Naxxramas was designed to be “hardcore,” with the expectation that players would use all the tools available to them. Stacking consumables and world buffs was a thing in vanilla, just not as widely done as it is in Classic. The game devs knew this, and they opted to balance Naxx for a fully buffed raid. As much to keep players busy until The Burning Crusade is released as anything else. Here we’ll go over the consumables you should be considering for your own runs into Naxxramas.
Consumables Lists: All | Tanks | Healers | DPS
Are Consumables Required? | Flasks | Finding A Balance
Naxxramas Consumables for All
These consumables will help keep everyone alive through the various Naxxramas boss encounters.
- Heavy Runecloth Bandage (20) – Loatheb, Kel’Thuzad
- Greater Arcane Protection Potion (5) – Gothik
- Greater Fire Protection Potion (10) – Faerlina, Four Horsemen
- Greater Frost Protection Potion (10) – Sapphiron, Kel’Thuzad
- Greater Nature Protection Potion (5) – Thaddius
- Greater Shadow Protection Potion (5) – Loatheb
- Elixir of Poison Resistance (5) – Spider trash
The suggested amounts are for a mostly clean run through the entire raid. Likely you won’t use everything and will only need to top off your stacks each week. If still learning fights and progressing you’ll want to bring more.
Other Options
Consider these optional and substitute consumables, depending on your needs and in-game wealth.
Anti-Venom, Strong Anti-Venom, & Powerful Anti-Venom (3 of each) – Elixir of Poison Resistance is the best option for removing poisons, as it has no cooldown. But you can substitute it with bundles of these anti-venoms. Each will work as well, despite their tooltip. And they are cheaper to make, getting more out of a Small and Large Venom Sac. They do have a 1-minute cooldown, but it is not shared between them. So you can use one of each inside the same minute. Note Powerful Anti-Venom requires 300 in First Aid.
Poison Removal Macro:
#showtooltip
/castsequence reset=59 Anti-Venom, Strong Anti-Venom, Powerful Anti-Venom, Elixir of Poison Resistance
Frost Protection Potion (5) – A viable, and cheaper substitute for Greater Frost Protection Potion. It offers 1350-2250 protection vs 1950-3250 from the greater version. The cost savings isn’t huge (less than 2 gold on my server), so if you’re dying go back to the good stuff.
Juju Chill (5) – Increases your frost resistance, and stacks with other frost resistance buffs.
Nature Protection Potion (5) – A reasonable, and much cheaper substitute for Greater Nature Protection Potion. It offers 1350-2250 protection vs 1950-3250 from the greater version. But more importantly, it is a lot cheaper, especially if Elemental Earth maintains its cost from Phase 5.
Goblin Sapper Charge (10) – All engineers should bring along sapper charges for extra AoE damage. Best used while waiting on regular abilities.
Stratholme Holy Water (10) – Instant AoE damage against undead, usable by anyone.
Naxxramas Consumables for Tanks
Recommended and optional consumables for a druid, paladin, and warrior tanks.
The suggested amounts are for a mostly clean run through the entire raid. If still learning fights and progressing you’ll want to bring more.
Warrior (Prot or Fury/Prot)
- Elixir of the Mongoose (10) – Can opt to use Elixir of Greater Agility instead which is much cheaper, but also much weaker
- Elixir of Giants (10) or Juju Power (20)
- Elemental Sharpening Stone (20) or Dense Sharpening Stone (20) – Can use both (Dense on MH weapon) as a compromise between buff and cost
- Free Action Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan adds and trash
- Gift of Arthas (5) – For Loatheb and Sapphiron
- Swiftness Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan
Optional Consumables
- Elixir of Fortitude (10) – Minor health increase
- Elixir of Superior Defense (10)
- Major Troll’s Blood Potion (10)
- Juju Ember (5) – Extra fire resistance for Faerlina and Four Horsemen
- Greater Stoneshield Potion (10)
- Mighty Rage Potion (10)
- Winterfall Firewater (10) or Juju Might (15) – Strong buff, but added cost
- Smoked Desert Dumplings (20) or Dirge’s Kickin’ Chimaerok Chops (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Druid (Bear)
- Elixir of the Mongoose (10) – Can opt to use Elixir of Greater Agility instead which is much cheaper, but also much weaker
- Elixir of Giants (10) or Juju Power (20)
- Free Action Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan adds and trash
- Gift of Arthas (5) – For Loatheb and Sapphiron
Optional Consumables
- Elixir of Fortitude (10) – Minor health increase
- Elixir of Superior Defense (10) – Make sure you aren’t already at armor cap (17,265 armor)
- Major Troll’s Blood Potion (10)
- Juju Ember (5) – Extra fire resistance for Faerlina and Four Horsemen
- Winterfall Firewater (10) or Juju Might (15) – Strong buff, but added cost
- Smoked Desert Dumplings (20) or Dirge’s Kickin’ Chimaerok Chops (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Paladin (Prot)
- Brilliant Mana Oil (4)
- Elixir of the Mongoose (10) – Can opt to use Elixir of Greater Agility instead which is much cheaper, but also much weaker
- Elixir of Giants (10) or Juju Power (20)
- Elemental Sharpening Stone (20) or Dense Sharpening Stone (20)
- Free Action Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan adds and trash
- Gift of Arthas (5) – For Loatheb and Sapphiron
- Major Mana Potion (20)
- Swiftness Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan
Optional Consumables
- Dark Rune (10) or Demonic Rune (10) – Use if having mana issues
- Elixir of Fortitude (10) – Minor health increase
- Elixir of Superior Defense (10)
- Mageblood Potion (10) – Use if having mana issues
- Major Troll’s Blood Potion (10)
- Juju Ember (5) – Extra fire resistance for Faerlina and Four Horsemen
- Greater Stoneshield Potion (10)
- Winterfall Firewater (10) or Juju Might (15) – Strong buff, but added cost
- Nightfin Soup (20) or Sagefish Delight (20) – Use if having mana issues
- Smoked Desert Dumplings (20) or Dirge’s Kickin’ Chimaerok Chops (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Naxxramas Consumables for Healers
Recommended and optional consumables for all healers.
The suggested amounts are for a mostly clean run through the entire raid. If still learning fights and progressing you’ll want to bring more.
Resto Druid, Holy Paladin, Holy Priest, Resto Shaman
- Brilliant Mana Oil (4)
- Mageblood Potion (10)
- Major Mana Potion (20)
Optional Consumables
- Spirit of Zanza (1) – Unique, so not great if regularly wiping
- Dark Rune (10) or Demonic Rune (10) – Use if having mana issues during the 2-minute cooldown of your mana potions
- Nightfin Soup (20) or Sagefish Delight (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit Juice (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Naxxramas Consumables for DPS
Recommended and optional consumables for each DPS class.
The suggested amounts are for a mostly clean run through the entire raid. If still learning fights and progressing you’ll want to bring more.
Hunter
- Elixir of the Mongoose (10) – Can opt to use Elixir of Greater Agility instead which is much cheaper, but also much weaker
Optional Consumables
- Juju Might (15) – Strong buff, but added cost
- Lesser Mana Oil (4) – Use if not weaving
- Mageblood Potion (10) – Use if having mana issues
- Major Mana Potion (10)
- Grilled Squid (20) – Minor buff
In Phase 5 attack power buffs don’t affect ranged attack power. But in Phase 6 they will affect ranged attack power, thus making them viable for hunters in Naxx.
Mage
- Brilliant Wizard Oil (4)
- Elixir of Greater Firepower (10)
- Greater Arcane Elixir (10)
- Light Feather (5) – Trash before Grobbulus has a big knockback
- Limited Invulnerability Potion (5) – Can save you from pulling aggro
Optional Consumables
- Mageblood Potion (10) – Use if having mana issues
- Major Mana Potion (10)
- Runn Tum Tuber Surprise (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit Juice (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Priest (Shadow)
- Brilliant Wizard Oil (4)
- Elixir of Shadow Power (10)
- Greater Arcane Elixir (10)
Optional Consumables
- Mageblood Potion (10) – Use if having mana issues
- Major Mana Potion (10)
- Nightfin Soup (20) or Sagefish Delight (20) – Use if having mana issues
- Blessed Sunfruit Juice (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Rogue
- Elixir of the Mongoose (10) – Can opt to use Elixir of Greater Agility instead which is much cheaper, but also much weaker
- Elixir of Giants (10) or Juju Power (20)
- Free Action Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan adds and trash. Can also opt for Living Action Potion, which works after you’ve been stunned (Free Action works by taking before a possible stun).
- Instant Poison VI (20) – Horde with Windfury will use half a much
Optional Consumables
- Winterfall Firewater (10) or Juju Might (15) – Strong buff, but added cost
- Smoked Desert Dumplings (20) or Grilled Squid (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit (20) Offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
- Thistle Tea (20) – Good DPS buff if used appropriately, otherwise wasted gold
Shaman (Enhancement)
- Elixir of the Mongoose (10) – Can opt to use Elixir of Greater Agility instead which is much cheaper, but also much weaker
- Elixir of Giants (10) or Juju Power (20)
- Free Action Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan adds and trash. Can also opt for Living Action Potion, which works after you’ve been stunned (Free Action works by taking before a possible stun).
Optional Consumables
- Dark Rune (10) or Demonic Rune (10)
- Mageblood Potion (10) – Use if having mana issues
- Major Mana Potion (10)
- Winterfall Firewater (10) or Juju Might (15) – Strong buff, but added cost
- Nightfin Soup (20) or Sagefish Delight (20) – Use if having mana issues
- Blessed Sunfruit Juice (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Warlock
- Brilliant Wizard Oil (4)
- Elixir of Shadow Power (10)
- Greater Arcane Elixir (10)
- Limited Invulnerability Potion (5) – Can save you from pulling aggro
Optional Consumables
- Elixir of Greater Firepower (10) – Depends on your rotation
- Mageblood Potion (10) – Use if having mana issues
- Major Mana Potion (10)
- Runn Tum Tuber Surprise (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit Juice (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Warrior (Fury/Arms)
- Elixir of the Mongoose (10) – Can opt to use Elixir of Greater Agility instead which is much cheaper, but also much weaker
- Elixir of Giants (10) or Juju Power (20)
- Elemental Sharpening Stone (20) or Dense Sharpening Stone (20) – Can use both (Dense on MH weapon) if dual wielding as a compromise between buff and cost
- Free Action Potion (5) – For Anub’Rekhan adds and trash. Can also opt for Living Action Potion, which works after you’ve been stunned (Free Action works by taking before a possible stun).
- Limited Invulnerability Potion (5) – Can save you from pulling aggro
Optional Consumables
- Mighty Rage Potion (10)
- Winterfall Firewater (10) or Juju Might (15) – Strong buff, but added cost
- Smoked Desert Dumplings (20) – Minor buff
- Blessed Sunfruit (20) offers a less powerful, but cheaper option if Revered with Argent Dawn
Will Naxxramas Really Need A Lot of Consumables?
By most accounts, Naxxramas in vanilla WoW was tuned with consumables in mind. Previous raids balanced against standard raid buffs, not consumables or world buffs. With the notable exception of Twin Emperors in AQ40. Vek’nilash hit tanks too hard given the gear they had access to at the opening of AQ. Consumables became needed to increase their mitigation. My guild saw the same thing our first week running AQ40 in Classic. We went from wiping to a kill by getting consumables onto the warrior tanks.
Want another source? Check out this copy of an Elitist Jerks post about how overpowered consumables were in vanilla WoW, and how they forced a balance change in Naxxramas. Written by Ion Hazzikostas. Back then he was a member of a high end raiding guild in vanilla WoW and TBC. Today he’s also known as Watcher and is the Game Director for World of Warcraft.
In Classic raid bosses have gone down much faster than back in vanilla. There are many reasons. More player experience, known tactics, and enjoying end game class balances and itemization. We’ll likely see more guilds down Kel’thuzad in the first month than we saw in six months of vanilla. But Naxx (patch 1.11) is close to the version of the game we’ve been playing (patch 1.12). Fewer Classic players have experience with the original Naxx. Especially outside of private servers. And of course, the encounters in Naxx were balanced differently.
Expect consumables to make the difference between a wipe and a close kill for many guilds. At least until they get geared up with Naxx loot.
Flasks for Naxxramas
If any raid forces your guild to run with flasks it will be Naxxramas. They likely won’t be required by many guilds to complete the instance. But in the early weeks, they will give you a strong edge against a hard boss encounter. They can also speed up your progress through the raid instance. Naxx is huge, with 15 bosses. Fewer healing mana breaks and better caster DPS will speed things along.
Flask of the Titans
Flask of the Titans will be the most popular. During early progression having it on your tanks, 100% of the time gives healers more room to adjust. During the farm, it may still be useful for a while on Maexxna, Loatheb, Four Horsemen, Patchwerk, Sapphiron, and Kel’Thuzad. I recommend having plenty ready for your primary tanks. And keep in mind the extra number of tanks you’ll need for Four Horsemen.
Running Titans on all your melee 100% of the time will be overkill. If you can’t get through any of Naxx without everyone using Titans you have more basic issues to address. That said raid-wide use of flasks can help if struggling with Loatheb, Four Horsemen, or Sapphiron.
Flask of Distilled Wisdom
Flask of Distilled Wisdom needs will vary by boss and healer class. Paladins will have the least issues. Priests may have the most need. You shouldn’t need to run it on every healer for 100% of the time. Patchwerk, Sapphiron, and Kel’Thuzad are where you’ll most likely have mana issues. I recommend having some ready, but wait and see what you actually need and when.
Flask of Supreme Power
Flask of Supreme Power is often looked down upon as only benefiting the quaffer. But extra DPS does benefit the group. And it can be the difference between a wipe and a close kill. Especially with Loatheb, Gothik, Four Horsemen, Sapphiron, and Kel’Thuzad. Keep it in mind as a bonus option, especially if you end up with an extra Black Lotus.
Will Flasks Be Required?
We don’t know if flasks will be required for everyone, some guilds, or not at all past the first few weeks. There isn’t enough good data from vanilla Naxxramas. On many private servers, they are recommended, but not always required. It depends on how hardcore the guild is. Classic has easier boss encounters than most private servers, so take that how you will.
My guild is being proactive, but reasonable in its preparations for Naxx. We are stockpiling Titans for our tanks and Distilled Wisdom for our healers. With the expectation of using up to 12 flasks per week total. We’ll have enough to go for that rate for months. Or use a larger amount during the critical progression weeks. We downed C’thun our first week in AQ40, so we’re expecting good early progress in Naxx.
Finding a Balance Between Fun and Progress
The issue with requiring a lot of consumables to run Naxxramas is the drain it places on the raiders. A weekly consumables list has to be obtained and in most cases every week. This means raiders need to log on between raid days and either earn gold or farm materials. Guild alchemists have to take in materials from guildies and craft large amounts of elixirs and potions. Activities that are not fun for all players. This is why Ion Hazzikostas called the consumables requirements for Naxx the worst grind in MMO history. You grind for hours, not for a reward, but to maintain the status quo of being able to run the current raid.
My Lists Attempt to Balance Need vs Effort
The consumables lists I use above are a balance between meeting the needs of Naxx and not overloading the raider. If you search online you’ll find another Naxx consumables list. Many with far more items listed. All those items are useful, but they add time and effort each week to put together. And may not be strictly needed to see success in Naxx.
That said, I believe some amount of consumables will be required for everyone going into Naxx. They offered too much benefit for the original raid developers to ignore any further. Consumables will be needed to meet expectations.
If you or others in your guild don’t normally run with consumables you need to start saving up for Naxx, right now. Starting before Phase 6 will reduce the weekly burden after Naxx launches. Stockpiling consumables or materials now will save you the sticker shock coming later.
Look At the Value of Your Consumables
We know which consumables are the best. But those on a budget may want to see the value difference between similar options. You can get more for your gold, even though you get less in total. Check out the Best Value Consumables guide to get a sense of where different food, elixirs, and potions line up with each other.
This Will Be the First and Last Time
On the bright side, this will be the last time you’ll need to put in so much weekly effort to run current content. During The Burning Crusade Blizzard recognized the issues with stacking consumables. Elixirs were divided between offensive and defensive, and you could only use one of each. Key mats for flasks were also more common for gatherers. Consumables will continue to be useful in Outland. But they won’t again be so overpowering that they change raid design.