Top Five: Things To Do Before The Cataclysm

• Complete the Explorer achievements in Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms - With the old world about to be remade, these are the last days to see it as originally designed. If you haven't completed your Explorer achievement for old world Azeroth, there may be places you haven't seen before. The cataclysm isn't going to invalidate the achievements, but some sights will be disappearing forever.


• Complete the Fallen Hero of the Horde quest series - One of the epic quest lines available for level 60s in the old world, the Fallen Hero of the Horde stands at the pass leading to the Blasted Lands, seeking help to free his brethren from the demon Razelikh. There is little reason to do the quest anymore since Outland welcomes everyone starting at level 58, so many players who didn't reach the level cap before the first expansion probably rode swiftly by him on their way to slay demon boars. It is a shame since the Fallen Hero may not survive the cataclysm. A large section of his quest chain takes place in Azshara, a zone destined to be remade in the new expansion. I doubt Blizzard will take the time to rework his quests much as they removed the famous Onyxia confrontation when Varian Wrynn returned to Stormwind. So help the old ghost out before he fades away into history.


• Complete the Lost In Battle quest - I actually had to look up the name of this quest because, like so many other people, I think of this as Find Mankrik's Wife. When the Barrens is remade and divided into two zones, one of the likely casualties may very well be this infamous quest. It has players run from the quest giver in Crossroads down to the Southern Barrens. Because of its iconic status, Blizzard will likely rework the quest. However there won't be long for players to complete it in its current form. Or at least take one last chance to ask "Where is Mankrik's Wife?"


• Play through Deadmines and Shadowfang Keep - There is a reason Blizzard chose these two instances for level 85 Heroics. Both are some of the most fun dungeons in the original game. The low level instances aren't going away. But if you haven't experienced them as they were originally designed, either take your low level character and find a group or blast through with your level 80. It will be interesting to compare with the new versions.


• Stop rolling alts - Seriously. If you're an alt-o-holic, you might think about laying off until the expansion. Why run a new character through the current content when Blizzard is going to prettify everything in a few months. Several? Many months, maybe? Oh what the hell. Just don't come crying to me when you're hit level 58 just as the expansion rolls out.


• UPDATE: A follow up to this post, Top Five: More Things To Do Before Cataclysm, is now available!