TBC Anniversary Phase 3: Raids, Rewards and Preparation

Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Phase 3 is already live. Its main progression targets are Hyjal Summit, Black Temple and the first five Tier 6 set slots. Returning players should check access and the next update date before choosing upgrades. Finishing every Outland reputation is not a prerequisite for a first raid.

Checked October 20, 2026. This guide covers Anniversary rather than the 2007 TBC calendar or the 2022 Classic season. Phase 3 launched on August 27; Arena Season 3 followed with regional weekly resets in early September.

There is an important upcoming change: Blizzard has announced the removal of Hyjal and Black Temple attunements with the October 22 Zul'Aman update. That change is still ahead at the time of checking. The original Phase 3 requirements and the approaching access changes are separated below, so you can decide whether finishing a chain immediately serves your plans.

Timeline: raids, Arena and the next update

Black Temple and Hyjal Summit opened together on August 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PDT, or 22:00 UTC and 23:00 BST. This was the raid opening, not the Arena season start. August PTR testing was also separate from the live release.

Phase 3 removed the previous attunements for Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep. Blizzard also allowed players to proceed directly to Lady Vashj and Kael'thas. That helps with The Vials of Eternity but does not complete the quest automatically.

Arena Season 3 began with weekly resets: September 1 in the Americas, with the corresponding regional reset elsewhere. Do not apply an American morning to every realm or combine the season date with the raid opening.

The next announced global opening is Zul'Aman on October 22 at 3:00 p.m. PDT / 22:00 UTC / 23:00 BST. Its update also announces the removal of both Tier 6 raid attunements, Honored requirements for Heroic keys, reduced Heroic difficulty and expanded Badge of Justice rewards. Those are not features of the original August 27 release.

Raid openings, the Arena season and October access changes have separate dates

Two complementary 25-player raids

Black Temple

This level-70 raid stands in eastern Shadowmoon Valley. Enter through the breach in its side wall rather than the main gates. Nine bosses lead toward Illidan Stormrage, with three Tier 6 slots, other equipment, legendary weapons and Ashtongue Deathsworn reputation among the reasons to return.

After the opening encounters, the raid works through the temple's middle section before Mother Shahraz, the Illidari Council and Illidan. A boss list is not an absolutely rigid route: the middle section allows some choice. For progression planning, identify the later token bosses and prepare specialist assignments in advance.

Mother Shahraz makes Shadow Resistance preparation important. Agree the set with your raid leader: the practical target depends on the group, buffs and strategy. Do not purchase an identical kit for everyone based on a single figure from an old guide. A designated Warlock tank for Illidan has separate preparation needs that a generic damage-dealing gear list will not cover.

Hyjal Summit

Also called The Battle for Mount Hyjal, this raid is reached through the Caverns of Time in Tanaris. Its five bosses follow a fixed sequence: Rage Winterchill, Anetheron, Kaz'rogal, Azgalor and Archimonde. The first two are fought at the Alliance camp, the next two at the Horde camp, and the final encounter is near the World Tree.

Instead of ordinary corridor clearing, the first four encounters are preceded by enemy waves. Gathering enemies, controlling them, dealing area damage and managing mana all matter. Five bosses do not automatically make this a short evening: the waves account for part of the run.

Hyjal supplies Tier 6 gloves and helms, Scale of the Sands reputation, an upgradeable ring and access to Jewelcrafting designs. The two raids have separate weekly lockouts. Check your character's saved instances and regional reset before joining another group. Account-wide access does not mean all characters share one raid save.

The two Tier 6 raids complement each other; Netherwing is a separate progression track

Attunements before the October access changes

Check your account before repeating a chain

Anniversary makes completed raid attunements available to characters on the same Battle.net account. Check already unlocked access before repeating a long chain on an alt. Do not assume that unfinished quest stages or personal rewards have also transferred. For Black Temple alts, first log in on the character that fully completed the chain.

Heroic keys use a different arrangement, including account-bound keys for eligible alts with the required reputation. Do not confuse that with shared raid access, or treat the removal of Serpentshrine attunement as the removal of every Heroic requirement.

Hyjal: The Vials of Eternity

If access is not already unlocked, obtain The Vials of Eternity from Soridormi in the Caverns of Time. It needs quest items from Lady Vashj in Serpentshrine Cavern and Kael'thas Sunstrider in Tempest Keep. Have the quest active before the kills, loot both items and return to Soridormi.

Phase 3's direct routes to the final bosses shorten the journey. Permission to enter the raid does not supply a quest item without the relevant stage. If the group is assembling for attunement, confirm that purpose before using a lockout on a run that does not meet your needs.

Black Temple: Akama's chain

Start with The Tablets of Baa'ri from your Aldor or Scryer representatives in Shadowmoon Valley. The outdoor chain leads through the Warden's Cage, Akama, the Arcatraz and the Ata'mal Terrace. Prepare its stages on one character rather than dividing unfinished progress between several.

The raid section requires Fathom-Lord Karathress in Serpentshrine Cavern and a conversation with Seer Olum. The next step calls for Al'ar in Tempest Keep while using the prescribed disguise. An Artifact From the Past then sends you to Rage Winterchill, Hyjal's first boss. Returning to Akama and following the quests involving A'dal and Xi'ri completes access with the Medallion of Karabor.

A practical trap is assuming that a direct Vashj or Kael'thas run replaces Karathress and Al'ar for Black Temple. Coordinate both objectives in the schedule. Killing Illidan is not required for your first entry; later rewards involving his defeat are separate.

Once the announced Zul'Aman update takes effect, these chains will no longer be mandatory entry requirements for either raid. They can still serve story or personal reward goals, but returning players should not be given the old chain as a permanent barrier.

Tier 6: five slots and specific targets

Phase 3 offers the Tier 6 helm, shoulders, chest, gloves and legs. The bracers, belt and boots associated with Sunwell Plateau are outside that initial set of rewards. Do not plan to collect all eight slots from Black Temple alone.

Bosses drop tokens shared by class groups. Forgotten Conqueror covers Paladins, Priests and Warlocks; Forgotten Protector covers Hunters, Shamans and Warriors; Forgotten Vanquisher covers Druids, Mages and Rogues. Redeem the token with Tydormu near the Hyjal entrance for the appropriate item. Classes with several roles should check the variant before exchanging it.

Blizzard confirmed extra tier-token drops when the Anniversary raids opened. Do not plan distribution around an early PTR count. More tokens still do not guarantee a particular class group on every kill or a full set in one evening.

Set bonuses activate at two and four pieces. Compare an upgrade with your existing Tier 5 bonuses and total equipment. A higher item level is not a reason by itself to break a useful old bonus for one new piece; the right decision depends on specialization.

Warglaives of Azzinoth

Illidan can drop separate legendary main-hand and off-hand weapons. Obtaining one does not award the other. Agree eligibility, distribution and who can make practical use of the pair before the first run.

This is a repeated-lockout goal without a guaranteed completion date. Do not make owning both weapons a preparation requirement, or mix normal TBC loot with another client's transmog or Timewalking rules.

Raid reputations and daily activities

Ashtongue Deathsworn belongs to Black Temple progression. Reputation comes from its enemies, with rewards sold by Okuno. Exalted unlocks a class trinket. Its value depends on specialization and situation; a reputation requirement does not automatically make it best for every player.

Scale of the Sands progresses in Hyjal. At Friendly, choose a ring for your role and upgrade it as reputation rises. Indormi is also associated with rewards and epic-gem cutting designs. Choose the ring path deliberately and inspect each design's requirements instead of buying every recipe available.

Netherwing is a separate outdoor activity in southeastern Shadowmoon Valley. Begin with Mordenai; the main daily hub is on the floating Netherwing Ledge. Progress beyond Neutral requires 300 Riding. Being able to fly to the area and being eligible for the full reputation progression are different conditions.

Daily quests provide regular progress, while repeatable egg turn-ins can accelerate it. More quests open as reputation increases, and some gathering tasks depend on your profession. Exalted gives access to six Netherwing Drake colors. Do not promise yourself a fixed number of days: egg competition and available play time affect the pace.

Netherwing reputation is not needed for Tier 6 entry. If your priority is the next raid night, solve access and role preparation first. The mount can be pursued alongside raiding or afterward without holding the group back.

Gems, professions and Heroic dungeons

Raw epic gems can be mined in Hyjal at Mining 375 and appear as rare Black Temple drops. The raid needs a prepared miner for that task, not every member changing professions. Jewelcrafters should focus on relevant Indormi designs and an actual supply of materials.

Blizzard clarified its Heroic loot announcement: it referred to familiar Phase 3 changes such as epic gems, rather than a surprise new system for obtaining old raid gear. Do not plan to farm a particular raid item in a Heroic without a confirmed loot table. Heroic gems should not all be treated as the same raw gems obtained from raids.

Older dungeons remain useful for selected upgrades, reputation, materials and existing Badge of Justice rewards. New G'eras inventory, additional raid badge sources and the Nether Vortex binding change are announced for the October Zul'Aman update. Do not backdate them to August 27.

Demand for gems, enchants, consumables and resistance crafts can change as groups progress. That is not guaranteed profit. Compare component costs, recipe access and real sales before producing stock. Avoid expensive purchases based on an old PTR possibility or a promised price rise.

Prepare for a role rather than an artificial checklist

Start with what prevents you joining the group: access, weak slots, an unfamiliar assignment or scheduling. Full Tier 5 is not a formal key to the new raids, but a group can reasonably expect appropriate equipment, enchants, gems and an understanding of the job.

Bring the chosen flask or suitable elixirs, food, combat potions, reagents and repair gold. Agree quantities and choices with the raid. Mother Shahraz resistance and specialist tank sets need separate discussion; they are not a reason for everyone to buy identical armor.

Keep earlier-phase runs that serve a real purpose: attunement items before the removal, missing Tier 5 bonuses or specific useful drops. Do not clear every old raid just to tick a box. Recheck access and rewards after an update, because the barrier that delayed your return may already be gone.

Check the date, access and your character's actual assignment before expensive purchases

Arena is a separate progression path

Season 3 brings Vengeful Gladiator equipment and does not require a Hyjal or Black Temple clear. Buy for your PvP role and check the current vendor's price, rating requirement and currency. A Tier 6 item is not automatically a replacement for Arena gear.

Blizzard's transition announcement specified a 1:10 conversion of unspent Arena Points into Honor, discounted Season 2 equipment at Area 52 without a rating requirement, and Season 1 items for Honor in Orgrimmar and Stormwind. These describe an already completed transition, not advice to stockpile Season 2 points today.

Do not treat rumored Tier 5 token exchanges for old PvP equipment as a confirmed preparation route. Plan around the actual inventory. For a purely PvP goal, raid reputations and Netherwing Drakes remain optional activities.

Frequently asked questions

Does every alt need to repeat the attunement?

Completed Anniversary raid attunements are account-wide. Personal quests and items can still need separate completion. After the announced Zul'Aman removal takes effect, the chains will not be required to enter either Tier 6 raid at all.

Can I farm Illidan's glaives every evening?

Repeat loot on one character is limited by the weekly raid save. Changing groups or leaving the instance does not create another loot attempt from a boss already killed in that lockout.

Does everyone need Mining 375 and a Netherwing Drake?

No. Mining is needed by the person gathering Hyjal's gems. The drake is a personal reputation reward rather than a raid key. Do not change professions or delay a run for either goal without a reason of your own.

Should I break four-piece Tier 5 for one Tier 6 item?

Compare total stats and the lost bonus for your specialization first. A newer set tier does not guarantee that every single-item replacement is an improvement.