In Battle for Azeroth, you don’t need to be a skilled archaeologist to level up the profession. Like the previous expansion, a novice in BfA archaeology will be able to step onto their first dig site in Zandalar or Kul Tiras with a 108 toon. To start, head to your archaeology trainer in your faction’s embassy (The Great Seal, Zandazar or Stormsong Valley, Kul Tiras) to learn the profession.

Things to note:

  • Each location may be surveyed 9 times (offer 5-9 fragments and one skill point)
  • As soon as you hit that sweet spot on a survey, a golden shovel appears
  • You can hold up to 200 fragments per race
  • A maximum stack of 20 keystones
  • There are six common solves per race with a low chance to discover a pristine version
  • Rare solves will come from digging

Levelling from 1-950 will be slow because there are only 4 dig sites spread across the whole continent and without flying, it takes a long time to hoof it by ground and taxi. It would be nice if dig sites phased us out like entering a pet battle so as soon as you activated the shovel, you could dig around in peace and not have to fight the same mobs over and over. I really think Blizz missed the boat by making the profession a little more fun, especially with that helper robot that assists you in the video.

With two main continents, it makes sense there will be a unique branch for each. Sadly, the Zandalari pet uses the same skin as a number of others like the Pygmy Direhorn but it does have Deflection which is a pretty nice change. The Restored Revenant (pictured) looks pretty cool though and similar to the Wicker Pup collected from four Treasures in Drustvar.

Drust

Drust Arcaeology Fragment from BfA

restored revanent

Keystone: Etched Drust Bone

Rare: Fetish of the Tormented Mind (trinket), Dance of the Dead (toy), Restored Revenant (pet)

Artifacts: Ancient Runebound Tome, Ceremonial Bonesaw, Disembowling Sickle, Jagged Blade of the Drust, Ritual Fetish, Soul Coffer

Dig Sites: all over Kul Tiras

Zandalari

Zandalari Archaeology Fragment

Direhorn HatchlingKeystone: Zandalari Idol

Rare: Sanguinating Totem (trinket), Croak Crock (toy), Intact Direhorn Hatchling (pet)

Artifacts: Blowgun of the Sethra, Bwonsamdi Voodoo Mask, High Apothecary’s Hood, Rezan Idol, Urn of Passage, Akun’Jar Vase

Dig sites: all over Zandalar

The Royal Treasury

 

Restored Artifacts

Good news, everyone! They’re finally adding a Restored Artifacts vendor in Patch 8.1. Just head to the archaeology trainer in your embassy who will be able to accept your crates for older branches, including Legion ones.

Achievements