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Roadmap — Wiki · WoW Classic

Every era of Classic: the Anniversary realms of 2024–2026, Season of Discovery, Hardcore, Season of Mastery, the 2019 phased launch and the original 2004–2006 patches. Classic Era realms keep every phase open; the Anniversary realms moved on to The Burning Crusade on 13 January 2026, all but the Anniversary Hardcore realm.

  • Released · Out now
  • Announced · Confirmed by Blizzard
  • Planned · A window, not a date
  • Delayed · Moved back
  • Unconfirmed · Not officially dated

Classic Anniversary realms

The fresh realms of November 2024, which moved on to The Burning Crusade in January 2026.

  1. WoW Classic logo

    Launch: fresh realms

    Released

    Fresh Normal, PvP and Hardcore realms open for Classic's 20th anniversary.

    Sources: Blizzard: WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Edition · Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

  2. Lava fountains erupting across a molten lake in Molten Core

    Phase 1

    Released

    The first raids open.

    Raids
    Molten Core · Onyxia's Lair

    Molten CoreOnyxia's Lair

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

  3. The ruined arches and towers of Eldre'Thalas

    Phase 2

    Released

    Dire Maul, the Honor system, the world bosses and the first battlegrounds arrive together.

    Dungeons
    Dire Maul
    PvP
    The Honor system and PvP ranks · Warsong Gulch · Alterac Valley
    Also
    World bosses Azuregos and Lord Kazzak

    Dire MaulPvP: honorAzuregosLord Kazzak

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

  4. A fortress wall with fire-lit windows inside Blackwing Lair

    Phase 3

    Released

    Blackwing Lair opens, with the Darkmoon Faire.

    Raids
    Blackwing Lair
    Also
    Darkmoon Faire

    Blackwing Lair

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

  5. A Gurubashi rope bridge stretched across the jungle of Zul'Gurub

    Phase 4

    Released

    Zul'Gurub, the Dragons of Nightmare and Arathi Basin.

    Raids
    Zul'Gurub
    PvP
    Arathi Basin
    Also
    The green dragons join the world bosses

    Zul'GurubArathi Basin

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

  6. A qiraji warrior before C'Thun's tentacles in the temple

    Phase 5

    Released

    The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj open on the war effort, with both Ahn'Qiraj raids.

    Raids
    Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj · Temple of Ahn'Qiraj

    Ruins of Ahn'QirajTemple of Ahn'Qiraj

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

  7. A giant spider before the webbed halls of Naxxramas

    Phase 6

    Released

    Naxxramas and the Scourge Invasion.

    Raids
    Naxxramas
    PvP
    World PvP objectives in Silithus

    Naxxramas

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

  8. WoW Classic logo

    On to The Burning Crusade

    Released

    The Normal and PvP realms take The Burning Crusade's pre-patch. The Anniversary Hardcore realm stays in Classic, and characters could move to Classic Era realms for free until 12 January.

    Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary roadmap

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

Season of Discovery

Blizzard's seasonal Classic with runes, new abilities and reworked raids, 2023–2025. Phase 8 was its last content phase; its realms stay open.

  1. A naga warrior in the flooded halls of Blackfathom Deeps

    Phase 1: level 25

    Released

    The season opens with runes and a level 25 cap.

    Raids
    Blackfathom Deeps (10-player raid)
    PvP
    Battle for Ashenvale

    Blackfathom Deeps

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

  2. The gnomish workshops of Gnomeregan

    Phase 2: level 40

    Released

    The cap rises to 40 with new runes.

    Raids
    Gnomeregan
    PvP
    Blood Moon

    Gnomeregan

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

  3. A sealed Hakkari door inside the sunken Temple of Atal'Hakkar

    Phase 3: level 50

    Released

    The cap rises to 50; Nightmare Incursions open in the Emerald Dream.

    Raids
    Sunken Temple
    Also
    Nightmare Incursions

    The Temple of Atal'Hakkar

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

  4. Lava fountains erupting across a molten lake in Molten Core

    Phase 4: level 60

    Released

    Level 60, a 20-player Molten Core and instanced world bosses.

    Raids
    Molten Core (20-player)
    Dungeons
    Demon Fall Canyon
    Also
    Instanced world bosses · Blackrock Eruption

    Molten Core

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

  5. A fortress wall with fire-lit windows inside Blackwing Lair

    Phase 5

    Released

    Blackwing Lair and Zul'Gurub.

    Raids
    Blackwing Lair · Zul'Gurub

    Blackwing LairZul'Gurub

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

  6. A qiraji warrior before C'Thun's tentacles in the temple

    Phase 6

    Released

    Both Ahn'Qiraj raids, and the Dragons of Nightmare as instanced raid bosses.

    Raids
    Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj · Temple of Ahn'Qiraj

    Ruins of Ahn'QirajTemple of Ahn'Qiraj

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

  7. A giant spider before the webbed halls of Naxxramas

    Phase 7

    Released

    Naxxramas and the Karazhan Crypts.

    Raids
    Naxxramas
    Dungeons
    Karazhan Crypts

    Naxxramas

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

  8. WoW Classic logo

    Phase 8: Scarlet Enclave

    Released

    The season's last content phase: New Avalon, the Scarlet Enclave raid and the Corrupted Ashbringer.

    Raids
    Scarlet Enclave

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Discovery

Hardcore

Blizzard's official one-life realms, since August 2023.

  1. WoW Classic logo

    Hardcore realms

    Released

    Official Hardcore realms open with every Classic phase unlocked: a character that dies stays dead.

    Patch notes

    Sources: Blizzard: Classic Hardcore realms now live

  2. WoW Classic logo

    Self-Found mode

    Released

    An optional mode chosen at character creation: no trading, mail or Auction House.

    Sources: Blizzard: Hardcore Self-Found mode now live

  3. WoW Classic logo

    Anniversary Hardcore realm

    Released

    A fresh Hardcore realm unlocks the Anniversary phases, without their PvP content. It stayed in Classic when the other Anniversary realms moved to The Burning Crusade.

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition

Season of Mastery

Blizzard's faster, harder seasonal Classic, 2021–2023.

  1. Lava fountains erupting across a molten lake in Molten Core

    Phase 1

    Released

    The season opens with its first raids, the Honor system and battlegrounds from the start.

    Raids
    Molten Core · Onyxia's Lair
    Dungeons
    Maraudon
    PvP
    The Honor system and battlegrounds

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Mastery

  2. The ruined arches and towers of Eldre'Thalas

    Phase 2

    Released

    Dire Maul and the first world bosses.

    Dungeons
    Dire Maul
    Also
    World bosses Azuregos and Lord Kazzak

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Mastery

  3. A fortress wall with fire-lit windows inside Blackwing Lair

    Phase 3

    Released

    Blackwing Lair and the Darkmoon Faire.

    Raids
    Blackwing Lair
    Also
    Darkmoon Faire and Darkmoon deck drops

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Mastery

  4. A Gurubashi rope bridge stretched across the jungle of Zul'Gurub

    Phase 4

    Released

    Zul'Gurub and the Dragons of Nightmare.

    Raids
    Zul'Gurub
    Also
    The green dragons join the world bosses

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Mastery

  5. A qiraji warrior before C'Thun's tentacles in the temple

    Phase 5

    Released

    The Ahn'Qiraj war effort begins; its raids open when the effort allows.

    Raids
    Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj · Temple of Ahn'Qiraj

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Mastery

  6. A giant spider before the webbed halls of Naxxramas

    Phase 6

    Released

    Naxxramas and the Scourge Invasion.

    Raids
    Naxxramas

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Mastery

  7. WoW Classic logo

    Season ends

    Released

    Season of Mastery realms close to play; they were removed on 28 July 2023.

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Season of Mastery

Classic phases

Blizzard's 2019–2020 phased launch of Classic, the content Classic Era realms keep.

  1. Lava fountains erupting across a molten lake in Molten Core

    Phase 1

    Released

    Classic launches with the original world and its first raids.

    Raids
    Molten Core · Onyxia's Lair
    Dungeons
    Maraudon

    Molten CoreOnyxia's LairMaraudon

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: World of Warcraft Classic

  2. The ruined arches and towers of Eldre'Thalas

    Phase 2

    Released

    Dire Maul, the world bosses and the Honor system arrive.

    Dungeons
    Dire Maul
    PvP
    The Honor system, including dishonorable kills, and PvP rank rewards
    Also
    World bosses Azuregos and Lord Kazzak

    Dire MaulAzuregosLord KazzakPvP: honor

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: World of Warcraft Classic

  3. A night elf sentinel and an orc grunt face off over the forest of Warsong Gulch

    Battlegrounds

    Released

    Warsong Gulch and Alterac Valley open as patch 1.13.3.

    PvP
    Warsong Gulch · Alterac Valley

    Patch notesWarsong GulchAlterac Valley

    Sources: Wowcalc patch notes: 1.13.3

  4. A fortress wall with fire-lit windows inside Blackwing Lair

    Phase 3

    Released

    Blackwing Lair opens the second tier of raiding, with the Darkmoon Faire.

    Raids
    Blackwing Lair
    Also
    Darkmoon Faire and Darkmoon deck drops

    Blackwing Lair

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: World of Warcraft Classic

  5. A Gurubashi rope bridge stretched across the jungle of Zul'Gurub

    Phase 4

    Released

    Zul'Gurub and Arathi Basin open as patch 1.13.4.

    Raids
    Zul'Gurub
    PvP
    Arathi Basin
    Also
    The green dragons join the world bosses

    Zul'GurubPatch notesArathi BasinEmeriss

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: World of Warcraft Classic

  6. A qiraji warrior before C'Thun's tentacles in the temple

    Phase 5

    Released

    The Ahn'Qiraj war effort begins (patch 1.13.5); its raids open when the effort allows.

    Raids
    Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj · Temple of Ahn'Qiraj
    Also
    Dungeon loot changes: Tier 0.5 gear, relics and changed drops

    Ruins of Ahn'QirajTemple of Ahn'QirajPatch notes

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: World of Warcraft Classic

  7. A giant spider before the webbed halls of Naxxramas

    Phase 6

    Released

    Naxxramas, the Scourge Invasion and world PvP objectives.

    Raids
    Naxxramas
    PvP
    World PvP objectives in Silithus and the Eastern Plaguelands

    NaxxramasPatch notes

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: World of Warcraft Classic

Original World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft, 2004–2006.

  1. WoW Classic logo

    Launch

    Released

    World of Warcraft launches in North America, with Molten Core and Onyxia's Lair as its raids.

    Raids
    Molten Core · Onyxia's Lair

    Molten CoreOnyxia's Lair

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: World of Warcraft

  2. Glowing seed pods hanging over the corrupted falls of Maraudon

    Patch 1.2: Mysteries of Maraudon

    Released

    Maraudon opens, with the Gurubashi Arena event.

    Dungeons
    Maraudon

    Patch notesMaraudon

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  3. The ruined arches and towers of Eldre'Thalas

    Patch 1.3: Ruins of the Dire Maul

    Released

    Dire Maul, Meeting Stones and the first world bosses.

    Dungeons
    Dire Maul
    Also
    World bosses Azuregos and Lord Kazzak

    Patch notesDire Maul

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  4. WoW Classic logo

    Patch 1.4: The Call to War

    Released

    The Honor system and PvP ranks arrive, with the epic Priest and Hunter quests.

    PvP
    The Honor system and PvP ranks

    Patch notesPvP: honor

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  5. A night elf sentinel and an orc grunt face off over the forest of Warsong Gulch

    Patch 1.5: Battlegrounds

    Released

    The first battlegrounds open.

    PvP
    Warsong Gulch · Alterac Valley

    Patch notesWarsong GulchAlterac Valley

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  6. A fortress wall with fire-lit windows inside Blackwing Lair

    Patch 1.6: Assault on Blackwing Lair

    Released

    Blackwing Lair opens, with the Darkmoon Faire.

    Raids
    Blackwing Lair
    Also
    Darkmoon Faire

    Patch notesBlackwing Lair

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  7. A Gurubashi rope bridge stretched across the jungle of Zul'Gurub

    Patch 1.7: Rise of the Blood God

    Released

    Zul'Gurub and Arathi Basin.

    Raids
    Zul'Gurub
    PvP
    Arathi Basin

    Patch notesZul'GurubArathi Basin

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  8. WoW Classic logo

    Patch 1.8: Dragons of Nightmare

    Released

    The green dragons appear as world bosses, and Silithus is reworked.

    Also
    The green dragons join the world bosses

    Patch notesEmeriss

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  9. A qiraji warrior before C'Thun's tentacles in the temple

    Patch 1.9: The Gates of Ahn'Qiraj

    Released

    The Ahn'Qiraj war effort and both Ahn'Qiraj raids.

    Raids
    Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj · Temple of Ahn'Qiraj

    Patch notesRuins of Ahn'QirajTemple of Ahn'Qiraj

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  10. WoW Classic logo

    Patch 1.10: Storms of Azeroth

    Released

    Weather effects and the Tier 0.5 armor quests.

    Also
    Dungeon loot changes: Tier 0.5 gear

    Patch notes

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  11. A giant spider before the webbed halls of Naxxramas

    Patch 1.11: Shadow of the Necropolis

    Released

    Naxxramas, the last raid before The Burning Crusade.

    Raids
    Naxxramas

    Patch notesNaxxramas

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  12. A Stormpike dwarf and a Frostwolf orc in the snows of Alterac Valley

    Patch 1.12: Drums of War

    Released

    Cross-realm battlegrounds and world PvP objectives.

    PvP
    Cross-realm battlegrounds · World PvP objectives in Silithus and the Eastern Plaguelands

    Patch notes

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

Reviewed 2026-10-21.