Everything coming in each WoW Cataclysm Classic phase — plus our best guess on every phase start date

World of Warcraft Classic latest expansion, Cataclysm Classic, launched on May 20, followed shortly by the release of the expansion’s first phase a week later. We know the Cataclysm Classic phases will roll out much like Wrath of the Lich King Classic phases, thanks to the 2024 roadmap which outlines the expansion launch and general release timing of each phase. Cataclysm Classic will likely release its phases and all of the associated content similarly to Cataclysm’s original release, but we don’t have exact dates for each phase yet.

Barring any other major deviations from the original release cadence, here’s what we know about each Cataclysm Classic phase — plus when we’ll be able to play them.

Cataclysm Classic launch (May 20)

Seven new zones

• Kezan (Goblin starting zone)
• Gilneas (Worgen starting zone)
• Mount Hyjal (Level 80-82)
• Vashj’ir (Level 80-82)
• Deepholm (Level 82-83)
• Uldum (Level 83-84)
• Twilight Highlands (Level 84-85)

Nine Dungeons

• Deadmines
  • Minimum Level: 10
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Shadowfang Keep
  • Minimum Level: 11
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Blackrock Caverns
  • Minimum Level: 80
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Throne of the Tides
  • Minimum Level: 80
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• The Stonecore
  • Minimum Level: 81
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• The Vortex Pinnacle
  • Minimum Level: 82
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Halls of Origination
  • Minimum Level: 83
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal Heroic
• Lost City of Tolvir
  • Minimum Level: 83
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic
• Grim Batol
  • Minimum Level: 84
  • Difficulty Modes: Normal, Heroic

One new PVP zone

• Tol Barad

When Cataclysm Classic‘s pre-patch launched in April, players could immediately access the starting zones for the Goblin and Worgen characters as well as run updated versions of the Deadmines and Shadowfang Keep dungeons, both of which reflect the changes made in their specific zones. Once the Cataclysm Classic expansion launches on May 20, the five remaining zones will be available to players as they journey through the story. There are seven new dungeons for the players to tackle throughout these zones, and each will become organically accessible as you level up. For PVP players, the new Tol Barad PVP zone will open up on launch too.

Cataclysm Classic Phase 1 (May 30)

• PVP Season 9
• The Bastion of Twilight raid
  • Normal: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic: 10 and 25 player
• Blackwing Descent raid
  • Normal: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic: 10 and 25 player
• Throne of the Four Winds raid
  • Normal: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic: 10 and 25 player

Cataclysm Classic’s first phase begins the week of May 28 once the weekly reset concludes, at which point PVP season 9 will go live. Players will be able to participate in Rated Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds to earn Conquest. Later in the week, three new raid dungeons will go live globally on May 30 at 3PM pacific time. Each raid dungeon will have 10 and 25 player instances for both Normal and Heroic difficulties available immediately. The new raid lockout rules are based on the individual boss, not the difficulty mode, so players have some additional flexibility for their drops.

Phase 2: Rise of the Zandalari (July 30)

• Zul’Gurub dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Zul’Aman dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic

In the original Rise of the Zandalari content phase, Zul’Gurub and Zul’Aman returned as level 85 heroic dungeons and that’s exactly the case for Rise of the Zandalari the second time around. Since it’s mainly these two dungeons, the phase in its entirety will start on July 30, 2024. We still don’t have any information about the Cataclysm Classic version of Titan Rune Dungeons, or even if that’s still something we can expect in Cataclysm Classic at all.

Phase 3: Rage of the Firelands (September 17)

• The Firelands raid
  • Normal Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
• Mount Hyjal daily quests
• Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa’s Rest (2H Legendary Item)

The Rage of the Firelands content phase is going live on September 17, several weeks earlier than we expected. Like the original, this phase will have the new Firelands raid in Normal and Heroic modes for 10 and 25 player groups, the legendary staff Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa’s Rest, a quest chain centered on Thrall, and new daily quests in Mount Hyjal.

Phase 4: Hour of Twilight (January 2025)

• Dragon Soul raid
  • Normal Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
  • Heroic Difficulty: 10 and 25 player
• End Time dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Well of Eternity dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Hour of Twilight dungeon
  • Minimum Level: 85
  • Difficulty Mode: 5-player Heroic
• Alizabal, new Tol Barad boss
• Fangs of the Father Legendary Daggers

The arrival of Cataclysm Classic’s final phase is a bit harder to predict. Each of the Classic phases so far has lasted around 10 weeks which would have placed Phase 4 in mid-December, which we know is not the case because the WoW Classic team informed everyone it will arrive in January 2025. I don’t think it will arrive too late after the new year so I would expect it on January 7, 2025.

Phase 4 will see players take on Deathwing in the Dragon Soul raid effectively bring the Cataclysm Classic expansion to a close. We’ll also likely be getting three new 5-player heroic dungeons as well as a new Tol Barad boss, Alizabal. Last, but most certainly not least, in Phase 4 Rogues will be able to earn the Fangs of the Father legendary daggers Golad, Twilight of the Aspects and Tiriosh, Nightmare of Ages from a new quest chain.

Originally published May 15, 2024; updated September 14, 2024.