Everything coming in each WoW Cataclysm Classic phase — plus our best guess on every phase start date (2024)

World of Warcraft Classic will launch the next Classic expansion, Cataclysm Classic, on May 20 at 3PM pacific time followed shortly by the release of the expansion’s first phase a week later on May 28. We know the Cataclysm Classic phases will roll out similar to Wrath of the Lich King Classic thanks to the 2024 roadmap which outlines the expansion launch and general release timing of each phase. Cataclysm Classicwill likely release its phases and all of the associated content similarly to Cataclysm’s original release, with the current exception being the Elemental Unrest pre-patch event, which didn’t launch with the Classic version of the pre-patch.

Barring any other major deviations from the original release cadence, here’s what we know about each Cataclysm Classic phases — plus when we’ll be able to play them.

Cataclysm Classic launch — May 20

Seven new zones

• Kezan (Goblin starting zone, live now)
• Gilneas (Worgen starting zone, live now)
• Mount Hyjal (Level 80-82)
• Vashj’ir (Level 80-82)
• Deepholm (Level 82-83)
• Uldum (Level 83-84)
• Twilight Highlands (Level 84-85)

Nine Dungeons

• Deadmines (Live now)
  • Minimum Level: 10
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Shadowfang Keep (Live now)
  • Minimum Level: 11
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Blackrock Caverns
  • Minimum Level: 80
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Throne of the Tides
  • Minimum Level: 80
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• The Stonecore
  • Minimum Level: 81
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• The Vortex Pinnacle
  • Minimum Level: 82
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Halls of Origination
  • Minimum Level: 83
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal Heroic
• Lost City of Tolvir
  • Minimum Level: 83
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Grim Batol
  • Minimum Level: 84
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic

One new PVP zone

• Tol Barad

When Cataclysm Classic‘s pre-patch launched in April, players could immediately access the starting zones for the Goblin and Worgen characters as well as run updated versions of the Deadmines and Shadowfang Keep dungeons, both of which reflect the changes made in their specific zones. Once the Cataclysm Classic expansion launches on May 20, the five remaining zones will be available to players as they journey through the story. There are seven new dungeons for the players to tackle throughout these zones, and each will become organically accessible as you level up. For PVP players, the new Tol Barad PVP zone will open up on launch too.

Phase 1 — May 28 (PVP) and May 30 (PVE)

• PVP Season 9
• The Bastion of Twilight raid
  • Normal: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic: 10 and 25 player
• Blackwing Descent raid
  • Normal: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic: 10 and 25 player
• Throne of the Four Winds raid
  • Normal: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic: 10 and 25 player

Cataclysm Classic’sfirst phase begins the week of May 28 once the weekly reset concludes, at which point PVP season 9 will go live. Players will be able to participate in Rated Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds to earn Conquest. Later in the week, three new raid dungeons will go live globally on May 30 at 3PM pacific time. Each raid dungeon will have 10 and 25 player instances for both Normal and Heroic difficulties available immediately. The new raid lockout rules are based on the individual boss, not the difficulty mode, so players have some additional flexibility for their drops.

Phase 2: Rise of the Zandalari — July 2024

• Zul’Gurub dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Zul’Aman dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic

In the original Rise of the Zandalari content phase, Zul’Gurub and Zul’Aman returned as level 85 heroic dungeons and it seems likely that will be the case for Rise of the Zandalari the second time around. Based on the current release structure, we’ll probably see this phase on July 25, 2024. I’d expect to see a Cataclysm Classic version of Titan Rune Dungeons implemented around this time but other than that, we don’t know much else about what could be coming in this phase.

Phase 3: Rage of the Firelands — October 2024

• The Firelands raid
  • Normal Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
• Mount Hyjal daily quests
• Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa’s Rest (2H Legendary Item)

The Rage of the Firelands content phase is slated for October 2024 and will likely launch on October 3, 2024 (if we correctly guessed the arrival of Phase 2). Like the original, this phase will have the new Firelands raid in Normal and Heroic modes for 10 and 25 player groups, the legendary staff Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa’s Rest, a quest chain centered on Thrall, and new daily quests in Mount Hyjal.

Phase 4: Hour of Twilight — January 2025

• Dragon Soul raid
  • Normal Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
• End Time dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Well of Eternity dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Hour of Twilight dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Alizabal, new Tol Barad boss
• Fangs of the Father Legendary Daggers

The arrival of Cataclysm Classic’sfinal phase is a bit harder to predict. Each of the Classic phases so far has lasted around 10 weeks which would have placed Phase 4 in mid-December, which we know is not the case because the WoW Classic team informed everyone it will arrive in January 2025. I don’t think it will arrive too late after the new year so I would expect it on January 7, 2025.

Phase 4 will see players take on Deathwing in the Dragon Soul raid effectively bring the Cataclysm Classicexpansion to a close. We’ll also likely be getting three new 5-player heroic dungeons as well as a new Tol Barad boss, Alizabal. Last, but most certainly not least, in Phase 4 Rogues will be able to earn the Fangs of the Father legendary daggers Golad, Twilight of the Aspects and Tiriosh, Nightmare of Ages from a new quest chain.

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