Fathom-Lord Karathress (Flex Heroic)

## Overview

Fathom-Lord Karathress is the third boss of Serpentshrine Cavern, where he is accompanied by his Guards consisting of Caribdis, Tidalvess, Sharkiss and his pet.

They have a combined health of 7,5M at a raid size of 10, which is the minimum health scaling, increasing with 10% per player above 10 up to 25 players.

It is important to note that damaging Karathress below 75% while any of his Guardians are alive will result in an instant enrage and a guaranteed wipe.

While Karathress and Tidalvess are free to be moved around (and has to be tanked), Sharkiss and Caribdis have fixed positions and do not require a tank.

This Boss has a 12 minute enrage timer.

## Karathress

Karathress has to be tanked while also being within 30 yards of one of his Guards every other 30 seconds, to alternate his Blessing of Tides buff. As the fights progress, and his Guards die, he will inherit their power and some of their abilities. When all the Guards are dead, and he has inherited all of their power, he will also be able to cast Cataclysmic Bolt.

#### **Fierce Blow**

This is a special melee ability that has a chance to trigger every 3 seconds.

#### **Blessing of the Tides**

Blessing of the Tides is a buff that is given to the Guard with the lowest health within 30 yards, and if none is in range, given to himself. The buff itself increases damage done by 11% and reduces damage taken by 11%, lasting 30 seconds and stacking. This means that alternating it between Karathress and one of his Guards will maintain a maximum of 1 stack on both. He will cast this ability every 30 seconds.

#### **Power of the Fathom-Lords**

**Power of Caribdis**

Power of Caribdis is the inheritance of Caribdis when she dies, enabling Karathress to cast Deep Freeze, a Frost Nova effect trapping all enemies within 10 yards within Ice for 8 seconds. You can Blink out of this effect and it can also be Dispelled. This ability has a 20 seconds cooldown.

It also increases his mana regeneration by 3%.

**Power of Tidalvess**

Power of Tidalvess is the inheritance of Tidalvess when he dies, enabling Karathress to place all totems, Earthbind Totem, Spitfire Totem and Poison Cleansing totem. It is advised to switch position and outrange the totems once they're placed, as the Spitfire Totem deals a 3000 - 4000 Fire damage to all enemies within 40 yards, every second. This ability has a 30 seconds cooldown.

It also increases his mana regeneration by 3%.

**Power of Sharkiss**

Power of Sharkiss is the inheritance of Sharkiss when he dies, enabling Karathress to cast The Beast Within, increasing all Physical damage by 30%, lasting 10 seconds. This ability has a 30 seconds cooldown.

It also increases his mana regeneration by 3%.

#### **Cataclysmic Bolt**

Cataclysmic Bolt is an ability that requires the Power of all his Guards, so he will only start using this when all his Guards are dead. This ability consumes 100% of his total mana, deals 60% of his targets maximum health as shadow damage and stuns it for 2 seconds. This will happen roughly every 9 seconds. It is advised to save defensive cooldowns for this ability.

## Caribdis

Caribdis is a Caster with a locked positioning on the platform opposite of where they are all cathered. It is important to note that having atleast 1 ranged player on Caribdis to interrupt Chain Heal is vital to the fight.

#### **Chain Lightning**

Chain Lightning is an ability that deals 3900 - 5200 Nature damage, jumping to nearby targets within 10 yards, up to 5 targets, dealing 30% less damage per jump.

#### **Chain Hea**l

Chain Heal is a special ability that heals friendly targets for 25% of their maximum health, up to 4 targets. This ability has a 30 seconds cooldown and is interruptible.

#### **Hurricane**

Hurricane is a special ability that spawns a thundercloud at a player location, dealing 2600 Nature damage to all enemies beneath, every second. Lasts 28 seconds, and the ability has a 30 seconds cooldown.

#### **Deep Freeze (Frost Nova)**

Deep Freeze is a Frost Nova ability that freezes all enemies within 10 yards, for 8 seconds. Caribdis will first cast this ability after 8 seconds and it has a 20 seconds cooldown. You can Blink out of this effect and it can be Dispelled.

## Tidalvess

Tidalvess is an Enhancement Shaman that needs to be tanked. He drops his totems every 30 seconds, can trigger Windfury and casts Frost Shock. The tank tanking Tidalvess will be taking a considerable amount of damage.

#### Fierce Blow

This is a special melee ability that has a chance to trigger every 3 seconds.

#### **Frost Shock**

This ability Inflicts 4000 - 5000 Frost damage and slows it's target by 50% for 8 seconds.

#### **Windfury**

Tidalvess has a chance of proccing Windfury, triggering 2 extra weapon attacks.

#### **Tidalvess Totems** [Every 30 seconds]

**Spitfire Totem**

Spitfire Totem 2000 - 3000 Fire damage to all enemies within 20 yards. Lasts 30 seconds.

**Earthbind Totem**

Earthbind Totem periodically slows down enemies within 20 yars, by 40%. Lasts 30 seconds.

**Poison Cleansing Totem**

The Poison Cleansing Totem grants 500 of all resistances to nearby allies. Lasts 30 seconds.

## Sharkiss

#### **Focused Assault**

This special ability marks an enemy, enabling Sharkiss to rapidly fire arrows towards his target, lasting 6 seconds. This ability has a 30 seconds cooldown.

#### **The Beat Within**

This special ability increases all Physical damage by 30%, lasting 10 seconds, and can be cast on one ally within 30 yards. This effect is an enrage can be Tranquilizing Shot. This ability has a 30 seconds cooldown.

#### **Summon Pets**

**Summon Fathom Sporebat**

Summons a Fathom Sporebat to assist Sharkiss. Has a threat table and is tauntable.

**Summon Fathom Lurker**

Summons a Fathom Lurker to assist Sharkiss. Has a threat table and is tauntable.

## Tactics

#### **Line up**

Fathom-Lord Karathress is solotankable, as long as you focus Tidalvess first, and are able to kill him within a reasonable time. If not, then 2 tanks is suggested. This fight can have a lot of raid wide damage, depending on your raid positioning. You would need to move away from Spitfire Totem, Hurricane and spread for Chain Lightning. If this is somewhat avoided, you can safely run 2 healers, as long as you sustain the tanks. Running 3 healers can be a good option for many raids.

#### **Phase 1**

Start up: Position Tidalvess somewhere you can rotate between 2 positions where the tank is in range of the healers. Also position Karathress within 30 yards of the Guard he wants to pass Blessing of the Tides to. Position your interrupter(s) on Caribdis (outside of Deep Freeze range), have your Tranquilizing Shot ready and spread out for Chain Lightning. **Always run out of Hurricane**. A basic suggestion on how to position during phase 1 is shown in the illustration to the right.

You want your Melee Physical and Holy damage dealers to stay on Tidalvess, as they won't be affected by the Resistance Totem. They can go on Sharkiss after, to avoid Caribdis so they don't get frozen. Casters should focus Caribdis or Sharkiss, depending on how reliable your interrupts are, and agree on which guard you kill last. I suggest it is a stationary one (like Sharkiss) as it is a lot easier to alternate moving Karathress in and out of a set position. After killing Tidalvess you relocate Karathress to Tidalvess' position, as he will now be dropping totems. He still needs to alternate being in 30 yards range of another Guard every 30 seconds, to apply Blessing of the Tides, so just pull him closer to either Caribdis or Sharkiss when he's about to cast Blessing of the Tides. Do NOT let this stack up on the boss.

#### **Phase 2**

You want to kill the last Guard when you've just had Karathress apply a fresh Blessing of the Tides and he's at roughly 80-85% health (if your raid is low on dps), then have the tanks position at each pillar, roughly 30 yards away from eachother and be ready to taunt back and forth (solo tanks move him themselves), whenever Karathress drop totems. You can gather the ranged dps and healers in a group as show in the illustration to the right, being in range of both positions. At this time it's a DPS race to kill Karathress before his stacks of Blessing of the Tides goes so high that the damage he deals becomes unsustainable or the damage he takes becomes insignificant. In this case, it's particularly the combination of Cataclysmic Bolt and blessing of the Tides together with everything else going on, like Totems, Fierce Blow and Auto Attacks, that you have to watch out for.

#### **Tips & Tricks**

Frost Resistance Aura (or Frost Resistance Totem) will give you an initial 70 Frost Resistance, granting a 16,6% reduced Frost damage taken if you previously had 0. (40 yards)

Aspect of the Wild will give you an initial 70 Nature Resistance, granting a 16,6% reduced Nature damage taken if you previously had 0. (40 yards)

A Power Word: Shield healer is extremely useful to buy your raid a few seconds to move out of Hurricane and to survive Chain Lightning if stacking too much.

Mass Dispel works great to get your players out of Deep Freeze.

*Written by Barsk*