Runeblade of Baron Rivendare and Unholy Aura
The sword’s passive aura replicated the Death Knight ability from Warcraft III. It granted the sword’s owner an 8% increase to movement speed. This aura restored 20 health points every 5 seconds. The effect worked without a button press or cooldown as long as the sword stayed in hand. This allowed the owner to maintain the movement speed bonus and health regeneration in the open world, on battlegrounds, and between pulls in dungeons.
The movement speed bonus did not stack with other speed effects. But it helped the owner catch up to targets in world PvP. Players appreciated this boost in Classic because the game gave few other ways for a character to speed up without a mount or speed talents. Owners carried their sword in their bag for moving between fights. This kept their main weapon in their hands during a fight.
Baron Runs in Stratholme
A Baron run is a run through the Undead side up to Baron Rivendare. This half of the dungeon covers character levels 58–60. The last of the seven bosses on this side is a level 62 boss. Your path to him goes through three ziggurats and a fight with Ramstein the Gorger on Slaughter Square before the entrance to the Slaughter House. Players return to this run for three reasons:
- The sword itself - the drop rate in Classic was around 1% per kill.
- Deathcharger's Reins - this mount dropped from the same boss in Classic with a 0.02% chance.
- Dead Man's Plea - Anthion Harmon’s quest gives the group 45 minutes to reach the Baron.
The Gauntlet gates on the Undead side trigger the Dead Man's Plea timer. A group must start the fight with the Baron before the countdown runs out to rescue Ysida Harmon from her cage and turn in the quest to her. This timer does not affect the final boss’s loot. That’s why the chance to get the sword is the same on every run. This allows you to farm it without rushing against the timer.
Best Classes for Runeblade of Baron Rivendare
This two-handed sword suits Warriors and Paladins with the Two-Handed Swords skill. The sword had no Strength or Stamina stats in Classic. That’s why we recommend that both classes keep it for the open world and world PvP. This gives your character a movement speed bonus between fights, in pursuit of targets, and on the way to the next pull. A two-hander with stats suits Warriors and Paladins better in raids.
