With the mystical Dragon Isles finally open for exploration in World of Warcraft‘s latest expansion Dragonflight, max-level adventurers have an intriguing new questline to complete: Vertical Anomaly. In this comprehensive 2000+ word guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know to finish Vertical Anomaly and unlock its rewards.
Introduction to the Vertical Anomaly Quest in Dragonflight
Vertical Anomaly becomes available once you reach level 70 and journey to the ancient Waking Shores zone. After spelunking into the underground Zaralek Cavern, you‘ll meet the quest giver Myrrit and become acquainted with the nefarious activities of the Black Dragonflight.
This mysterious questline provides clues about the dragon Crucible, an ancient device used to imbue powers – and the intentions of Vaust, an agent of the Black Dragon Aspect Neltharion. Along the way, you‘ll need to destroy crystals, unlock lost treasures and utilize your Dig and Burrow abilities to unravel the mysteries.
Completing Vertical Anomaly is highly rewarding for max-level characters. Here‘s what you‘ll gain:
- Artifact Power to upgrade your Heart of the Aspects and gain ranks of Dragonriding. This provides benefits like improved mount speed and abilities.
- New gear with an item level around 262, helping equip your character in Dragonflight content.
- Progress in the Vaust/Crucible storyline leading to exciting follow-up quests and the Crucible of the Aspects 10-player raid.
- Bonus loot like the Liquid Art, if you meet the Renown requirements with Loamm Niffen.
Now let‘s dive into the step-by-step walkthrough for how to complete the objectives of Vertical Anomaly.
Prerequisites for the Vertical Anomaly Quest
Before starting Vertical Anomaly, ensure your character meets these requirements:
- Level 70 – Only max-level characters can accept the quest and enter Zaralek Cavern. I‘d recommend being well-geared too as the enemies hit hard!
- Renown Level 9 with Loamm Niffen – This faction unlocks an optional bonus objective for the Liquid Art item.
- Dig and Burrow abilities – These are granted by your class Order and are essential to destroying the crystals.
- Underwater breathing and swim speed boosts – Helpful for retrieving the Liquid Art from the underwater wreckage.
- Flying mount – Needed to reach the floating platforms. Any Dragonriding drake will do!
You‘ll also want to come prepared with:
- Consumables like Health and Mana potions for tough fights.
- AoE and Crowd Control abilities to deal with groups of hostile NPCs.
- Gear around item level 258+ is recommended based on the zone‘s enemies.
- Key addons like DBM to help with combat mechanics.
Walkthrough for the Vertical Anomaly Quest Objectives
Now let‘s break down how to complete each objective for the Vertical Anomaly questline:
1. Accept the Quest in Neltharus‘ Roost
To begin, travel to the Waking Shores and enter the Underground Cave marked on your map. Make your way through Zaralek Cavern until you reach Neltharus‘ Roost.
There you‘ll find Myrrit, an ally of the Red Dragonflight, who offers the Vertical Anomaly quest. Speak to him and accept the quest to kick things off.
2. Destroy the Two Corrupted Crystals
Your first objective is to destroy two corrupted purple crystals scattered around the platforms. These crystals emanate intense shadow magic and must be dealt with.
Use your class Order‘s Dig and Burrow abilities to damage and ultimately shatter the crystals. Each has around 5 million health so be prepared for an extended battle. Utilize defensive cooldowns to withstand their attacks.
Once both fractured crystals are destroyed, this quest objective will be marked as complete.
3. Escort Myrrit to the Pressure Plate
Next, you need to escort the NPC Myrrit from his platform to a nearby Pressure Plate. Myrrit will walk slowly so you‘ll need to protect him along the way.
Use AoE spells and crowd control to deal with the various hostile NPCs like Eye of Neltharion that will attack your group. Myrrit can die so keep him healthy with heals and be ready to interrupt deadly casts.
Once Myrrit reaches the Pressure Plate, his presence will unlock access to the floating bubbles and platforms above, allowing you to continue.
4. Locate and Loot the Floating Chest
With the platforms now unlocked, enter the large bubble in the center and use the other floating bubbles to ascend upwards. Reach the highest platform where you‘ll find a treasure chest – the Floating Chest.
Open the chest and loot the Waterlogged Key inside. This key will be used in the final quest objective, so make sure to grab it!
Pro Tip: Mages can use Blink and Slow Fall to quickly reach the platforms. Other classes should use speed boosts.
5. Unlock the Lost Dive Box
Finally, make your way back down to the water‘s surface. There you‘ll find a shipwrecked boat with the Lost Dive Box.
Use the Waterlogged Key you acquired from the Floating Chest to unlock the Lost Dive Box. Opening the box will complete the core Vertical Anomaly questline!
6. Bonus: Retrieve the Liquid Art (Renown 9)
If you have reached Renown Level 9 with the Loamm Niffen faction, an additional bonus quest objective will appear.
For this extra objective, dive underwater to a sunken shipwreck at the bottom. There you‘ll find a Clay Pot that contains the quest item Liquid Art when looted.
Retrieve the Liquid Art and return to Myrrit to complete this bonus objective and gain additional rewards.
Quest Rewards and Follow-Ups
So what do you get for completing Vertical Anomaly? Here are the notable rewards:
- Artifact Power for your Heart of the Aspects – Around 6500 AP at Renown Level 9.
- Gear upgrades – Equipment rewards around item level 262.
- Access to follow-up quests – Unlocks Vault of the Incarnates and Deeper Into Darkness.
- Reputation with Loamm Niffen – Grants 250 reputation with the zone faction.
- The Liquid Art – Bonus AP-generating item from the optional objective.
Upon completing Vertical Anomaly, be sure to pick up the next quests from Myrrit. These lead to the Vault of the Incarnates scenario and continue the storyline involving Vaust‘s plans with the Crucible.
Gaining access to this content is crucial for progressing the Black Dragonflight/Crucible narrative arc and eventually unlocking the Crucible of the Aspects raid later in Dragonflight.
Key Tips for Completing Vertical Anomaly
Here are some key tips and insights to help overcome the objectives based on my own experience:
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During the escort, use stuns and interrupts to stop the Eye of Neltharion‘s Petrifying Gaze. Getting turned to stone makes protecting Myrrit difficult!
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You can heal and buff Myrrit to keep him alive more easily. Healers are very useful for this quest.
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The drowned ruins can be disorienting to navigate. Follow the bubbles upward then look for the chest on the highest platform.
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The Liquid Art blends into the mud but gives a gear icon when moused over. Don‘t miss out on the bonus objective!
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Speaking with Myrrit offers useful dialogue options after the quest for lore and roleplaying purposes.
And that covers everything you need to know to complete the Vertical Anomaly questline! Let me know if you have any other questions. I wish you the best of luck uncovering the secrets of the Dragon Isles.
Related WoW Dragonflight Guides
If you found this guide helpful, check out my other articles for more WoW Dragonflight quest walkthroughs and tips:
