WoW Classic Season of Discovery Phase 3 is now live with the new Sunken Temple raid and other activities!

The second phase of WoW Classic Season of Discovery has come and gone and with the arrival of the spring season (at least in North America), Season of Discovery Phase 3 is now live!

In 2023, both World of Warcraft and the WoW Classic teams worked on maintaining a consistent release schedule with patches for both games coming roughly every 10 to 11 weeks, and it’s a schedule the team seems committed to continuing, according to the the WoW Classic 2024 roadmap. Season of Discovery Phase 1 ran from November 30, 2023 to February 8, 2024 totaling 71 days (about 10 weeks). But by the time Phase 3 launches, Phase 2 will have run for shorter amount of time at 57 days, which could point to a slightly faster than anticipated arrival for Phase 4 this summer.

But for now, let’s talk about all of the new content in Phase 3.

What’s in Season of Discovery Phase 3?

• Level range: 41-50
• Level-up raid: Sunken Temple/Temple of Atal’Hakkar (20 players)
• New PVE event: Nightmare Incursions
• New runes: Helm and Bracers

Phase 3 will raise the level cap from 40 to 50 and feature the Sunken Temple (aka the Temple of Atal’Hakkar) as the level-up raid. While the Sunken Temple will feature at least one new encounter and updated encounter mechanics like Blackfathom Deeps and Gnomeregan, it will instead be a 20 player instead of a 10 player raid, and the first of its kind this season. The Sunken Temple will likely offer a new world buff when completed and will also probably be the starting point for another Professions quest that open up more recipes and items to players who complete it.

Tied to the Sunken Temple raid is a brand new PVE world event, Nightmare Incursions. Players will receive missions from Field Captains of a new faction, the Emerald Wardens, before jumping through the Emerald Dream portals in Ashenvale, Duskwood, the Hinterlands, and Feralas to complete these missions which range from fighting demonic creatures to gathering materials. Nightmare Incursions are designed to be level-banded and each zone’s portal has a recommended level: Duskwood is level 25, Ashenvale is level 40, and Feralas and the Hinterlands are level 50.

We’ll also get more runes for the Helm and Bracers slots in Phase 3 and could be more things like more skill books hidden in other level 40-50 dungeons or other new items to find hidden in the world like the Cozy Sleeping Bag.

Missing from the Season of Discovery Phase 3 section in the Classic 2024 roadmap is a new zone PVP activity. Instead, the Blood Moon is being updated with new level 50 rewards which can be purchased by collecting a new currency (one of three!), Massacre Coins, during the event. An important note, Bloodstained Commendations are being retired in Phase 3! Any existing commendations you have need to be used by April 16 so don’t wait to use them! For players who enjoy standard PVP, the current Honor system will now cap out at rank 7 and there will be updates to certain existing items from the PVP vendors. The vendors will also sell a new 6-piece level 50 set with set bonuses; Boots and Gloves are available at rank 5, Shoulders and Legs at rank 6, and Chest and Helm at rank 7.

Phase 3 is here and there’s undoubtedly more to uncover when it arrives, so if you’ve been enjoying Season of Discovery so far be sure to check here to stay up to date on all of the Phase 3 news!

Originally published on March 8, 2024. Updated on April 4, 2024.