TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3: Black Temple & Hyjal Guide

Blizzard has not announced a specific date. The official roadmap pins TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 to Summer 2026, following Phase 2's May 14 launch. If you are expecting a calendar invite, you will be disappointed. The approximate 10-to-12-week gap between phases suggests a July or August release, but Blizzard has a long history of being vague about things they will eventually announce two weeks before it matters.

BlizzCon 2026 lands in September. Blizzard confirmed that further information about Classic's future direction: specifically post-Black Temple plans: will be revealed there. So enjoy Phase 3 while it lasts. Its expiration date has a press release attached.

Full TBC Classic Anniversary Roadmap

Battle for Mount Hyjal

A 25-player raid accessed through the Caverns of Time in Tanaris. Five bosses, infinite waves of trash, and a Black Temple attunement guide prerequisite disguised as a questline. You need Revered reputation with the Keepers of Time and both Vials of Eternity from SSC and The Eye to get through the door. If you skipped that in Phase 2, you are now a spectator. Enjoy.

The raid drops Tier 6 tokens and shoulders / chest pieces alongside it. Archimonde dies at the end and does not apologize.

Nine bosses. One iconic demon hunter. The Black Temple raid guide situation is structurally cruel: the attunement chain is long, begins in Phase 2, and cannot be fully completed until you are already inside Phase 3 killing things. Start it now. The chain runs through Shadowmoon Valley, picks up Baa'ri tablet fragments, and winds through a series of steps that exist purely to filter out people who logged in last week.

Illidan Stormrage awaits at the end. He drops Warglaives of Azzinoth, arguably the most famous weapons in the entire game. Two of them. One guild gets each. Everyone else pretends they did not want them.

Attunement or bust. Both raids gate access behind quest chains. Vials of Eternity for Hyjal. A multi-week chain for Black Temple. Neither waits for you. Neither cares.

Netherwing Daily Quests & Mount

Phase 3 opens the Netherwing reputation grind in Shadowmoon Valley. Daily quests, egg collection, disguise quests you will grow to hate. Reach Exalted and Blizzard hands you a Netherdrake mount and a cinematic that thanks you for the weeks of your life. The grind is real, repetitive, and wildly popular regardless. Some people do it on six characters. Do not become those people.

New Jewelcrafting designs unlock inside the Caverns of Time, tied to epic gems that drop in Tier 6 raids. If you play a Jewelcrafter, congratulations on being relevant for another phase.

Phase 2 is your runway. The Mount Hyjal attunement and the first steps of Black Temple's chain are completable before Phase 3 drops. If you wait, someone in your guild will link their attunement in chat and look smug about it.

Arena Season 3

Phase 3 launches Arena Season 3. The arena weapon rating requirement has been reduced from 1,850 to 1,700 this time around: Blizzard's concession to players who found the original requirement aspirational in a depressing way. Blue PvP gear is available through reputation during leveling, so you no longer have to choose between being a raider and being able to survive a rogue in world PvP. You still might not survive. But at least you have the gear.

Phase 2 Prep: What To Do Before Phase 3

• Kill Lady Vashj and Kael'thas. Both drop a Vial of Eternity. Both are required for Hyjal attunement. No exceptions.
• Start the Black Temple attunement chain. Head to Shadowmoon Valley. Pick your faction NPC. Collect 12 Baa'ri fragments. It is tedious now so it is less tedious later.
• Farm Shadow Resistance gear. Mount Hyjal punishes the unprepared. Check your resistances or become a liability.
• Stock Marks of the Illidari. Needed for specialized flasks in Phase 3, gated behind Exalted with specific factions. Grind them.
• Hoard Honor and arena points. Season 3 gear requires a currency runway. Build one now.
• Reach Exalted with key factions. Aldor or Scryers, Keepers of Time, Cenarion Expedition. If you have been slacking on Tier 6 raiding preparation, this is the consequence.