Anub’arak killing strategy

Anub’arak is the fifth and final boss in the Trial of the Crusader instance. For this encounter in Trial of the Crusader, you’ll basically need to know how to use Anub’arak’s abilities against him. If you can keep him from burrowing, you’ll avoid one set of attacks which can really do a lot of damage. Let’s start out this Anub’arak boss strategy guide with a look at his abilities.

Hit points: 19.77 million
The Loot: Tier 9, ilevel 232 items
Anub’arak Boss Strategy Guide: The Abilities

Leeching Swarm

Leeches 20% of your health per second
Takes at least 250 health points
Hits multiple party members at once
50,000 yard range
1.5 second cast

Nerubian Burrower

Spawns 2 at a time
50% physical damage debuff
Stacks

Permafrost

Reduces movement speed in a given area by 80%
Instant cast
The result of hitting down a frost sphere
Protects your party members from some of the other attacks if you play it right.

Pursued by Anub’arak

Anub’arak chases a raid member
50,000 yard range
Lasts a minute
Instant cast

Pursuing Spikes

2,828 to 3,172 damage
Physical damage
Left by Anub’arak when he starts to pursue a raid member
Tosses you up in the air
Armor does NOT affect this attack
Cannot penetrate Permafrost
Instant cast
4 yard radius

Submerge

Anub’arak burrows into the ground
2.5 second cast

Summon Scarab

A Swarm Scarab emerges

Impale

11,310 to 12,690 damage
Physical damage
Ignores armor
Doesn’t penetrate Permafrost

Anub’arak Boss Strategy Guide: Step by Step Boss Fight Tactics

Start by tanking Anub’arak right in the middle of the ground. Use one main tank on the boss when this encounter begins. Save one off-tank for the Nerubian Burrowers, which will start to pop up during the first part of the encounter.
Watch for the frost spheres floating above your heads. Shoot down a bunch in the middle of the area, right under the place where you’re tanking Anub’arak. You’ll start to see plenty of Permafrost on the ground then, which will keep Anub’arak from being able to burrow. This is a good thing!
Make sure one healer is assigned only to heal your main tank. Anub’arak hits VERY hard. Assign two other healers for DPS and the off-tank. Also split your DPS into teams. The majority will target Anub’arak, and you’ll need about three others to help the off-tank with the Nerubian Burrowers. Kill ALL the Nerubian Burrowers before Anub’arak reaches 30% health.
If you’re unable to keep Anub’arak from burrowing, then have one or two ranged DPS focus on knocking down plenty of frost spheres. The larger the Permafrost area is on the ground, the fewer party members will be hit by his Impale ability.
When Anub’arak burrows, he’ll also start to pursue one of your party members. That player should make sure he’s ALWAYS on top of a Permafrost area to keep from getting impaled.
The final phase of the encounter begins when Anub’arak is down to 30% health. Basically you’ll see a constant cast of Leeching Swarm when this part of the encounter starts, so healers need to be ready. They’re going to have to bite the bullet and heal the whole party through Leeching Swarm because it doesn’t end until you’ve defeated Anub’arak.
Don’t over-heal during this final part of the Anub’arak encounter. Healers need to keep all party members alive, but if they over-heal, then they’re just extending the encounter because Anub’arak gains life while party members lose it.