Sszorak
The Venomous Abyss · boss 5 of 8
A horrifying creature, warped by Ula'tek's toxic venom, Sszorak is a brutal instrument of vengeance. Calling upon the winds that howl deep within Atal'Utek, it tears apart any living creature it encounters.
A big snake with heavy frontal attacks, in an arena where the wind shoves you around. Never be in front of him.
A movement fight. Almost everything is a cone or a knockback, and the arena itself is trying to move you into them.
What actually kills you
Everything else is noise until these three are handled.
- Standing in front of him. Ravage and Mutilate are both frontal cones and Ravage stacks vulnerability.
- Being close to whoever has Venomous Surge. It hurts less the further away you are.
- The Howling Maelstrom pushing you somewhere lethal.
Your job
If you tank
- Face him away from everyone. During Apex Predator he chains Ravage and Mutilate — both frontal.
- Corroding Venom stacks physical damage taken. That is your swap timer.
- Position for the wind before it starts, not once it is pushing you.
If you heal
- Venomous Surge is raid damage scaled by distance. If people stack, it is unhealable; if they spread, it is easy.
- Raging Crosswinds ticks damage and then throws people. Pre-heal, then expect them to land somewhere else.
- During Howling Maelstrom everyone slides. Keep yourself in range of the group as it moves.
If you DPS
- Sszorak takes extra damage during Howling Maelstrom because he Digs In. That is your burst window — use it every time.
- Mutilate splits its damage among everyone hit, so getting clipped by it in a group is survivable. Being alone in it is not.
- Get away from anyone marked by Venomous Surge.
How the fight goes
| Part | What to do |
|---|---|
| Apex Predator | Frontal combos. Stay behind him, always. |
| Howling Maelstrom | The wind pushes everyone. He Digs In and takes more damage — burn him. |
| Serpent's Fury | He charges the marked player and goes into a frenzy. Get the charge path clear. |
Heroic vs Mythic
Heroic and Mythic
No Heroic or Mythic specific text is published for this encounter. We would rather say that than invent a difference.
Loot
Everything Sszorak can drop, from the Midnight Season 2 item database.
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Waist | Caustic Chain-Wrapped Sash |
| Feet | Ferocious Scaleboots |
| Hands | Ruthless Slaughtergrips |
| Ring | Apex Brute's Claw Ring |
| Trinket | Idol of the Howling Nexus |
| Trinket | Sszorak's Ferocity |
| One-hand | Slithering Savage's Gavel |
| One-hand | Venomous Boneglaive |
Nothing matches that.
This boss drops 2 trinkets. Trinket value varies enormously by spec — see the simulated trinket rankings.
Worth a bonus roll?
That depends on how many items on this table you still want. A boss owing two or more is worth returning to; one owing a single piece is a vault pick, not a roll — the bonus roll guide explains why, and the planner works it out per spec.