Sszorak is a wind-control single-target fight: room indicators predict which way the intermission gales will blow, and the raid deliberately places knockback Cysts in those lanes so the Howling Maelstrom bounces everyone back onto the platform instead of off it. Between intermissions the tanks solve a five-step Apex Predator combo while the raid baits puddles and manages Cyst drops.
Tornado indicators on the walls show where each intermission gale will come from, in order. The raid's whole Cyst plan is built off that read, so call it in the first seconds of the pull.
Apex Predator strings five attacks in any order: the tank solo-soaks each White Frontal (Ravage, 400 percent increased Ravage damage taken), the raid group splits each Green Frontal (Mutilate, split damage plus a 500 percent-amplified DoT) aimed at its assigned group, and everyone dodges the Tempest tornadoes that bounce around the room.
Venomous Surge players run their expiring DoT to the edge across from the wind markers and drop the Viscous Cyst there. Touching a Cyst knocks every player away and stacks a slow, so nobody clips one by accident.
Bait Caustic Claws swirlies at the edge after the tank combo, then rotate the raid to clean ground. During Raging Crosswinds, arrowed players bonk into a player with the opposite wind arrow to cancel both pushes.
At the intermission (about 1:40), move to the center. Three gales blow in the order the indicators showed - each time, get pushed into the planned Cyst so its knockback bounces you back toward the middle instead of off the platform.
After the third gale, run into the final unused Cyst to prevent its explosion, then unload every cooldown while Dig In makes the boss take 30 percent increased damage for 25 seconds. Reset positions and repeat.
Five-step combo in any order: solo-soak White Frontals, aim each Green Frontal at its assigned group to split Mutilate, dodge the Tempest tornadoes.
Failure: A shared White Frontal or an unsplit Mutilate applies amplified damage the tank cannot survive twice.
Carry the DoT to the assigned edge spot and drop the Cyst across from the wind markers - Cysts are the intermission's survival tools, placed on purpose.
Failure: A Cyst dropped in the raid knocks everyone away and stacks slows; a missing Cyst in a wind lane means players get blown off the platform.
Find a player whose arrow points the opposite way and collide to cancel both knockbacks.
Failure: An unresolved arrow launches its player across the arena mid-mechanic.
Bait the swirlies at the edge and rotate off the puddles - standing in one increases your damage taken.
Failure: Puddles through the middle shrink the space the wind plan depends on.
Three gales in the indicated order try to blow the raid off the platform - ride each push into the planned Cyst and bounce back to the middle.
Failure: Missing a Cyst is a death by falling; this is the fight's defining wipe check.
Melee attacks stack 3 percent increased physical damage taken for 12 seconds - watch the stack through the combo.
Failure: Combo steps landing on high Corroding stacks convert a routine hit into a tank death.
The named boss spells, their individual sub-abilities, and the response for each. Ability names with known spell IDs open their own WoW-God spell pages.
A five-attack combination directed at the active tank that can change targets during the cast and arrive in any order.
Raid response: Two pre-assigned groups and both tanks resolve each step as it is announced rather than memorizing one sequence.
A frontal cone that increases Ravage damage taken by 400 percent.
Raid response: The active tank solo-soaks it away from everyone; never take two in a row.
A frontal cone that splits damage between players hit and applies a DoT increasing Mutilate damage taken by 500 percent.
Raid response: Aim it through the assigned group so the split is safe and the amplification never doubles up.
Dodgeable tornadoes spawn around the boss and shoot outward, slowing and stacking a poison DoT on anyone hit.
Raid response: Dodge the spawn ring, and healers dispel the poison off anyone clipped.
A DoT that drops a Viscous Cyst where it expires, exploding for damage based on distance from the raid.
Raid response: Walk it to the planned edge spot so the Cyst lands exactly where the winds will need it.
A toxic glob that knocks all touching players away and stacks a 5 second slow.
Raid response: Avoid it all phase - then aim yourself at it deliberately during each gale.
Swirlies form puddles that increase the damage taken of anyone standing in them.
Raid response: Bait at the edge, rotate the raid, keep the center clean for the intermission.
Players get an arrow showing which way the wind will push them and must be knocked into an opposite-arrow player.
Raid response: Call pairs instantly and collide before the push resolves.
Melee attacks increase physical damage taken by 3 percent for 12 seconds, stacking.
Raid response: Tanks trade the boss so combo steps never land on a high stack.
Three wind gales, each from a different indicated direction, try to push the raid off the platform.
Raid response: Center up, ride each gale into its planned Cyst, and bounce back to safety three times.
Sszorak takes 30 percent increased damage for 25 seconds.
Raid response: This is the fight's damage window - line up cooldowns and lust timing around it.
Own the combo: solo the White Frontals, point every Green Frontal at its assigned group, and swap so Corroding Venom and Ravage amplification never stack on one of you.
Dispel Tempest's poison promptly, top the raid before each gale, and hold personals for players who misjudge a Cyst bounce.
Deliver your Surge Cyst to the exact planned spot, resolve your Crosswind pair fast, and bank cooldowns for the 25 second Dig In window.
The wind indicators are the strategy. Know the gale order, know which Cyst is yours for each push, and never touch a Cyst before the intermission needs it.
Review available video breakdowns alongside the written assignments.
Compare current parses, talent choices, and gear for this encounter.
