I was thinking the other day about my guild’s first attempt at Onyxia.
As a friends & family guild, we did not allow any kind of open application, and for a while this meant that we just didn’t have enough people for 40-man raids. We did what we could, grinding up our Tier 0 set and then going to Zul Gurub week after painful week. And you have no idea what pain is until you’ve tried to do ZG in Tier 0 gear.
At any rate, it finally looked as though we’d have 40 people who could raid and our guild leader at that time was pushing people to get attuned for Molten Core, and keyed for Onyxia. And Onyxia was our first stop.
The very first Onyxia raid most of the guild hadn’t yet completed their keying quest chain, and others who had just weren’t online. We had a total of 13 people show up, and the guild leader decided we’d go anyway. We would, he said, learn something, and at least we’d get to take a look at Onyxia.
So in we went. Now the guild leader had been pushing people to collect fire resist gear for a while by then, and I secretly think the big thing that he wanted us to learn was that yes, we really needed it. We went in, pulled the first trash mob, and promptly ha deveryone die to the fire aura.
Sure, most of us were standing too close, but we began to understand the whole purpose behind this FR gear thing. We adjusted and got through the trash, and got to see Onyxia. Now everyone knew there was no chance, but we were all eager to attack her anyway, and the guild leader announced he’d pay everyone’s repair bill.
We charged. No strat was discussed, we just went in and attacked. And we got breathed on. 27,000 damage was unthinkable at that time, and that’s what I took.
I remember sending a tell to Hrist when he got on, “We just fought Onyxia! We got her down 2%”
And Hrist replied, “2%? That’s really really good. You almost had her.”
“No, no.” I said. “We got her down by 2%. We got her down to 98%.”
“Oh.”
“It was awesome.”
Ahh good times. I don’t remember anymore why I could not attend the 1st Ony attempt but I do remember the conversation at the end. I also remember our first actual kill many weeks later. We felt so powerful, even though most guilds on our server by that time were clearing BWL.
I also remember our 1st Rags kill being damn epic…and getting my T2 legs from it…and I *think* that was the last end of instance boss first kill at which I was ever present. At least the large raid ones…clearly I was there for the 10mans. Clearly my reputation as a jinx is well deserved!
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days…
I would love for Blizzard to retool the big old-world raids for current levels. Keep the fights the same, just balanced for 40 L80s, and with the *same* gear adjusted for L80 parity. Some of the visuals on that gear were great.
I don’t think I was there for the first Ony trip. I do however remember our first jaunt into MC with 23 people. Man I think we got creamed right where those 3 core hounds cross and we were so slow getting there we were already getting respawn behind us. Ahh the good ol’ days.
Hrist, you were there on our first guild only nef kill, weren’t you?
The first few times we had our Talicrutches 
Interestingly timed. I beat Onyxia for the first time yesterday. I tried to tag team it with a Warrior, as a BM with my pet tanking. After 3 wipes, one of which with him switched to Prot and me in SV (which is awful, btw….Onyxia is immune to fire damage i.e. Explosive Shot), we called in a healer. A Pally buddy of mine solos it regularly, but he can heal himself much more easily. Not sure if it’s possible for a Hunter.
Nah, I was only there for 1 of the Talicrutch kills and it was not the 1st one.
I was not playing back in those days but 3 of us got her the other day had a paladin healer, warrior tank and myself 80 level hunter, took 2 goes but on the secong shot it was easy once you now how but good fun still i like to experience the whole game no matter if the drops are no good for me now there anymore.
Hrist killed Nef as Raeda and stole mah robe!
While this is true, I had killed Nef a couple times earlier as Hrist, just not the guild’s first time.
Yeah being a new player to WoW (and i chose a Dwarf Hunter as my first toon and am loving it) I only recently did Onyxia with a few guildies. It was my first raid but even tho some were in their 70s it was still an epic battle against an epic boss. Full Respect for Onyxia.
ahh onyxia, i miss classic WoW it just had something to it that WotLK doesnt,
anyway i just cleared her by myself today with your guide, got it on my second try