WoW Forever Excavation Site Guide: Level, Bosses, Quests, Loot
WoW Forever Excavation Site: Wetlands (level 26–31): entrance for both factions, all 4 bosses with tactics and loot, 14 quests with XP and the Titan Relic.
In this guide 11 sections
Excavation Site: Wetlands is WoW Forever's new level 26–31 dungeon, below Whelgar's Excavation in the Wetlands. It has four encounters. Three are on the main route: the crocolisk Saltspine, the raptor Shadetooth and the titan construct Relic Guardian. The fourth, Highland Horror, is an optional Alliance quest kill. It also has 14 quests and a Titan Relic turn-in that rewards each faction differently. This WoW Forever Excavation Site guide covers the entrance, every pull worth knowing, the quests with their XP, and the loot, as the beta client and WoW Handbook's dungeon page (updated October 24) list them. Forever launches on November 4, 2026. For where it fits among the nine new dungeons, see our new dungeons guide.
Quick summary
- Levels 26–31, five players, 4 encounters. Blizzard added it to the beta along with the level 30 cap (Kaivax, development notes). A full clear takes about 40 minutes for a party in the upper twenties (WoW Handbook).
- The entrance is at 47.9, 56.5 in the Wetlands, up a new road from Whelgar's Excavation. There's no key and no attunement (WoW Handbook).
- Shadetooth is the wall. His fear can send you into stealthed raptors in the grass. Clear the thicket and fight him in the crocolisk cove (Wowhead, Method, WoW Handbook).
- Relic Guardian drops the Titan Relic. Alliance players turn it in at Ironforge and Horde players at Thunder Bluff. Rewards include a faction cloak (WoW Handbook).
- Our math: about 20,660 XP from the Alliance quests and 10,330 from the Horde quests, using WoW Handbook's figures.
Where is the Excavation Site entrance?
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | 47.9, 56.5, Wetlands (wowforever.be: 47.8, 56.3) | WoW Handbook |
| Meeting stone | About 52, 64, at the foot of the path | WoW Handbook |
| Nearest flight (Alliance) | Menethil Harbor, 9.5, 59.7 | WoW Handbook |
| Horde route | Hammerfall (Arathi Highlands), then south over Thandol Span | WoW Handbook; Method |
| Key or attunement | None | WoW Handbook |
| Wipe run-back | Menethil's graveyard is the zone's only one, "across half the Wetlands map" | Wowhead |
Wowhead notes that Menethil now has a boat to Stormwind by way of Auberdine. It also tells Horde players heading north to pick up the Tarren Mill and Hammerfall flight paths. Method places the meeting stone near the Dun Algaz end of the zone. Classic had no Wetlands dungeon, so groups used to travel to the Stockade or Shadowfang Keep (WoW Handbook).
Where it fits: the Excavation Site sits between Blackfathom Deeps and the Stockade on one side and City of Dalaran (28–33) on the other. A group that finishes it at 28–29 can carry its quest log straight into Dalaran. Our leveling guide shows where both runs fit a 20–40 route.
Excavation Site quests
XP and rewards come from WoW Handbook. Every quest can be accepted at level 24, and most are level 31.
Alliance
| Quest | Giver | XP | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seeking Caitlin (breadcrumb) | Llana, Astranaar, Ashenvale (35.0, 48.5) | 630 | Leads to Menethil |
| Lost in the Thicket Things | Caitlin Grassman, Menethil (11.9, 58.8) | 2,500 | Find Ardin inside |
| Heartwoven (starts inside) | Ardin Grassman | 3,150 | Swiftness Potion, Satchel of Potions, choice of Greater Healing Potion or Mana Potion |
| Songblade Search | Dorin Songblade, Lakeshire, Redridge (25.7, 46.4) | 3,150 | Find Daewyn inside |
| Fallen in the Fen (starts inside) | Daewyn Songblade | 3,150 | Daewyn's Girdle or Songblade Stabilizer |
| Horrors in the Highland | Rethiel the Greenwarden, Wetlands (56.4, 40.4), step 4 after Tramping Paws | 3,150 | Ironwood Destroyer, Curl of Life or Hornbeam Heft |
| Highland Hides | James Halloran, Menethil (8.6, 55.7) | 1,150 | 4 Thicket Raptor Hides. Method says it needs "Young Crocolisk Skins" first |
| Lost Relic Carry (Titan Relic) | Relic Guardian drop | 630 | Leads to Prospector Whelgar |
| Prehistoric Prism | Prospector Whelgar (38.8, 52.4), then High Explorer Magellas, Ironforge | 3,150 | Explorer's League Dustcover, Healer's Staff or Heavehammer |
Horde
| Quest | Giver | XP | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changing Tastes | Borstan, Orgrimmar (57.2, 53.3) | 3,150 | Recipe: Twice-Spiced Raptor Slice, plus Satchel of Potions or Serrated Raptor Claw |
| Dragonmaw Rumors (breadcrumb) | Zaruk, Hammerfall (74.5, 35.6) | 250 | Leads to the Deathstalker Agent |
| Open the Maw | Deathstalker Agent, hills by the entrance | 3,150 | Kill 2 Saboteurs and 4 Warders and loot the Dragonmaw Dispatch. Rewards: Bloody Map, plus Knife-Polishing Rag or Dirt-Heavy Bracers |
| Elder Knowledge (Titan Relic) | Relic Guardian drop | 630 | Leads to Thunder Bluff |
| Earthen Echo | Bashana Runetotem, Thunder Bluff (71.1, 34.2), then Muln Earthfury | 3,150 | Furs of the Earthen Ring, Healer's Staff or Heavehammer |
Our math: the Alliance quests add up to 20,660 XP and the Horde quests to 10,330. Horde players can make up the gap with Wetlands and Arathi questing. Blizzard fixed the relic chain so the Titan Relic "is given back to players for the follow-ups... so that you do not need to get another relic" (Kaivax).
Excavation Site trash that kills groups
| Mob | Threat | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young Riptooth (packs of 3) | Fatal Bite | Kill them one at a time | Method |
| Marsh Skulker, Elder Crocolisk | Muscle Rot (Spirit and Stamina), Tendon Rip (71% slow) | Fight on dry ledges | Method; WoW Handbook |
| Thicket Hunter, Thicket Matriarch | Infected Wound (more physical damage taken), Rend Flesh | Cleanse the disease | Method |
| Thicket Lurker, Thicket Stalker (packs of 3, stealthed) | Ambush from the tall grass | Walk the edges and pull bush by bush | Method; WoW Handbook |
| Dragonmaw Saboteur, Warder | Bombs; Mortal Strike (-50% healing); 10-second Net | Step out of the bombs. Blessing of Freedom breaks the Net | Method |
| Dragonmaw Thaumaturgist | Immolate, Curse of Weakness, fire elemental pet | Kill the elemental first | Method |
| Highland Lurker, Highland Spider | Poison, Highland Venom | Cure the poison quickly | Method |
In the Lost Marsh, the water is waist-deep. It hides patrols and blocks line of sight, so pull packs back onto dry stone (WoW Handbook).
Excavation Site bosses and tactics
| # | Boss | Level | Key abilities | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saltspine | 28 elite | Dust Storm, Tendon Rip, Fatal Bite | Clear the lake edge first. Casters stay out of melee range |
| 2 | Shadetooth | 29 elite | Terrifying Roar (fear), Rend, Enrage; 2 Thicket Hunters | Clear the grass, then fight in the cove |
| 3 | Highland Horror (optional) | 28 elite | Entangling Roots, Wild Regeneration | Alliance quest kill. Avoid the slimes around it |
| 4 | Relic Guardian | 31 elite | Thunderclap, Knockaway, War Stomp, Arcing Smash | Press the Archival Panel. Ranged stay 10+ yards away |
Levels: wowforever.be and wowforeverguides. Abilities: WoW Handbook, Wowhead, Method.
Saltspine
Saltspine patrols the edge of the crocolisk lake (Method). Dust Storm "cuts hit chance by 25 percent" within 10 yards (WoW Handbook; Wowhead), and Tendon Rip slows the tank. Don't pull him into a pack you haven't cleared.
Shadetooth
Wowhead calls Shadetooth "very unforgiving." He patrols the raptor path with two Thicket Hunters. Crowd control both adds, or kill them first and dispel Infected Wound (Wowhead; Icy Veins). His Terrifying Roar is a fear that can't be dispelled and can scatter you into stealthed raptors. A Tremor Totem (Shaman guide) or Fear Ward on the tank (Priest guide) helps. In Forever, every Priest race trains Fear Ward. Fight him in the crocolisk cove to the left. The Hunters can't swim, and fighting in the previous boss's area resets him (Wowhead). Save stuns for his Enrage, which starts below 30% health (WoW Handbook).
Highland Horror
Highland Horror is a bog elemental with no loot table. It only drops the Horrible Rootcore for Horrors in the Highland (wowforever.be; Method). If you aren't Alliance with the quest, skip it.
Relic Guardian
Relic Guardian stands inert until someone presses the Archival Panel on the right of its platform. Heal to full and buff before you press it (WoW Handbook; Wowhead). Thunderclap "damages and heavily slows everyone near it" within 10 yards (WoW Handbook; Wowhead). Method adds Arcing Smash, a frontal cleave, so face it away from the group. It also has Knockaway, which drops threat, and War Stomp. It can be stunned and slowed, so Concussive Shot or Earthbind lets you kite it while the tank is stunned (Method; Wowhead). Because it's level 31, groups at 26 will miss more often.
Excavation Site loot by boss
Item stats are from wowforever.be's read of the beta client. Every item binds when picked up.
| Boss | Item | Slot | Key stats | Req. level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saltspine | Supple Bellyskin Leggings | Leather legs | +6 Str, +14 Sta | 26 |
| Saltspine | Saltscale Girdle | Mail waist | +9 Str, +9 Int | 26 |
| Saltspine | Glinteye Slippers | Cloth feet | +9 Sta, +6 Spi, +7 spell power | 26 |
| Shadetooth | Raptorclaw Greaves | Mail feet | +7 Str, +7 Sta, +6 Int | 26 |
| Shadetooth | Raptor's Gaze | Off-hand | +4 Sta, +4 Int, +8 spell power | 26 |
| Shadetooth | Garb of Florid Feathers | Leather chest | +9 Agi, +15 Int | 26 |
| Shadetooth | Blueprint: Greenhouse | Camp recipe | Requires Herbalism 140 | – |
| Relic Guardian | Reliquary Mantle | Mail shoulder | +12 Sta, +0.4% hit | 28 |
| Relic Guardian | Golemsight Long Gun | Gun, 16.6 DPS | +6 Agi | 28 |
| Relic Guardian | Ring of Power Regulation | Ring | +3 mp5, +6 spell power | 28 |
| Relic Guardian | Blueprint: Rock Garden | Camp recipe | Requires Mining 140 | – |
| Relic Guardian | Titan Relic | Quest starter | – | – |
The blueprints place objects at a campsite. Our camping guide explains how that works.
Best way to run the Excavation Site
| Method | Best for | Trade-off | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full clear with all quests | Alliance at 27–29 | About 40 minutes (WoW Handbook); Method says 20–35 | Best XP per trip |
| Main route only (skip Highland Horror) | Horde, or Alliance without the quest | Loses 3,150 XP for Alliance | Fastest gear run |
| Enter at 24–25 | Rushing quests | Relic Guardian is level 31 (Wowhead) | Wait until 26 or higher |
| Stockade or Gnomeregan instead | Groups without fear answers | Old loot, longer travel | A fallback, not the first pick |
Example: an Alliance group at 27 picks up all nine Alliance quests over two evenings of Wetlands, Redridge and Ashenvale questing. They clear Saltspine, pull Shadetooth's Thicket Hunters into the cove with a Priest's Fear Ward on the tank, kill Highland Horror for Rethiel's quest, and press the Archival Panel only after the healer has full mana. The Titan Relic then takes them to Ironforge for the cloak. The run is worth about 20,000 quest XP on top of kills.
For alts and returning players
- Returning from Classic: this area couldn't be reached in Classic. New roads lead up the hill (Wowhead; wowforever.be).
- Alliance alts get about twice the quest XP that Horde alts do (our math). Pick up the Rethiel chain at Tramping Paws in advance.
- Legacy: the description of Novice Spelunker, a 1-point account-wide Legacy challenge, names the Excavation Site and Ruins of Lordaeron, while its client criterion lists "Ragefire Chasm or Hall of Thanes" (The Forever Era). Check the challenge tracker after your clear. See our Legacy guide and our Ruins of Lordaeron guide. The Hall of Thanes is the earlier Alliance-side new dungeon.
- Hardcore: Shadetooth's fear into the grass is the likeliest wipe here. Bring a fear answer or overlevel it. See our Hardcore guide.
- New to Forever? The class tier list ranks tanks and healers for dungeons like this one.
Our other Forever dungeon and zone guides are linked from the WoW Forever hub.
Want a hand with this?
If you would rather not grind this part yourself, WoW Forever dungeon services are listed on FullBoosts. Read the publisher's rules before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included — a marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.
FAQ
What level is Excavation Site in WoW Forever? Levels 26–31, per Blizzard's beta notes. Relic Guardian is level 31, so Wowhead advises against entering at 24.
Where is the Excavation Site entrance? In the Wetlands at 47.9, 56.5, up the new road southeast of Whelgar's Excavation. The meeting stone is near 52, 64 (WoW Handbook).
How do Horde players get to Excavation Site? Fly to Hammerfall in Arathi Highlands and ride south across Thandol Span (WoW Handbook; Method).
How do I start the Relic Guardian fight? Press the Archival Panel on the right side of its platform (WoW Handbook; Wowhead).
What does the Titan Relic quest give? A choice of Heavehammer, Healer's Staff, or your faction's cloak: Explorer's League Dustcover for the Alliance, Furs of the Earthen Ring for the Horde (WoW Handbook).
How do I survive Shadetooth? Clear the stealthed raptors first, control or kill the two Thicket Hunters, and fight him in the crocolisk cove. Bring Tremor Totem or Fear Ward. Highland Horror, the optional fourth encounter, only matters for Alliance players on Horrors in the Highland (Wowhead; Method).
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