Beta run checklist

Excavation Site: Wetlands dungeon guide

By · Last verified

A mysterious excavation site in the Wetlands above Whelgar’s Excavation.

Level range
Levels 26–31Blizzard range
Bosses
4 namedReported route order
Quests
8 · Alliance & HordeBeta · 1.60.1
Entrance
A Wetlands hilltop at the end of the new roads (47.8, 56.3)Wowhead report
Official Blizzard image of Excavation Site: Wetlands

© Blizzard Entertainment. Official Excavation Site: Wetlands media.

Map & quest objectives for Excavation Site: Wetlands (Whelgar's Excavation)

Quests by faction8 quests

Show quests for

Beta client · checked 2026-10-04. Patch 1.60.1; XP at the quest's level.

  1. Highland Hides

    AllianceLevel 28 · from 24

    The client lists no faction. James Halloran is in Menethil Harbor and pays Stormwind reputation.

    How to get it
    James Halloran in Menethil Harbor (Wetlands 8.4, 55.8)
    First
    Young Crocolisk Skins from James Halloran (player report).
    Objective
    Bring back 4 Thicket Raptor Hides.
    Turn in
    James Halloran
    Rewards
    1,150 XP · 12s · 50 Stormwind rep

  3. Elder Knowledge

    HordeLevel 31 · from 24
    How to get it
    A Titan Relic from the last boss, the Relic Guardian
    Objective
    Take the Titan Relic to the Elder Rise in Thunder Bluff.
    Turn in
    Bashana Runetotem on the Elder Rise, Thunder Bluff (70.4, 33.0)
    Rewards
    1,400 XP
    Quest chain · 2 steps
    1. Elder Knowledge · dungeon stepTake the relic to Bashana Runetotem in Thunder Bluff.1,400 XP
    2. Earthen EchoBring the relic to Muln Earthfury at the Skywatcher Plateau, north-west Mulgore (33.4, 22.4).6,950 XP · 60s · reward: choose one of Heavehammer, Healer's Staff, Furs of the Earthen Ring
    Wowhead reportsWowhead report · guide and player comments
    • Climb to the Skywatcher Plateau from 39.7, 16.9; Muln is in the biggest tent.
    • The relic vanished at the first turn-in in the first days; players report it fixed on 3 October. If you lost it, abandon Earthen Echo and take it again from Bashana.

  5. Lost in the Thicket Things

    AllianceLevel 31 · from 24
    How to get it
    Caitlin Grassman in Menethil Harbor (Wetlands 11.8, 58.6)
    Objective
    Find her husband, Ardin Grassman, inside the dungeon.
    Turn in
    Ardin Grassman inside the dungeon, who hands you Heartwoven
    Rewards
    4,900 XP
    Quest chain · 3 steps
    1. Seeking CaitlinOptional lead-in from Llana in Astranaar, Ashenvale (35.0, 48.4): speak with Caitlin in Menethil Harbor.1,250 XP
    2. Lost in the Thicket Things · dungeon stepFind Ardin Grassman inside the dungeon.4,900 XP
    3. HeartwovenBring Ardin's Reed-woven Heart back to Caitlin in Menethil Harbor.6,150 XP · reward: choose one of Greater Healing Potion, Mana Potion

  6. Lost Relic Carry

    AllianceLevel 31 · from 24
    How to get it
    A Titan Relic from the last boss, the Relic Guardian
    Objective
    Bring the Titan Relic to Prospector Whelgar.
    Turn in
    Prospector Whelgar at Whelgar's Excavation Site, Wetlands (38.8, 52.2)
    Rewards
    1,250 XP
    Quest chain · 2 steps
    1. Lost Relic Carry · dungeon stepBring the relic to Prospector Whelgar.1,250 XP
    2. Prehistoric PrismTake the relic to High Explorer Magellas in the Hall of Explorers, Ironforge.6,150 XP · 60s · reward: choose one of Explorer's League Dustcover, Healer's Staff, Heavehammer
    Wowhead reportsWowhead report · guide and player comments
    • The relic vanished at the first turn-in in the first days; players report it fixed on 3 October. If you lost it, abandon the quest and take it again for a new relic.

  7. Open the Maw

    HordeLevel 31 · from 24

    The client lists no faction. The chain starts in Hammerfall and its rewards are Horde items.

    How to get it
    The Deathstalker Agent in the hills above the Dragonmaw camp, near the entrance (Wetlands 51.4, 59.2)
    Objective
    Kill 2 Dragonmaw Saboteurs and 4 Dragonmaw Warders, and take the Dragonmaw Dispatch.
    Turn in
    The Deathstalker Agent outside
    Rewards
    6,950 XP
    Quest chain · 2 steps
    1. Dragonmaw RumorsFrom Zaruk at the foot of the stairs in Hammerfall, Arathi Highlands (74.4, 35.4): meet the Deathstalker Agent.550 XP
    2. Open the Maw · dungeon stepClear the Dragonmaw inside the dungeon.6,950 XP

  8. Songblade Search

    AllianceLevel 31 · from 24

    The client lists no faction. Dorin Songblade is in Lakeshire and the follow-up is Alliance.

    How to get it
    Dorin Songblade in Lakeshire, Redridge Mountains (25.6, 46.6)
    Objective
    Find Dorin's brother Daewyn inside the dungeon.
    Turn in
    Daewyn's body inside the dungeon, which starts Fallen in the Fen
    Rewards
    6,150 XP
    Quest chain · 2 steps
    1. Songblade Search · dungeon stepFind Daewyn inside the dungeon.6,150 XP
    2. Fallen in the FenTell Dorin Songblade in Lakeshire what happened to his brother.6,150 XP · reward: choose one of Daewyn's Girdle, Songblade Stabilizer
    Wowhead reportsWowhead report · guide and player comments
    • Dorin is in the stables, on the left as you cross the bridge from the flight master.

Dungeon leveling routeRestedXP's Dungeon Guide

In RestedXP's dungeon route for levels 1 to 30, Excavation Site: Wetlands is stop 5 of 5 for Alliance. The guide picks up the dungeon quests before you go in.

Alliance

  1. Hall of ThanesLevels 13–18New in Forever
  2. Ruins of LordaeronLevels 15–20New in Forever
  3. The DeadminesLevels 18–23
  4. The StockadeLevels 22–30
  5. Excavation Site: WetlandsLevels 26–31New in Forever

Order: RestedXP partner update of October 17, 2026. Both routes and how to turn the dungeon guide on.

Bosses & lootReported route order

Wowhead report · checked 2026-10-06. Sources

  2. 2

    Shadetooth

    Elite beast

    Tactics

    Two Thicket Hunters fight beside it: crowd-control them and dispel their Infected Wound. Rend bleeds the tank. Its 5-second fear cannot be dispelled and can send players into the raptors in the tall grass, so fight it in the cleared cove to the left. It enrages at 30% health.

    Abilities

    Reported drops 3

    Quest context: Drops Thicket Raptor Hide for Highland Hides and Thicket Raptor Meat for Changing Tastes. It also drops Blueprint: Greenhouse.

  3. 3

    Relic Guardian

    Elite elemental

    Tactics

    The last boss. It stays inactive until someone uses the Archival Panel on its right. It has a large health pool and hits the tank hard. Thunderclap slows everyone within 10 yards, and the tank gets knocked back and stunned for 5 seconds; stuns, slows and kiting around the nearby structures help.

    Abilities

    Reported drops 3

    Quest context: Drops the Titan Relic that starts Lost Relic Carry (Alliance) or Elder Knowledge (Horde). It also drops Blueprint: Rock Garden.

  4. Highland Horror

    Elite elemental

    Quest context: Drops the Horrible Rootcore for Horrors in the Highland. Wowhead's guide leaves it out, so its place in the run is unknown.

Drop chances are not published in the checked Forever sources.

Entrance & quest giver maps
Wetlands map with 5 marked spots
WetlandsMap © Blizzard Entertainment, via Wowhead.
Redridge Mountains map with 1 marked spot
Redridge MountainsMap © Blizzard Entertainment, via Wowhead.
Orgrimmar map with 1 marked spot
OrgrimmarMap © Blizzard Entertainment, via Wowhead.
World map & access

Follow the new roads to the top of a hill in the Wetlands; Wowhead's guide map puts the entrance at 47.8, 56.3. Alliance players arrive through Menethil Harbor or Loch Modan, Horde players on foot through Hillsbrad and Arathi. The nearest spirit healer is at 49.5, 41.4, a long run back. Wowhead report

Blizzard opened Excavation Site: Wetlands in the October 1 beta update. Its launch level range is 24–29 in Blizzard's October 20 dungeon overview, which replaces the 26–31 of the October 1 note. Walking-entry requirements remain separate.

World map of every WoW Forever dungeon and raid locationExcavation Site: Wetlands · 26–31
Dungeon Raid Zone only, no entrance coordinate© Blizzard Entertainment. World map from the WoW Forever beta client, build 1.60.1.70235. Solid pins sit on the entrance coordinate from Wowhead's guide.
Source notes & beta changes

The checked sources do not establish complete boss tactics, drop tables, or launch timing.

Blizzard's October 1 beta update replaces the earlier 24–29 range with 26–31. This range does not establish a walking-entry minimum. Older client and fansite records keep their own dates and builds.

Trash to watch

  • Thicket Lurker: Appears when you walk through the tall grass in the second boss's area, so keep to the narrow path. Drops Thicket Raptor Hide and Meat.
  • Thicket Matriarch: Spread across the grass. At low health it screeches and calls more Lurkers. Drops hides.
  • Thicket Hunter: Two fight beside Shadetooth. They can be crowd-controlled, their Infected Wound can be dispelled, and they cannot swim.

Quest item enemies: Dragonmaw Saboteur, Dragonmaw Warder, Thicket Raptor.

Alliance access report: Wowhead reports access from Menethil Harbor, a Stormwind boat connection via Auberdine, or a foot approach through Loch Modan. Those routes have not been checked in-game here.

Horde access report: Wowhead reports a foot route through Hillsbrad Foothills and Arathi Highlands and suggests collecting the Tarren Mill and Hammerfall flight paths. That route has not been checked in-game here.

Dungeon Finder report: level 26. Walking-entry minimum is a separate rule.

Blizzard range: 26–31. Blizzard's October 1 update opens this dungeon with a corrected 26–31 range. Levels 26–30 overlap the beta cap; the range does not establish the walking-entry minimum or a full clear at 30.

Wowhead's dungeon guide recommends levels 24–30. A full clear at level 30 is not verified.

Wowhead's guide shows difficulty markers Hard 22, Medium 24, At Level 26 and Easy 29; they are not entry rules. Wowhead's beta quest records, checked 4 October, list 14 quests for the dungeon; this site's dungeon quest page groups them into eight quest lines with XP.

Blizzard's October 20 range starts at 24. The range and older Dungeon Finder read do not establish a walking-entry minimum.

Sources

  1. Blizzard EntertainmentWorld of Warcraft: Forever What's Next Panel Recap
  2. Blizzard EntertainmentWorld of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap
  3. Blizzard EntertainmentWoW: Forever dungeon level ranges clarification
  4. Blizzard EntertainmentWoW Forever beta development notes — October 1 update
  5. WowheadWoW: Forever beta-client zone records (patch 1.60.1)
  6. WowheadWoW: Forever beta-client dungeon quests (patch 1.60.1)
  7. WoW Forever TalentsWoW: Forever Dungeon Finder minimum-level read (build 1.60.1.69977)
  8. WowheadExcavation Site: Wetlands dungeon guide: bosses, tactics and loot