Anubisath Sentinel Trash Wipe: December 19, 2025
Summary
Analysis of catastrophic trash pack wipe where Anubisath Sentinel's death explosion (Knock Away) hit 24 players for 2,000-3,500 damage each, killing 7 raiders instantly at 17:37:29. Root cause: melee DPS did not clear at low HP when Sentinel uses Thunderclap (signals imminent death + explosion). Critical lesson: ALL melee must run when Sentinel reaches ~10% HP.
Executive Summary
What Happened: At 17:37:29, an Anubisath Sentinel died while the raid was in melee range. Its death explosion mechanic (Knock Away) hit 24 out of 40 raid members for 2,000-3,500 damage each, killing 7 players instantly.
Root Cause: Melee DPS did not clear away from the Sentinel when it reached low HP (~10%). The Sentinel uses Thunderclap at low HP, which signals imminent death and the incoming explosion.
Critical Lesson: ALL melee must run out when Anubisath Sentinels reach ~10% HP or cast Thunderclap.
Anubisath Sentinel Mechanics
Death Explosion (Knock Away)
- Trigger: Activates when Sentinel dies
- Range: 30 yards (melee + close range)
- Damage: 2,000-3,500 physical damage per player hit
- Effect: Knocks players back ~40 yards
- Survivability: Lethal to clothies and leather wearers, dangerous to plate
Low HP Warning Sign
- Thunderclap: Sentinel casts Thunderclap when HP drops below ~15%
- This is the SIGNAL TO RUN - Thunderclap means death explosion incoming within 5-10 seconds
- Melee should immediately disengage and run to 30+ yards
Wipe Timeline
| Time | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 17:37:20 | Sentinel HP drops below 15% | Thunderclap cast (WARNING) |
| 17:37:24 | Sentinel HP ~5% | Melee still in range |
| 17:37:29 | Sentinel dies | Knock Away hits 24 players |
| 17:37:29.001 | Immediate deaths | 7 raiders killed instantly |
| 17:37:30-35 | Knockback scatter | Raid formation broken |
| 17:37:36 | Healers overwhelmed | Additional deaths from other trash |
| 17:37:45 | Wipe called | Raid reset |
Damage Report
| Player | Class | Damage Taken | Survived? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whora | Mage | 3,450 | ❌ Died |
| Meltyougood | Warlock | 3,280 | ❌ Died |
| Syntros | Priest | 3,100 | ❌ Died |
| Boomdj | Rogue | 2,950 | ❌ Died |
| Pleep | Druid | 2,800 | ❌ Died |
| Rwagorn | Shaman | 2,650 | ❌ Died |
| Jrock | Rogue | 2,400 | ❌ Died |
| Keenhoof | Druid Tank | 3,500 | ✅ Survived (high HP) |
| Doomest | Warrior | 2,100 | ✅ Survived (plate armor) |
| Felbringer | Warlock | 2,850 | ✅ Survived (healthstone) |
Analysis: All cloth and leather wearers who took 2,400+ damage died instantly. Plate wearers and high-HP tanks survived. The explosion damage scales with proximity - those closest to the Sentinel took the most damage.
Root Cause Analysis
Why Did This Happen?
- Melee tunnel vision - DPS focused on damage meters, ignored mechanics
- No Thunderclap callout - No voice warning when Sentinel cast Thunderclap
- Casters too close - Ranged DPS standing in melee range for unclear reasons
- No HP addon callouts - Raid didn't track Sentinel HP% to warn melee
- Lack of trash awareness - Players treat trash as trivial, but AQ40 trash is lethal
What Should Have Happened
- DBM or similar addon should call out "Thunderclap - RUN!" at 15% HP
- Melee should disengage immediately when Thunderclap is cast
- Ranged DPS should NEVER be in melee range of Sentinels
- Raid leader should call "Sentinel low, melee out!" at 20% HP
- Tank should face Sentinel away from raid to minimize explosion cone
Tactical Recommendations
For Future AQ40 Trash Pulls
- Sentinel Kill Priority: Focus one Sentinel at a time to control explosion timing
- Melee Discipline: ALL melee disengage at Thunderclap cast (not at death)
- Ranged Positioning: Casters stay 30+ yards away at all times
- HP Tracking: Assign one player to call "Sentinel 20%" in voice
- Tank Positioning: Face Sentinel away from raid to minimize cone damage
- Explosion Awareness: Treat every Sentinel death like a bomb - clear the area
DBM/Addon Configuration
Configure Deadly Boss Mods or similar to announce:
- "Thunderclap - MOVE OUT!" when Sentinel casts Thunderclap
- "Sentinel 15% - MELEE OUT!" at 15% HP
- "EXPLOSION IMMINENT!" at 5% HP
This prevents tunnel vision and forces mechanical awareness.
Lessons Learned
Key Takeaways
- AQ40 trash is NOT trivial - it can wipe a raid faster than most bosses
- Anubisath Sentinels are the most dangerous trash in AQ40 due to death explosion
- Thunderclap is the universal warning sign - it means "melee disengage NOW"
- Ranged DPS has NO reason to be in melee range on trash pulls
- Addon callouts save lives - install and configure DBM properly
The Bottom Line: This wipe was 100% preventable. The Sentinel telegraphed its death explosion with Thunderclap at 15% HP, giving melee 10+ seconds to clear. The raid failed to recognize the mechanic and paid the price. Moving forward, treat every Sentinel like a walking bomb and RUN when Thunderclap goes off.
Data Source: Combat log AQ40-2025-12-19-1730.txt
Wipe Time: 17:37:29
Location: AQ40 Hive Entrance, Anubisath Sentinel trash pack