TBC Phase 3 is almost here: the countdown is on for Burning Crusade Classic’s Anniversary Realms. On August 27, 2026, at 3 PM Pacific time — midnight in France on the night of the 27th to the 28th — Phase 3 opens. It brings two raids at once, Black Temple and Battle for Mount Hyjal, launches Tier 6 progression, and adds the first epic gems of the Anniversary content.
This phase isn’t limited to PvE. Netherwing dailies are arriving too, along with Arena Season 3, which takes over starting September 1. Blizzard has also warned that announcements about Classic’s future will wait until Black Temple releases, with a rendezvous set for BlizzCon on September 12 and 13.
On August 27, Black Temple Reopens Its Gates
Phase 3 of Burning Crusade Classic’s Anniversary Realms (servers relaunched from scratch for the game’s 20th anniversary, replaying content in its historical order) opens on August 27, 2026, at 3 PM Pacific time. For French players, that falls in the night of August 27 to 28, at midnight. This new phase (a content tier that Blizzard unlocks on a set date) marks the return of Black Temple, the raid that closes out Illidan Stormrage’s story arc.
The news comes from Blizzard Watch. Nick Marino published it on July 23, 2026. Wowhead later clarified that Blizzard had officially confirmed this date, and that it falls two weeks later than the initial leak suggested. The community had therefore expected an earlier opening before Blizzard settled the matter.
These Anniversary Realms launched on November 21, 2024, with characters starting fresh on new servers. Since then, they’ve progressed all the way to Burning Crusade, whose anniversary edition, TBC Classic Anniversary, released on February 5, 2026. Phase 2 ends before this TBC Phase 3 opens, leaving a short window between the two content tiers.
This announcement comes as many players are also watching for signs about the future of WoW Classic after BlizzCon 2026. In the meantime, this Phase 3’s schedule finally gives players a firm date to circle for late August.
Two Raids, and Two Quest Chains to Finish First
TBC Phase 3 opens two raids at once: Black Temple and Battle for Mount Hyjal. Black Temple culminates in a fight against Illidan Stormrage, one of the expansion’s most recognizable faces. Both instances also launch Tier 6 progression, the raid gear tier that matches this phase.
To enter Black Temple, players must complete an attunement chain (the mandatory quest series required to unlock a raid). It starts with the quest « The Tablets of Baa’ri. » The NPC who gives it depends on the player’s allegiance: Archmage Thelis for the Scryers, or Anchorite Ceyla for the Aldor. Once inside the raid, players earn reputation with the Ashtongue Deathsworn.
Access to Mount Hyjal follows a different path. Players must finish the « The Vials of Eternity » chain, which starts with Soridormi at the Caverns of Time. This raid grants reputation with the Scale of the Sands, a faction unique to that zone.
Another new addition this phase: epic gems make their debut. They drop from the new raids’ bosses, but can also be mined directly inside the instances. That cuts down on relying on random drops to finish off a gem setup.
| Raid | Attunement Chain | Reputation |
|---|---|---|
| Black Temple | « The Tablets of Baa’ri » (Archmage Thelis for the Scryers, Anchorite Ceyla for the Aldor) | Ashtongue Deathsworn |
| Battle for Mount Hyjal | « The Vials of Eternity » (Soridormi, Caverns of Time) | Scale of the Sands |
Arena, Mounts, and What Blizzard Will Say Next
Phase 3 brings the Netherwing daily quests. They raise reputation up to Exalted status (the highest reputation tier with a faction in the game). That tier unlocks epic flying mounts, a goal players have been chasing since Burning Crusade Classic launched.
On the PvP side, Arena Season 2 (the ranked PvP cycle, with its own rewards) ends on August 18. Realm restarts follow immediately after. Season 3 starts September 1, with no downtime for ranked players.
Wowhead’s roadmap guide, written by Serenal and updated July 25, 2026, lists five phases planned for TBC Classic Anniversary. Phase 3 is therefore only the halfway point. Two more content tiers remain to be released before the cycle’s announced end.
Blizzard has stated that announcements about Classic’s future, and about the pace of future Anniversary servers, will wait until Black Temple releases. They’ll land at BlizzCon, on September 12 and 13 in Anaheim. Meanwhile, the modern version of the game keeps moving forward on its own, with patch 12.1 and the Loved Isle. TBC Phase 3, then, isn’t a culmination. It’s the last step before Blizzard speaks.
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