Guide · October 23, 2026

WoW Forever Excavation Site: Wetlands Dungeon Guide and Story

Excavation Site: Wetlands is one of the nine new WoW Forever dungeons, a short single-map dungeon above Whelgar's Excavation Site where crocolisks, raptors, Dragonmaw orcs and spiders guard a titan relic. Method lists four bosses and a clear time of 20 to 35 minutes. The level range differs between guides, so treat it as provisional.

Quick answer: The entrance is in the Wetlands near the Dun Algaz entrance, at the base of the mountain you climb to reach the Meeting Stone. Bosses: Saltspine, Shadetooth, the Highland Horror (an Alliance quest boss with no loot) and the Relic Guardian, which you activate from a Titan Control Panel.

Boss route through Excavation Site: Wetlands — Boss order and key mechanics, following Method's beta guide.

At a glance

Level range: Warcraft Tavern and Icy Veins list 24 to 29. Method lists 26 to 33, so check the in-game recommendation.
Location: the Wetlands, near Thelgen Rock and Dun Algaz
Bosses: four, three of which drop loot
Clear time: about 20 to 35 minutes (Method)
Layout: a single map

It is part of Blizzard's set of nine new dungeons. See the overview. Blizzard has not said which are open on launch day.

How to get there

Method places the entrance close to the Dun Algaz entrance, at the foot of the mountain you climb to reach the Meeting Stone. Alliance players can reach it easily from Thelsemar or Menethil Harbor. Horde players have a slightly longer trip from Hammerfall in the Arathi Highlands.

The bosses in order

Saltspine: patrols the edge of the crocolisk lake. His Dust Storm greatly reduces the tank's threat, and he also uses Fatal Bite and Tendon Rip. Be careful about pulling him together with other mobs.
Shadetooth: patrols the raptor path with two Thicket Hunters. His Terrifying Roar can fear you into hidden packs in the tall grass. Method suggests a Shaman's Tremor Totem or Fear Ward on the tank, or clearing the grass trash first. He also hits the tank with Rend and enrages at 20% health.
Highland Horror: an Alliance quest boss with Entangling Roots and Wild Regeneration. Avoid pulling the slimes around him, kill him quickly and take the quest item. He has no regular loot.
Relic Guardian: the final boss, activated from a nearby Titan Control Panel. He jumps to level 31, which raises his miss and dodge chances, so the tank's threat is less reliable. Thunderclap slows nearby attack speed, Arcing Smash is a frontal cleave, Knockaway reduces a target's threat and War Stomp is an area knockback and stun. Ranged players should stay away from him. Method says he can be stunned and slowed, so kiting works with tools like Concussive Shot or Earthbind Totem.

Trash worth knowing

Method names these groups:

Young Riptooth: packs of three with Fatal Bite. Pull and kill one at a time rather than using area damage.
Marsh Skulkers and Elder Crocolisks: Tendon Rip, a heavy slow, and a Spirit and Stamina debuff from the Skulkers.
Thicket Hunters and Matriarchs: a disease that raises physical damage taken, and a bleed. Cleanse the disease.
Thicket Lurkers and Stalkers: packs of three hiding in the grass.
Dragonmaw Saboteurs and Warders: avoidable bombs, plus Mortal Strike (less healing received) and a 10-second Net root.
Dragonmaw Thaumaturgist: kill the fire elemental that comes with it first.
Highland Lurkers and Spiders: poison. Cleanse disease and poison quickly.

Quests

Method lists these quests, with levels and locations that may change in the final game.

Alliance:

Songblade Search, from Dorin Songblade in Lakeshire, Redridge Mountains.
Lost in the Thicket Things, from Caitlin Grassman in Menethil Harbor.
Highland Hides, from James Halloran in Menethil Harbor, after Young Crocolisk Skins.
Horrors in the Highland, from the Greenwarden in the Wetlands, after his chain that begins with Tramping Paws.
Lost Relic Carry, from the Relic Guardian inside.

Horde:

Changing Tastes, from Borstan in Orgrimmar.
Open the Maw, from the Deathstalker Agent in the Wetlands.
Elder Knowledge, from the Relic Guardian inside.

Method does not say whether the two quests from the Relic Guardian are available to both factions, so check in the dungeon.

Loot highlights

Method lists Glinteye Slippers (cloth feet) and Saltscale Girdle (mail waist) from Saltspine, Raptorclaw Greaves (mail feet) and Garb of Florid Feathers (leather chest) from Shadetooth, and Ring of Power Regulation, Golemsight Long Gun and Reliquary Mantle from the Relic Guardian. The Titan Relic and Horrible Rootcore are quest items. Blizzard has said every dropped dungeon item unlocks its transmog appearance for each eligible looter. Treat drops as beta data.

The story of the dig site

Icy Veins' preview describes a strange mist drifting down from the mountains above the dig site, with flashes of light on the horizon. Beyond it lies a place seemingly frozen in time, where stray titan constructs and dangerous wildlife guard mysteries. It adds that the Explorers' League and other curious adventurers are expected to be drawn there.

Warcraft Wiki describes Whelgar's Excavation Site as a dwarven dig that was once peaceful and was later overrun by mottled raptors. Its dwarves evacuated to nearby Whelgar's Retreat. The Titan Relic and the Relic Guardian appear in the dungeon's quests, and none of the guides we read gives deeper lore for them yet. If you want the background on how the dwarves fit into the world, read the lore primer. The free Lore Forever add-on gives readable background in zones, and it is fan-made.

Frequently asked questions

What level is Excavation Site: Wetlands?

Warcraft Tavern and Icy Veins list 24 to 29, and Method lists 26 to 33. Rely on the in-game recommendation.

Where is the Excavation Site entrance?

In the Wetlands near the Dun Algaz entrance, at the base of the mountain with the Meeting Stone. It is reachable from Thelsemar or Menethil Harbor.

How many bosses are in Excavation Site: Wetlands?

Four: Saltspine, Shadetooth, the Highland Horror and the Relic Guardian. Three drop loot.

Can the Horde run Excavation Site: Wetlands?

Yes. Method lists Horde quests and a longer trip from Hammerfall in the Arathi Highlands.

Is Excavation Site new in Forever?

Yes. It is one of the nine new WoW Forever dungeons.

Sources

Reviewed October 23, 2026. Based on beta-era guides that disagree on level range; mechanics, quests and drops may change at launch. Lore Forever is fan-made and is not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.