Best route for Court of Stars M+ Dungeon, Dragonflight S1

The Court of Stars is a unique and challenging dungeon in World of Warcraft that was first introduced in the Legion expansion and has now made its return as part of Dragonflight Season 1 in Mythic Plus (M+). This dungeon stands out for its complex layout, stealth mechanics, and powerful bosses, which make it both a fun and daunting challenge. While there are multiple routes you can take to complete the dungeon, this guide will focus on one of the most efficient and effective routes, designed to help you reach higher Mythic Plus levels (15+ or even 20+) while minimizing risks.

This route is ideal for players who want to complete the dungeon quickly and efficiently, without having to rely on invisibility potions or complex strategies that require advanced knowledge of enemy patrols. However, you’ll still need to stay on your toes for several tough bosses and mini-bosses that can prove difficult, especially during Tyrannical and Fortified weeks.

Key Considerations Before Starting the Dungeon

Before we dive into the best route, let’s take a look at some important factors to keep in mind when running Court of Stars:

• Tyrannical Weeks: Some bosses in the dungeon, such as Patrol Captain Gerdo and Talixae’s Chamber, can be particularly dangerous during Tyrannical weeks because they have higher health and deal more damage. It’s crucial to understand their abilities and mechanics to reduce the risk of wipes.

• Fortified Weeks: On Fortified weeks, the mini-bosses and trash packs will have a lot more health, making them tougher to deal with. Avoid over-pulling, and ensure that your group has good crowd control (CC) and AoE capabilities.

• Trash Mechanics: Some trash mobs have tricky abilities that can wipe the group if not dealt with properly. Knowing where and when to interrupt or CC can make or break a run.

• Stealth Mechanics: Unlike many other dungeons, the Court of Stars requires the players to interact with various elements (such as stealing keys and bypassing guards) in a semi-stealthy manner. Mastering this mechanic will allow you to avoid many unnecessary pulls.

A Quick Overview of the Court of Stars Layout

The dungeon is divided into several distinct areas, including the main hall, the guards' rooms, the throne room, and the various chambers leading to the bosses. While there are multiple ways to approach each section, the route we will outline here takes advantage of the available patrols, the most efficient use of key items, and optimal boss engagement. The general flow is as follows:

1. Entrance/Initial Area – This is where you start and is a good place to pick up any required keys or items.
2. Guards’ Rooms – Avoid these if possible or dispatch them quickly with minimal hassle.
3. Hallway Leading to the First Boss – The first boss is relatively easy, but managing trash here is essential.
4. Talixae's Chamber and the Second Boss – A challenging mini-boss section, especially on Fortified weeks.
5. Path to Patrol Captain Gerdo and the Third Boss – Watch out for environmental hazards and large pulls.
6. Throne Room – The final boss encounter, often requiring tactical movement and quick reactions.

Step-by-Step Route Guide for Court of Stars M+ Dungeon

1. Initial Area & Key Acquisition

When you enter the dungeon, the first thing to focus on is acquiring the keys. You will need three keys to unlock various areas later on. These keys are scattered across different patrols of guards that roam the zone, but luckily you don’t need to clear everything. Simply focus on stealthily stealing keys from the guards. In a good M+ run, the group should avoid unnecessary combat in this section to preserve time and cooldowns.

• Tip: Always make sure your group communicates to avoid accidental aggroing of guards. If you're able to sneak around the guards without detection, this will make the entire dungeon smoother.

2. Guards’ Rooms: Skipping Trash

Once you've acquired your keys, you’ll come to a set of guards' rooms. These areas can be skipped entirely by using proper positioning and the right timing to avoid pulling large trash packs. This area is fairly straightforward, but don't underestimate the difficulty if you end up pulling more than one pack at a time.

• Tip: If a guard does aggro, focus on crowd-controlling the enemies and quickly eliminating them. Using AoE and single-target abilities effectively here is key to minimizing time spent on trash.

3. The Hallway Leading to the First Boss: Velvet & Falcosaur Trash

As you move into the main hallway, you’ll encounter a few trash packs, some of which have Velvet and Falcosaur mobs. These mobs should be handled with care, as they have strong AoE abilities. Be sure to focus your interrupts on the Velvet’s Spell Shield and Falcosaur’s Flamestrike abilities.

• Tip: It’s a good idea to pull these mobs separately to avoid the risk of AoE damage spilling over into other packs. Assign specific interrupt roles to your group for smoother combat.

4. Talixae’s Chamber: Mini-Bosses

Now, you’ll enter Talixae’s Chamber, where you will face a mini-boss encounter. This section can be particularly difficult on Fortified weeks due to the extra health and damage output of the enemies. The room contains multiple mini-bosses, and they all have unique mechanics.

• Talixae’s Ritualist: Watch out for the Fiery Dread ability, which can easily wipe an unprepared group. Focus on interrupting her casts and avoiding any environmental hazards that may spawn on the floor.

• Tip: Use careful positioning to minimize the risk of pulling extra trash. Also, manage cooldowns properly during this fight, as dealing with Talixae and her allies requires both damage and survivability.

5. Path to Patrol Captain Gerdo

The next boss, Patrol Captain Gerdo, is another significant challenge. However, before you fight him, you’ll need to navigate a dangerous path that features patrolling enemies. These enemies need to be avoided or quickly dispatched to keep the path clear.

• Tip: Stealth and positioning are key here. If you have a rogue or druid in your party, use their abilities to bypass patrols and keep the group from being overwhelmed.

6. Patrol Captain Gerdo: Boss Fight

Patrol Captain Gerdo’s fight is a DPS check, but also requires the team to manage adds effectively. Gerdo has a Patrol ability that summons more enemies during the fight, so it’s important to handle the adds quickly and focus on interrupting his Mighty Cleave.

• Tip: Assign specific roles to handle adds and ensure the group is spread out during Mighty Cleave. Keep an eye on his health and focus on avoiding unnecessary AoE damage from adds.

7. Throne Room & Final Boss Fight: King Mechagon

The final boss in the Court of Stars is King Mechagon. This fight features various mechanical adds and several dangerous abilities that can wipe an unprepared group. The key to this encounter is keeping track of Mechagon’s EMP Blast, which will disable players’ abilities unless interrupted.

• Tip: Communicate and spread out to avoid EMP Blast and make sure everyone is ready for the adds. The best strategy here is to focus on staying mobile and managing both the mechanical adds and the boss’s mechanics at the same time.

Conclusion: Efficient Route for Quick Completion

The route we've outlined above provides a balanced approach to completing Court of Stars on Mythic Plus in Dragonflight Season 1. While it involves handling several challenging mechanics, it's designed to minimize the risk and maximize efficiency by focusing on smart pulls, strategic positioning, and careful management of boss mechanics.

Whether you're aiming for a 15+ or even pushing into the 20+ range, this route will provide a strong foundation to build upon. Don’t forget to practice the boss mechanics, especially during Tyrannical and Fortified weeks, and communicate effectively with your team to ensure a smooth and successful run. Good luck!