On May 19, the pre-patch for the first expansion of WoW Classic, Burning Crusade, begins. In our overview, you will find all the important information about the release, start times, and changes that come with the preparation patch.
When does the pre-patch start? Today, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, the pre-patch for BC Classic went live. You can play since around 15:40. The planned maintenance took a bit longer, but everything should be functioning now.
Before playing, you need to download WoW Classic. You will need roughly 8 GB of disk space if you only want the Classic version. If you already have retail WoW installed, many data can be shared. The download should therefore be smaller.
Anyone who had installed Classic beforehand could download the pre-patch on Tuesday night. You should be able to play immediately. Otherwise, there might be a small update for you.
WoW Classic Realm Status – When does TBC start and how do I play?
Since around 15:40, the servers of BC Classic are accessible. You can log in and play. Make sure when starting in the Battle.net client that you start the correct version of Classic. Since May 19, the two versions are separated, and you will find both World of Warcraft Classic and Burning Crusade Classic in the selection.
Originally, the servers were supposed to be accessible again by 9:00 AM, but there was a delay. In our article, you will find the current start time of the pre-patch in the ticker. You can also find the current realm status on the official World of Warcraft website, where Classic and BC servers are now listed separately (via World of Warcraft).
At character selection, you will be asked if you want to play with the character in BC or continue with Classic. The choice is final but free of charge. Only if you want to have the character in both Classic and Burning Crusade will the cloning service come with an extra cost.
The most important changes in the pre-patch
Can I play BC content yet? Yes, the two new races, Draenei and Blood Elves, are playable from the pre-patch of BC Classic. You can use the time from May 19 until the release on June 2 to level up a new character.
Together with the races, Paladins for the Horde and Shamans for the Alliance will also appear. These two classes were previously exclusive to their respective factions. However, the new races can choose the classes within their faction.
Additionally, you can learn the new profession of Jewelcrafting. With Jewelcrafting, you can create socketed gems, necklaces, rings, trinkets, and headpieces. The profession is suitable for all classes throughout the entire expansion.
Can I level up faster in the pre-patch? Yes, the experience requirements for levels 20-60 have been reduced by 15%, so you will progress much faster. Starting at level 30, you also receive more experience for quests, dungeons grant a bit more experience, and many elite quests can also be completed solo.
Furthermore, you can ride earlier in the pre-patch. Starting at level 30, you can learn the ability (previously level 40). Riding is more expensive (35 gold instead of 20), but mounts cost less.
What else changes? You will also have to decide with the pre-patch whether you want to keep your characters for Classic for free or only want to play in BC. With the paid cloning service, you can also play each character in both versions.
A character copy costs after a significant reduction and much trouble still 15 €. Additionally, the Digital Deluxe Edition of BC Classic will be available for purchase starting tomorrow. In it, you will find for €64.99:
- The mount Reawakened Phase Hunter for BC Classic
- The mount ViridianPhase Hunter for Retail WoW
- An effect for your Hearthstone (Dark Portal)
- The toy Illidan’s Path
- 30 days of game time
- A character boost to level 58, allowing you to start with BC Classic immediately
- A “Dark Portal Pass” with a level 58 boost is also available separately for €39.99
Upgraded characters can ride immediately, receive a mount appropriate for their race, weapon skills, bags, and gear. They also have access to many flight paths and receive some gold as a bonus. However, the boosts cannot be applied to Draenei and Blood Elves.
List of Linked Servers and Realms
With the pre-patch of BC Classic, many German servers of WoW Classic will be merged. This way, you will have more players to start groups, complete quests, and conquer dungeons. The following realms will be linked:
- Lakeshire with Everlook
- Lucifron with Patchwerk and Transcendence
- Dragon’s Call with Heartstriker and Venoxis
PvP Gear – Strong Equipment for BC Classic to Acquire with Honor
If you level up a character during the pre-patch, you can already prepare for the new areas in the shattered world. However, you will need to register for PvP combat.
In battlegrounds, a new honor currency and tokens will be available starting from the pre-patch, which you can use to buy weapons, jewelry, armor, and accessories in Stormwind and Orgrimmar. The item level goes up to 128, so it is definitely worth it.
The maximum honor you can earn is 75,000 per character. The items cost roughly between 8,000 and 40,000 honor, depending on the equipment slot. Two-handed weapons are the most expensive category.
Previously, you needed a rated rank in PvP for this equipment. With the pre-patch, you can buy the equipment just like that, and especially boosted characters who have never seen raids and endgame dungeons can quickly and easily acquire good gear.
In this way, you will be perfectly prepared for the release of BC Classic on June 2. You can read more about the new expansion in our hub:
WoW Classic The Burning Crusade: All about release, pre-patch, and content phases
