WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Store

The developers recently announced the release date for WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 2. It will officially launch on May 14th, and everything - from the raid schedule to raid composition and even loot distribution - will be drastically different from Phase 1.

Whether you are a hardcore or casual player, it is essential to understand what Phase 2 brings and how the pacing will change.

The Impact of Phase 1 Being Delayed

The developers had clearly promised that TBC Classic would follow a significantly accelerated timeline, and there were even rumors that the final phase would arrive in winter 2026. This almost frenetic pace means that the time players have to enjoy raids and collect BIS gear will be severely compressed.

Most players originally expected Phase 2 to start in late April or early May, but the developers pushed it back to May 14th, extending Phase 1's duration to roughly 12 weeks. Although this is still 3 weeks shorter than 2021 Classic TBC era, losing those 3 weeks directly means three fewer chances to obtain highly sought-after items like Bloodmaw Magus Blade and Dragonspine Trophy .

Moreover, this will inevitably shorten the phases that follow. If we set aside Phase 1, the remaining four phases would each be squeezed into roughly two and a half months. The developers might even take a more drastic approach - for example, heavily compressing the duration of Zul'Aman while allocating more time to Black Temple and Sunwell Plateau. For players, this means less room for error, less time farming gear and earning WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold. Your gear planning needs to start right now.

Harder Raids

Phase 2 raids are noticeably more complex and feature many more mechanics to learn. They will pull players back into the kind of lengthy progression rhythm from the original days - you may face four- or five-hour progression nights, constant wipes, complicated trash-clearing routines, and boss encounters with a real sense of pressure.

This is a stark contrast to the relaxed Phase 1 experience of clearing Karazhan in two hours. It is still unclear whether Phase 2 raids will be nerfed (considering the length of Phase 1 and players' gear situation, it is very likely), but in any case, the demands on raid leaders and team coordination will increase significantly.

Therefore, for teams that are underprepared, have an imbalanced composition, or suffer from a loot distribution system falling apart, Phase 2 may lead to many players quitting. No one wants to be stuck before the first boss for an entire week.

DPS Becomes Much More Important

Phase 1 was a version with virtually no DPS checks. Whether it was Gruul or Magtheridon, you could even take ten DPS and slowly wear the boss down.

In Phase 2, however, even in a nerfed Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep, bosses like Lady Vashj and Kael'thas Sunstrider have strict DPS requirements. If the raid's overall damage per second doesn't meet the threshold, all that awaits you is a wipe.

This means you can no longer field compositions like Phase 1, where you could stack eight healers and cram in five warriors and five rogues. Phase 2 will force you to reduce the number of healers and assemble a more optimized, balanced roster.

Although the developers may release the raids after nerfing them, Phase 1 wasn't very long, which left many players without optimal gear, so Phase 2 raids will still be a challenge for the majority of players.

Melee DPS Dilemma

A considerable number of players in WoW TBC Classic Anniversary have rolled Warrior and Rogue, and both classes will face difficulty finding raid spots in Phase 2. In fact, even in Phase 1, rogues already struggled to get into raids.

Although Phase 2 greatly needs DPS, the situation for melee DPS hasn't improved - in fact, it has become even tougher. Over half of the raid spots are taken by tanks, healers, warlock tanks, and ranged DPS, leaving limited room for melee. Even more critically, melee classes heavily rely on support from utility classes within the raid.

Take warriors for example: without buffs from a Feral Druid, Enhancement Shaman, or even a Hunter, their damage plummets drastically. It is precisely this dependency on other classes that puts many raid leaders in a dilemma. They must either painfully reduce the number of melee spots, benching teammates who have invested so much effort, or squeeze the caster group - but doing so would make encounters like Lady Vashj, Kael'thas, and Al'ar exceptionally difficult.

Shortage of Support Classes

In theory, the best way to solve the melee dilemma is to add more Shadow Priests, Balance Druids, Elemental Shamans, Feral Druids, and Enhancement Shamans to the raid. The reality, however, is that very few players want to play these classes. Warriors are regarded as the class with the best feel and most satisfying gameplay in TBC; many are even considering rerolling a warrior for Phase 2, and rogue numbers remain stubbornly high. In contrast, support classes that provide buffs to the team but offer a mediocre personal gameplay experience have always lacked interest.

Many guild managements have tried various incentives to persuade members to switch to support roles, but few have responded. If this class preference doesn't change, a large number of melee players in Phase 2 will find themselves in the embarrassing situation of having gear but no raid spot.

Attunement

Before entering Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep, you need to clear heroic dungeons like The Arcatraz and Shattered Halls, and also defeat Nightbane and Magtheridon. While this attunement process is not tied to Phase 2 itself, it will seriously affect your Phase 2 experience.

If you put everything off until the final week before the new phase launches, you'll likely be forced into endless suffering with nightmarish pick-up groups, or worse, because of messed-up quest steps, find yourself locked out on raid opening day, watching your team enter while you can do nothing about it. This could render the character you painstakingly built almost useless.

Phase 2 timeline is now set, and the information above represents the challenges you may face in this upcoming phase. You can prepare in advance - for instance, by addressing gear and attunement - and beyond that, it all depends on how you and your team handle the test that lies ahead.

Beyond the fundamental choice between Alliance and Horde, as you adventure through the various zones of WoW TBC Classic Anniversary, you will encounter numerous minor factions. Increasing your reputation with these groups unlocks the ability to trade for new items.

In addition to existing factions, such as Aldor, Scryers, and others. Besides, Phase 2, launching on May 14th, will introduce Ogri'la and Sha'tari Skyguard as new options!

To help you begin farming reputation points immediately upon the launch of Phase 2, we are providing detailed information on these two new factions. This guide will help you prepare effectively and stay one step ahead of the competition!

How to unlock Ogri'la?

This faction consists of Ogres and is stationed in the western part of Blade's Edge Mountains, situated precisely between two Forge Camps. There are two ways to reach this location: by flying there yourself, or by being summoned by another player already present in the area.

Generally, we recommend flying there, as the ability to fly is a prerequisite for completing the various reputation quests you will undertake later.

If you wish to begin earning reputation points immediately upon reaching the faction's base, be sure to complete the prerequisite questline in advance.

To do so, you must first locate V'eru in Shattrath City at coordinates (/way 56.8 48.2). Speak with him to initiate and complete the following specific quests in the exact order listed:

• Speak with the Ogre
• Mog'dorg the Wizened
• Grulloc Has Two Skulls
• Maggoc's Treasure Chest
• Even Gronn Have Standards
• Grim (oire) Business
• Into the Soulgrinder
• Speak with Mog'dorg

How to farm reputation points?

Initially, your reputation level with Ogri'la will be Unfriendly. Only after completing the aforementioned questline can you begin to raise your standing by unlocking and completing the daily quests offered by Ogri'la faction.

There are four reputation tiers available to unlock with this faction. From lowest to highest, they are: Neutral, Friendly, Honored, and Exalted.

This means you will need to progress through four distinct stages of reputation farming to reach the highest rank. You need to locate Mog'dorg the Wizened (/way 55.4 44.8), interact with him, and then complete the following quests to reach Neutral reputation level:

• Ogre Heaven
• The Crystals
• An Apexis Relic
• The Relic's Emanation
• Our Boy Wants To Be A Skyguard Ranger
• A Father's Duty
• A Fel Whip For Gahk
• Guardian of the Monument
• The Skyguard Outpost
• Bombing Run
• Bomb Them Again!
• Assault on Bash'ir Landing!
• Wrangle Some Aether Rays!
• Wrangle More Aether Rays!
• To Rule The Skies

Some of the quests listed above are repeatable daily quests; continue farming them to gradually progress through Friendly and Honored reputation levels.

Upon unlocking these two tiers, you will also become eligible to undertake additional quests or events that grant reputation points:

Friendly:

• A Special Thank You (Grants an additional Ogri'la Care Package reward)

Honored:

• Banish the Demons (Grants an additional Darkrune reward)
• Banish More Demons (Grants an additional Kronk's Grab Bag reward)
• Legion Ring Events (Grants an additional consumable item reward)

It is worth noting that there is a prerequisite for unlocking Legion Ring events. After obtaining a Darkrune, interact with Gahk to accept and complete the quest A Crystalforged Darkrune.

By combining the new reputation sources unlocked at Honored level with the daily quests, you will eventually be able to reach Exalted reputation level with Ogri'la faction.

While most of the quests are not particularly difficult, the additional ones unlocked at higher tiers can be more dangerous. If you wish to complete them safely and efficiently, it is advisable to buy WoW TBC Classic Anniversary gold at IGGM in advance, allowing you to readily acquire consumables or upgrade your gear whenever necessary.

What are the reputation rewards?

As your reputation level increases, Jho'nass - Ogri'la Quartermaster (/way 28.0 58.6), he will make a wider selection of items available for trade. You can exchange Apexis Shards or Apexis Crystals dropped during quests and events to acquire these items.

Additionally, if you obtain Depleted items while defeating quest-specific enemies, you can consume Apexis Crystals to transform them into the equipable Infused items.

How to unlock Sha'tari Skyguard?

This faction's base of operations is located in Terokkar Forest. Accessing it is similar to how you reach Ogri'la; the only difference is that your starting reputation level with Sha'tari Skyguard is Neutral.

How to farm reputation points?

Farming reputation points for Sha'tari Skyguard requires no prerequisite quests; you simply need to travel to three designated locations and complete the quests available within those areas.

Blackwind Landing - NPC Yuula in Shattrath City:

• Threat from Above
• To Skettis!
• Fires Over Skettis
• Escape from Skettis
• Hungry Nether Rays
• World of Shadows
• More Shadow Dust
• Secrets of the Talonpriests
• Ishaal's Almanac
• An Ally in Lower City
• Countdown to Doom
• Hazzik's Bargain
• A Shabby Disguise
• Adversarial Blood
• Terokk's Downfall

Skyguard Outpost in Blade's Edge Mountains:

• The Skyguard Outpost
• Bombing Run
• Bomb Them Again!
• Assault on Bash'ir Landing!
• Wrangle Some Aether Rays!
• Wrangle More Aether Rays!
• To Rule The Skies

Once your Ogri'la reputation level reaches Honored:

• Guardian of the Monument
• Banish the Demons

In addition to quests, killing specific types of mobs within Terokkar Forest also grants Sha'tari Skyguard reputation points. The rarer the creature, the more reputation points it provides:

• 5 Points: Skettis Kaliri
• 10 Points: All Arakkoa in Skettis, Monstrous Kaliri
• 30 Points: Talonsworn Forest-Rager
• 100 Points: Darkscreecher Akkarai, Gezzarak the Huntress, Vakkiz the Windrager, Karrog
• 500 Points: Terokk

What rewards can you obtain?

Quartermaster for this faction is Grella, located at Blackwind Landing (/way 64.4 66.2). Just like with Ogri'la, Sha'tari Skyguard reputation rewards grant you access to vendor items; however, the currency required for these trades is gold.

Unlike other factions, Ogri'la and Sha'tari Skyguard do not impose any requirements based on your initial faction affiliation; therefore, it is highly recommended that you join both simultaneously to maximize your rewards.

We hope this reputation farming guide helps you make faster progress once Phase 2 goes live! Thank you for reading.