Utgarde Keep, near the starting zone in Howling Fjord, is most likely one of the first Northrend instances you will go to. It’s a fairly straightforward dungeon, being the first on the continent, but there are a few things to point out with each boss and the trash.

Trash Mobs
The first couple of trash pulls in here are easy, though if this is a group’s first foray into a heroic and are still gearing up, be wary of the patrols. The come up and down the path directly in front of you. Try and fight the two on the left and right in the first room as separate pulls, then pick up the patrols.

Past the first circular room of three pulls (you can skip the third by hugging the wall if you don’t need rep or XP), is an area with Enslaved Proto-Drakes and their handlers. In fact there is one immediately on the left of the room, so make sure no one runs in willy nilly or they will get their face chomped on.

When fighting these mobs, my groups always burn down the drakes first and then the handlers. For pet survivability, wait for your tank to grab them and turn them away from the party. Then send the pet in to attack at the drakes rear or side. They let out a flame attack in a cone in front of them that can easily kill your pet (especially our new, squishier SV version).

The other thing to look out for is that many of the humanoid mobs throw little time bombs out, either during the fight or right as they die. They can kill your pet pretty quick too, so if you see one yank the leash and bring him back quick. Also, after each mob kill, stay put and wait a second to make sure all bombs have detonated. More than once Hesston ran in to skin and got blasted in the face by a bomb. Rez please!

The rest of the trash is the typical affair. Casters first, everyone else second. There will be worgs with some of the pulls. If there are two, I usually take it upon myself to put scare beast on one (none of the pulls are close enough to where it would fear them into another pull) and burn down the other. They don’t have a lot of HP, and if you pop growl on your pet he should be able to tank it enough for you to kill them without any other assistance, before helping the group out with skull. Don’t forget to turn growl off/cower on before jumping back into the fray.

Boss fights below the jump.

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Tags: heroics,hunters
Categories: dungeons, heroics, hunters, hunters scope, strategy
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So old Hesston here started this week off the right way it seems. Last night I figured I’d take it easy after the busy weekend and just farm some leather and sling some items in the Auction House. Maybe even pay Greatfather Winter a visit and tell him to bring me a Spirit Beast damn it.

However, some randoms invited me along for some heroic runs and I said “Hey what the hell, why not?” After all, I was still trying to impress the Argent Crusade into selling me some of their better merchandise.

Boy did that turn out to be a good decision.

First we hit Violet Hold, a place that has become very familiar to me. We mowed that place down and I was able to pick up my second frozen orb, which will come in handy when I start crafting some epics via my leatherworking.

Next we we traveled to the Caverns of Time to help Arthas kill a bunch of people in old Stratholme. I still don’t understand why those Keepers of Time want us to keep doing this, they need to get out more. However, I was able to pick up a Mobius Band, a ring I’d accidentally passed on twice before.

When we were done, the Argent Crusade really thought I was a swell guy, having helped them tons already. Still, they wouldn’t give up the goods. So, pick-up team stayed together and we hit Utgarde Keep, a relatively easy place to get through as long as everyone knows what they’re doing. And wouldn’t you know, that damned Ingvar dropped something I’d been wanting up until I got my Nesingwary 4000. That’s right, I snagged a Drake-Mounted Crossbow from the bum.

Yes, it’s not better than the gun but it’s a good secondary weapon in case I ever want to mix things up.

To top it all off, at the end of the run the Argent Crusade thought I was really great, I think the word they used was exalted, and were willing to give up the goods. I was finally able to grab a Polished Regimental Hauberk, yay! I haven’t slapped a gem in it yet but plan on doing so ASAP.

All work and no loot make Hesston a sad hunter…but lots of great loot makes him incredibly thrilled!

This should help out rolling into Naxxramas this weekend. It also means that since I geared up early this week, it leaves more time for skinning beasties and looking for Mr. Spirit Beast.

Come out, come out, Loque’nahak, wherever you are.

Tags: heroics,loot
Categories: heroics, loot
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