Instance attunement (Burning Crusade)

Many of the instances in the game require keys or attunement to enter, or to reach their entrances without needing to go through the lesser dungeons in front of them. Some are easy to obtain. Some are long and difficult quests.

For a detailed look at attunement to the classic (pre-Burning Crusade) instances, see Instance attunement (Classic).

Heroic Mode Dungeons[]

To enter heroic mode versions of any of the Outland instances, players must attain honored reputation status with a different faction depending on which instance. Once correct reputation status is obtained, the keys can simply be purchased from that faction's quartermaster.

Below are the instances and their respective factions.

Dungeon	Key	Faction
Hellfire Citadel	[Flamewrought Key]	Honor Hold (Alliance) Thrallmar (Horde)
Coilfang Reservoir	[Reservoir Key]	Cenarion Expedition
Auchindoun	[Auchenai Key]	Lower City
Tempest Keep	[Warpforged Key]	Sha'tar
Caverns of Time	[Key of Time]	Keepers of Time

Karazhan[]

As of March 25, 2008 - Karazhan no longer requires attunement. As of June 28, 2011 - The key no longer exists and is no longer necessary to open the doors.

Main article: The Master's Key

Attunement for Karazhan involves obtaining [The Master's Key] through a fairly extensive quest chain. It begins with Archmage Alturus of The Violet Eye just outside the tower itself.

[70] Arcane Disturbances and [70] Restless Activity.
- These two quests are easily soloable and should be done together as they are both required to proceed. Arcane Disturbances sends you into two underground caverns to use [Violet Scrying Crystal] to collect readings from underground water sources: a well and a pond. Each cavern's entrance is very close to the questgiver and each cavern only has one of the two sources. In the process of getting to the water sources you should have killed enough ghosts to obtain 10 Ghostly Essences.
[70] The Contact from Dalaran
- Archmage Alturus now sends you to the city of Dalaran in the southern area of Alterac Mountains with a report. There you will find Archmage Cedric to whom you must deliver the report.
[70] Khadgar
- Simply travel to Shattrath City and speak to Khadgar near A'dal in the central building of the Terrace of Light.
[70D] Entry Into Karazhan
- Khadgar will now send you to obtain the first fragment of [The Master's Key] which resides in the Shadow Labyrinth area of Auchindoun. It can be found in a container near Murmur.
[70D] The Second and Third Fragments
- The second and third fragments lie in the Steamvault and Arcatraz instances respectively.
[70D] The Master's Touch
- Khadgar will now direct you to go to Opening of the Dark Portal in the Caverns of Time to speak to Medivh. Complete the instance and he will turn [Restored Apprentice's Key] into [The Master's Key]. (Note: in order to enter the Dark Portal instance, you must have completed the quest Escape from Durnholde Keep in Caverns of Time: Old Hillsbrad)
[70] Return to Khadgar
- Simply return to Khadgar with the key.
[70] The Violet Eye
- Return to Deadwind Pass and speak to Archmage Alturus to begin receiving Karazhan quests.

Hellfire Citadel[]

The Shattered Halls[]

Main article: Shattered Halls Key

The quest line to obtain the [Shattered Halls Key] begins from a drop off of Smith Gorlunk on the Ata'mal Terrace near the Black Temple in Shadowmoon Valley. The item [Primed Key Mold] begins the chain. Only one person needs the key for the group to enter. A rogue with 350 lockpicking skill can also open the gate.

[70] Entry Into the Citadel / (Horde)
- Bring the [Primed Key Mold] to Force Commander Danath Trollbane / Nazgrel.
[70] Grand Master Dumphry / [70] Grand Master Rohok
- Travel to Dumphry <Grand Master Blacksmith> / Rohok <Grand Master Blacksmith>
[70] Dumphry's Request / [70] Rohok's Request
- Bring the following:
  - [Fel Iron Bar] x4
  - [Arcane Dust] x2
  - [Mote of Fire] x4
[70G3] Hotter than Hell / (Horde)
- Kill a Fel Reaver and use its fires to change [Unfired Key Mold] into [Charred Key Mold].

Coilfang Reservoir[]

Serpentshrine Cavern[]

As of June 19, 2007 - Serpentshrine Cavern no longer requires attunement

Main article: Serpentshrine Cavern#Attunement.

Enter the Slave Pens in Heroic Mode. Find Skar'this the Heretic captive in a cage after the first boss, Mennu the Betrayer.
[30R] The Cudgel of Kar'desh.
- Retrieve the [Earthen Signet] from Gruul the Dragonkiller in Gruul's Lair and the [Blazing Signet] from Nightbane in Karazhan.

Auchindoun[]

Shadow Labyrinth[]

Talon King Ikiss, the final boss in the Sethekk Halls wing of Auchindoun guards the [Shadow Labyrinth Key] which is contained in The Talon King's Coffer behind him. Only one person needs the key for the group to enter. A rogue with 350 lockpicking skill can also open the gate.

Tempest Keep[]

Note that to enter Tempest Keep, you will need to have a flying mount or have warlock summon you into the instance.

The Arcatraz[]

Main article: Key to the Arcatraz

The quest line for [Key to the Arcatraz] is fairly easy and begins in the Area 52 area of Netherstorm. Only one person needs the key for the group to enter. A rogue with 350 lockpicking skill can also open the gate.

[25-30] Consortium Crystal Collection
- Nether-Stalker Khay'ji asks you to kill Pentatharon and collect an [Arklon Crystal Artifact]
[25-30] A Heap of Ethereals
- Nether-Stalker Khay'ji tells you to kill ethereals and collect 10 [Zaxxis Insignia].
[25-30] Warp-Raider Nesaad
- Nether-Stalker Khay'ji asks you to kill Warp-Raider Nesaad and return to him.
[25-30] Request for Assistance
- Nether-Stalker Khay'ji sends you to Gahruj in Eco-Dome Midrealm.
[25-30] Rightful Repossession
- Gahruj sends you to recover 10 Boxes of Surveying Equipment from Manaforge Duro.
[25-30] An Audience with the Prince
- Gahruj sends you to Stormspire to deliver the [Surveying Equipment] to Image of Nexus-Prince Haramad.
[25-30] Triangulation Point One
- Use the Triangulation Device to find the first triangulation point.
[25-30] Triangulation Point Two
- Use the Triangulation Device to find the second triangulation point.
[25-30G] Full Triangle
- Kill Culuthas and recover the [Ata'mal Crystal]. Bring it to Image of Nexus-Prince Haramad.
[25-30] Special Delivery to Shattrath City
- Bring the Ata'mal Crystal to A'dal in the center of Shattrath City.
[25-30D] How to Break Into the Arcatraz
- Kill Warp Splinter in the Botanica and Pathaleon the Calculator in the Mechanar to recover the two halves of the key to Arcatraz.

The Eye[]

As of June 19, 2007 - The Eye no longer requires attunement - see [1]

Main article: Tempest Key guide

Receiving the [The Tempest Key] requires several quest chains in Shadowmoon Valley and a very involved quest chain started by A'dal requiring boss kills (one of which is timed) in multiple Heroic Mode dungeons and a Magtheridon kill. Please see Tempest Key guide for a full walkthrough.

Caverns of Time[]

Main article: Caverns of Time

Escape from Durnholde Keep[]

[15-30] To The Master's Lair and [15-30] The Caverns of Time
- Introduction quests at the Caverns of Time
[15-30D] Old Hillsbrad, [15-30D] Taretha's Diversion, [15-30D] Escape from Durnholde and [68D] Return to Andormu
- Complete the Escape from Durnholde Keep instance

The Opening of the Dark Portal[]

Each person in the group must complete Escape from Durnholde by finishing [68D] Return to Andormu to be eligible to start the next quest.

[25-30D] The Black Morass
- Zone in to Opening the Dark Portal
[25-30D] The Opening of the Dark Portal and [70D] Hero of the Brood
- Complete the instance.

Battle of Mount Hyjal[]

As of 25 March 2008 - Battle of Mount Hyjal no longer requires attunement - see Patch 2.4.0

The attunement process for Battle of Mount Hyjal is very difficult. Every person in the group must be attuned to enter.

[30R] The Vials of Eternity
- Soridormi in the Caverns of Time asks you to slay Lady Vashj <Coilfang Matron> in Serpentshrine Cavern and Prince Kael'Thas in The Eye to recover a Vial Remnant from each. Both of these are 25-man raid encounters.

Black Temple[]

As of 25 March 2008 - Black Temple no longer requires attunement - see Patch 2.4.0

Main article: Black Temple attunement

Getting attuned to the Black Temple and receiving the [Medallion of Karabor] involves 15 steps in a rather involved quest chain including killing both Al'ar and the first boss in the Battle for Mount Hyjal, Rage Winterchill.

Wowpedia