The release of all content for WoW Classic takes place in various phases. The first phase marks the launch of the game. Find out here what the upcoming phases will bring and when they will be released.
What are these phases? As previously announced in an update before the launch of WoW Classic, the content will come in phases. These correspond to the phases or patches in the order the content was originally released.
Not everything that was available at the end of Classic is immediately playable. For some battlegrounds, raids, and other content, you will have to be patient.
We will keep this list updated with what will be released with each phase and when they will start. As soon as new information comes in, we will update this article.
This article will be continuously updated.
Phase 1 – Release
When was the release of Phase 1? Phase 1 represented the launch of WoW Classic on August 27, 2019. Some content was added during this phase.
These contents came with Phase 1:
- The Molten Core (40-player raid)
- Onyxia’s Lair (40-player raid)
- Maraudon (5-10 player dungeon)
- Dire Maul (5-player dungeon)
Originally, only the two raids Onyxia’s Lair and the Molten Core, as well as the dungeon Maraudon were planned. The three instances form the beginning of the endgame in WoW Classic.
Despite a pre-quest series, the boss Ragnaros in the Molten Core was defeated just a few days after release. Shortly thereafter, the dragon lady Onyxia followed, for whom you also have to complete a longer access quest:
By now, groups of four players have even managed to defeat Onyxia. To keep players from getting bored, Phase 1 was prematurely equipped with the dungeon complex Dire Maul, which was originally supposed to be released in Phase 2.
Phase 2 – World Bosses and PvP
When was the release of Phase 2? The second phase of WoW Classic started on November 12, 2019.
These contents came with Phase 2:
- Azuregos (world boss)
- Lord Kazzak (world boss)
- PvP ranks and honor
- Battlegrounds
- Keyring
- Character transfers
The two world bosses were planned from the start, as was the PvP system. Battlegrounds were initially supposed to come later but were introduced earlier than expected after the community increasingly called for battlegrounds.
Along with Phase 2, layering was also disabled. This was responsible for preventing too many players from overwhelming an area simultaneously but had to be deactivated for world bosses and open PvP to function properly.
Additionally, paid character transfers are now possible. For a fee, you can transfer a character from one server to another.
Phase 3 – Blackwing Lair and Darkmoon Faire
When is the release of Phase 3? Phase 3 was released on February 12, 2019.
What’s coming with Phase 3:
- Blackwing Lair (40-player raid)
- Darkmoon Faire
- Darkmoon cards
Blackwing Lair (BWL) is the next raid that you can find in Blackrock Mountain. Here you will encounter numerous black dragons, with their leader Nefarian as the final boss. The new content, however, only lasted 42 minutes for the players.
The Darkmoon Faire takes place in Elwynn Forest (near Goldshire) or Mulgore (near Thunder Bluff), alternating between the two. It does not exist on its own island, as in the retail version. The Faire starts on the first Monday of each month and lasts for a week.
At the Faire, you can earn prizes such as epic necklaces, 14-slot bags, or equipment for twinks. There will also be card sets, the components (individual cards) of which drop from random enemies, special enemies, and instance bosses. For a complete set (Ace to Eight) of the respective type, there are the following rewards:
- Elements => Darkmoon Card: Maelstrom – chance for 200-300 nature damage on melee hits.
- Warlords => Darkmoon Card: Heroism – chance to heal 120-180 health points with an attack.
- Portals => Darkmoon Card: Swirling Nether – 10% chance to revive with 20% health/mana upon death.
- Beasts => Darkmoon Card: Blue Dragon – 2% chance to receive 100% mana regeneration for 15 seconds when casting spells.
Phase 4 – Zul’Gurub and more World Bosses
When is the release of Phase 4? Phase 4 was released on the night of April 15-16.
What’s coming with Phase 4:
- Zul’Gurub (20-player raid)
- The four green dragons of the Emerald Dream (world bosses)
- PvP battleground: Arathi Basin
Zul’Gurub is one of the most famous raids of all time. On one hand, there are unique mounts that players farmed for years after Vanilla. On the other hand, Zul’Gurub is the source of a deadly blood plague that devastated entire cities in Vanilla. As a final boss, you face the god Hakkar.
The four green dragons Lethon, Emeriss, Taerar, and Ysondre will be the next world bosses to appear. You can encounter them in Duskwood, Feralas, Hinterlands, and Ashenvale near the large portals to the Emerald Dream (Nightmare).
Arathi Basin is a battleground for 15 players per side in a “King of the Hill” mode. You must hold up to five bases long enough to earn points for victory before the opponents win.
Phase 5 – Ahn’Qiraj
When is the release of Phase 5? Phase 4 was released on July 28, 2020. The big event for the opening of Ahn’Qiraj was partly over after just one day.
What’s coming with Phase 5:
- War preparations for Ahn’Qiraj
- Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj (“AQ20”, 20-player raid)
- Temple of Ahn’Qiraj (“AQ40”, 40-player raid)
- new loot
During the war preparations, you must gather supplies for your faction in Silithus and complete quests to strike the gong and begin the war against the Silithid. The first player to strike the gong (and a few hours later) will receive a unique mount: the black Qiraj Battle Tank.
After that, the two raids will be open and can be defeated. At the end of the temple, you will face the Old God C’Thun. However, after the release of Phase 5, he survived only about an hour.
Additionally, there will be new loot. The Tier 0.5 dungeon sets will receive a higher quality through upgrade quests, and druids, shamans, and paladins can finally obtain relics, totems, and fetishes for their “relic” slot.
Moreover, the preparatory event for the next raid Naxxramas is likely to take place in Phase 5: The Scourge Invasion. Here you will face numerous undead that you can kill and trade their trophies for rewards.
Phase 6 – Naxxramas, the End (?)
When is the release of Phase 6? The release date for Phase 5 is not yet known. We will add it here as soon as it is announced.
What’s coming with Phase 6:
- Naxxramas (40-player raid)
- PvP objectives in Silithus and the Eastern Plaguelands
During the invasions, you can prepare for Naxxramas. You only need to farm reputation with the Argent Dawn. Although there are no rewards yet for this, it is already worth farming reputation there.
The higher your reputation, the less the entrance to Naxxramas will cost you. At Exalted, it will even be free.
The PvP objectives in Silithus and the Plaguelands include towers and structures, through which you secure a small bonus as long as you can hold them and stay in the area.
After Phase 6 – What comes next?
What’s next after the “end”: Actually, WoW Classic ends after Naxxramas. After the raid, there was no new content for Vanilla. No official plans have been announced after Naxxramas, but Blizzard has already inquired about “Burning Crusade” servers from the players.
However, many people still play Classic and will probably continue to do so. That’s why there’s a petition for a “Classic+”.
This is intended to work similarly to Old School Runescape, where the old version is complemented with new content without relying on expansions or moving the game to newer versions. Ideas for Classic+ already exist.
