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Roadmap — Wiki · WoW Burning Crusade

Every era of The Burning Crusade: the Anniversary realms, which entered Outland in February 2026, Burning Crusade Classic in 2021–2022 and the original 2007–2008 patches. On the Anniversary realms Zul'Aman opens on 22 October 2026; Sunwell Plateau has no date yet.

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

Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary

The Anniversary realms, which moved from Classic into The Burning Crusade in 2026.

  1. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade logo

    Pre-patch

    Released

    The Classic Anniversary realms move to The Burning Crusade: Blood Elves and Draenei can be created, and characters who wanted to stay in Classic moved to Classic Era realms first.

    Classic Anniversary roadmap

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Edition

  2. Karazhan's tower under a full moon, watched by a raven

    Launch: Outland

    Released

    The Dark Portal opens, with level 70, flying and Guild Banks from day one. Arena Season 1 starts on 17 February and the first raids open on 19 February.

    Raids
    Karazhan · Gruul's Lair · Magtheridon's Lair
    PvP
    Arena Season 1

    KarazhanGruul's LairMagtheridon's LairPatch notesPvP: arenas

    Sources: Blizzard: Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Edition now live · Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Edition

  3. Lady Vashj inside the Coilfang Reservoir's pumping halls

    Phase 2: Overlords of Outland

    Released

    Serpentshrine Cavern and The Eye open with the Ogri'la and Sha'tari Skyguard dailies.

    Raids
    The Eye · Serpentshrine Cavern
    PvP
    Arena Season 2
    Also
    Ogri'la and Sha'tari Skyguard daily content · Swift Flight Form for druids

    Tempest Keep: The EyeSerpentshrine CavernPatch notesOgri'la

    Sources: Blizzard: Overlords of Outland arrives May 14

  4. Illidan Stormrage before the Black Temple

    Phase 3: Black Temple

    Released

    Black Temple and Mount Hyjal open with the Netherwing dailies; Arena Season 3 starts on 1 September.

    Raids
    Battle for Mount Hyjal · Black Temple
    PvP
    Arena Season 3
    Also
    Netherwing daily content · Epic gems

    The Battle for Mount HyjalBlack Temple

    Sources: Blizzard: Black Temple arrives August 27

  5. An Amani troll before the torchlit city of Zul'Aman

    The Gods of Zul'Aman

    Announced

    Zul'Aman opens. Earlier raids start dropping Badges of Justice, Black Temple and Mount Hyjal no longer need attunement, and heroic keys need only Honored.

    Raids
    Zul'Aman

    Zul'Aman

    Sources: Blizzard: Face the Gods of Zul'Aman on October 22

  6. Kil'jaeden emerging in fel fire above the Sunwell

    Fury of the Sunwell

    Unconfirmed

    Date TBA

    The Isle of Quel'Danas and Sunwell Plateau, the expansion's last raid, are still to come; Blizzard hasn't announced when.

    Raids
    Sunwell Plateau
    Dungeons
    Magisters' Terrace

    Sunwell PlateauMagisters' Terrace

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Edition

Blizzard hasn't announced what follows The Burning Crusade on the Anniversary realms.

Burning Crusade Classic phases

Burning Crusade Classic, 2021–2022.

  1. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade logo

    Pre-patch

    Released

    The Draenei and Blood Elf races are unlocked ahead of launch.

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic

  2. Karazhan's tower under a full moon, watched by a raven

    Phase 1: Launch

    Released

    The Dark Portal opens.

    Raids
    Karazhan · Gruul's Lair · Magtheridon's Lair
    PvP
    Arena Season 1

    KarazhanGruul's LairMagtheridon's LairPatch notesPvP: arenas

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic

  3. Lady Vashj inside the Coilfang Reservoir's pumping halls

    Phase 2: Overlords of Outland

    Released

    Patch 2.5.2 (31 August) brings the content; the raids open on 15 September.

    Raids
    The Eye · Serpentshrine Cavern
    PvP
    Arena Season 2
    Also
    Ogri'la and Sha'tari Skyguard daily content · New profession recipes · Swift Flight Form for druids

    Tempest Keep: The EyeSerpentshrine CavernPatch notesOgri'la

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic

  4. Illidan Stormrage before the Black Temple

    Phase 3: The Black Temple

    Released

    Patch 2.5.3 (18 January) starts Arena Season 3; the raids follow on 27 January.

    Raids
    Battle for Mount Hyjal · Black Temple
    PvP
    Arena Season 3 (from patch 2.5.3)
    Also
    Netherwing daily content · Epic gems

    The Battle for Mount HyjalBlack TemplePatch notes

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic

  5. An Amani troll before the torchlit city of Zul'Aman

    Phase 4: The Gods of Zul'Aman

    Released

    Zul'Aman opens with patch 2.5.4 (22 March), with badge rewards and easier heroic access.

    Raids
    Zul'Aman

    Zul'AmanPatch notes

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic

  6. Kil'jaeden emerging in fel fire above the Sunwell

    Phase 5: Sunwell Plateau

    Released

    The Isle of Quel'Danas opens; the Sunwell Plateau raid itself opens on 12 May.

    Raids
    Sunwell Plateau
    PvP
    Arena Season 4

    Sunwell Plateau

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Burning Crusade Classic

Original Burning Crusade

The Burning Crusade, 2007–2008.

  1. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade logo

    Patch 2.0.1: Before the Storm

    Released

    New talents, Arenas and a reworked Honor system arrive ahead of the expansion.

    Patch notes

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  2. Karazhan's tower under a full moon, watched by a raven

    Launch

    Released

    Outland opens with level 70, Blood Elves and Draenei, flying mounts and Jewelcrafting.

    Raids
    Karazhan · Gruul's Lair · Magtheridon's Lair · Serpentshrine Cavern · The Eye

    KarazhanSerpentshrine CavernTempest Keep: The Eye

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: The Burning Crusade

  3. Illidan Stormrage before the Black Temple

    Patch 2.1: The Black Temple

    Released

    Black Temple opens with the Netherwing and Ogri'la quest hubs.

    Raids
    Black Temple

    Patch notesBlack Temple

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  4. An Amani troll before the torchlit city of Zul'Aman

    Patch 2.3: The Gods of Zul'Aman

    Released

    Zul'Aman, Guild Banks and Arena Season 3 rewards; leveling from 20 to 60 gets faster.

    Raids
    Zul'Aman

    Patch notesZul'Aman

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

  5. Kil'jaeden emerging in fel fire above the Sunwell

    Patch 2.4: Fury of the Sunwell

    Released

    The Isle of Quel'Danas opens with Magisters' Terrace and the Sunwell Plateau raid.

    Raids
    Sunwell Plateau
    Dungeons
    Magisters' Terrace

    Patch notesSunwell PlateauMagisters' Terrace

    Sources: Warcraft Wiki: Content patches

Reviewed 2026-10-21.