TBC Anniversary Phase 2 Attunement Guide: How to Get SSC & TK Attuned Fast

Phase 2 of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary is almost live — and if you want to raid Serpentshrine Cavern (SSC) or Tempest Keep: The Eye (TK), you can't just walk in. Both raids have attunement requirements that involve dungeon chains, heroic runs, and in TK's case, even a full 25-man raid kill.

The good news? If you're efficient about it, you can get attuned to both raids in a matter of days. The bad news? Most players waste time by not knowing the correct order or prerequisites.

This guide gives you the fastest, most direct path to SSC and TK attunement — every step, every dungeon, every quest.

Quick Overview: What Does Attunement Require?

Both attunements require that you already have Karazhan attunement (The Master's Key). If you haven't done that yet, start there first — it's the foundation for everything in Phase 2. 

TBC Anniversary Note: Attunements in the Anniversary version are account-wide. Once you complete attunement on one character, all your alts are automatically eligible. This is a massive time-saver if you're playing multiple characters.

Prerequisites: Before You Start

Make sure you have these before attempting SSC or TK attunement:

1. Level 70

Both attunement chains are designed for max-level characters only.

2. Karazhan Attuned (The Master's Key)

You need to have completed the Karazhan key quest chain (Black Morass event + 3 key fragments from Shadow Labyrinth, Steamvault, and Arcatraz). If you're Phase 1 progressed, you should already have this.

3. Revered with The Violet Eye

Required to start the SSC attunement chain. Run Karazhan weekly to build this reputation passively.

4. Heroic Dungeon Keys

Several heroic instances are required for both attunements. Make sure you have:

• Reservoir Key (Coilfang Reservoir heroics) — Requires Revered with Cenarion Expedition
• Warpforged Key (Tempest Keep heroics) — Requires Revered with The Sha'tar
• Flamewrought Key (Hellfire Citadel heroics) — Requires Revered with Honor Hold / Thrallmar

Pro tip: Run the normal versions of these dungeons while leveling to build reputation quickly. Don't wait until 70 to start grinding rep.

Part 1: SSC Attunement — Vashj's Mark

SSC attunement is the simpler of the two. It requires three specific tasks across different content tiers.

Step 1 — Start the Quest Chain in Heroic Slave Pens

Head to Slave Pens (Heroic) in Coilfang Reservoir, Zangarmarsh. Inside, find a cage containing the NPC Skar'this the Heretic. Speak to him to pick up the quest:

"The Cudgel of Kardesh"

This quest requires you to collect two Marks (Earthen and Blazing). Keep reading.

Step 2 — Get the Earthen Mark: Kill Gruul

Travel to Gruul's Lair (25-man raid, Blade's Edge Mountains) and kill the final boss, Gruul the Dragonkiller. He drops the Earthen Mark needed for the quest.

What you need:

• A 25-man raid group
• Gruul is a Phase 1 boss, so most guilds on the server are already farming him weekly

Tip: If your guild doesn't have a Gruul run scheduled, PUG it. By Phase 2, Gruul dies quickly and PUGs form constantly. The fight lasts under 5 minutes for a competent group.

Step 3 — Get the Blazing Mark: Summon and Kill Nightbane in Karazhan

This is the step most players miss. The Blazing Mark doesn't drop from a standard boss — it comes from Nightbane, a hidden boss in Karazhan that must be summoned via a specific item.

How to summon Nightbane:

• Complete the Karazhan quest chain involving Medivh's Journal (starts from Archmage Alturus at the Karazhan entrance)
• Obtain Blackened Urn — crafted or found via the associated quest
• Use the Blackened Urn on Medivh's remains in the Master's Terrace (rooftop area of Karazhan) to summon Nightbane

Once Nightbane is dead, loot the Blazing Mark from his corpse.

Tip: If your Karazhan group hasn't been summoning Nightbane, speak up now. The Blazing Mark is the most commonly missed step in SSC attunement.

Step 4 — Return to Skar'this and Claim Vashj's Mark

With both Marks in your bags, go back to Heroic Slave Pens and hand in "The Cudgel of Kardesh" to Skar'this. He will cast Vashj's Mark on you — a permanent buff that grants access to Serpentshrine Cavern.

You are now attuned to SSC. Total dungeons required: Heroic Slave Pens x2 (start + turn-in), Gruul's Lair, Karazhan (Nightbane).

Part 2: TK Attunement — The Tempest Key

TK attunement is significantly more involved. It requires completing the "Trial of the Naaru" quest chain — a series of four heroic trials plus a 25-man raid boss kill.

Step 1 — Complete the "Cipher of Damnation" Quest Chain

Before you can even start the Trial of the Naaru, you must complete the long "Cipher of Damnation" quest chain in Shadowmoon Valley.

How to start it: Talk to Earthmender Torok near the Altar of Sha'tar in Shadowmoon Valley. This quest chain involves multiple stages spread across the zone, including collecting three fragments of the Cipher from powerful named mobs across Shadowmoon Valley.

Time estimate: 2–4 hours if done efficiently with a group. The final step involves protecting NPCs while fighting off waves of enemies — bring friends.

Once complete, head to Shattrath City and speak to both A'dal and Khadgar to be offered the Trial of the Naaru questline.

Step 2 — Trial of the Naaru: Mercy (Heroic Shattered Halls)

Quest: Trial of the Naaru: Mercy

Enter Shattered Halls (Heroic) and kill the final boss, Warchief Kargath Bladefist — but with a twist. You must do so before he executes all the prisoners being held at the front of the instance.

Key mechanic: Kargath periodically executes prisoners during the fight. If all prisoners die before Kargath does, the quest fails. You need a fast, well-coordinated group.

Tip: This is the trial players wipe on most. Bring a strong DPS group and minimize tunnel vision on trash — move fast and don't over-clear.

Step 3 — Trial of the Naaru: Strength (Heroic Steamvault + Heroic Shadow Labyrinth)

Quest: Trial of the Naaru: Strength

This trial requires you to collect two items from two separate heroic dungeons:

• Coilfang Armaments — Kill Mekgineer Steamrigger in Heroic Steamvault (Coilfang Reservoir) and loot the quest item
• Arcane Tomes — Kill Murmur in Heroic Shadow Labyrinth (Auchindoun) and loot the quest item

Return to Shattrath with both items to complete this trial.

Tip: These can be done on the same day as other heroic runs. Shadow Labyrinth and Steamvault are both commonly run dungeons — finding groups is easy.

Step 4 — Trial of the Naaru: Tenacity (Heroic Arcatraz)

Quest: Trial of the Naaru: Tenacity

Enter Arcatraz (Heroic) (Tempest Keep wing, requires the Arcatraz key) and kill the final boss, Harbinger Skyriss — but you must keep Millhouse Manastorm alive throughout the entire encounter.

Millhouse is an NPC ally who joins your group for the fight and tends to stand in bad things. If he dies, the quest fails.

Tip: Position Millhouse carefully at the start of each phase. Assign a healer to watch him. The fight is mostly straightforward if your group knows what they're doing.

Step 5 — Trial of the Naaru: Magtheridon (25-man Raid)

Quest: Trial of the Naaru: Magtheridon

The final trial. Travel to Magtheridon's Lair (Hellfire Citadel, Hellfire Peninsula) with a 25-man raid group and kill Magtheridon.

This is the hardest organisational requirement of the TK attunement chain — you need an entire raid group for a boss that isn't rewarding much loot anymore. However, by Phase 2, Magtheridon is on farm status for most guilds.

How to get in on a Magtheridon kill:

• Check your guild's raid schedule — most Phase 2 guilds still run Mag weekly for the Karazhan key fragment drops
• Ask in trade chat for a "Mag carry" or PUG invite
• Offer to pay a small gold tip for a quick Mag kill if you're not in a raiding guild

Once Magtheridon is dead, return to Shattrath and complete the quest. A'dal will reward you with The Tempest Key — your access key to Tempest Keep: The Eye.

You are now attuned to TK.

Fastest Attunement Route: Day-by-Day Plan

Here's the most efficient order to get both attunements in the shortest possible time:

Day 1

• Run Cipher of Damnation quest chain in Shadowmoon Valley (2–4 hours)
• Queue for Heroic Shadow Labyrinth (Trial: Strength — loot Arcane Tomes)
• Queue for Heroic Steamvault (Trial: Strength — loot Coilfang Armaments)

Day 2

• Run Heroic Shattered Halls (Trial: Mercy — kill Kargath before prisoners die)
• Run Heroic Arcatraz (Trial: Tenacity — keep Millhouse alive)

Day 3

• Join a Gruul's Lair PUG (SSC attunement — Earthen Mark)
• Join a Karazhan run that summons Nightbane (SSC attunement — Blazing Mark)
• Run Heroic Slave Pens to start and turn in SSC attunement quest

Day 4

• Join a Magtheridon PUG or guild run (TK attunement — final step)
• Return to Shattrath, collect The Tempest Key

With this plan, both attunements are completed in 4 days even without a dedicated guild.

How Much Does Attunement Cost?

Attunement isn't free. Between heroic consumables, repair bills, and potentially tipping for PUG raid spots, here's a realistic budget:

This is on top of your gear costs. Budget at least 300–500g just for attunement consumables and fees if you're going the PUG route.

Skip the Grind, Buy TBC Anniversary Gold

Attunement takes time — the heroic key grind, the Cipher of Damnation chain, coordinating PUG raid kills. For players with limited hours, it can feel like a second job before you've even set foot in the raid you actually want to do.

If you want to move faster — whether it's buying consumables, tipping for raid carries, or covering the costs of the full attunement process — SSEgold offers fast, safe TBC Anniversary gold for US and EU realms.

Get attuned. Get in the raid. Stop watching other people's kill videos.

Summary: Your SSC & TK Attunement Checklist

SSC (Vashj's Mark)

☐ Karazhan attuned + Violet Eye Revered
☐ Pick up quest from Skar'this in Heroic Slave Pens
☐ Kill Gruul → loot Earthen Mark
☐ Summon and kill Nightbane in Karazhan → loot Blazing Mark
☐ Return to Heroic Slave Pens and hand in quest
☐ Vashj's Mark applied — SSC unlocked ✓

TK (The Tempest Key)

☐ Complete Cipher of Damnation chain in Shadowmoon Valley
☐ Speak to A'dal + Khadgar in Shattrath
☐ Trial: Mercy → Heroic Shattered Halls (save the prisoners)
☐ Trial: Strength → Heroic Steamvault + Heroic Shadow Labyrinth
☐ Trial: Tenacity → Heroic Arcatraz (keep Millhouse alive)
☐ Trial: Magtheridon → Kill Magtheridon in 25-man raid
☐ Return to Shattrath → Collect The Tempest Key
☐ Tempest Key in bags — TK unlocked ✓

Need more help with Phase 2? Read our [How Much Gold Do You Need for Phase 2] guide and [Phase 2 Pre-Raid BiS List] to make sure you're fully ready before you step inside.