Top 10 Best WoW Classic Dungeons We Still Love Running

Blizzard have created over 100 dungeons for World of Warcraft over the years, with even more set to arrive with the launch of Shadowlands. But while some of the newer dungeons have been fairly enjoyable, very few have been as memorable as those found in World of Warcraft Classic. With that in mind, today we’re going to take a look at the best WoW Classic dungeons we still love running even today.

In addition to taking into account how well designed these dungeons are, we’re also going to put a lot of emphasis on how enjoyable they are to play since the two aren’t necessarily synonymous. We’ve taken a few other factors into consideration while compiling this top 10, but we’re going to talk about those as we go down the list. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into it.

10. Maraudon

Maraudon is a level 45-52 dungeon located in Desolace. You’ll need to fight your way through a lot of centaurs and learn how to navigate the vast cave system they’re guarding in order to reach the dungeon. The fact that Maraudon has two entrances can be a bit confusing for new players but things aren’t too bad once you get inside. Despite its size, the dungeon is, for the most part, pretty straightforward and very interesting to explore thanks to a few unique boss encounters.

While it might not be a level 60 dungeon, you’ll definitely want to come here even after reading max level to try and get some of the pre-raid BIS items. Most notably, you have the Blackstone Ring, which is highly sought after by Rouges. If you’ve been playing WoW Classic for a while, you’ve probably seen people in chat talking about doing Mara Princess runs. Nine times out of ten, they’re doing it for that ring.

9. Dire Maul

Dire Maul has a lot going on for it. The dungeon is split into three different wings, each more difficult than the last. The wings are meant to be completed in a certain order, but you can go directly to whichever one you want if you have a player in your party that already has access to all of them. Every wing has a different theme and there are some pretty unique encounters and events to be found inside, including the famous tribute runs.

Dire Maul is one of the few WoW Classic dungeons that players still run frequently even after they’ve started raiding. Part of the reason has to do with the world buffs but also because Dire Maul is a great place to farm gold. In addition, there are also a few Tailoring and Leatherworking patters that only drop here.

To top it all off, there are a couple of rare and highly sought-after BoE items that have a higher than normal chance of dropping from some of the mobs and bosses here, including the Orb of Deception. You can buy WoW Classic items like these from the auction house or you can look them up on a marketplace like lootwowgold if they’re not available on the AH on your server.

8. Razorfen Downs

While Razorfen Kraul is a pretty mediocre dungeon that’s not very enjoyable to run, Razorfen Downs is the complete opposite. The dungeon gets progressively more difficult with each boss without feeling unfair or overwhelming. The last boss can be quite challenging when you’re facing him for the first time but shouldn’t present much of a challenge for experienced players.

The Razorfen Downs loot table contains a good amount of decent leveling gear, including quite a few rare BoE items like Manslayer and Freezing Shard. The latter can come in handy during the Viscidus encounter in Ahn’Qiraj, so hang on it if it happens to drop. The Arachnid Gloves are another noteworthy item thanks to their nature resistance, which can also be helpful in AQ.

If you’re running Razorfen Downs as an alchemist make sure to keep an eye on an NPC called Henry Stern. He can be found in the Murder Pens and teaches two very useful recipes – Mighty Troll’s Blood Potion (Alchemy) and Goldthorn Tea (Cooking).

7. Deadmines

There’s a lot of nostalgia associated with Deadmines and it’s easy to see why. If you’re an Alliance player, this was probably one of the first WoW Classic dungeons you’ve ever encountered. A lot of the time dungeons in World of Warcraft don’t share any meaningful connection to the zone they’re located in, but that’s not the case here. Deadmines ties in beautifully with the quests found in Westfall and culminates with the defeat of the notorious Edwin VanCleef. Who you should be very familiar with by the time you encounter him.

The gear that drops in the Deadmines isn’t very important in the grand scheme of things since this is a low-level dungeon. However, the loot table is still noteworthy because it contains one of the first sets available in World of Warcraft. Namely, the five-piece Defias Leather set. If you’re role-playing as a bandit or assassin, this set is a must-have.

6. Shadowfang Keep

Shadowfang Keep can be considered the Horde equivalent to the Deadmines in many ways. While Horde players have the opportunity of tackling a couple of other dungeons before reaching this one, Shadowfang Keep is the first that’s likely to impress you. Not only is the dungeon very well-designed, but there’s a lot of interesting lore associated with it as well.

Despite being a low-level dungeon, you’ll often find max level players farming Shadowfang Keep. That’s because SFK is home to some of the best twink gear in World of Warcraft Classic. If you’re planning to farm the dungeon, make sure to keep an eye out for Assassin’s Blade and Shadowfang. Both items are highly sought-after but Shadowfang is particularly valuable as it is easily the best lvl 19 sword in the game.

5. Scarlet Monastery

It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Scarlet Monastery one of the best WoW dungeons, or one of the most important ones. Scarlet Monastery is composed of four different wings, each acting as its own separate dungeon. Scarlet Monastery is another important dungeon for lore enthusiasts, as well as for power levelers. The entire complex is routinely farmed by players who want to reach the end game faster thanks to its wide level range of 26-45.

Scarlet Monastery is home to many iconic pieces of gear, including an entire set known as the Chain of the Scarlet Crusade. If you want to role play as a member of the Scarlet Crusade, be sure to also keep an eye on Whitemane’s Chapeau and the Aegis of the Scarlet Commander.

Meanwhile, Mages have more reasons than most to repeatedly visit Scarlet Monastery because the dungeon is part of a quest chain that rewards the Icefury Wand.

4. Scholomance

Scholomance is the place where the lich Kel’Thuzad developed the plague of undeath that was released upon Lordaeron. This is one of the most atmospheric WoW Classic dungeons and can be quite difficult to complete if your party is unprepared for the challenges within. Between skeletons that can’t be harmed by magic spells, an infamous gauntlet section that requires top-notch tanking, and a couple of hidden bosses, there’s a lot to look forward to in Scholomance.

Speaking of things you can look forward to, there’s a lot of good look to be found here as well. This includes several set pieces and pre-raid BiS items for various classes. In addition, the bosses also drop a few important profession recipes and patterns. The recipe for the Flask of Supreme Power is arguably the most important one but there’s also the pattern for Robe of the Void and the formula for Enchant Weapon – Lifestealing.

3. Zul’Farrak

There are many reasons to love Zul’Farrak. The dungeon blends perfectly with the surrounding desert and feels like a natural extension of Tanaris. Zul’Farrak is the only dungeon that takes place in an outside area and also the only one where you can use your mount. Seems fitting that one of the mobs here drops Carrot on a Stick.

We all have fond memories of running the pyramid gauntlet, summoning Gahz’rilla, or farming the graveyard. Well, that last part might not ring a bell unless you’re playing a mage. If you are, don’t hesitate to visit Zul’Farrak even if you’re max level because it is one of the best gold faming spots in the game even in phase 5.

Zul’Farrak is home to a lot of rare BoE items that have a very small chance to drop from some of the bosses. Gutwrencher and the Bloodletter Scalpel are just a couple of examples. These items aren’t necessarily something to write home about but they tend to fetch a good price on the auction house simply because they’re so rare.

2. Stratholme

Stratholme is one of the most iconic WoW Classic dungeons and has a special place in the hearts of anyone who played Warcraft 3 back in the day. In Warcraft 3 we saw how Arthas butchered the city’s inhabitants in an attempt to spare them from the plague. Returning to Stratholme for the first time in World of Warcraft to witness the aftermath of that event was an incredible experience.

Stratholme is split into two sides – live and dead – each of which is large enough to be considered a separate dungeon. In fact, players usually only run one of the sides because running both in one go takes a very long time. Regardless of which side you’re running, you’ll be guaranteed to have a challenging yet fun adventure because Stratholme as a whole is a masterfully crafted dungeon.

Since this is a max level dungeon, there’s no shortage of good loot to be found inside. Among the most interesting pieces are an obscure item set that makes you look like a postman, an off-hand that lets you summon a skeleton, and a trinket that lets you summon a cannon. However, the most prized item is undoubtedly the Deathcharger’s Reins. Stratholme is the only dungeon in World of Warcraft Classic where you can acquire a mount if you’re lucky enough and that’s reason enough to love it.

1. Blackrock Depths

You probably saw this one coming a mile away if you know your WoW Classic dungeons, but there was only one real contender for first place. Blackrock Depths is by far the most expansive and intricate dungeon ever created by Blizzard. This is, for all intents and purposes a 5-man raid, however, BRD puts to shame even some current retail raids in terms of complexity.

Running Blackrock Depths in its entirety is a very time-consuming process that can easily take three to four hours. And that’s if you don’t wipe too much along the way, which is unlikely if you’re coming here for the first time. The dungeon has a grand total of 18 boss encounters, many of which are quite difficult to overcome. The entire ordeal is well worth it, though, if you managed to make it until the very end.

Listing all the must-have items and pieces of gear found here would take all day, but suffice it to say that there’s something for everybody, regardless of which class you’re playing. In addition to items, here you can also find the entrance to Molten Core, the Thorium Brotherhood quartermaster, a myriad of quest objectives, and so much more. Blackrock Depths is truly Blizzard at its finest.