Wrath Classic Phase 1: Naxxramas, the Eye of Eternity and the Obsidian Sanctum

Blizzard published the opening schedule with the pre-patch. Raids stayed closed for the expansion's first ten days.

Naxxramas, Kel'Thuzad's necropolis, now floats over Wintergarde Keep in Dragonblight. It was rebuilt from the 40-player raid of the original game into a level-80 raid for 25 or 10 players, with fifteen bosses across four wings and Frostwyrm Lair, from Anub'Rekhan and Patchwerk to Sapphiron and Kel'Thuzad.

The Eye of Eternity in the center of Coldarra holds a single encounter, Malygos, the blue dragon Aspect. Entry needs the Key to the Focusing Iris, which drops from Sapphiron in Naxxramas and is attuned by Alexstrasza at the top of Wyrmrest Temple.

The Obsidian Sanctum lies beneath Wyrmrest Temple in Dragonblight. Sartharion guards it with three drake lieutenants, Shadron, Tenebron and Vesperon, and each drake left alive makes the fight harder and the reward better.

Every Wrath raid exists in a 10-player and a 25-player version, so smaller guilds can clear the whole tier.

The Vault of Archavon in Wintergrasp opens to the faction that holds the zone after each Battle for Wintergrasp. Its first boss is Archavon the Stone Watcher; Emalon the Storm Watcher joined with Ulduar and Koralon the Flame Watcher with Call of the Crusade. Because access changes with every battle, raiders plan their week around Wintergrasp's timer.

• Reach level 80 and run Heroic dungeons for gear and Emblems.
• Plan a raid build in the talent calculator and compare simulator-based setups in popular builds.
• Read each encounter in the raid guides, which list abilities and drops per boss.