WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 Player Count Is Cratering | Everyone's Just Waiting for BlizzCon 2026

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• WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 Arcane Mage Guide: Stats, Talents & Rotation

  With WoW TBC Classic Anniversary entering Phase 3, Black Temple and Mount Hyjal are officially open, and Mage has also seen new gear and gameplay changes. For Arcane Mage, this phase remains a highly worthwhile specialization to stick with: it boasts extremely high single-target burst damage, excellent mana conversion capabilities, and with improved gear, haste and higher spell damage will further amplify the output potential of Arcane Blast.

  State Priority

  First Priority: Spell Hit

  

  The core damage skill of Arcane Mage is Arcane Blast. For level 70 bosses, a 16% Spell Hit rate is typically needed to reach the hit cap.

  Since Arcane Focus 5/5 talent already provides 10% Arcane Spell Hit, Arcane Mage itself only needs an additional 6% Spell Hit, resulting in a 76 Hit Rating.

  If your raid has Draenei's Inspiring Presence or Elemental Shaman's Totem of Wrath, the required Hit Rating will be further reduced:

  • No raid bonus: 76
  • With Draenei: 64
  • With Elemental Shaman: 39
  • With both: 27

  Therefore, when gearing up, first ensure Arcane Blast reaches Spell Hit cap, then consider other attributes.

  State Priority After Hit Cap is Achieved

  Once the Spell Hit cap is reached, the attribute priority is:

  Spell Damage ≥ Intellect > Critical Strike > Haste

  Once the hit cap is achieved, Spell Damage and Intellect are the most important core states for Arcane Mage. Spell Damage directly increases damage, while Intellect not only increases the mana pool but can also be converted into additional Spell Damage through Mind Mastery.

  Critical Strike increases spell critical strike chance, making it an important damage stat, but its overall benefit is generally lower than Spell Damage and Intellect. Haste increases casting speed and DPS, but also accelerates mana consumption, so its actual benefit is affected by combat duration and raid mana support, such as Restoration Shaman's Mana Tide Totem.

  Talents

  The standard team talent build for BCC Anniversary Phase 3 Arcane Mage is 40/0/21, which is 40 Arcane / 0 Fire / 21 Frost.

  Key Arcane Talents

  • Arcane Focus 5/5: Provides 10% spell hit, a key talent for reaching the spell hit cap of only 76 hit rating.
  • Arcane Concentration 5/5: Has a chance to trigger clearcasting, making the next damaging spell cost no mana.
  • Arcane Potency 3/3: Significantly increases spell crit while clearcasting. Combined with Arcane Concentration, it improves both sustain and damage.
  • Arcane Mind 5/5: Increases Intellect.
  • Mind Mastery 5/5: Converts Intellect into spell damage, the core reason Intellect is so valuable to Arcane Mage.
  • Arcane Power 1/1: Core burst skill, increases damage by 30% but also increases mana cost by 30%. Ensure sufficient mana before use.
  • Presence of Mind 1/1: Makes the next spell instant-cast. Typically used for Arcane Blast, but can also be used to maintain output while moving.

  Frost Key Talents

  Frost's 21 points are primarily used to acquire Icy Veins and Cold Snap.

  • Icy Veins: Core burst speed-up skill.
  • Cold Snap: Resets the cooldown of Icy Veins, allowing you to use Icy Veins twice in a single fight.

  Meanwhile, talents like Improved Frostbolt allow Frostbolt to serve as an effective filler skill in the conservatism phase.

  Alternatives

  If primarily used for mob clearing or heroic dungeons, some Frost talents can be replaced with Improved Blizzard and Permafrost to enhance AoE slows and control, but this will sacrifice some single-target damage.

  

  DPS Rotation

  Arcane Mage doesn't have a strictly fixed rotation. The core is to switch between the burn phase and conservatism phase based on your own mana, burst skill cooldowns, and raid mana regeneration.

  Core Mechanics

  In TBC Classic Anniversary, each cast of Arcane Blast applies a buff, reducing the cast time of the next Arcane Blast, but increasing mana cost. Therefore, consecutive Arcane Blast casts can achieve higher burst DPS but also higher mana consumption. The key to Arcane Blast is finding a balance between maximizing burst damage and controlling mana consumption.

  Combat Flow

  Pre-Battle Preparation

  Before the battle, ensure Arcane Brilliance is activated and prepare Mana Emerald and Super Mana Potion in advance.

  Mage Armor is typically used as the default armor for better mana regeneration. If you are familiar with the boss's battle duration and your own mana consumption, you can switch to Molten Armor for higher damage depending on the situation.

  Burn Phase

  Once in the burn phase, continuously cast Arcane Blast and other burst abilities, maximizing DPS by utilizing burst buffs and raid buffs. Use mana gems and Super Mana Potion strategically to extend the burn phase as much as possible.

  Therefore, it is recommended to prepare sufficient consumables using WoW TBC gold beforehand to ensure sufficient resources to maintain a stable DPS rhythm during the raid.

  

  Conserve Phase

  When mana consumption reaches a low level, enter the conserve phase. A common basic rotation is 3 Arcane Blasts → 3 Frostbolts. This controls mana consumption by reducing the number of consecutive Arcane Blast casts while maintaining stable DPS.

  However, in actual combat, this fixed rotation shouldn't be mechanically executed. It should be adjusted flexibly based on mana levels, movement, and skill cooldowns. When movement is needed, use Presence of Mind + Arcane Blast, or instant-cast skills like Fire Blast to reduce DPS loss during movement.

  Once your main burst skills are available again and your mana has recovered enough for the next burst, re-enter the burn phase. In short, the basic combat strategy for an Arcane Mage is:

  Burn → Manage Mana → Conserve → Restore Mana → Burn again

  A truly excellent Arcane Mage doesn't simply aim for the fastest kill, but rather ensures that each burn phase covers as many burst skills and raid buffs as possible, while maintaining sufficient mana to sustain throughout the entire fight.

  In summary, Arcane Mage in TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 is a typical high-risk, high-reward specialization. The key is to manage mana effectively, maximize burst damage in the burn phase, and maintain stable output in the conserve phase - this is how to consistently achieve high-quality DPS in Hyjal Summit and Black Temple.

• Why Should You Stock up on Badges of Justice during WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3? Depends on Your Spec

  Badge of Justice is a crucial special currency throughout all phases of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary, used to redeem powerful pre-raid and raid-level gear, epic gems, and crafting reagents.

  While it is always important, you should focus on farming more of them during Phase 3 to prepare for the content arriving in Phase 4.

  It might seem early to bring this up, but it is never too soon to prepare for a new phase, especially if you are a player who likes to progress quickly. Below, we explain why this matters and how to go about it.

  

  Sources of Badges of Justice

  During TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3, final bosses in all Heroic dungeons drop Badges of Justice; once Phase 4 launches, two new world bosses will also begin dropping them.

  You can also earn Badges of Justice by completing specific quests unlocked at World's End Tavern in Shattrath after finishing certain Heroic dungeons.

  Why start saving badges for Phase 4 now?

  Based on known information and experience from original servers, several classes have access to multiple pieces of gear in Phase 4, avilable with Badges of Justice, that offer unique tactical value; the total demand for these items can exceed 100 badges.

  Some of these items boast stats that easily rival or surpass drops from Tier 6 raids. This means that even if you lack the time to complete the two new raids in Phase 3 or fail to secure your desired drops, you won't have to worry about falling behind in Phase 4.

  Furthermore, as the bridge between Phase 3 and the final Phase 5, Phase 4 could arrive much sooner than you expect. Early preparation ensures you can hit the ground running as soon as the new content unlocks.

  

  Badge Demand by Specialization

  Given the varying quantity and effectiveness of gear available via Badge exchange in Phase 4, we have ranked specializations based on their demand for badge-gear, from highest to lowest.

  Protection Warrior

  For this specialization, the must-have exchangeable items in Phase 4 are Bracers of the Ancient Phalanx and Brooch of Deftness, both offering top-tier all-around performance. Acquiring them requires a stockpile of at least 70 badges.

  However, if you have the resources, unlocking Dory's Embrace and Chain of Unreleased Rage can further raise your power ceiling. For instance, the former offers high armor penetration, making it suitable for scenarios where generating threat is a priority.

  Of course, these are merely recommended BiS (Best-in-Slot) options. If you need more hit rating from your wrist slot, you can continue using Bracers of Eradication dropped in SSC raid, provided you already own them.

  Additionally, if a specific encounter requires superior damage mitigation, Eternium Shell Bracers, dropped in Phase 3 Black Temple raid, are another excellent choice.

  Protection Paladin

  In Phase 4, this spec relies on Badge of Justice gear to achieve a significant upgrade in threat-generation capabilities; switching between threat-focused and survival-focused gear setups depending on the boss is a core mechanic for Protection Paladins in raids.

  To that end, Girdle of the Protector and Sabatons of the Righteous Defender are indispensable items; each requires approximately 60 badges to unlock.

  Both are BiS items for threat generation: the former significantly boosts your ability to generate threat against both single targets and groups, while the latter focuses on providing a powerful combination of spell damage and defensive stats.

  A third core item is Libram of Divine Purpose. It substantially increases the damage dealt by Seal of Righteousness and Judgment of Righteousness, allowing you to maximize threat generation more effectively.

  

  Feral Guardian Druid

  The previously mentioned Dory's Embrace is also a BiS item for Feral Guardian Druids, specifically for playstyles involving frequent form-switching. It offers high armor penetration, making it ideal for threat-oriented encounters where you utilize both forms.

  Another viable badge item is Slick's Cloak of Placid, which costs approximately 35 badges. Its bonuses lean towards survivability, providing increased defense rating, dodge, armor, and stamina.

  Enhancement Shaman

  For this DPS spec, Ninja Tabi Boots are a badge item with overall performance comparable to Tier 6-level gear like Shadow Master's Boots or Soft Step Boots of Tracking.

  This way, regarding guild loot distribution in the current Phase 3 raids, you can leave the boot tokens for teammates who need them more, such as Rogues, without compromising your own experience in Phase 4.

  Shadow Priest

  For this spec, Carved Witch Doctor Stick is a priority item to acquire using Badges of Justice during Phase 3. It features a high-stat gem socket, and the socket bonus provides a significant boost to spell damage.

  Additionally, you can use around 35 badges to obtain Fetish of the Primal Gods, which offers excellent spell damage and off-hand stats; its versatility makes it useful in a wide variety of combat situations.

  It is also worth noting that Carved Witch Doctor Stick is a great choice for Affliction or Destruction Warlocks, unless you need to equip Wand of the Forgotten Star to meet mandatory hit rating requirements.

  If you play an Arcane or Fire Mage, Fetish of the Primal Gods is also highly effective. It offers decent AoE capabilities and, when paired with Skull of Gul'dan, delivers reliable single-target damage.

  Holy / Discipline Priest

  If you play this spec, Achromatic Trousers of the Nerub'ar is the only item worth unlocking, though this single piece requires over 70 Badges of Justice. It provides excellent healing output and a crucial Haste stat.

  Specs that do not require specific gear

  For specs like Survival Hunter, Restoration Druid, or other less common specializations, there are no specific items in WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 4 that warrant dedicated badge farming.

  However, if you happen to accumulate badges from various sources, you might still consider exchanging them for a few pieces of gear based on your situation, ensuring the value of the badges doesn't go to waste.

  In short, to be well-prepared for the launch of Zul'Aman raid in Phase 4, we recommend using the information provided here to strategically start accumulating Badges of Justice during Phase 3!

• WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Future at BlizzCon 2026 | Is WotLK Anniversary Next?

  WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 kicked off before BlizzCon 2026, which may suggest that the official team does not have any major announcements planned for it.

  Even so, the future of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary is still worth watching closely. The Burning Crusade progression has now reached its halfway point, so what will the official team do after it ends? That remains an important question.

  

  BlizzCon 2026 Schedule

  According to the officially announced location and schedule, BlizzCon 2026 is returning to a more traditional format, somewhat reminiscent of the 2019 event. This time, the event will be much larger, while both official announcements and community leaks suggest that some major developments may be in preparation.

  The official team currently has many games either being operated or developed, including Overwatch, StarCraft, Diablo, and World of Warcraft.

  However, World of Warcraft will undoubtedly be one of the main focuses of the event, as two World of Warcraft: What's Next panels are scheduled for September 12.

  One of them is clearly aimed at WoW Midnight, or the retail version, while the other should involve news regarding WoW TBC Anniversary and WoW MoP Classic.

  It is also worth noting that there will be another panel on Sunday, September 13, titled World of Warcraft Hardcore: What's Next? It is scheduled to last around 45 minutes.

  Hardcore mode could be heading toward a new stage of development, such as the introduction of a standalone client or other updates. Previous panels may have hinted at the future direction of Hardcore mode, while this session could provide more detailed information.

  The Different Versions of WoW

  

  At this point, almost every WoW player can find a version of the game that suits them. Specifically, the currently active versions include:

  • WoW Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary
  • WoW Classic Hardcore
  • WoW Classic Era
  • WoW Classic Season of Discovery
  • WoW Mists of Pandaria Classic
  • WoW Midnight

  These servers will not run forever. WoW Mists of Pandaria Classic, for example, has already entered its final stage. BlizzCon 2026 could potentially reveal further plans for each version.

  WoW Classic Hardcore is a special case that exists independently from every other version. It has its own unique and dedicated player community, while its gameplay philosophy is fundamentally different from the other versions. It is unlikely to be shut down, but the official team should have plenty of challenges and new content planned for it.

  As an expansion for the retail version of World of Warcraft, WoW Midnight represents the official team's primary source of revenue and has a massive player base. The retail version will never be replaced or canceled, and it will continue to operate as an independent product line.

  WoW Classic Season of Discovery is a seasonal server that is still being maintained, although it has not received a major update for quite some time. The official team may announce its future at BlizzCon.

  As for MoP Classic, there are two possibilities. One is that it continues into Warlords of Draenor, while the other is that it comes to a direct conclusion. However, the official team has never announced anything regarding WoD, so MoP Classic could simply end after its current progression.

  The Future of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary

  Players have already experienced a two-year journey through WoW Anniversary, progressing from Classic Era to The Burning Crusade. Phase 3 is also arguably the most interesting part of the journey, so it will probably continue running until around 2027.

  The Impact of WoW Classic+

  All signs suggest that the official team may announce WoW Classic+ at BlizzCon 2026. According to leaked information, the story of Classic Plus will revolve around Arthas, with the timeline set during the period of the human kingdoms before Warcraft III. By that point, Kel'Thuzad may have already transformed from a human into an undead.

  Although it is too early to discuss its final stage, if WoW Classic+ is announced with a release date in September or October, BCC Anniversary could be hit extremely hard. In the worst-case scenario, its servers could become nearly empty.

  The vast majority of players would move to WoW Classic+, making it difficult for those who remain in TBC Anniversary to find enough players for raids. The number of items available on Auction House would also drop significantly. Even if you have a lot of WoW TBC Anniversary gold, it's difficult to get the materials or equipment you want.

  The ideal scenario would be for WoW Classic+ to launch only after all WoW TBC phases have been completed. However, that would also require TBC progression to be accelerated, because players are unlikely to wait too long.

  WoW TBC Classic Anniversary

  WoW TBC Classic Anniversary is expected to end around early 2027, perhaps in March. The official team will most likely announce its plans for what comes next at BlizzCon 2026. An Anniversary version of Wrath of the Lich King could potentially be introduced at the appropriate time. If that happens, Anniversary project would fully cover all three expansions in the trilogy.

  Once this trilogy is completed, Anniversary servers could enter a cyclical format, restarting roughly every one to three years from Classic Era and once again progressing through TBC and WLK.

  Although WoW Classic+ is the content most players are looking forward to, it would also represent a bold experiment by the official team. If some of its changes prove too radical and make certain players uncomfortable, there would still be the option to return to WoW TBC Anniversary.

• WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 Rogue PvP Guide: Best Gear, Talents for Double-DPS Stealth Build

  With the release of Phase 3 of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary, gear selection and talent configurations for Rogues in the arena have undergone significant changes. Whether you're playing a dual-DPS build or a traditional team with a healer, a well-thought-out gear strategy can help you gain an advantage in crucial matches.

  This article will introduce the current gear, gem, and talent configurations for Rogues in Phase 3 PvP environment, focusing on the trade-offs between key attributes such as stealth and hit rating.

  Gear Selection: Double-DPS Stealth Build

  

  For Double-DPS Rogues, gear selection shouldn't be based solely on stats. Compared to simply stacking DPS, stealth level, hit rating, and the ability to initiate attacks are often more important. In Rogue mirror matches and various double-stealth builds, whoever can spot and control their opponent first is more likely to control the pace of the game.

  This gear setup involves multiple pieces of PvP and PvE equipment, as well as engineering gear, gems, and other resources. Therefore, before starting the setup, it's recommended to plan the order in which you acquire gear and how you use WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold, prioritizing the core gear that has the greatest impact on PvP combat.

  Head: Deathblow X11 Goggles

  For dual DPS compositions, the initiative at the start often determines the course of the entire match.

  If you're playing a dual stealth composition, such as Rogue/Rogue, Rogue/Mage, or Rogue/Feral, Deathblow X11 Goggles are recommended. When both sides are in stealth mode, you can coordinate with your teammates to activate your goggles, actively seeking out and seizing the initiative.

  However, for non-dual stealth compositions like Rogue/Shadow Priest, the situation is different. When facing an enemy dual stealth lineup, you can't predict the opponent's specific composition in advance, and rashly activating sprints to find targets can easily waste crucial abilities. Therefore, epic engineering goggles are more recommended. 

  Neck: Amulet of Bitter Hatred

  Rogue's Heightened Senses reduce their chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 4%. Therefore, to ensure Blind consistently hits enemy Rogues without Evasion active, you need to maximize their hit rating to 9%.

  Therefore, the hit rating provided by Amulet of Bitter Hatred is crucial, and it's a better fit for this build than Telonicus's Pendant of Mayhem.

  Set: Gladiator's Vindication

  Shoulders, chest, gloves, and legs all use the S3 four-piece set. For gem socketing, the activation condition for Meta Gems requires more blue gems than yellow gems. Therefore, you can socket 5 Agility / 7 Stamina purple gems into the helmet to meet the activation condition, prioritizing Agility Gems for the remaining slots.

  If you want to increase survivability, you can also choose Steady gems, such as 5 Resilience / 7 Stamina. Especially when using Warglaives of Azzinoth and abandoning PvP weapons, resulting in reduced Resilience, Steady Gems can provide some compensation.

  Wrist: Insidious Bands

  Wristbands can be Insidious Bands or S3 PvP Bands.The core difference is that Insidious Bands trade Resilience and Critical Strike Rating for Hit Rating and Attack Power. As long as your Resilience remains above 200, Insidious Bands are recommended. Rogues are frequently seen in high-ranking matches, making Blind accuracy especially important.

  Weapon: Warglaives of Azzinoth

  

  Warglaives of Azzinoth are undoubtedly the top weapon choice for Rogue PvP in TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3. Besides excellent base stats and weapon damage, dual Warglaives significantly enhance a Rogue's sustained damage and burst potential, especially important for Double DPS builds that rely on melee burst.

  Of course, Warglaives are difficult to obtain, and not all players can collect them quickly. If you don't have dual Warglaives yet, you can use S3 PvP weapons directly; there's no need to sacrifice the overall stats of your PvP gear for PvE weapons.

  Boots: The Master's Treads

  This is one of the core components of this stealth build. Although Shadowmaster's Boots have better regular stats, double-DPS Rogues prioritize stealth level. The Master's Treads provide additional effective stealth level, directly impacting who can spot and sap the opponent first in Rogue mirror matches.

  For Double DPS, sap first is often more important than mere stats. Therefore, even sacrificing some stats, it's recommended to keep The Master's Treads.

  Gem and Talent Configuration

  Meta Gem: Sentinel's Medallion

  The recommended meta gem is Sentinel's Medallion, which provides 5% stun resistance. Compared to the snare resistance provided by Surefooted, stun resistance has a higher practical value.

  Hamstring, Crippling Poison, or Frost Nova hits usually only affect your mobility; however, successfully resisting a Cheap Shot, Kidney Shot, Bash, or War Stomp can potentially change the outcome of an attack or defense round. For a class like Rogue that heavily relies on tempo and control chains, 5% stun resistance provides a very significant benefit.

  Therefore, even if you are using a Healer + Rogue combination, Sentinel's Medallion is still a very worthwhile choice.

  Talent: Sleight of Hand + Enveloping Shadows

  Sleight of Hand reduces your chance of being critically hit, which is especially valuable in high-ranking environments with many Rogues.

  You can allocate 2 points from Camouflage to Sleight of Hand. While this will reduce Stealth's movement speed and increase its cooldown, it will further improve survivability.

  If you feel the movement speed loss from Stealth is too significant, you can allocate only 1 point. This adjustment is especially worthwhile for characters using double Warglaives and low Resilience.

  When frequently facing combinations with strong AoE crowd control like Priest and Mage, consider Enveloping Shadows.

  This talent can provide up to 15% resistance to AoE effects, one of the most important benefits being increased resistance to Psychic Scream.

  Furthermore, Enveloping Shadows also increases your resistance to effects like Frost Nova and Cone of Cold, making it particularly valuable against Mage.

  In summary, the core of BCC Anniversary Phase 3 Rogue build can be summarized as prioritizing stealth advantage with double DPS, ensuring Blind stability with a 9% hit rating, and supplementing survivability with Resilience and stun resistance.

• WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 Factions to Prioritize for Reputation Grinding: Linked to the New Raids!

  While the two new raids are the main highlights of TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 launch, you shouldn't overlook other updates, such as two new factions and a new daily quest hub added to the existing Netherwing faction.

  Earning points to raise your reputation with these factions allows you to unlock extra gear, which is crucial for character progression and advancing through the new raids.

  Here, we introduce the three factions you should focus on during BCC Anniversary Phase 3, how to earn reputation with them, and the benefits they offer.

  

  Netherwing Faction

  This faction was introduced earlier in WoW TBC Classic Anniversary, but if you've been playing since then, you may have found raising your reputation level quite challenging.

  Phase 3 introduces a new daily quest hub, making it easier to earn Netherwing reputation points by completing additional daily quests.

  Since this faction lacks a dedicated quartermaster, your ultimate goal is to reach Exalted status and then complete the specific quest Lord Illidan Stormrage to unlock a Netherwing Drake.

  Notably, there are six Netherwing Drakes available in the game. If you have enough WoW TBC gold, you can unlockse the remaining five from the vendor Drake Dealer Hurlunk.

  If you paid little attention to this faction prior to Phase 3 and are still at Hated status, you must first complete the introductory questline to reach Neutral before progressing through the one-time and daily quests associated with each reputation tier.

  Additionally, you can earn reputation points by collecting and turning in Netherwing Eggs found while participating in various activities around the faction's territory, specifically Netherwing Ledge and Dragonmaw Fortress. Random spawn points also exist on the ground.

  If your chosen TBC Classic Anniversary profession is Herbalism or Mining, you also have a small chance of finding these eggs within Netherdust Bushes and Nethercite Deposits.

  

  Scale of the Sands Faction

  As a new faction introduced in Phase 3 of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary, Scale of the Sands, along with Ashtongue Deathsworn (which we will cover later), is tied to the new raids: Mount Hyjal and Black Temple, respectively.

  Specifically, you must complete the attunement quests for both raids before you can begin earning reputation points with these two new factions.

  Fortunately, these attunement quests are closely linked to Phase 2 raids and their own attunements; notably, TBC Classic Anniversary has removed the attunement requirements for Phase 1 and 2 raids.

  You begin at Neutral reputation level with Scale of the Sands, but completing Mount Hyjal attunement quests immediately grants you 3,000 reputation points, boosting you to Friendly.

  Afterward, you earn reputation points by defeating any enemy within the raid, including bosses. A full clear of Mount Hyjal raid is expected to yield at least 8,500 reputation points.

  Additionally, there are four quest chains available, corresponding to Friendly, Honored, Revered, and Exalted reputation levels. You need only choose and complete one of these four chains:

  • Champion's Pledge / Vow / Oath / Covenant
  • Sage's Pledge / Vow / Oath / Covenant
  • Defender's Pledge / Vow / Oath / Covenant
  • Restorer's Pledge / Vow / Oath / Covenant

  Upon completing the initial Pledge quest, you receive 250 reputation points and a Band of Eternity ring as a reward. As you progress through the quest chain, the ring is upgraded in addition to granting you more reputation points.

  Scale of the Sands does not have a dedicated quartermaster in TBC Classic Anniversary; instead, there are two vendors, Tydormu and Indormi, who offer Tier 6 armor pieces and Jewelcrafting recipes.

  

  Ashtongue Deathsworn Faction

  As previously mentioned, this faction is unlocked by completing Black Temple attunement quests for WoW TBC Classic Anniversary.

  Completing five specific quests within that chain unlocks Proof of Allegiance quest; this quest introduces you to Ashtongue Deathsworn and allows you to begin earning reputation points with them.

  Once you complete all Black Temple attunement quests, your reputation with Ashtongue Deathsworn will reach Friendly, unlocking access to the quartermaster, Okuno.

  Note that subsequent reputation gains for this faction come solely from killing mobs and bosses within Black Temple. A full clear yields approximately 7,700 reputation points, so you will need to clear the raid at least five times to reach Exalted status.

  As your reputation rank increases, you gain access to a wider range of items from Okuno. At Exalted, you can unlockse various trinkets; simply choose the one that best suits your class.

  

  How to efficiently grind reputation for these factions?

  In terms of value, prioritizing reputation gains for the two new factions introduced in WoW TBC Classic Phase 3 is recommended, as they are closely tied to the new raids and offer rewards that significantly boost your combat power.

  Focus primarily on clearing enemies within the raids to earn reputation points, and use your spare time to complete additional quests for Scale of the Sands faction.

  As for Netherwing Drake mount offered by Netherwing faction, it serves more as a cosmetic status symbol than a functional upgrade (beyond the speed boost), so there is no need to rush, feel free to take your time with it.

  These are the three factions worth prioritizing during Phase 3, along with key information on farming reputation and rewards. We hope this helps!

• Forget Too Late: Why WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3 is Actually the Best Time to Roll Fresh?

  If you're hesitant about joining the game in the recently launched WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3, the answer is actually more optimistic than you might think!

  Mount Hyjal and Black Temple are indeed now open, and most core players have already been grinding in Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep for months, resulting in relatively stable team compositions and economic systems.

  But precisely because of this, new players have more room to maneuver. The demand for low-level dungeons and quests from veteran players has decreased, open-world competition is less intense, and leveling has become much more relaxed. You no longer need to rush like you did at launch.

  Leveling Path

  As a new player, starting from level 1 is an ideal time.

  Leveling areas are no longer overcrowded, quest mobs no longer require repeated camping, and there are still plenty of players leveling alts in dungeons, making it easy to find a group.

  Choosing a class you truly enjoy in TBC Classic Anniversary will make it easier to reach the level cap than blindly pursuing power levels. More importantly, you can flexibly switch between quests and dungeons, ensuring efficient experience gain while accumulating early gear and reputation, laying the foundation for later content at max level.

  Furthermore, starting your TBC Classic Anniversary journey now will reduce your psychological burden - you don't need to catch up with anyone's progress and can explore Outland at your own pace. If you enjoy the leveling process, the current Phase 3 environment is almost the most comfortable.

  

  Level 58 Character Boost Service

  While the in-game Level 58 Character Boost service may seem to help you skip the early game, it's not recommended for players at this stage.

  Because even after boosting, you'll still face the same late-game content in BCC Phase 3: after reaching max level, you'll need to progress step-by-step from Heroic Dungeons, Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, and Magtheridon.

  You're better off focusing on natural leveling, because when you reach level 70, you'll likely be just in time for the opening of Phase 4, which is the real fast track for new players.

  Phase 4

  It's important to know that Phase 4 is one of the most crucial catch-up patches in WoW TBC Classic Anniversary. Zul'Aman will bring a large amount of excellent gear, with item levels roughly between Tier 5 and Tier 6, but significantly easier to obtain than completing a full raid.

  At the same time, all raid bosses will start dropping more Badge of Justice, Badge of Justice redemption list will expand considerably, and the gear level will be higher, enough to quickly fill the gaps in your new character's gear.

  This means that whether you acquire usable gear through Zul'Aman, Karazhan, or Heroic Dungeons, you can quickly accumulate it without spending too much time in early raids.

  Furthermore, most of the early Attunements were already removed or gradually relaxed in TBC Phase 3, let alone in Phase 4, so your new character will no longer face significant obstacles in joining high-level raids.

  To ensure a smoother start in this catch-up process, it's advisable to prepare some TBC Classic Anniversary gold for acquiring consumables and Bind on Equip, making your start in Phase 3 easier.

  Especially those BoE items with gem sockets; if you can seize the opportunity to acquire them at a reasonable price on Auction House, they can provide a significant stat boost early on.

  

  PvP Gear

  If you're interested in PvP, Honor system can also provide you with decent starting gear if you join the game now.

  As the seasons change, last season's Arena sets will be redeemable with Honor Points, and Phase 4 will see Season 2 gear become Honor items, with stats equivalent to Tier 5 items.

  You only need to play a few Alterac Valley or Eye of the Storm matches in BCC, combined with the extra bonuses from Battleground Holidays, to quickly accumulate Honor Points and exchange them for several key pieces of gear.

  For newly leveled characters, this is an extremely efficient way to level up, gaining considerable combat power without relying on raids.

  

  The Right Mindset

  Many new players hesitate to jump in during Phase 3 because they habitually compare their gear and achievements with those who have been playing for six months, but this comparison is meaningless.

  The real question you should ask yourself is: Can I be ready before Sunwell Plateau opens? The answer is yes, and there's plenty of time to start now.

  Even if you can't join one of the top raid groups in TBC immediately, you can still enjoy the early content of Phase 3, such as Zul'Aman and Karrazhan, and steadily grow through the catch-up mechanic.

  History has proven that with every new phase, there are voices saying it's too late, but those players who truly take the first step ultimately experience the joy of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary.

  The game is currently in a window of opportunity, with Black Temple just beginning and Zul'Aman poised to launch. You have ample time to reach the level cap and can seamlessly capitalize on the upcoming catch-up bonuses, and a reasonable amount of TBC gold will help you grab useful BoE items and consumables without stress.

  The only thing that will put you behind other players is endless observation and waiting. So put aside your concerns and create a character for TBC Phase 3 now - the rewards will only increase!