World of Warcraft Classic: Phase 5 of Season of Discovery Launch Date Announced

World of Warcraft Classic has announced that Phase 5 of the Season of Discovery will debut on September 26. This upcoming phase marks the second major endgame update for the experimental WoW Classic servers, introducing exciting new content, including revamped versions of the legendary raids Blackwing Lair and Zul’Gurub.

Season of Discovery represents a bold experiment within WoW Classic, featuring innovative elements such as class-altering Rune engravings, new takes on classic encounters, and entirely original dungeons that have never been seen in the World of Warcraft universe before. Currently, the servers are in their fourth phase, which saw players reach the original level cap of 60.

Despite reaching the level cap, the Season of Discovery journey is far from over. The latest update, scheduled to launch on September 26, promises a wealth of new content. The highlight of Phase 5 will be the reimagined Blackwing Lair and Zul’Gurub raids.

Blackwing Lair and Zul’Gurub Revamps

In this new phase, Blackwing Lair will be available as a 20-player raid, but it will be scaled to accommodate up to 40 players. This revamped raid will challenge heroes to face Nefarian, the son of Deathwing, and offer the chance to collect Tier 2 gear, which is being enhanced for World of Warcraft's 20th anniversary celebrations. Zul’Gurub will be adjusted for groups of 10 to 20 players and will drop valuable progression gear.

While specific details about the rest of Phase 5 remain under wraps, dataminers have unearthed potential hints about additional content. New dungeon maps named the Burning of Andorhal, Starfall Barrow Den, and Shadow Hold have been discovered, along with a Legendary weapon inspired by Uther the Lightbringer’s iconic hammer. Blizzard may reveal more about these features as the release date approaches, but many details are likely to remain a mystery until Phase 5 launches.

Looking ahead, there’s still more to come in Season of Discovery. The Ahn’Qiraj and Naxxramas raids are expected to receive their own updates, suggesting that one or two additional phases will follow. The WoW Classic development team has hinted at significant surprises for the final stages of the Season of Discovery, promising a memorable conclusion to this experimental game mode.