Magmaw Magmaw is typically the first boss of the Blackwing Descent raid instance . Abilities . When Magmaw slumps forward multiple players can jump on his head and use constricting chains to impale him on the spike in the room causing him to be debuffed with point of vulnerability . Magmaw will break free without enough chains used . On heroic difficulty Blazing Animated Skeletons will be summoned by Lord Victor Nefarius . < br > Strategy - Trash Mobs . Just before the Magmaw pull , there will be two hostile enemies guarding him that are pulled at once . They are capable of a strong , nature - damage Thunderclap , which will two - shot non - tanks if they are allowed to stand together . They will often Charge the player that is farthest away from them , dropping all current aggro , generating 300 , 000 new threat on the Charged target , and then following up with a frontal spinning blade attack that will severely damage that target . In addition , when one dies , the other will Enrage . Have the two tanks pull each enemy to opposite sides of the room , and have the healers and ranged stand in the center . The tanks should have their backs to the walls , while the melee should have their backs to the ranged . This nullifies any targeting issues from Charge . After that , just make sure that the HP of the adds is watched fairly carefully , and try to kill them at the same time . Strategy - Normal . Magmaw has two set phases . During Phase 1 , he will attack as normal , and take normal damage . During Phase 2 , if the group has managed to Impale him , he will be stunned for a period of time , take extra damage , and spit out the tank he has swallowed . Phase 1 will last for just under 2 minutes if the chains are applied properly , and Phase 2 will last for about 30 seconds . Phase 1 . Magmaw will melee the tank and spit lava at the raid periodically as the fight goes on . Every thirty seconds , Magmaw will cast Pillar of Flame . Pillar of Flame , after four seconds , will spawn Lava Parasites . After about every 1 : 30 in , Magmaw will cast his Mangle ability . Mangle is followed by Massive Crash a few seconds later . While Magmaw is bent double after using Massive Crash , players will have the chance to jump onto his head the same way they would any vehicle . Boarding Magmaw will take away all abilities save one - Constricting Chains , set to the first button . If performed successfully , the Point of Vulnerability at the back of Magmaw ' s head will be exposed to the group , the Mangled tank ( if alive ) will be freed , and Magmaw will enter Phase 2 . ( Roughly 1 : 45 in ) < br > Phase 2 . Magmaw is now stunned , dealing no damage to the raid at all , and all damage he takes is doubled . This is the time to cast Heroism , Bloodlust , Time Warp , or Ancient Hysteria . Magmaw will no longer be causing any damage to players , and the only potential threat would be any Lava Parasites that remain . The Parasites should be prioritized before Magmaw , if there are any . It is also a good time for healers to relax and recover mana if necessary . Paladin healers should immediately cast Divine Plea , whether their mana is low or not - the time it takes for Magmaw to return to Phase 2 will almost completely finish the cooldown on it , and the time spent in Phase 2 will outlast the time Divine Plea nerfs your healing for . Any spells like Earth Shield , Beacon of Light , or any other long - term single - target spells should now be swapped over to the second tank . This phase will last for about 30 seconds . < br > Finishing the fight . As the first tank will still be afflicted with Sweltering Armor , your second tank should keep Magmaw ' s aggro once he stands back up . Repeat the phases until Magmaw is dead . Each Phase 1 from now on will be considerably shorter than the first - Mangle , Ignition , and Massive Crash all have a 1 : 30 cooldown , and the cooldowns all begin as soon as they ' re cast . The time from the end of Phase 1 and the whole of Phase 2 take up about half of the above cooldowns . < br > Heroic Mode . < br >