrounding grass first and use Fear Ward or Tremor Totem when available.
Where is Daewyn Songblade?
Daewyn’s body is in a camp hut along the path after Shadetooth. Check the huts before descending toward the final titan dig.
How do I start Relic Guardian?
Use the Titan Control Panel beside the final encounter after clearing the platform and speaking with or locating any nearby quest NPCs.
What do I do with the Titan Relic?
Alliance players start Lost Relic Carry and take it to Prospector Whelgar. Horde players start Elder Knowledge and take it to Bashana Runetotem in Thunder Bluff.