Quick Overview
Blackwing Lair occupies the heights of Blackrock Mountain, where the black dragon Nefarian pursues experiments and schemes above the Dark Horde. Rend Blackhand's surviving orcs and the fortress's other occupants form part of the political setting around his seat. The raid deepens the mystery of the black dragonflight's ambitions. Its playable release came in patch 1.6, not the original 1.1 world.
Full History
The upper mountain conceals a hierarchy more dangerous than the banners of the Dark Horde suggest. Nefarian, son of Deathwing, employs the power and position of Blackrock Spire to conduct draconic schemes within an occupied fortress. Other inhabitants serve him out of fear, ambition or utility, making the lair the highest expression of a shared but unstable Blackrock political order.
This is distinct from the Dark Iron kingdom far below. The Firelord's influence and Nefarian's dragonflight both operate in Blackrock Mountain, but they are not the same faction or a single coordinated government. The lair's release in patch 1.6 allows its source-era historical existence to be described while preventing an anachronistic claim that its raid was playable on the launch map.
The Living Archive · Subject Chronicle
Through History
Explore documented turning points and follow their connections. The complete account remains in Full History above.
No additional documented milestones are available yet. The Full History above remains the primary account.
Further Reading
A research reference supplied with this article.