World of Warcraft is mainly a game about dungeons, instances, and raiding. In WoW Cataclysm, there will be more high level raid content than in any of the previous Warcraft expansions. That’s right, it seems like at least raids and instances in WoW Cataclysm won’t be done half-assed if you will -players will also have the option of a more ‘challenging’ version of all encounters (including the Deadmines! Van Cleef, watch out, I’m coming for your head).

We already know that we will have a chance to check out newly opened parts of the world, including Grim Batol, Uldum, and the infamous Sunken City of Vashj’ir underneath the sea. Some of these instances in Cataclysm will be in these new zones, while others will be in classic locations such as Blackrock Mountain. Yes, that same Blackrock Mountain that represented the original end game of Warcraft long before any xpac or cataclysm.

Currently, there has been 4 raids, 6 Dungeons, and 2 old world heroics announced for World of Warcraft Cataclysm. Let’s have a closer look:

WoW Cataclysm Raids

WoW Cataclysm Raid: Blackwing Descent

Blackwing Descent is a new raid in WoW Cataclysm inspired by Blackwing Lair. Nefarian is said to return to the instance. There will be new loot, new creatures and new art in the Cataclysm version of this raid.

WoW Cataclysm Raid: The Firelands

The Firelands is a really exciting new WoW Cataclysm raid that is situated in the elemental plane of fire. There are two aspects that already should make any hardcore raid excited to play WoW Cataclysm. The first one is that it’s and outdoor raid instance, which I always tend to find more fun. The second one is that the big bad boss for the Firelands is none other than Ragnaros himself. Yes that huge freaking fire torpedo thing named Ragnaros will be in WoW Cataclysm. Oh and this time around, he will be at full force!

WoW Cataclysm Raid: Skywall

Skywall is a WoW Catacalysm raid located in the Air Elemental Plane. So far not much has been announced for it except for that it will be a raid for max level players in WoW Cataclysm.

WoW Cataclysm Raid: Grim Batol

WoW Cataclysm’s final raid that was annouced is Grim Batol. It will be located in the newly opened Grim Batol zone. Again, nothing has been announced for this new WoW Cataclysm raid except that it will be one of the four raids available to level 85 in Cataclysm. I honestly am looking forward to raiding in WoW Cataclysm. If only they could also bring back 40 man raids in Cataclysm as well…

WoW Cataclysm Instances, Dungeons

WoW Cataclysm Dungeon: Blackrock Caverns

Blackrock Caverns is a WoW Cataclysm dungeon located in the legendary Blackrock Mountains. It is a dungeon located by those annoying Twilight’s Hammer NPCs. It also serves as a offsite base for WoW Cataclysm’s main baddie, Deathwing. There will naturally be new art,loot, and creatures. One creature who still lurks around Blackrock is fan favorite, The Beast. We all hopefully will get another chance to skin that big bad monster in Cataclysm

WoW Cataclysm Dungeon: Grim Batol

Grim Batol dungeon in WoW Cataclysm will serve as level up instance for players to gain experience and upgrade their loot. It’s unclear yet if Blizzard plans to make leveling all the way to 85 in dungeons viable. One warning to players who will be doing this dungeon is that there will be raiders in the vicinity who could gank you if you’re not careful

WoW Cataclysm Dungeon: Deepholme

Deepholm is the new hub of WoW Cataclysm. You will have portals there that let you teleport to Hyjal, Uldum, and any other place you want to go in Cataclysm. The Twilight’s Hammer is now serving Deathwing and they have managed to bring him back to full health in the Temple of Earth located at the center of the map. Deepholm is not actually linked to Azeroth, the connection is where Deathwing emerged from the ground.

WoW Cataclysm Dungeon: Lost City of Tol’Vir

All we know of this new Cataclysm instance strangely called Tol Vir is that it will be outdoors and will be a 5 man dungeon.

WoW Cataclysm Dungeon: Abyssal Maw

Abyssal Maw is a 5 man dungeon in Cataclysm for levels 78-82. It will be located in the Sunken City of Vashj’ir. It will be located in the elemental plane of water, and you will be fighting in the ocean floor. It will be a non-linear instance in WoW Cataclysm that you will enjoy playing over and over.

WoW Cataclysm Dungeon: Halls of Origination

Halls of Origination is the first 5 man dungeon that will be located in the lost deserts of Uldum for WoW Cataclysm. Halls of Origination will feature 7 bosses for you to destroy and loot epics. This will be the ultimate Titan dungeon in WoW Cataclysm, and will have a visual look much like a Pharaoh’s tomb. If you missed our good old buddy Brann Bronzebeard then you will have a chance to get to see him again in Cataclysm.

WoW Cataclysm Heroics

WoW Cataclysm Old World Heroic: Deadmines

Many of the older instances in WoW Cataclysm will see heroic version popping up but the major one that has been announced so far is Deadmines located in little old Sentinel Hill. Deadmines is the first instance that most Warcraft players experienced playing the MMO. Everyone has their own personal stories about the place from pulling the whole boat, to thinking Sneed’s treasure chest is actually real (noob!), and being super ambushed by Van Cleef’s rogue guardians. The Deadmines Heroic in WoW Cataclysm is one of the things I’m most looking forward to for some reason.

WoW Cataclysm Old World Heroic: Shadowfang Keep

Shadowfang keep is an instance that Undead players will know really well as it is pretty much in their backyard. I didn’t like this old world dungeon as much and am not looking forward to playing it that MUCH in WoW Cataclysm. Those dog guards, going down and up stairs, confusing bosses, and that twink Rogue weapon that would never ever drop has made me put Shadowfang Keep on my blacklist for instances to go back to. However since there is a heroic Shadowfang Keep in WoW Cataclysm I think I will have to make an exception.

That covers most of the new raids, heroics, dungeons, and instances that are coming in World of Warcraft Cataclysm. There is also the Ice Crown Citadel raid and dungeon that will be coming out in patch 3.3, but I’ll cover that at some other point. Hope you enjoyed this WoW Cataclysm Dungeon Raid and Instance review for the new expansion and look forward to hearing what sort of rare items, epics, and legendaries you all get in WoW Cataclysm.