WoW Forever Excavation Site Wetlands Guide: Level 26–31, Quests, Bosses and Loot

The short answer

Excavation Site: Wetlands is one of the nine new dungeons in World of Warcraft: Forever.

Blizzard’s What’s Next recap calls it a mysterious excavation site.

Blizzard places it above Whelgar’s Excavation.

It became testable in the beta on October 1, 2026.

Blizzard’s notes for that update list it at levels 26–31.

Blizzard’s original dungeon list of September 15 had given it levels 24–29.

We checked the Wowhead Forever beta data on October 12, 2026.

It lists 14 quests for the dungeon: 9 marked Alliance and 5 marked Horde.

Relic Guardian drops a Titan Relic that starts a two-step chain for each faction.

Wowhead’s third-party guide calls Relic Guardian the last boss.

This guide draws on Blizzard posts, beta game data and a third-party beta guide.

We did not play through the dungeon ourselves.

This is our third single-dungeon guide after the Hall of Thanes and Ruins of Lordaeron.

Where each fact comes from

We sort every fact in this guide into three tiers and name the tier in the text.

Blizzard’s posts give the level ranges and the location of the dungeon.

They also cover the October 1 opening and the October 8 Titan Relic fix.

Beta game data is what Wowhead’s Forever database reads from the beta client.

It covers quest names, levels, faction markers, rewards and boss drops.

Wowhead is a fan database, not Blizzard, so this data can change with any beta build.

The third tier is Wowhead’s written dungeon guide by Riyani.

It was last updated on October 8, 2026, and describes the entrance and the fights.

We use that guide only where Blizzard and the game data are silent.

Each time we do, we say so.

Level range: from 24–29 to 26–31

On September 15, 2026, Blizzard listed the nine new dungeons.

That list gave Excavation Site: Wetlands levels 24–29.

The October 1 beta notes say: “New Dungeon – Excavation Site: Wetlands (26-31)”.

Blizzard did not explain the change.

We treat 26–31 as the current range and 24–29 as the earlier listing.

The same October 1 update raised the beta level cap to 30.

That is one level below the top of the new range.

In the beta data, all 14 quests require level 24.

Of these, 13 are level 31 quests.

The enemies Wowhead lists for the dungeon are levels 26 to 29 where a level is given.

Relic Guardian’s three gear drops require level 28.

Gear from the other two bosses requires level 26.

Our suggestion: collect the quests from level 24 and enter at 28–30.

That way you can use Relic Guardian’s gear right away.

Where it is and how to get there

Blizzard places the dungeon above Whelgar’s Excavation in the Wetlands.

Wowhead’s beta data lists Excavation Site: Wetlands as a contested 5-player dungeon.

In the beta data, Prospector Whelgar stands at Wetlands coordinates 38.8, 52.2.

The Horde contact, the Deathstalker Agent, stands at 51.4, 59.2.

That spot is in the hills above the Dragonmaw camp.

Her quest text says she waits outside the dungeon.

Neither Blizzard nor the game data gives the coordinates of the entrance itself.

Wowhead’s written guide places the new dig southeast of Whelgar’s camp.

It says the entrance sits on a hilltop reached by newly built roads.

Blizzard’s Found Photos recap says the Wetlands gains new quests.

It also names a ship route linking Menethil, Southshore and Auberdine.

The Horde quest line begins with Zaruk in the Arathi Highlands.

Wowhead’s guide suggests a Horde walk through Hillsbrad and the Arathi Highlands.

The same guide warns that the run back after a wipe is long.

Plan your pulls carefully.

Alliance quests: nine in the beta data

The beta data marks nine quests as Alliance.

Blizzard has not published a quest list for this dungeon.

Seeking Caitlin starts with Llana in Ashenvale.

It sends you to Caitlin Grassman in Menethil Harbor.

Lost in the Thicket Things starts with Caitlin Grassman.

She asks you to find her husband Ardin inside the dungeon.

Its follow-up, Heartwoven, returns Ardin’s reed-woven heart to Caitlin.

The data marks Heartwoven as not sharable.

Horrors in the Highland starts with Rethiel the Greenwarden at 56.2, 40.6.

The quest asks for the root core of a Highland Horror.

Songblade Search starts with Dorin Songblade in the Redridge Mountains.

The quest asks you to look for Dorin’s brother Daewyn.

Fallen in the Fen sends you back to Dorin Songblade with news of Daewyn.

Wowhead does not show it as part of the same chain.

Highland Hides from James Halloran in Menethil Harbor asks for 4 Thicket Raptor Hides.

It is a level 28 quest and is not tagged as a dungeon quest.

The beta data lists 12 silver and no item as its reward.

Lost Relic Carry and Prehistoric Prism form the Alliance relic chain below.

Horde quests: five in the beta data

The beta data marks five quests as Horde.

Dragonmaw Rumors starts with Zaruk in the Arathi Highlands.

It sends you to the Deathstalker Agent above the Dragonmaw camp.

Open the Maw comes from the Deathstalker Agent at Wetlands 51.4, 59.2.

Slay 2 Dragonmaw Saboteurs and 4 Dragonmaw Warders.

Also recover a Dragonmaw Dispatch.

Changing Tastes starts with Borstan in Orgrimmar.

It asks for 4 Thicket Raptor Meat from the dungeon.

Elder Knowledge and Earthen Echo form the Horde Titan Relic chain described below.

Blizzard’s October 1 notes fixed some quests that could be shared by mistake.

These were quests that start from items or give items on start.

The beta data marks the relic quests as not sharable.

The Titan Relic chains and the October 8 fix

In the beta data, Relic Guardian drops two versions of the Titan Relic.

There is one for each faction.

Both are Binds when picked up, Unique and start a quest.

For the Alliance, the relic starts Lost Relic Carry.

Bring it to Prospector Whelgar at his excavation site in the Wetlands.

Whelgar then gives Prehistoric Prism.

It sends the relic to High Explorer Magellas in Ironforge.

For the Horde, the relic starts Elder Knowledge.

Turn it in to Bashana Runetotem on the Elder Rise in Thunder Bluff.

Bashana Runetotem then gives Earthen Echo.

It sends the relic to Muln Earthfury at the Skywatcher Plateau in northwest Mulgore.

Blizzard’s October 8 notes changed how the relic carries over.

The relic from Elder Knowledge or Lost Relic Carry is now given back to you.

You then use it for Earthen Echo or Prehistoric Prism.

So you no longer need a second relic for the follow-up.

The data marks all four relic quests as not sharable.

Titans and Un’Goro: what Blizzard actually said

Blizzard’s What’s Next recap lists this excavation site among the nine dungeons.

Its next paragraph lists titan mysteries in Un’Goro among the new stories.

The recap does not say that this dungeon and the Un’Goro story are the same thread.

In the beta quest texts, the relic is part of a titan machine.

Its facets carry titan-like inscriptions.

None of the 14 quests we checked sends you to Un’Goro Crater.

Before you go in: checklist

This list is our advice built from the facts above.

Alliance players can pick up four quests before entering.

Those are Horrors in the Highland and Lost in the Thicket Things.

The other two are Songblade Search and Highland Hides.

Horde players can take Changing Tastes in Orgrimmar.

They can also take Dragonmaw Rumors in the Arathi Highlands.

Then pick up Open the Maw outside the dungeon.

Aim for levels 28–30 in the beta, inside Blizzard’s range of 26–31.

Wowhead’s guide warns of Thicket Lurkers in the tall grass near Saltspine.

They appear as you walk through it, so keep to the path.

The same guide says Shadetooth fights alongside two Thicket Hunters.

Shadetooth can fear players, so crowd control and a cleared area help.

It also says the Relic Guardian fight starts at the Archival Panel.

The panel stands next to the inactive boss.

Bosses and loot in the beta data

Blizzard has not published a boss list or loot table for this dungeon.

Wowhead’s beta loot data ties the items to three named elite enemies.

Its written guide treats these three as the bosses.

Saltspine’s three gear drops are Rare, item level 31 and require level 26.

They are Supple Bellyskin Leggings (leather legs) and Saltscale Girdle (mail waist).

The third is Glinteye Slippers (cloth feet).

Shadetooth’s three gear drops are also Rare at item level 31 with a level 26 requirement.

They are Raptorclaw Greaves (mail feet) and Garb of Florid Feathers (leather chest).

The third is Raptor’s Gaze (off-hand).

Relic Guardian’s three gear drops are Rare, item level 33 and require level 28.

They are Reliquary Mantle (mail shoulders) and Golemsight Long Gun.

The third is Ring of Power Regulation.

Shadetooth can also drop Blueprint: Greenhouse (requires Herbalism 140).

Relic Guardian can drop Blueprint: Rock Garden (requires Mining 140).

Both blueprints are item level 25 and teach a campsite placement.

Relic Guardian also drops two faction versions of the Titan Relic.

They are item level 1 quest-starting items, not gear.

Wowhead’s guide names Relic Guardian as the last boss.

Blizzard has not confirmed the boss order.

Quest rewards

Prehistoric Prism and Earthen Echo each offer three Rare rewards at item level 33.

Both offer Heavehammer (two-hand mace, 73–110 damage, +32 Attack Power).

Both also offer Healer’s Staff (up to 67 healing and 22 spell damage).

The third choice is Explorer’s League Dustcover for the Alliance.

For the Horde it is Furs of the Earthen Ring.

Both cloaks give +5 to three stats.

In the beta data, both quests also pay 60 silver.

Horrors in the Highland offers Ironwood Destroyer, Curl of Life or Hornbeam Heft.

All three are Uncommon at item level 33.

Fallen in the Fen offers Daewyn’s Girdle (cloth) or Songblade Stabilizer (mail).

Heartwoven offers 4 Greater Healing Potions or 4 Mana Potions.

It also gives a Swiftness Potion and the Satchel of Potions trinket.

On the Horde side, Open the Maw offers Knife-Polishing Rag (cloth wrists).

The other choice is Dirt-Heavy Bracers (leather wrists).

Open the Maw also gives a Bloody Map, an item you can read.

Changing Tastes offers Satchel of Potions or Serrated Raptor Claw.

It also gives Recipe: Twice-Spiced Raptor Slice and 5 Twice-Spiced Raptor Slice.

Blizzard’s October 8 notes lowered various dungeon quest rewards from Rare to Uncommon.

The notes do not name them, so check rarity and stats in the game.

Dungeon experience after the October changes

The October 1 notes cut the extra experience from dungeon quests by 50%.

The cut applies to experience beyond normal quest values.

The October 8 notes raised experience from dungeon kills by approximately 20%.

The same notes restored the Classic Era rule for party experience.

Against lower-level enemies, only your own level now counts.

One exception remains, as before.

If any party member is vastly higher level than the enemy, no one gets experience.

Blizzard expects both October 8 changes to dramatically raise dungeon experience.

It says this applies to most players.

We do not list experience per quest, because the beta values have already changed.

Not confirmed yet: recheck after launch

This guide reflects the beta as of October 12, 2026.

The level range has already moved once.

Blizzard’s October 8 notes also changed quest reward rarity.

Still unconfirmed: the entrance coordinates and the boss order.

We also do not know whether more bosses exist or where the relic story goes.

We will check every table in this guide again after launch and update it.

Boss timers and warnings here depend on addon support.

See our dungeon alert addon guide.