Mists of Pandaria Classic escalates to Phase 4 on March 31

Mists of Pandaria Classic‘s fourth phase, Escalation, is going live worldwide on March 31, 2026 once weekly maintenance concludes. Escalation is the second to last phase of the Mists of Pandaria Classic expansion and arrives at the start of the Spring 2026 release window teased during the State of Azeroth this past January which keeps the fifth and final phase, Siege of Orgrimmar, on track for an early summer release.

While it is worth pointing this out because it means we should be getting more information on the future of World of Warcraft Classic progression realms once Phase 5 launches, we can’t let it distract us from the here and now, so let’s look at what Mists Classic players can expect on March 31 when Phase 4 kicks off.

What is in Phase 4?

• Escalation questline
• Battlefield: Barrens world event
• Four new scenarios
  • Battle on the High Seas
  • Blood in the Snow
  • Dark Heart of Pandaria
  • The Secrets of Ragefire
• Six heroic scenarios
  • Battle on the High Seas
  • Blood in the Snow
  • Dark Heart of Pandaria
  • The Secrets of Ragefire
  • Crypt of Forgotten Kings
  • A Brewing Storm
• Two PVP additions
  • Battleground: Deepwind Gorge
  • Arena: Tiger’s Peak
• Legendary questline progression

The Phase 4 story questline focuses on the Darkspear Trolls rebelling against Horde Warchief Garrosh Hellscream. The story is intertwined and unfolds with the world event, Battlefield: Barrens, where both Horde and Alliance players will have a role in supporting Vol’jin and the Darkspear Trolls against Garrosh and his Kor’kron loyalists.

Scenarios are getting an infusion of content with four new scenarios being added and the introduction of the heroic scenarios mode, which upscales the difficulty and adds bonus objectives for valor points and a chance at Epic quality gear. Once per day, players can complete their choice of a normal or a heroic scenario for bonus valor.

If you’ve been keeping up with Wrathion’s Legendary item questline throughout each phase so far, your journey continues with the August Celestials in Phase 4. Last but most certainly not least, PVP players will be able to join the new Deepwind Gorge battleground and the Tiger’s Peak arena.

Mists of Pandaria Classic Phase 4 launches on March 31, 2026, so get ready to join the rebellion.