Wetlands

For the zone before theCataclysm, seeWetlands (Classic).

The Wetlands
Level: 10-30 Battle Pet Level: 6 - 7
Capital(s)	Menethil Harbor
Races	Dwarf  Dark Iron dwarf  Human Orc  Black dragon  Night elf  Gnome  Gnoll
Ruler(s)	Captain Stoutfist   Thargas Anvilmar   Ferilon Leafborn
Former ruler(s)	Gorfax Angerfang
Major settlements	Greenwarden's Grove Dun Modr Dun Algaz
Minor settlements	Swiftgear Station Slabchisel's Survey Whelgar's Retreat Angerfang Encampment
Affiliation	Explorer's League,Kingdom of Ironforge,Night elves,Alliance,Dark Iron clan,Angerfang (Dragonmaw clan),Mosshide tribe,Bluegill tribe
Location	NorthernKhaz Modan
PvP status	Contested territory

TheWetlands is a large, wet region belowStonewrought Dam and north ofLoch Modan, covered with small rivers, lakes, and ponds. Bordered on three sides by mountains, the Wetlands are open to the ocean to the west. Adventurers seeking a route to the Wetlands must either come through siegedDun Algaz from Loch Modan or cross the damagedThandol Span from theArathi Highlands.

The Wetlands is a vast, cold swamp. Mists cloak the ground, and the overcast sky makes the land a uniform gray. Many Ironforge strongholds once stood in this region, but war has reduced them to rubble. Wild creatures, murlocs and orcs ofDragonmaw clan now control the land. The main bastion ofAlliance's power in the region, theMenethil Harbor, has partially sunk and flooded due to irregular tectonic activity caused by theShattering. Thenight elves also maintain a small holdout in the eastern parts, theGreenwarden's Grove - home to the fabledRethiel the Greenwarden.

History[]

This section isalore stub.

After the originaldwarven kingdom of Ironforge was left shattered by infighting, theWildhammer dwarves traveled northeast and founded their new capital city in the mountains ofGrim Batol. When theWar of the Three Hammers reignited, theDark Irons invaded Grim Batol and almost succeeded in taking full control of it, but were driven back at the last minute. Seeing their city irremediably tainted and uninhabitable, the majority of the Wildhammers turned north to settle in theHinterlands, while the rest settled in the region ofNortheron, not far from their cursed former home.^[1] After the war the dwarves ofIronforge sought to retain relations and trade with their Wildhammer cousins and built theThandol Span to bridge the gap betweenKhaz Modan andLordaeron and to serve as both an economic and a symbolic bridge between the dwarven territories.^[2][3]

When theSecond War started several dwarven clans numbering hundreds of members lived in the area of the Wetlands.Orgrim Doomhammer chosea small island inBaradin Bay to be the place where his invasion fleet would be built. Sailing straight to theHillsbrad Foothills would let theOld Horde avoid the ground defenses of the nascentAlliance of Lordaeron.^[4] TheBleeding Hollow clan was left behind to guard therefinement operations of the Horde,^[5] whileDragonmaw clan established itself in Grim Batol. The region suffered greatly from this occupation: wildlife became scarce as both the orcs and their dragons thrived heavily on fresh meat, and despoiled badlands become more common as plants themselves suffered.^[6] The dwarves that could fled, those that couldn't likeRom's clan hid underground and started resisting. Dragonmaw clan was eventually subject to the wrath of thered dragonflight who, when freed of their enslavement from the orcs, attacked them. The orcs who survived the onslaught fled south to the mountains, where they live to this day.

After the Second War the area was reconquered and Doomhammer's port was rebuilt as an Alliance settlement namedMenethil Harbor in honor of the king ofLordaeron,Terenas Menethil II. The forces of theHorde of Draenor later attacked the harbor in order to steal ships and set sail for theTomb of Sargeras.^[7] Grim Batol itself was taken by the Red dragonflight who patrolled its area.

This section concerns content related toCataclysm.

The fanaticalTwilight's Hammer, under service ofNeltharion himself and the malevolentOld Gods, has seized the fortress of Grim Batol as part of their expansion within the highlands on the east, brutally pushing back the red flight's forces.

TheCataclysm caused a flood of the western part of the Wetlands and ofMenethil Harbor, sweeping a good number of ocean dwellers with it.^[8]

The flood fromLoch Modan'sLoch distressed with local wildlife's and broughtthreshadons as well.^[9]

Getting there[]

Horde

FromHammerfall in theArathi Highlands, run south/southwest to the large bridge, theThandol Span. The Wetlands are on the other side.

Alliance

FromIronforge go east throughDun Morogh toLoch Modan. Take the road in the Loch north toDun Algaz in the the Wetlands. You can also take the boat fromTheramore, which leads toMenethil Harbor.

Geography[]

There are currently no dungeons or battlegrounds in this area.

Maps and subregions[]

A topographic map of the pre-Cataclysm Wetlands.

Travel hubs[]

Flight paths fromSlabchisel's Survey[]

• Thelsamar,Loch Modan
• Greenwarden's Grove, Wetlands

Flight paths fromGreenwarden's Grove[]

• Slabchisel's Survey, Wetlands
• Whelgar's Retreat, Wetlands
• Dun Modr, Wetlands

Flight paths fromWhelgar's Retreat[]

• Greenwarden's Grove, Wetlands
• Menethil Harbor, Wetlands
• Dun Modr, Wetlands

Flight paths fromMenethil Harbor[]

• Ironforge,Dun Morogh
• Thelsamar,Loch Modan
• Whelgar's Retreat, Wetlands
• Refuge Pointe,Arathi Highlands

Flight paths fromDun Modr[]

• Greenwarden's Grove, Wetlands
• Whelgar's Retreat, Wetlands
• Refuge Pointe,Arathi Highlands

Adjacent regions[]

Zone Name	Faction	Level Range	Direction	Access subzone	Access method
Loch Modan		10 - 60	South	Dun Algaz	By foot or Alliance flightpath from Slabchisel's Survey to Thelsamar
Arathi Highlands		25 - 60	North	Thandol Span	By foot or Alliance flightpath from Dun Modr to Refuge Pointe
Dustwallow Marsh		35 - 60	West across the ocean	Baradin Bay	By boat from Menethil Harbor to Theramore Isle
Howling Fjord		58 - 80	Northwest across the ocean	Baradin Bay	By boat from Menethil Harbor to Valgarde
Twilight Highlands		84 - 90	East	Dragonmaw Pass	By foot through the gates or flying mount.

Notable characters[]

Main article:Wetlands NPCs

•  Forba Slabchisel
•  Rethiel the Greenwarden
•  Thargas Anvilmar
•  Prospector Whelgar

Quests[]

Main article:Wetlands storyline

Adventurers help the Alliance outposts of the Wetlands get back on their feet after the disastrous land-altering effects of theShattering. Play courier via ram, uncover a ghostly mystery, do archaeology by beating up skeletal raptors, and deal a final blow against the Dark Iron on the Thandol Span.

Resources[]

• Cloth
  •  [Linen Cloth]
  •  [Wool Cloth]
  •  [Silk Cloth]
• Herbalism
  •  [Mageroyal]
  •  [Swiftthistle]
  •  [Briarthorn]
  •  [Stranglekelp]
  •  [Bruiseweed]
  •  [Wild Steelbloom]
  •  [Grave Moss]
  •  [Kingsblood]
  •  [Liferoot]
• Leather
  •  [Light Leather]
  •  [Medium Leather]
  •  [Black Whelp Scale] (SkinEbon Whelps - only source in game)
• Mining
  •  [Copper Ore]
  •  [Tin Ore]
  •  [Silver Ore]
  •  [Iron Ore]
  •  [Gold Ore]

Battle pets[]

• Water Snake
•  [Dark Whelpling] -Zone drop
•  [Razormaw Hatchling] -Object loot
•  [Clockwork Gnome] -Archaeology only
• Black Rat
• Crimson Whelpling -Zone drop
• Toad
• Cockroach
• Mountain Skunk
• Tiny Bog Beast
• Highlands Mouse

Wild creatures[]

• Bog beasts
• Crocolisks
• Dark Iron dwarves
• Dragonspawn
• Ghosts
• Gnolls
• Murlocs
• Oozes
• Raptors
• Sharks
• Spiders
• Whelps

In Cataclysm[]

This section concerns content related toCataclysm.

The Wetlands became a 25-30 zone. Between the tidal effects of the Cataclysm and the destruction of the Stonewrought Dam, large portions of this zone have became flooded, includingMenethil Harbor.

Areas affected:^[10]

• Angerfang Encampment – it appears the mobs here have received a skin overhaul
• Direforge Hill – the mobs here have fled and the area is now overrun withSmouldering Ooze andRampant Fire Elementals; west of here are more new mobs:Mouldering Mirebeast andMarsh Lasher
• Dragonmaw Gates – past here is now theTwilight Highlands
• Dun Modr – now has a flight path; fought over area now seems to be inhabited by dwarves loyal to theTwilight Cult (who were, evidently, loyal to the Cult all along and not reallyDark Iron Clan dwarves); in the hills above here is what appears to be a crashed zeppelin
• The Green Belt –Rethiel the Greenwarden is still here, but now a night elf-themed camp has sprung up around him called theGreenwarden's Grove, complete with a flight path; the area to the east of here is now overrun byEbon Whelps,Ebon Slavehunters, andDragonmaw Whelpstealers – it is unknown as of this time whether the [Tiny Crimson Whelpling] will still drop from these new whelps
• Ironbeard's Tomb – a very small Dark Iron Clan camp has been set up to the NW
• Menethil Harbor – flooded but reinforced with sandbags
• Menethil Keep – has been taken over by Dark Iron Dwarves
• Mosshide Fen – largely flooded due to the destruction of theStonewrought Dam inLoch Modan; theGnoll camp closest toDun Algaz has been taken over bySilty Oozelings, with a Dwarven camp established nearby calledSlabchisel's Survey; new mobs in this area include theFlood Elemental andDisplaced Threshadon; all the Gnoll camps appear to have been destroyed
• Saltspray Glen – the Gnoll camps are being fought over by the Gnoll and Dark Iron Dwarves; further to the west the Gnolls seem to have control over their camps; whereFradd Swiftgear is there is now a more fleshed out camp, complete with an inn
• Thelgen Rock – in the hills above the cave is a medium sized lake
• Whelgar's Excavation Site – taken over byPaleolithic Elementals andLiving Fossils, as well as havingSarltooth as one of the undead fossils and now a rare spawn;Prospector Whelgar himself has abandoned the site for a camp just off the main road, complete with a flight path
• Other – the 'Wetlands farm' is accessible by flying mount

• 
  Menethil Harbor docks
• 
  Menethil Harbor half-submerged
• 
  Menethil Harbor flooded

In Warcraft III[]

This section concerns content related toWarcraft III: Reign of Chaos or its expansionThe Frozen Throne.

AWarcraft III map exists called Wetlands. A once thriving metropolis has all but been covered by the jungle.

In the RPG[]

This section contains information from theWarcraft RPG which is considerednon-canon.

Cold and drear,the Wetlands isKhaz Modan's northernmost realm. It can be found after crossing throughLoch Modan'sDun Algaz Gate. Once dominated bydwarven strongholds, the Wetlands suffered grievously in theSecond andThird Wars. The strongholds have fallen, and wild creatures,murlocs and renegadeorcs claim the land. The Wetlands is little more than a thoroughfare for travelers moving to and fromMenethil Harbor, the only safe settlement in the area. This marsh is not nearly as cheerful as Loch Modan.^[11]

History[]

Horde andScourge forces devastated the Wetlands in theSecond andThird Wars, forcing theIronforge dwarves to retreat to Loch Modan andDun Morogh.Alliance forces have since establishedMenethil Harbor, but the area is still wild and untamed. The Wetlands is a buffer zone between the inhabited Khaz Modan and Scourge-infestedLordaeron.^[12]

Menethil Harbor, on the west coast, is the only Alliance settlement in the Wetlands. Menethil's people are tense and wary, as orcs and other creatures attack the walls constantly.Dark Iron dwarves claimed the fallen city ofDun Modr, in the north, as their own, while the renegade orcishDragonmaw clan, defeated shortly after the Second War, fled to this land. The orcs, still flying their whitedragon banners, refuse to ally withThrall and raid Menethil Harbor repeatedly.

Disputed ruins dot the landscape, and murlocs,bog beasts and other creatures are perfect hunting targets. Menethil Harbor would be indebted to any intrepid individuals who eliminated the Dragonmaw threat.^[11]

The Dark Iron dwarves of Dun Modr uncovered ancient writings in their ruined fortress that spoke of an artifact calledIronbeard's Axe. They leaked this information to both Menethil Harbor and the Dragonmaw orcs, and later planed to incite both factions to race toIronbeard's Tomb, fightingoozes and each other in the process. In the aftermath, Dark Iron agents ambushed the victors on their way out, thereby claiming the magical axe for themselves.^[12]

Geography[]

The Wetlands is one vast, cold swamp stretching to Khaz Modan's northern coast. Gray mist cloaks the ground, giving the area an eerie, isolated feel, while the skies are constantly overcast. To the south are a series of one thousand stone steps carved into the rock, at the top of which is Dun Algaz Gate and the entrance to Loch Modan. To the north is Lordaeron'sArathi Highlands.^[11] Ruined dwarven fortresses can be seen, thrusting their bones up from the surrounding filth. Elevation rises to the east to the mountain fortress ofGrim Batol, and to the south toward Loch Modan. As if rebel orcs and Dark Iron dwarves were not bad enough,Bluegill murlocs, bog beasts and oozes roam the murky landscape.

Menethil Harbor is the only safe settlement in the Wetlands, though wrecked strongholds and other ruins draw treasure seekers to this bleak land. Many shipwrecks line the coast. Curious explorers could find many intriguing items in these shattered hulks.Brann Bronzebeard found a fork.^[12]

Notes[]

• The Wetlands was initially planned to be aLegion Invasion point.

Gallery[]

• 
  Uncolored map of the Wetlands and northernKhaz Modan in thefilm universe.
• 
  Colored map of the Wetlands and northern Khaz Modan in thefilm universe.

Videos[]

• Wetlands - World of Warcraft Cataclysm
• Cataclysm - Wetlands Overview

Patch changes[]

• Patch 7.3.5 (2018-01-16): Level scaling implemented, previous zone level: 20 - 25.
  
• Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Zone overhauled forCataclysm.
  

References[]

External links[]

• Wowhead
• WoWDB

v e Subzones of theWetlands Angerfang Encampment Baradin Bay Black Channel Marsh Bluegill Marsh Direforge Hill Dun Algaz Dun Modr Dragonmaw Gates The Great Sea The Green Belt Greenwarden's Grove Grim Batol Ironbeard's Tomb The Lost Fleet Menethil Bay Menethil Harbor Deepwater Tavern Menethil Keep Mosshide Fen Raptor Ridge Saltspray Glen Slabchisel's Survey Sundown Marsh Swiftgear Station Thandol Span Thelgen Rock Whelgar's Excavation Site Whelgar's Retreat Undisplayed locations —Flying Osprey Intrepid Maiden's Virtue Wave Mistress Wetlands farm Wetlands category

v e Regions of theEastern Kingdoms Azeroth Blasted Lands Classic Burning Steppes Classic Deadwind Pass Classic Duskwood Classic Elwynn Forest Classic Stormwind City Redridge Mountains Classic Stranglethorn Vale Classic Cape of Stranglethorn Northern Stranglethorn Swamp of Sorrows Classic Westfall Classic Khaz Modan The Badlands Classic Blackrock Mountain Dun Morogh Classic Ironforge Loch Modan Classic Searing Gorge Classic Twilight Highlands The Wetlands Classic Lordaeron Alterac Mountains Arathi Highlands Classic Hillsbrad Foothills Classic Alterac Mountains The Hinterlands Classic The Plaguelands Eastern Plaguelands Classic Eastern Western Plaguelands Classic Western Ruins of Gilneas starting zone Gilneas City Quel'Thalas Eversong Woods Silvermoon City Ghostlands Isle of Quel'Danas Silverpine Forest Classic Tirisfal Glades Classic Undercity Tol Barad Tol Barad Peninsula Vashj'ir Abyssal Depths Kelp'thar Forest Shimmering Expanse Eastern Kingdoms category