Deadmines ( original ) The Deadmines are expansive , winding tunnels dug out under Westfall and part of northwestern Stranglethorn Vale . It is the lowest - level Alliance instance , and is populated by members of the Defias Brotherhood . Its entrance can be accessed in the town of Moonbrook in southwestern Westfall , while its exit is located in the western part of the Dagger Hills near the ocean . The Deadmines is the center of the Defias operation , led by the ambitious Edwin VanCleef , who is constructing a juggernaut at the bottom of the mines with the aid of the goblin s . Many quests occur in and around the Deadmines . Prior to the First War , the Deadmines were the greatest gold - production center in human lands . However , they were abandoned during the First War . During that time , Lord Lothar ventured into the perilous Deadmines on a quest to obtain the Tome of Divinity , but was captured by a band of ogres and held captive for 20 months . He was ultimately rescued and successful in his mission . It was also to the dungeons below the Deadmines to which Blackhand ' s daughter Griselda fled with the ogre Turok . Both were slain by an Orcish raid . At that time , many slime s inhabited the dungeons , but have not been encountered lately . Geography . Guide . The tunnels leading to the instance portal first contain the level 15 - 16 Defias Digger , Defias Henchman , and Defias Conjurer mobs . Close to the instance portal , it will then have the level 16 - 17 Defias Worker , Defias Watchman , and Defias Magician mobs . The undead portion of the Deadmines has the level 17 - 18 Skeletal Miner , Undead Dynamiter , and Undead Excavator mobs . Three mini - bosses , Marisa du ' Paige , Brainwashed Noble , and Foreman Thistlenettle , exist outside of the instance . Inside the instance , it is full of level 17 - 18 Defias Miner s . It also has two kinds of level 17 - 18 Elites : Defias Overseer and Defias Evoker . The first boss you encounter is the ogre Rhahk ' Zor . He is a level - 20 Elite , hits quite hard , and has high amounts of armor . He has two Defias Watchmen in his room . The instance is populated with non - Elite Defias Strip Miners , and level - 18 or - 19 Elites . After fighting Rhahk ' Zor , you will fight more Defias Miner s , Defias Overseer s , and Defias Evoker s . You will then enter the Mast Room where goblin carvers are working on a mast for the dreadnaught . Sneed and his Shredder are the bosses here . He is level - 20 elite . Sneed ' s Shredder is immune to burn , bleed , and concussion effects . After destroying his Shreeder , Sneed himself will jump out and attack you . Immediately after Sneed ' s Shredder , you will then fight level 18 - 19 Defias Strip Miner s . It also has two kinds of level 18 - 19 Elites : Defias Taskmaster and Defias Wizard . You will then enter the Goblin Foundry , where the goblins are busy creating anchors and cannonballs for the Defias Dreadnaught . The Goblin Craftsman can be found there , along with the Goblin Engineer that can summon a Remote - Controlled Golem , which will fight alongside them . Gilnid is the boss here . He comes with 3 adds . Killing him opens the door to the next area . You will fight more Defias Strip Miner s , Defias Taskmaster s , and Defias Wizard s , and eventually come to an alcove which contains Defias Gunpowder . This should be looted as it is required to open the door to the docks . A Rogue can also attempt to pick the lock on the door . If the party elects to blast open the door , you will alert Mr . Smite , the tauren First Mate , who will send Defias Pirates to see what the disturbance was . If you pick the lock instead , you will not alert them . Mr . Smite is the next boss . All adds should be cleared from the area ( the ship ramp ) before you engage him . There are two stealthed Elites ( Defias Blackguard s ) ) at the bottom of the ramp . These should be eliminated before taking Mr . Smite on . Mr . Smite will perform a Warstomp and stun the entire party at 75 % and 50 % health . This stun cannot be interrupted or avoided . A notable exception to this is if a Hunter has maxed out his Hawk Eye talent , allowing him to snipe Mr . Smite at max range , allowing DPS to continue to do damage , and hopefully not pull aggro if the tank had built enough . Any adds still alive will continue to attack the party . Mr . Smite will run over to his chest , and take out a new , stronger weapon , and attack the party again . The ship contains level - 19 Elite Goblin Shipbuilder s , Defias Pirate s , and Defias Squallshaper s . The boss at the top is Captain Greenskin , the ship ' s captain . He comes with two adds . The final boss is Edwin VanCleef . He is a level - 20 elite . He is hiding in the cabin on top of the ship . Attacking him will bring his two guards out as well . He can stun , and will summon more adds as his life gets low . The other boss is optional . After killing VanCleef , you can jump down the other side of the ship , and find more Defias . You will also find Cookie , a level - 19 elite Murloc who is also the ship ' s cook . After leaving the ship , you can continue to go up the path into the tunnel , which leads to the instance exit . Notable characters . The Deadmines are home to the notorious Defias Brotherhood , and several of its more important members are stationed here . and operate the mast room , the smelter presides over the goblin foundry , and the first mate guards the ship . patrols the ship itself , where himself rules from the ship ' s cabin . Loot . See The Deadmines loot ( original ) . World of Warcraft : Cataclysm . In " " Deadmines will be completely revamped . With the Defias no longer an issue , a new boss and enemies will appear in this location . The dungeons level range will be slightly adjusted to 15 - 21 and also will gain a heroic mode for level 85 players . Previously during BlizzCon , it was stated that " Edwin was back , and he ' s VanCleef - ier than ever . . . " and that a heroic version of Deadmines would be added for high level players . While the heroic mode is still happening , Edwin VanCleef will mostly likely not return , but probably will be replaced by his daughter instead . However , in the current build of beta , the heroic guild achievement for Deadmines requires you kill " Captain " Cookie . It appears as if after VanCleef ' s death , the murloc instituted a mutiny and took over .