So, as you might have figured from the picture above, I have my Swift Flight Form now.

As someone pointed out at around 3AM this morning, I think it was Nawat, “That makes, what? Netherdrake, Swift Flight Form, Nether Ray and Engineering mount? How many more do you need?”

To you, and those who may wonder the same thing, I say, “None.”

In fact, I’ve put the others away in the bank.

And the reason is very simple; This is the only mount I worked my big bear BUTT off to get. Even including the Netherdrake, this is the mount I feel that I earned the hard way, by tanking a nasty boss through adversity and lack of alcohol. And I will fly like a birdie, reveling in my triumph.

Now, some may say that I didn’t work as hard as others, since I didn’t have to get all the way to Revered to get my Auchindoin Key.

HAH!!! Anzu is enough of a grind, thanks.

For those of you that may still have this wonderful culmination of your Swift Flight Form quest to look forward to, let me share with you a short list of pointers I learned after 5 runs at him this morning.

ONE: There are three shadowform birds, arranged fairly close to the center of the chamber where Anzu spawns, that are friendly, if you give ‘em a chance. They will cast sweet, sweet buffs on the whole party that drastically improve your chances at one shotting this. But there is a catch; they are ONLY active while they have a live DRUID Healing Over Time spell cast on them. Oh, by the way… if you have a kick ass, awesome party of maniacs helping you, with the most amazing Paladin, Warlock, Mage, and Hunter… YOU CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY TANK THE BASTARD AND KEEP HOTS UP ON THE BIRDS AT THE SAME TIME. At least, not unless you’re soloing BT or something, I guess. So take my advice… bring a resto druid or boomkin. Or, as Haruki told me yesterday, a doomkin. The difference? Apparently, doomkins maximize their crits.)

SECOND: The boss likes to drop a spell bomb on folks… if the curse lands on you, it will drain 2000 mana and 1000 health if you cast a spell. So, it’s a “are you paying attention” curse. Yeah, that’s really appreciated when it’s 3Am after raiding all night and half your party is drunk.

THIRD: Periodically, Anzu will self-banish. At this time, a flock of birds, non-elites, swarms into the room going for everyone in a chaos of feathers. And BOY do they love World Threat generators like a Healer. So the Healer tends to drop. The only way we successfully nailed down this problem that caused three of our wipes was, when Anzu self-banishes, to have everyone, including myself, huddle up on the healer. As soon as the birds come in from all directions, I cast Barkskin, and then Hurricane on our party, and made ANY bird that came near us focus on me. Worked perfectly. Damn it.

FOURTH: Anzu likes to frequently silence casters, so make sure there you keep Frenzied Regeneration saved for emergencies…. and he loves to do a 6 second AOE stun that affects everyone, so trying to have HoTs on you at all times is a good idea.

I’d do a full guide on him, but frankly I am still wiped from being up all night taking him down.

Until next time, may your own runs be smooth, and your rewards many. And have a great weekend.