World of Warcraft Guides, Lore, Addons & News – Noob to Boss From Azeroth's Newbie to Champion – World of Warcraft Guides
Lord Marrowgar, the first boss of Icecrown Citadel (ICC) in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic, is a skeletal colossus guarding the Lower Spire. Wielding Bryntroll, the Bone Arbiter, he challenges raids with cleaves, frost fires, and whirlwind phases. This Lord Marrowgar guide details his abilities, sound cues, complete loot tables, achievements (including the updated “Boned” criteria), and strategies for 10-player and 25-player Normal and Heroic modes. Perfect for farming Tier 10 gear or tackling ICC’s challenge achievements.
- Location: Lower Spire, Icecrown Citadel (Northrend)
- Difficulty Levels: 10-player Normal/Heroic, 25-player Normal/Heroic
- Enrage Timer: 10 minutes (plenty of time, but don’t slack on DPS)
- Key Challenge: Alternating between stationary DPS phases and chaotic Bone Storm spins. Poor positioning leads to wipes from Coldflame or unchecked spikes.
Quick Strategy Summary
For a rapid overview, here are the key mechanics to master:
- Tanks must stack tightly together to split the damage from Bone Slice.
- DPS must focus on breaking the Bone Spikes as soon as they appear.
- The entire raid should stack behind the boss during the stationary phase.
- Spread out to the edges of the room when Marrowgar begins his Bone Storm.
- Dodge the Coldflame lines on the ground at all times.
Related ICC Guides
Master the complete Icecrown Citadel experience:
- Lady Deathwhisper Strategy Guide – Next boss after Marrowgar
Lord Marrowgar Abilities Breakdown
Marrowgar’s kit revolves around cleaves, spikes, fires, and whirlwinds. Here’s a full list with damage values for 10/25-player (Normal/Heroic). Use this to set up WeakAuras or DBM alerts.
| Ability | Description | Damage (10N/10H) | Damage (25N/25H) | Key Mechanic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone Slice | Cleave hitting the tank and 1-2 nearest allies (up to 3 in 25-player). Replaces melee swing every ~3 seconds. | 100% weapon damage (split) | 200% weapon damage (split across 3) | Tanks stack tightly; no one else in front. |
| Coldflame | Targets a random player (prefers ranged), sending a line of frost fire from the boss’s hitbox outward. Lingers 8 seconds. | 6k Frost/sec (3 sec) | 8k Frost/sec (8 sec) | Sidestep or stack inside hitbox to auto-avoid. Tanks bait to edges. |
| Bone Spike Graveyard | Hurls spikes at 1 random non-tank (3 in 25-player), impaling for initial hit + 10% max HP/sec DoT until broken. Spikes have ~15k HP (more on Heroic). | 5k Physical + 10% HP/sec | 9k Physical + 10% HP/sec | DPS focus spikes immediately; ranged handle far ones. |
| Bone Storm | Channels for 3 sec, then spins wildly for 25-30 sec (40 sec on Heroic), hitting nearby players every 2 sec. Targets furthest player, changing every 5 sec. Drops extra Coldflame lines. | Up to 10k Physical/2sec (bleed on H) | Up to 14k Physical/2sec (bleed on H) | Spread to edges; tanks bait across room. No spikes on Normal. |
On Heroic: All damage ramps up, Bone Storm adds a bleed DoT, and spikes spawn during Storm. Enrage at 500% damage/150% speed.
Lord Marrowgar Strategy and Fight Phases
The encounter loops every ~60 seconds: Phase 1 (Stationary DPS) → Phase 2 (Bone Storm Chaos) → Repeat until dead. Position the boss facing away from the raid at a room edge to give Coldflame space.
Phase 1: Stationary DPS (0-60 sec)
- Tanking: Stack all tanks (2 for 10-player, 3 for 25-player) within 5 yards of each other, inside Marrowgar’s hitbox. Turn him 90° to the wall for cleave safety. Use cooldowns like Shield Wall on heavy Bone Slices.
- DPS: Raid stacks behind the boss in his red hitbox circle (visible on target). Melee hug the hitbox edges for max uptime; ranged clip it to stay close for spikes. Prioritize: Boss > Nearby spikes.
- Healing: Focus tanks on Bone Slice spikes (~20k split). Spot-heal spike victims. Prep raid CDs for Storm transition.
- Positioning Tip: The entire raid (except tanks) stacks tight. Coldflame spawns behind you if targeted—zero movement needed. Call spikes via voice chat.
Transition: At 60 sec, Marrowgar yells “BONE STORM!” and channels. Spread out!
Phase 2: Bone Storm (25-40 sec)
- Everyone: Run to room edges/corners, maximizing distance from Marrowgar. He fixates on the furthest player (bait with tanks/hunters/pets). Ping-pong him across the room to minimize raid hits.
- Tanking: Split to opposite walls. Taunt post-Storm to re-stack quickly (10-sec window before Bone Slice resumes).
- DPS: Minimal boss damage—focus survival and any spikes (Heroic only). Cleave spikes if stacked.
- Healing: Heavy raid-wide pressure (up to 14k/sec on Heroic). Pop group CDs (e.g., Divine Hymn, Pain Suppression). Watch for extra Coldflame lines during spins.
- Positioning Tip: Avoid the center; dodge the 4 radiating fire lines per charge. Tanks control pathing to keep him away from stack spots.
Role-Specific Tips: Master Your Job
Tailor your playstyle with these Lord Marrowgar strategy tips for tanks, DPS, and healers.
Tank Tips (Warrior, Paladin, DK Focus)
- Stack like your life depends on it—Bone Slice is a raid-killer if soloed.
- Post-Storm: The main tank taunts immediately; the off-tank positions for stack. Use a third tank in 25-player for safer splits.
- Cooldown Rotation: Last Stand/Avenger’s Shield on pull; Vampiric Blood/Guardian of Ancient Kings mid-fight.
- Heroic Note: Expect 2x damage; swap on 50% HP if needed.
- Common Mistake: Sandwiching against a wall—fires bounce back!
DPS Tips (Melee vs. Ranged)
- Melee: Stay in the hitbox during Phase 1 for 100% uptime. Sidestep rare Coldflame leaks. Cleave spikes (Earth Shock/Whirlwind for burst).
- Ranged: Clip the hitbox to avoid far spikes. Prioritize distant spikes; use Feign Death/Misdirect to bait Storm.
- Spike Priority: Assign a “spike team” (e.g., 2-3 high-burst DPS). Spikes die in 3-5 sec if focused.
- Heroic DPS Check: ~20k raid DPS needed; spikes during Storm ramp pressure.
- Macro Idea:
/target Bone Spikefor quick swaps.
Healer Tips (Holy Paladin, Disc Priest, Resto Shaman)
- Phase 1: Tank spot-heals + spike HoTs (e.g., Earthliving Weapon).
- Phase 2: Use raid CDs on Storm entry (Hymn of Hope for mana). Chain HoTs pre-pull.
- Mana Management: Use mana pots on spikes; conserve for Heroic bleeds.
- Heroic: 5-7 healers for 25-player; focus on spread damage over tanks.
Normal vs. Heroic: Key Differences
| Aspect | Normal | Heroic |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 7M (10p)/13M (25p) | 10M (10p)/20M (25p) |
| Bone Storm Duration | 25 sec | 40 sec (+bleed DoT) |
| Spikes During Storm | No | Yes (3x, higher HP) |
| Coldflame Damage | 6k/sec (3 sec) | 8k/sec (8 sec) |
| Tanks Needed | 2 (10p)/3 (25p) | Same, but tighter stacks |
| Wipe Risk | Positioning fails | Spike overload + bleed |
Heroic Tip: Practice Normal’s “Boned” achievement (no spike deaths) first—it’s a gateway to HC success.
Loot Tables: What Drops from Lord Marrowgar?
Defeating Lord Marrowgar will reward players with a variety of gear, including powerful weapons, accessories, and armor pieces. The loot differs between 10-Player and 25-Player raids, but the Heroic versions drop the exact same items with higher item level and stronger stats.
Below you can find the complete list of Lord Marrowgar Loot in both 10-man and 25-man raids. Use these tables to quickly check which gear drops in your desired raid size.
🟦 10-Player
| Slot | Item | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Neck | Marrowgar’s Scratching Choker | Accessories |
| Back | Shawl of Nerubian Silk | Accessories |
| Waist | Cord of the Patronizing Practitioner | Cloth Armor |
| Wrist | Coldwraith Bracers | Mail Armor |
| Waist | Linked Scourge Vertebrae | Mail Armor |
| Feet | Ancient Skeletal Boots | Plate Armor |
| Legs | Corrupted Silverplate Leggings | Plate Armor |
| Trinket | Sliver of Pure Ice | Trinket |
| Sword | Frost Needle | Weapon: Main Hand |
| Axe | Bone Warden’s Splitter | Weapon: One-Hand |
| Mace | Bonebreaker Scepter | Weapon: One-Hand |
| Sword | Citadel Enforcer’s Claymore | Weapon: Two-Hand |
🟥 25-Player
| Slot | Item | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ring | Band of the Bone Colossus | Accessories |
| Neck | Bone Sentinel’s Amulet | Accessories |
| Ring | Loop of the Endless Labyrinth | Accessories |
| Ring | Marrowgar’s Frigid Eye | Accessories |
| Waist | Crushing Coldwraith Belt | Cloth Armor |
| Feet | Frostbitten Fur Boots | Leather Armor |
| Hands | Handguards of Winter’s Respite | Leather Armor |
| Head | Snowserpent Mail Helm | Mail Armor |
| Wrist | Bracers of Dark Reckoning | Plate Armor |
| Chest | Gendarme’s Cuirass | Plate Armor |
| Legs | Legguards of Lost Hope | Plate Armor |
| Shoulder | Rusted Bonespike Pauldrons | Plate Armor |
| Shield | Bulwark of Smouldering Steel | Shield |
| Dagger | Frozen Bonespike | Weapon: Main Hand |
| Axe | Bryntroll, the Bone Arbiter | Weapon: Two-Hand |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many phases does Lord Marrowgar have?
Q: How long does the Lord Marrowgar fight take?
Q: How many tanks do you need for Lord Marrowgar?
Q: What’s the difference between Normal and Heroic Lord Marrowgar?
Q: How do you get the “Boned” achievement on Lord Marrowgar?
Achievements Guide: “Boned” and More
Lord Marrowgar offers several achievement opportunities for completionist raiders:
“Boned” Achievement Strategy
- Requirement: Defeat Lord Marrowgar without any raid member dying to Bone Spike Graveyard
- Strategy: Assign dedicated “spike teams” of 2-3 high-burst DPS players
- Positioning: Ranged players stay close to melee stack to avoid distant spikes
- Communication: Call spike targets immediately via voice chat
- Heroic Tip: Practice on Normal first, as spikes during Bone Storm make Heroic much harde
WeakAuras and DBM Setup
Optimize your raid awareness with these essential addons:
Recommended WeakAuras
- Bone Slice Timer: Tracks tank cleave timing for cooldown usage
- Coldflame Alert: Visual warning when targeted by Coldflame
- Bone Storm Countdown: Displays time until the next Storm phase
- Spike Health Tracker: Shows remaining HP on active Bone Spikes
DBM Alerts
Deadly Boss Mods provides crucial timing alerts for phase transitions and ability warnings. Ensure your DBM is updated for WotLK Classic compatibility.
Final Thoughts: Conquer ICC’s First Gatekeeper
Lord Marrowgar is a gear check disguised as a positioning puzzle—nail the stacks, dodge the flames, and your raid will steamroll to Saurfang. With WotLK Classic’s ICC phase live, now’s the time to farm those T10 pieces. Got questions? Drop a comment below!
