The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj is an event that takes place during Phase 5 of WoW Classic once Alliance and Horde players have handed in enough resources to complete their faction's respective War Effort.
But if you wish to take on C'thun's forces in The Temple of Ahn'Qiraj, a player must first turn in the culmination of a lengthy chain of high-level quests: Bang a Gong! Once this quest has concluded, the first player to sound the gong will not only be crowned the Scarab Lord, but will also receive a Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal, which lets you ride the only legendary mount in the game.
The Scarab Lord title can only be awarded to one player per server. Any player who completes Bang a Gong! within 10 hours of it first being turned in will receive a Black Qiraji Battle Tank mount, regardless of faction.
Once a player turns in the conclusion of the Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain, they'll be given Treasure of the Timeless One, a quest that will reward players with their choice of 4 epic weapons, reputation with the Brood of Nozdormu, and gold. You'll have to act fast if you want this mount, and even faster if you're after this title!
But be aware, the Sceptre of the Changing Sands quest chain is one of the most arduous in all of WoW Classic and requires the backing of an entire guild to complete. Only the top guilds on the server will be able to finish it. Afterall, there can't be a Scarb Lord without the backing of their subjects.
A summary of the Quest Chain
The Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain is generally only completed by a single member of each guild, since it requires collecting materials, including from some from raid creatures, so it's a good idea to optimise your farming and funnel the farming into a single player.
Given that only one player from each guild will realistically be able to receive these prestigious rewards, more often than not it's the Guildleader who receives the honour. That's not to say that other guild members won't be important, as there are 32 quests for you to complete, making it one of the most hefty chains in World of Warcraft!
Here are the quests and mats you'll need to complete the Scepter of the Changing Sands quest chain, in order:
Components required for the questline
- 20x Arcanite Bar
- 10x Elementium Ore
- 10x Azeroth Diamond
- 10x Blue Sapphire
- 20x Goblin Rocket Fuel
- 20x Deeprock Salt
- 20x Chimaerok Tenderloin
Quest line
|
Quest |
Quest Giver |
Target location |
|---|---|---|
|
What Tomorrow Brings |
Baristolth of the Shifting SandsFort CenarionSilithus |
Caverns of TimeTanaris49.6, 36.6 |
|
Only One May Rise(Raid) |
Baristolth of the Shifting SandsFort CenarionSilithus |
Blackwing LairBroodlord Lashlayer(Raid 40) |
|
The Path of the Righteous |
Baristolth of the Shifting SandsFort CenarionSilithus |
Silithus |
|
The Hand of the Righteous(Repeatable) |
Baristolth of the Shifting SandsFort CenarionSilithus |
Silithus |
|
Anachronos |
Baristolth of the Shifting SandsFort CenarionSilithus |
Caverns of TimeTanaris63.4, 50.0 |
|
Long Forgotten Memories |
AnachronosCaves of timeTanaris |
Scarab Wall Silithus 28.89 |
|
A Pawn on the Eternal Board |
Crystalline TearScarab WallSilithus |
Caverns of TimeTanaris63.4, 50.0 |
|
The Charge of the Dragonflights |
AnachronosCaves of timeTanaris |
Caverns of TimeTanaris63.4, 50.0 |
|
Nefarius's Corruption(Raid) |
Vaelastrasz the CorruptBlackwing Lair(before the fight) |
Blackwing LairNefarian(Raid 40) |
|
Eranikus, Tyrant of the Dream |
Malfurion StormrageTemple of Atal'Hakkar(near the Shadeof Eranikus) |
Teldrassil 37, 47 |
|
Tyrande and Remulos |
Forest WispTeldrassil |
Keeper RemulosMoonglade36.2, 41.8 |
|
The Nightmare's Corruption(Raid) |
Keeper RemulosMoonglade |
Ashenvale93.3, 38.5(Raid 40+)Feralas51.5, 11.3(Raid 40+)The Hinterlands63.1, 24.5(Raid 40+)Dustwood46, 38(Raid 40+) |
|
The Nightmare Manifests(Raid) |
Keeper RemulosMoonglade |
Moonglade36.2, 41.8(Raid 40+) |
|
The Champion Returns |
Keeper RemulosMoonglade |
Caverns of TimeTanaris63.4, 50.0 |
|
Azuregos's Magical Ledger |
Spirit of AzuregosAzshara |
Steamwheedle PortTanaris65.2, 18.6 |
|
Translating the Ledger |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Steamwheedle PortTanaris65.2, 18.6 |
|
Stewvul, Ex-B.F.F. |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Silverpine forest46.86 |
|
Scrying Goggles? No Problem!(Raid) |
Inconspicuous CrateSilverpine forest |
Molten CoreTrash mobs(Raid 40) |
|
Never Ask Me About My Business |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Gadgetzan Tanaris 52.6, 28.0 |
|
The Isle of Dread!(Group) |
Dirge QuikcleaveGadgetzanTanaris |
Isle of DreadFeralas |
|
Dirge's Kickin' Chimaerok Chops |
Dirge QuikcleaveGadgetzanTanaris |
Gadgetzan Tanaris 52.6, 28.0 |
|
Return to Narain |
Dirge QuikcleaveGadgetzanTanaris |
Steamwheedle PortTanaris65.2, 18.6 |
|
Draconic for Dummies |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Tanaris(Off the southern tip of the zone) |
|
rAnS0m |
Freshly Dug DirtTanaris |
Steamwheedle PortTanaris65.2, 18.6 |
|
Decoy! |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Winterspring66.4, 72.6 |
|
The Only Prescription(Group/Raid) |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Ch. 1: Alcaz IslandDustwallow MarshCh. 2: Tainted scarBlasted LandsCh. 3: Darkwhisper GorgeWinterspringCh. 4: Magic QuarterUndercityCh. 5: Stormwind KeepStormwindCh. 6: OnyxiaOnyxia's Lair(Raid 40)Ch. 7: Blackwing Lair(Raid 40,after Broodlord Lashlayer)Chap. 8: RagnarosMolten Core (Raid 40) |
|
The Good News and The Bad News |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Steamwheedle PortTanaris65.2, 18.6 |
|
The Wrath of Neptulon(Raid) |
Narain SoothfancySteamwheedle PortTanaris |
Bay of Storms Azshara 65.1, 53.7 (Raid 40+) |
|
The Might of Kalimdor |
Narain SoothfancyCaverns of TimeTanaris |
Caverns of TimeTanaris63.4, 50.0 |
Once you've finished this never-ending chain, you'll be able to receive a new quest from The Scarab Gong in front of The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj in Silithus. This is the quest in question:
- Bang a Gong!
Your goal is simple: turn in the quest at The Scarab Gong. This will reward you with the iconic Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal, as well as the Scarab Lord title if you're the first to turn it in!
If you manage to pull off all this within the 10-hour timer, then congratulations are in order! You've deserved it, but let's not forget the countless allies that have helped you on your way to the gong!
Phase 5 of WoW Classic was deployed in-game on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. It includes, most notably, the Shifting Sands War, culminating with the opening of the famous Gates of Ahn'Qiraj and access to The Temple & The Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj. (AQ20 & AQ40)
