Warcraft 3 Forsaken Kingdom Naxxramas Walkthrough: All 4 Explosives, Puzzles & Bosses

Updated September 21, 2026

Naxxramas is the climactic mission of Act III: War of the Damned in Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom. After defending the Undercity from the Scourge, Garek, Anya, and Leonid board a Sky Barge, infiltrate the flying necropolis, plant four explosives, overcome environmental puzzles, and confront Baron Rivendare and Kel'Thuzad before dealing with the Power Crystal.

If you've already completed the surface battles in Scarlet Monastery, this guide covers every objective inside Naxxramas from start to finish.

Related: Continue the story from Act II with the Warcraft 3 Scarlet Monastery Walkthrough.

📋 Table of Contents

• Mission Objectives
• Hold the Line: Defend the Undercity
• Skyjack: Hijack the Sky Barge
• The Necropolis Walkthrough
• All 4 Explosive Locations
• Skeleton Flame Puzzle Solution
• Chain-Switch Gate Puzzle
• Sir Zeliek Boss Strategy
• Ilastar Songbreeze Boss Guide
• Ascension: Rivendare & Kel'Thuzad
• Destroying the Power Crystal
• FAQ

Mission Objectives

Act III is divided into three connected quests:

• Hold the Line — Defend the Undercity entrance against the Scourge.
• Skyjack — Defeat Necromancer Morgath and hijack a Sky Barge.
• The Necropolis — Plant four explosives and progress through Naxxramas toward Kel'Thuzad.

Your heroes carry over from previous chapters, so entering this mission with strong equipment makes the final battles much easier.

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Hold the Line: Defend the Undercity

The opening battle is a timed survival mission where the Scourge attack from multiple bridges while Naxxramas bombards the Capital City ruins from above.

Best opening strategy

• Queue Deathguards immediately from the Crypt.
• Train Rangers for consistent ranged damage.
• Garrison ranged units inside nearby towers for extra protection.
• Keep Garek and Anya in the central courtyard to respond to breakthrough waves.

Don't spend all your gold early. The optional rescue objective provides additional forces and unlocks additional unit production as you progress.

Complete the optional Stranded rescues

While defending the city, you'll find four groups of stranded Forsaken soldiers across the battlefield. Rescuing all four strengthens your army and contributes to unlocking additional Forsaken unit options.

These rescues are worth completing before the survival timer ends because the additional forces and production options can help with the assault on Naxxramas.

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Skyjack: Hijack the Sky Barge

Once the ruins are secured, Leonid proposes stealing one of the Scourge Sky Barges to reach the floating necropolis.

Before boarding

Make sure your heroes are prepared before leaving the battlefield for Naxxramas. This is the transition into the mission's dungeon-style section, where keeping all heroes alive becomes especially important.

After defeating Necromancer Morgath, board the Sky Barge to complete Skyjack and begin the assault on Naxxramas.

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The Necropolis Walkthrough

Naxxramas is a sprawling flying necropolis containing multiple combat areas, environmental puzzles, gates, and demolition points.

Your main objective remains simple:

Plant all four explosives while keeping every hero alive.

Leonid accompanies the group through the necropolis and provides context about the Scourge stronghold.

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All 4 Explosive Locations

Explosive #1 — Abomination area

The first demolition point appears after entering the necropolis.

Clear the Flesh Golems and Abominations surrounding the demolition area before planting the charge. Don't rush forward immediately afterward because a nearby gate puzzle blocks progression.

This section also contains stranded Deathguards that can be freed as part of the mission's rescue content.

Explosive #2 — Goremass

Goremass, a powerful Corpse Titan, guards the second demolition point.

Strategy

• Let Garek take the frontline position.
• Keep Anya attacking from range.
• Use your support abilities when the fight becomes more dangerous.
• Clear nearby threats when necessary so they don't overwhelm your heroes.

Once Goremass is defeated, plant the second explosive before continuing.

Explosive #3 — Toxic sludge area

The third demolition point is located in an area filled with toxic sludge and undead experiments.

Rather than fighting every enemy, move carefully around the hazardous pools and eliminate the creatures blocking your route to the demolition site.

Plant the third charge and continue toward the remaining sections of Naxxramas.

Explosive #4 — Cathedral area

The final explosive is located in the cathedral/core section of the necropolis and is protected by elite Scourge forces.

Planting the fourth charge leads into the confrontation with Ilastar Songbreeze, so make sure your heroes are in good condition before triggering the encounter.

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Skeleton Flame Puzzle Solution

One of the most important progression puzzles involves a giant skeleton that cannot simply be defeated through a normal fight.

Solution

1. Enter the area containing the flame trap.
2. Lure the giant skeleton toward the flames.
3. Activate or trigger the flames so the skeleton becomes trapped in the burning area.
4. Defeat the skeleton while it is caught in the flames.
5. Collect the key it drops.

The key allows you to continue through the necropolis.

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Chain-Switch Gate Puzzle

A later section contains multiple sealed gates connected to a series of switches.

How to open the gates

1. Activate the available switch near the entrance.
2. Move through the newly accessible section.
3. Look for the next switch as each gate opens.
4. Continue activating the switches to unlock the remaining gates.
5. Proceed once the route is fully open.

If a gate remains closed, search the previously opened areas for a switch you have not activated yet.

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Sir Zeliek Boss Strategy

Sir Zeliek is one of the most memorable encounters in Naxxramas. Once a Silver Hand paladin, he now serves the Scourge while continuing to call upon the Light.

How to win

• Focus your attacks on Zeliek.
• Keep Anya away from unnecessary melee damage.
• Use Garek's defensive abilities when the encounter becomes dangerous.
• Keep your heroes alive rather than overextending for damage.
• Clear nearby enemies when they begin to overwhelm the party.

His tragic dialogue provides important story context, but defeating him is required to continue.

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Ilastar Songbreeze Boss Guide

Ilastar Songbreeze confronts Garek in the later section of the necropolis after the final demolition objective.

The encounter is heavily tied to the story surrounding Garek and Ilastar rather than requiring a complicated multi-phase mechanic.

How to handle the encounter

• Keep Garek and Anya together so neither hero becomes isolated.
• Focus on the enemies directly threatening your party.
• Avoid unnecessary movement into additional groups of enemies.
• Use defensive and healing abilities when your heroes become pressured.
• Continue attacking Ilastar until the encounter is defeated.

After Ilastar falls, The Necropolis quest concludes and the mission moves toward the final ascent.

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Ascension: Rivendare & Kel'Thuzad

The final section begins with the ascent toward the top of Naxxramas.

Objectives

• Reach the top of Naxxramas.
• Destroy the Power Crystal.
• Keep all heroes alive.

The elevator provides access to the upper sections of Naxxramas before the final confrontation.

Rivendare encounter

Baron Rivendare is directly confronted during the final battle while Kel'Thuzad remains central to the ritual surrounding the Power Crystal.

Strategy

• Focus on Rivendare when he is actively attacking your party.
• Keep your heroes together so they can support each other.
• Avoid unnecessary movement around the arena.
• Save defensive abilities for dangerous portions of the fight.
• Keep Anya at range whenever possible.

After Rivendare is defeated, the story proceeds to the Power Crystal sequence.

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Destroying the Power Crystal

The Power Crystal remains the major threat at the climax of the mission.

Garek realizes that destroying it requires a sacrifice. Despite Anya's objections, he channels the Holy Light into the crystal and gives his life to prevent the threat from reaching the Undercity.

This final sequence provides the dramatic conclusion to Garek's journey through the Forsaken Kingdom campaign and sets up the story's continuation beyond Naxxramas.

For players following the campaign chronologically, this is the narrative payoff to Garek's journey that began in Chapter 1 Homecoming Walkthrough and continued through the Act 1 Missables Guide.

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Final Tips Before Leaving Act III

• Complete all four Stranded rescues for the additional forces and unit options they provide.
• Make sure your heroes are prepared before boarding the Sky Barge.
• Keep Garek healthy for the later encounters.
• Heal before triggering the fourth explosive encounter.
• Don't overlook the giant skeleton's flame puzzle—it blocks progression.
• If a gate remains closed, check previously opened areas for an unactivated switch.

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FAQ

How many explosives do you plant in Naxxramas?
Four. They are located across the major sections of the necropolis, including the initial Abomination area, the area guarded by Goremass, the toxic sludge/experiment section, and the final cathedral/core area.

How do you solve the skeleton fire puzzle?
Lure the giant skeleton toward the flame trap, trigger the flames, defeat the skeleton while it is trapped in the burning area, and collect the key it drops.

Can you save Sir Zeliek?
No. Sir Zeliek's encounter is required for progression, and the story continues after he is defeated.

Do the Stranded rescues matter?
Yes. There are four Stranded rescue objectives. Completing them strengthens your forces and contributes to unlocking additional Forsaken unit options during the mission.

Who is the final boss of Act III?
The final section features Baron Rivendare and Kel'Thuzad. Rivendare is directly fought during the final confrontation, while Kel'Thuzad remains central to the ritual involving the Power Crystal.

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Continue your journey through the Forsaken Kingdom campaign with these guides:

📚 Related Guides

• Warcraft 3 Reforged Forsaken Kingdom: Chapter 1 Homecoming Walkthrough — Begin the campaign where Garek's journey starts.
• Warcraft III Reforged Forsaken Kingdom Act 1 Missables: What to Finish Before Act 2 — Things worth completing before leaving Act 1.
• Warcraft 3 Scarlet Monastery Walkthrough: All Objectives, Optional Quests & Boss Guide — Follow the main Act 2 progression and its optional content.

With Naxxramas cleared and the Power Crystal destroyed, you've completed Act III: War of the Damned and witnessed the dramatic conclusion to Garek's story in the Forsaken Kingdom campaign.