Maw

This article is about the Shadowlands zone. For the Val'sharah NPC, see The Maw (Val'sharah). For the quest, see  [53-60] The Maw. For other uses, see Maw (disambiguation).

The Maw
Level: 50 - 60
Capital(s)	Torghast
Races	Mawsworn Kyrian Shade Soul Charred behemoth
Ruler(s)	The Jailer
Major settlements	Detrithos The Tremaculum
Minor settlements	Crucible of the Damned Forlorn Respite
Affiliation	Mawsworn
Location	Shadowlands
PvP status	Contested territory

The Maw is one of the realms of the Shadowlands. This horrific place houses the most vile and irredeemable souls in existence. Ruled by the enigmatic Jailer, the Maw inspires nightmares and legends even among the denizens of the Shadowlands. No one has ever escaped this vile place, and any foolish enough to venture here are never heard from again. At its center lies Torghast, a cursed otherworldly prison where the most wicked souls in the universe are locked away. In recent years, the machinery of Death has been broken, and all souls who enter the Shadowlands are now condemned to torment in the Maw, no matter their deeds in life. This has caused the Maw to begin growing larger and more powerful while the rest of the Shadowlands wither from a lack of anima. The Maw is antithetical to Oribos.

The Maw will be a max-level zone designed for exploration and open-ended play, without settlements or inns to let players catch their breath.

Background

Concept art of Mawsworn.

In the deepest depths of the Shadowlands lies the inescapable Maw. The wretched souls imprisoned in this hopeless realm are the unforgiven and irredeemable. They are imprisoned forever and suffer without end, until they are twisted into a mere shade of their former glory. It is then that the tormented willingly serve their tormentor.

Normally, few souls are sent directly here, as even the most evil and prideful beings in existence are given a last chance to atone for their sins in Revendreth. If they fail or refuse to seek redemption, they are condemned to an eternity in the Maw.

It is implied that there was a time "before the Maw was called the Maw." The landmass within the Maw consists of pieces of land that have been ripped from a realm that was destroyed upon entering the Maw's atmosphere and whose pieces have become burned and desiccated. The Jailer pieced these together into a single landmass by throwing out chains in every direction within the Maw from Torghast and pulling them inwards. The Maw was sealed and made inescapable with the magic of the Heart of the Forest, with the goal of banishing The Jailer forever.

As the Jailer's dwelling, the Maw is a tumultuous, hopeless maze of torment chambers and endless despair. The laws that bind the Shadowlands are meaningless within the Jailer's realm. Reality is ever-changing within the Maw, which is continually altering itself to the whims of its singular master who resides in Torghast, Tower of the Damned.

Recent history

Around the time of the Burning Legion's third invasion of Azeroth, the machine of death was broken, causing all souls who enter the Shadowlands to pour directly into the Maw. As a result, the Maw grows larger and more powerful while other parts of the Shadowlands have become deprived of anima and have started withering.

Sylvanas Windrunner has been working with the Jailer since her attempted suicide at Icecrown Citadel and has been perpetrating acts to bring about great amounts of death in the world of the living. As she has fed the Maw with new souls, both she and the Jailer have grown more powerful.

Thanks to their intimate connection to Azeroth's world-soul, adventurers will be able to escape the Maw and further explore the Shadowlands, though some of their allies will be left behind.

Geography

Maps and subregions

Map of the Maw.

The Beastwarrens Calcis Desolate Hollow Cocyrus Ve'nari's Refuge Crucible of the Damned Detrithos Zovaal's Cauldron Desmotaeron Penderghast Face of Oblivion Altar of Domination Perdition Hold Gorgoa: River of Souls Marrow's Coppice Death's Roar Maw Entrance Area Planes of Torment Forlorn Respite Ruin's Cradle The Tremaculum Prodigum Ravener's Lament Soulstained Fields Torghast, Tower of the Damned

Instances

Instance name	Level range	Group size	Approximate run time
Torghast, Tower of the Damned	60	5

Adjacent regions

Zone Name	Faction	Level Range	Direction	Access
Oribos

Gameplay mechanics

The Maw is not a typical zone, and it has some unique mechanics to encourage players to drop by, gain some currencies by doing activities, and then leave.

The three currencies

The overall objective of the Maw is to gain Stygia and the reputation to use it with Ve'nari, but balanced against drawing the Eye of the Jailer. Additionally, the covenants would really like some more freed souls to power their way of life.

Nearly everything in the zone will affect any or all of the "currencies". Looting generic mobs will award a granule or two of Stygia. Freeing lost souls for the weekly covenant quest will award much more Stygia, but also advance the Eye of the Jailer progress. Rares and events will award more stygia, advance the Eye progress, and award reputation with Ve'nari.

To direct players' efforts, there are several high-level activities that players are encouraged to complete daily and weekly:

Source	Reputation	Stygia	Eye of the Jailer
Weekly quests (x2)	850	420	1 level
Daily quests (x2)	75	140	1/2 level
Wrath of the Jailer	250	100	1/2 level
Rare mobs (daily)	80	Varies	Varies
Maw events (daily)	40	Varies	Varies
Maw Lore (one-time)	100	n/a	n/a

The Eye of the Jailer

File:Eye of the Jailer Tier5.jpg

The Eye interface

To keep players from grinding reputation and Stygia all day, the The Eye of the Jailer comes into play. This mechanic gently encourages players to not idle in the zone and, after a while, less-than-gently encourages players to leave the zone as more advanced threats are unleashed. Eventually, the Jailer will have had enough and starts rapidly eroding the player's life force, eventually killing the Maw Walker outright.

0. None
1. Soulseekers attack you on sight
2. Towers bombard your location, dealing damage and slowing you
3. Assassins are sent to kill you
4. Winged Abductors hunt you from above
5. The jailer rapidly erodes your life force

Ve'nari and her refuge

Ve'nari's Refuge

On the southeastern part of the mainland is Ve'nari's Refuge, home to the broker Ve'nari. At the refuge, players are immune to the Eye of the Jailer and build out a portal network to other points in the zone. Ve'nari trades in [Stygia], acquired from various sources in the Maw.

Stygia

Completing objectives in the Maw (freeing souls, daily quests, bonus objectives, etc...) will award some [Stygia]. Ve'nari will trade the player's gathered Stygia for various upgrades, like a portal network, or quality-of-life improvements in Torghast, like the ability to always see at least two Anima power choices when interacting with Anima hoards. Should players die in the Maw, they will drop half their Stygia, but they can loot their corpse to recover it.

Ve'nari

Reputation	Item	Cost	Purpose
n/a	[Cypher of Relocation]	60	Teleports the player to Ve'nari's refuge
	[Anima Supricifer]	50	Quest item
Apprehensive	[Vessel of Unfortunate Spirits]	527	Torghast upgrade (death)
	[Extradimensional Pockets]	800	Torghast upgrade (obleron armaments)
	[Encased Riftwalker Essence]	1130	Maw upgrade (Chaotic Riftstones)
	[Soultwinning Scepter]	205	Stat buff
	[Oil of Ethereal Force]	165	Stealth + movement speed buff
Tentative	[Bangle of Seniority]	1135	Torghast upgrade (broker powers)
	[Sigil of the Unseen]	666	Maw upgrade (assassins)
	[Animated Levitating Chain]	1050	Maw upgrade (grappling hook)
	[Animaflow Stabilizer]	1650	Maw upgrade (Animaflow Teleporter)
	[Broker Traversal Enhancer]	875	Torghast upgrade (9.0.5 Broker teleports)
	[Maw-Touched Miasma]	230	Torghast Mawrat skill
	[Sticky-Fingered Skeletal Hand]	210	Torghast lock bypass
Ambivalent	[Soul-Stabilizing Talisman]	775	Maw upgrade (abductors)
	[Ritual Prism of Fortune]	1025	Torghast upgrade (anima powers)
	[Phantasmic Infuser]	3760	Torghast upgrade (phantasma)
	[Memory of Jailer's Eye]	4986	Runecarver memory
Cordial	[Loupe of Unusual Charm]	1330	Torghast upgrade (broker powers)
	[Rank Insignia: Acquisitionist]	1575	Torghast upgrade (broker powers)
	[Unbound Reality Fragment]	1900	Conduit unlock/upgrade
	[Recipe: Crafter's Mark II]	300	Crafting reagent
Appreciative	[Possibility Matrix]	1525	Torghast upgrade (anima hoard)
	[Spatial Realignment Apparatus]	7200	Socket unlock
	[Stygia Dowser]	1500	For  [Bound Shadehound] (9.0.5)
	[Partial Rune Codex]	2000	For  [Bound Shadehound] (9.0.5)

Souls

Occasionally, players will find Soul Cages in the zone. Free the Caged Soul inside to gain progress on the weekly quest Return Lost Souls, which requires saving twenty, but players will advance their progress on the Eye of the Jailer. Additionally, Wailing Souls serve the same purpose. Interact with them between their Overwhelming Misery casts to dodge the fear casts.

Chaotic Riftstones

Once unlocked with  [Encased Riftwalker Essence], purchased from Ve'nari with Stygia, players can use Chaotic Riftstones to more quickly get around the Maw. Each Riftstone will send the player to it's pair.

Maw

Quests

Main article: Maw storyline

Into the Maw

Players' first foray into the Shadowlands has them crash-land in the Maw during the Shadowlands intro experience.

1.  [50] Shadowlands: A Chilling Summons
2.  [50] Through the Shattered Sky
3. Complete all of:
   •  [50] A Fractured Blade
   •  [50] Mawsworn Menace
   •  [50] Ruiner's End
4.  [50] Fear to Tread
5.  [50] On Blackened Wings
6.  [50] A Flight from Darkness
7.  [50] A Moment's Respite
8.  [50] Field Seance
9.  [50] Speaking to the Dead
10.  [50] Soul in Hand
11.  [50] The Lion's Cage
12.  [50] The Afflictor's Key and  [50] An Undeserved Fate
13.  [50] From the Mouths of Madness
14.  [50] By and Down the River
15.  [50] Wounds Beyond Flesh and  [50] A Good Axe
16.  [50] Draw Out the Darkness
17.  [50] The Path to Salvation
18.  [50] Stand as One

Ritual for the Damned

Late in the Maldraxxus storyline, the Maw Walker is tasked to return to the Maw to retrieve a Baron of Maldraxxus.

1.  [53-60] Among the Chosen
2.  [53-60] The Maw
3.  [53-60] Seeking the Baron
4.  [53-60] The Hunt for the Baron
5.  [53-60] A Cooling Trail
6.  [53-60] The Brand Holds the Key
7.  [53-60] Hope Never Dies
8.  [53-60] Delving Deeper
9.  [53-60] A Bond Beyond Death
10.  [53-60] Wake of Ashes
11.  [53-60] Maw Walker
12.  [53-60] A Soul Saved

Prince Renathal

Near the end of the Revendreth storyline, players are asked to return to the Maw again to retrieve Prince Renathal, which ends up sending players into Torghast for the first time.

1.  [58-60] In the Ruin of Rebellion
2.  [58-60] Prince Renathal
3.  [58-60] Cages For All Occasions
4.  [58-60] A Royal Key
5.  [58-60] Torghast, Tower of the Damned
6.  [58-60] Refuge of Revendreth

Under the Jailer's Eye

At max level, midway through the first chapter of their covenant campaign, players are sent to the Maw to recover souls to power their covenant sanctum. While working on Ve'nari's tasks, adventurers see Baine get captured and sent to Torghast!

1.  [60] Friends in Dark Places or  [60] The Soul Contact or  [60] Do What We Cannot or  [60] Back into the Darkness
2.  [60] Setting the Ground Rules
3.  [60] Rule 1: Have an Escape Plan
4.  [60] Rule 2: Keep a Low Profile
5.  [60] Rule 3: Trust is Earned
6.  [60] Hopeful News

Recovering Baine and the Runecarver

After completing the first chapter of the covenant campaign, Bolvar Fordrgaon asks players to return to Torghast to save Baine. In the process, they will recover a key that leads to the Runecarver, crafter of artifacts (and legendaries).

1.  [60] The Highlord Calls
2.  [60] Into Torghast
3.  [60] The Search for Baine
4.  [60] Prison of the Forgotten
5.  [60] Deep Within
6.  [60] Reawakening
7.  [60] A Damned Pact
8.  [60] A Grave Chance
9.  [60] The Weak Link
   • Optional side chain to unlock Runecrafting:

    [60] Ashes of the Tower,  [60] The Final Pieces, One of:   [60] The Vessels of the Thread,   [60] The Vessels of Leather and Bone,   [60] The Vessels of Metal,   [60] The Vessels of Jewels

The subject of this section was removed from World of Warcraft in patch 9.1.0.

1.  [60] Explore Torghast
2.  [60] Remnants of Hope
3.  [60] Information for a Price
4.  [60] Torment Chamber: Jaina
5.  [60] Finding a Witness
6.  [60] Lest the Trail Go Cold
7.  [60] Torment Chamber: Thrall
8.  [60] Signs of the Lion
9.  [60] The Captive King

New Rules

At some later point, Ve'nari adds more rules to her list, unlocking more of the Maw:

1.  [60] Trust Issues
2.  [60] Rule 4: Make A List
3.  [60] Rule 5: Be Audacious
4.  [60] Rule 6: Concealment is Everything
5.  [60] Rule 7: Betrayal is Inevitable

Rares and elites

The minimap keeps track of both rare mobs (marked with a star), and elite mobs (marked with a skull). Elites respawn quickly (roughly every 5 minutes), while rares can take hours.

Killing rares or marked elites will award a decent amount of [Stygia], advance the The Eye of the Jailer and award some standing with Ve'nari. The rares are also tracked in achievements  [It's About Sending a Message] and Better to be Lucky Than Dead.

Maw

Rares and rare elites

Rare	Coords	Subzone	Type
Huwerath	[20.9, 29.7]	Calcis	Elite
Convocation of Loss	[19.4, 41.6]	Crucible of the Damned	Rare
Ratgusher	[22.6, 42.2]		Elite
Morguliax, Lord of Decapitation	[16.3, 50.2]		Rare
Dath Rezara	[19.0, 57.9]		Rare
Eketra, Death's Champion	[23.7, 53.3]		Rare
Orrholyn, Lord of Bloodletting	[25.4, 48.7]	Detrithos	Elite
Agonix	[28.2, 45.5]		Elite
Oldalrik	[38.7, 28.8]	Gorgoa: River of Souls	Elite
Drifting Sorrow	[32.0, 21.3]	Planes of Torment	Elite
Orophea	[23.7, 21.4]	Ruin's Cradle	Rare
Convocation of Pain	[28.7, 12.0]	Tremaculum	Rare
Conjured Death	[27.7, 13.0]		Rare
Malevolent Sygia	[27.3, 17.5]		Elite
Dartanos, Lord of Chains	[25.8, 14.9]		Elite
Bor-Geth	[39.0, 41.1]	Zovaal's Cauldron	Rare
Soulforger Rhovus	[35.9, 41.5]		Rare
Soulsmith Yol-Mattar	[36.3, 37.5]		Elite
Stygian Incinerator	[36.4, 43.9]		Elite

Achievements

• Rares
  1.  [Deadly Serious]
  2.  [Handling His Henchmen]
  3.  [Better to Be Lucky Than Dead]
  4.  [It's About Sending a Message]
• Areas
  1.  [Prepare for Trouble!]
  2.  [Make it Double!]
• Stygia
  1. Stygian Sample
  2. Stygian Stockpile
• Other
  •  [Deciphering Death's Intentions]
  •  [Explore The Maw]
  •  [Grand Theft Shadehound]
  •  [Hunting Party]
  •  [Into the Maw]
  • Rainy Day Fund
  •  [Soulkeeper's Burden]
  •  [Who Sent You?]

Notes and trivia

• It was previously stated that the Arbiter sends some souls directly to the Maw, but this is not affirmed in-game, where souls are instead always given a last chance at redemption in Revendreth.
• Bwonsamdi has been using his powers to prevent troll souls from falling into the Maw, to the point of grabbing Zekhan from it and shoving the soul back into his body.
• The Maw could be seen as the Warcraft equivalent of Hell. It also draws inspiration from the underworld of Greek mythology. The soul river Gorgoa is similar in concept to the rivers that flow through the Greek underworld, and the subzone Cocyrus and the [Stygia] currency are respectively named after two of said rivers: Cocytus and Styx.
• Art director Ely Cannon has described the level design of the Maw as being a "very difficult" process, as the artists had to create a zone that was very desolate without being a typical desert landscape. The artists tried to take a few of the themes included elsewhere in the Shadowlands and include them in the Maw, but in a way that was only vaguely reminiscent as opposed to specific parts from other zones. According to Cannon, the pieces of land that make up the Maw are probably not taken from the primary Shadowlands zones players can visit, such as Bastion or Revendreth, but rather from the millions of other possible afterlives that exist; the artists wanted the Maw to showcase something different from the other playable zones while still having elements that would allow players to understand that "this was a place but it's obviously not what it was before".

Gallery

• 

  Concept art

• 

  Building concept

• 

  The Maw in Afterlives

• 

  On the loading screen for Shadowlands

• 

  The Maw as seen from Oribos

• 

  Overlooking the Maw from Revendreth

Videos

• Shadowlands: The Maw from Above

Patch changes

• Patch 9.0.2 (2020-11-17): Added.
  

External links

#1	#2	#3
Wowhead WoWDB	Wowhead WoWDB	Wowhead WoWDB