The Siege of Niuzao Temple is a level 90 Heroic-only dungeon located in the Townlong Steppes, Pandaria. Players must have a minimum item level of 435 to queue for this dungeon. The dungeon features a linear progression through a hollowed-out tree and a Mantid Forward Assault Camp, culminating in a battle to stop the Mantid from constructing a bridge to invade Niuzao Temple. It contains four boss encounters: Vizier Jin’bak, Commander Vo’jak, General Pa’valak, and Wing Leader Ner’onok. This guide provides strategies for each boss, quest details, and loot information.

Dungeon Overview

Location: Townlong Steppes, Pandaria (entrance at coordinates 36, 84). Accessible via a hollowed-out tree from the Shado-Pan Garrison flight point, heading southwest.

Level Requirement: 90

Mode: Heroic only (item level 435 required)

Bosses: 4 (Vizier Jin’bak, Commander Vo’jak, General Pa’valak, Wing Leader Ner’onok)

Loot: Item level 463 (except Tolakesh, Horn of the Black Ox, at item level 476)

Quests: Two quests available from Shado-Master Chum Kiu at the entrance.

Quests

Two quests can be completed within the dungeon, both given by Shado-Master Chum Kiu at the entrance:

Somewhere Inside: Free Shado-Pan Prisoners in the Forward Assault Camp (no rewards).

Take Down the Wing Leader: Kill the final boss, Wing Leader Ner’onok. Rewards item level 440 gear (e.g., boots or bracers).

Boss Encounters and Strategies

1. Vizier Jin’bak

Location: Inside the hollowed-out tree at the dungeon’s start.

Abilities:

Melee Attacks: The tank must survive standard melee hits.

Sap Puddle: A growing pool in the room’s center deals Sap Residue (Nature damage) to players standing in it.

Detonate: Jin’bak channels a spell to detonate the Sap Puddle, dealing massive raid-wide Nature damage based on the puddle’s size.

Summon Sap Globule: Spawns adds that move toward the Sap Puddle, increasing its size if they reach it.

Strategy:

Tank: Position Jin’bak away from the Sap Puddle to avoid accidental damage.

DPS: Quickly kill Sap Globules before they reach the puddle. Use AoE stuns or slows to control them.

Healer: Be prepared for raid-wide damage from Detonate. Keep the group topped off.

Everyone: Avoid standing in the Sap Puddle to minimize damage. Move as a group to control Globule spawns.

Key Tip: Prioritize interrupting or killing Globules to keep the Sap Puddle small, reducing Detonate damage.

2. Commander Vo’jak

Location: Atop the Forward Assault Camp after clearing trash.

Abilities:

Rising Speed: Vo’jak’s attack speed increases over time, putting pressure on the tank and healer.

Whirlwind: Deals heavy AoE damage to players within melee range.

Sik’thik Amberwings: Adds that carry barrels of Caustic Pitch, dropping them on players, creating damaging pools.

Sik’thik Swarmer Waves: Waves of adds that spawn periodically and must be managed.

Strategy:

Tank: Pull Vo’jak to a corner to limit movement. Be ready for increasing damage as Rising Speed stacks.

DPS: Focus on killing Sik’thik Swarmers quickly to prevent being overwhelmed. Use AoE abilities to clear waves. Avoid Caustic Pitch pools dropped by Amberwings.

Healer: Monitor the tank closely as Rising Speed increases damage taken. Use AoE heals during Swarmer waves.

Everyone: Stay spread out to avoid multiple players being hit by Caustic Pitch pools. Move out of Whirlwind range when Vo’jak spins.

Key Tip: Prioritize add control and stay mobile to avoid pitch pools. Coordinate interrupts or stuns on Amberwings if possible.

3. General Pa’valak

Location: Further into the Forward Assault Camp, near the siege area.

Abilities:

Blade Rush: Pa’valak throws his weapon, dealing heavy damage in a line and knocking back players.

Tempest: A frontal cone attack that deals significant damage.

Sik’thik Reinforcements: Summons adds (Sik’thik Soldiers and Amber Sappers) that must be managed.

Bulwark: Pa’valak shields himself, absorbing damage until the shield is broken.

Strategy:

Tank: Face Pa’valak away from the group to avoid Tempest hitting others. Move out of Blade Rush lines.

DPS: Focus on killing Sik’thik Soldiers and Amber Sappers quickly. Break Pa’valak’s Bulwark with high DPS to resume damaging him.

Healer: Be ready for spike damage from Blade Rush and Tempest. Heal through add phases.

Everyone: Dodge Blade Rush by sidestepping the telegraphed line. Spread out to minimize AoE damage from adds.

Key Tip: Stay alert for Blade Rush telegraphs and prioritize breaking the Bulwark to shorten the fight.

4. Wing Leader Ner’onok

Location: On the incomplete bridge leading to Niuzao Temple.

Abilities:

Quick-Dry Resin: Ner’onok leaps to a player, encasing them in resin that immobilizes and deals increasing damage until broken.

Hurl Brick: Throws bricks at random players, dealing heavy physical damage.

Gusting Winds: Creates strong winds that push players backward, potentially off the bridge.

Caustic Pitch: Drops pools that deal Nature damage and slow movement.

Strategy:

Tank: Keep Ner’onok centered on the bridge to give the group space to maneuver. Be ready for Hurl Brick damage.

DPS: Break allies out of Quick-Dry Resin by attacking the resin cocoon. Focus damage on Ner’onok during grounded phases.

Healer: Prioritize healing players targeted by Hurl Brick and those breaking free from resin. Be prepared for raid-wide damage during Gusting Winds.

Everyone: Avoid Caustic Pitch pools and move forward against Gusting Winds to avoid being pushed off the bridge. Use movement abilities or speed buffs to counter the wind.

Key Tip: Stay near the center of the bridge and act quickly to free allies from Quick-Dry Resin. Watch for wind phases and move proactively.

Trash Mobs

Sik’thik Mantid: Common enemies with abilities like Resin Flakes (deals Nature damage) and melee attacks. Interrupt or CC casters where possible.

Difficult Pulls: Watch for Sik’thik Amberweavers and Demolishers, which cast AoE spells or drop bombs. Pull carefully and use crowd control to manage groups.

Tip: Clear trash systematically to avoid overwhelming pulls, especially before Commander Vo’jak and General Pa’valak.

Loot

Item Level: Most loot is item level 463, with Tolakesh, Horn of the Black Ox (from Wing Leader Ner’onok) at item level 476.

Notable Drops:

Vizier Jin’bak: Hood of Viridian Residue (cloth helm), Sap-Encrusted Cap (leather helm).

Commander Vo’jak: Bombardment Bracers (plate wrists), Chestwrap of Arcing Flame (leather chest).

General Pa’valak: Tempestuous Longbow (bow), Siege-Captain’s Scimitar (one-hand sword).

Wing Leader Ner’onok: Tolakesh, Horn of the Black Ox (two-hand axe), Wind-Strider Belt (mail waist).

Quest Rewards: Completing Take Down the Wing Leader grants item level 440 gear, such as boots or bracers.

Achievements

Siege of Niuzao Temple: Complete the dungeon (Pandaria Remix version requires a Timerunner).

Siege of Niuzao Temple: Gold: Complete the dungeon in Challenge Mode with a Gold rating (requires fast completion within a time limit).

Tip: For Challenge Mode, optimize DPS, crowd control, and movement to minimize time spent on trash and bosses.