World of Warcraft Guides, Lore, Addons & News – Noob to Boss From Azeroth's Newbie to Champion – World of Warcraft Guides
The Gunship Battle is the third boss encounter of Icecrown Citadel, a unique aerial battle that breaks up the traditional boss fight formula in ICC. This aerial battle between the Alliance’s Skybreaker and the Horde’s Orgrim’s Hammer offers a unique mix of vehicle combat and traditional encounter mechanics. This Gunship Battle strategy guide covers all abilities, positioning, role-specific tips, and complete loot tables for WotLK Classic.
Quick Strategy Summary
- Assign 4 players to cannons – Any gear level works since damage is fixed
- Never let cannons overheat – Use Incinerating Blast at ~90 heat
- Tank defends your ship – Pick up boarding party adds quickly
- Board enemy ship every 45 seconds – Kill the mage to unfreeze cannons
- Tank jumps first – Establish aggro on enemy commander immediately
- Avoid rocket explosions – Watch for incoming fire on your ship deck
Related ICC Boss Guides
Complete your Icecrown Citadel mastery:
- Lady Deathwhisper Guide – Previous boss before Gunship Battle
- Deathbringer Saurfang Guide – Next boss after Gunship Battle
Location and Encounter Details
- Location: Upper Spire, Icecrown Citadel (Northrend)
- Difficulty Levels: 10-player Normal/Heroic, 25-player Normal/Heroic
- Duration: 5-8 minutes typically
- Key Mechanics: Vehicle combat, boarding actions, cannon management
- Faction Differences: Alliance faces Kor’kron forces, Horde faces Skybreaker troops
Gunship Battle Abilities Breakdown
Siege Cannon Abilities (Player Controlled)
| Ability | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cannon Blast | Launches cannonball dealing 1,500 Siege damage and generating 6-10 Heat | Spam this ability until ~90 heat |
| Incinerating Blast | Consumes all Heat to deal 1,000 Siege damage + bonus per Heat point | Use at 90+ heat to prevent overheating |
| Overheat | Occurs at 100 Heat, disabling cannon temporarily | NEVER let this happen – always vent before 100 |
Enemy Mage Abilities
| Ability | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Below Zero | Freezes all friendly cannons, channeled spell | Cast every 35 seconds, must board enemy ship to interrupt |
Boarding Party Enemies
| Unit Type | Key Abilities | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Sergeant | Bladestorm (6-second whirlwind), Wounding Strike (40% healing reduction) | Tank away from raid, move out of Bladestorm |
| Battle-Mage/Sorcerer | Below Zero (cannon freeze) | Priority target when boarding enemy ship |
Enemy Commander Abilities
| Ability | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Fury | Increases damage by 12% per stack | Stacks over time, requires tank cooldowns |
| Cleave | 110% weapon damage to 3 targets | Tank at ship edge, face away from raid |
Environmental Hazards
| Hazard | Description | Avoidance |
|---|---|---|
| Rocket Explosions | 10,000 Fire damage in area | Watch for incoming rockets, move away quickly |
| Siege Damage | Constant damage to your ship’s hull | Cannons must maintain pressure on enemy ship |
Detailed Gunship Battle Strategy
Pre-Fight Preparation
Essential Setup:
- All raid members must equip Goblin Rocket Pack from Zafod Boombox before combat starts
- Cannot equip during combat – this is critical for boarding parties
- Assign 4 players to cannons (any class/gear level works)
- Designate boarding party: 1 tank + 3-4 DPS
- Position remaining players for add cleanup and healing
Phase 1: Cannon Warfare
Cannon Operation:
- Spam Cannon Blast until reaching ~90 heat
- Use Incinerating Blast to reset heat to zero
- Never let cannons reach 100 heat (causes Overheat)
- Aim at enemy ranged units when possible for dual damage
- Maintain constant pressure on enemy ship hull
Ship Defense:
- Tank picks up boarding party adds from center portal
- Adds spawn in waves throughout the encounter
- Focus fire ranged enemies first, then melee
- Watch for Bladestorm – all melee must move out
- Healers stay near ship edge for maximum range coverage
Phase 2: Boarding Actions (Every 35 Seconds)
Boarding Sequence:
- Enemy mage casts Below Zero, freezing all cannons
- Tank uses rocket pack to jump to enemy ship first
- Tank immediately grabs enemy commander, drags to ship edge
- DPS follows and focuses the mage casting Below Zero
- Kill mage quickly to unfreeze cannons
- Clear any remaining enemies
- All players jump back before commander’s stacks get too high
Critical Boarding Notes:
- Tank must go first to establish aggro on commander
- Commander gains Battle Fury stacks over time (12% damage per stack)
- Don’t stay too long – high stacks will kill the tank
- Ensure all DPS return before tank or they’ll die to commander
Fight Conclusion
Victory Conditions:
- Reduce enemy ship to 0 health through siege damage
- Your ship must survive the bombardment
- Typical fight duration: 5-8 minutes
- Collect loot from the massive chest that appears
Role-Specific Tips
Tank Strategy
- Ship Defense: Quickly pick up boarding adds, use cooldowns for Wounding Strike
- Boarding: Always jump first, grab commander immediately, drag to edge
- Positioning: Keep commander at ship edge for healer range
- Cooldowns: Save major defensives for high Battle Fury stacks
DPS Strategy
- Cannon Operators: Focus on heat management, never overheat
- Boarding Party: Wait for tank, prioritize mage, return quickly
- Target Priority: Ranged enemies first, then melee adds
- Movement: Stay mobile for rocket explosions and Bladestorm
Healer Strategy
- Positioning: Stay near ship edge for maximum coverage
- Priority: Tank during boarding phases, raid during bombardment
- Awareness: Watch for new boarding adds and rocket damage
- Range: Ensure you can reach tanks on both ships
Normal vs. Heroic Differences
| Aspect | Normal | Heroic |
|---|---|---|
| Damage Values | Standard | Increased by ~30% |
| Commander Health | Lower | Higher |
| Add Frequency | Standard waves | More frequent spawns |
| Rocket Damage | ~8,000 damage | ~12,000+ damage |
| Battle Fury Stacks | Moderate threat | High threat – faster stacking |
Gunship Battle Loot Tables
🟦 10-Player Loot
| Item | Type/Slot |
|---|---|
| Ice-Reinforced Vrykul Helm | Mail Head |
| Pauldrons of Lost Hope | Mail Shoulder |
| Saronite Gargoyle Cloak | Back |
| Bracers of Pale Illumination | Plate Wrist |
| Icecrown Rampart Bracers | Mail Wrist |
| Cord of Dark Suffering | Leather Waist |
| Abomination’s Bloody Ring | Ring |
| Muradin’s Spyglass | Trinket |
| Midnight Sun | Main-Hand Dagger |
| Frost Giant’s Cleaver | One-Hand Axe |
| Neverending Winter | Shield – 25-Man Normal Loot |
🟥 25-Player Loot
| Item | Type/Slot |
|---|---|
| Corp’rethar Ceremonial Crown | Cloth Head |
| Amulet of the Silent Eulogy | Neck |
| Boneguard Commander’s Pauldrons | Plate Shoulder |
| Shadowvault Slayer’s Cloak | Back |
| Ikfirus’s Sack of Wonder | Leather Chest |
| Polar Bear Claw Bracers | Plate Wrist |
| Scourge Hunter’s Vambraces | Mail Wrist |
| Gunship Captain’s Mittens | Cloth Hands |
| Waistband of Righteous Fury | Plate Waist |
| Boots of Unnatural Growth | Leather Feet |
| Ring of Rapid Ascent | Ring |
| Skeleton Lord’s Circle | Ring |
| Althor’s Abacus | Trinket |
| Corpse Tongue Coin | Trinket |
| Scourgeborne Waraxe | One-Hand Axe |
Heroic versions drop same items with higher item levels
Achievements
I’m on a Boat (10-Player)
Requirement: Claim victory in the Gunship Battle without any raid member visiting the enemy gunship more than twice in 10-player mode
Strategy:
- Minimize boarding parties to essential personnel only
- Send 2-3 players maximum per boarding phase
- Focus on quick mage kills and immediate returns
- Requires excellent cannon management to compensate
I’m on a Boat (25-Player)
Requirement: Claim victory in the Gunship Battle without any raid member visiting the enemy gunship more than once in 25-player mode
Strategy:
- Even more restrictive – only 1 trip per player
- Rotate boarding party members
- May require multiple people to handle single boarding phase
- Extremely tight coordination required
Common Mistakes and Tips
Frequent Errors
- Overheating cannons – Always vent heat before 100
- Boarding without tank – Commander will kill DPS instantly
- Staying too long on enemy ship – High Battle Fury stacks are lethal
- Forgetting rocket pack – Cannot equip during combat
- Poor positioning – Stand away from rocket impact zones
Pro Tips
- Assign 4 players to mount the cannons on your ship; the amount of damage dealt by the cannon is fixed so any player regardless of gear level can fill this role
- Time boarding phases with cannon freeze – don’t waste time
- Use voice communication for boarding coordination
- Keep tank cooldowns available for high Battle Fury stacks
- Most guilds find this encounter manageable with proper coordination
- The encounter provides good loot opportunities relative to its difficulty
Final Thoughts
The Gunship Battle serves as a fun, unique encounter that breaks up the traditional boss fight formula in Icecrown Citadel. While mechanically straightforward, it requires coordination between cannon operators, boarding parties, and ship defenders. The encounter has some fun elements and provides excellent loot opportunities with relatively low difficulty.
Master the heat management, boarding timing, and positioning fundamentals, and your raid will easily claim victory in this aerial battle. The encounter serves as a nice breather between the more challenging Lady Deathwhisper and the upcoming Deathbringer Saurfang fight.
This comprehensive Gunship Battle guide should prepare your raid for both Normal and Heroic difficulties, ensuring smooth sailing toward the upper wings of Icecrown Citadel!
