Black Temple Attunement in TBC: The Akama Chain Step by Step

In original TBC, entering Black Temple requires the Medallion of Karabor, the reward from Akama's long quest chain in Shadowmoon Valley. The chain sends you into the Arcatraz, then into Tempest Keep: The Eye to kill Al'ar, and finally into Mount Hyjal for Rage Winterchill. Blizzard's Phase 3 announcement for the Anniversary realms doesn't say whether the attunement was removed.

Quick facts

The chain, step by step

1. Tablets of Baa'ri: collect tablets from the Ashtongue workers at the Ruins of Baa'ri.
2. Oronu the Elder: kill the Ashtongue elder who leads the dig.
3. The Ashtongue Corruptors: hunt down the four corruptors spread around Shadowmoon Valley and take their fragments.
4. The Warden's Cage: go down into the Warden's Cage and speak to Sanoru.
5. Proof of Allegiance: kill Zandras and report to Akama.
6. Akama and Seer Udalo: Akama sends you to Udalo's spirit inside the Arcatraz.
7. A Mysterious Portent: take Udalo's message back to Akama.
8. The Ata'mal Terrace: get the Heart of Fury from the terrace in Shadowmoon Valley.
9. Akama's Promise: deliver Akama's word to A'dal in Shattrath.
10. The Secret Compromised and Ruse of the Ashtongue: put on the Ashtongue Cowl and kill Al'ar in Tempest Keep: The Eye while wearing it.
11. An Artifact From the Past: kill Rage Winterchill in Mount Hyjal for the Time-Phased Phylactery.
12. The Hostage Soul and Entry Into the Black Temple: go back to Akama, then speak to Xi'ri outside the temple to get the Medallion of Karabor.

Do you still need the Black Temple attunement in TBC Anniversary?

That's unknown. Blizzard's announcement says the Phase 1 and Phase 2 raids came out in their post-nerf versions. It doesn't say whether raid attunements were removed in this version. Blizzard's development notes for this version do make attunements account-wide, so one character's chain unlocks Black Temple for every character on the account. Before you start, check the quest log and ask guildmates who have been inside since August 27.

Why does the chain need Hyjal and The Eye?

In the original design, Black Temple came after Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep. The chain has you kill Al'ar in The Eye and Rage Winterchill in Hyjal, so solo players stall at those raid steps. To get into Mount Hyjal, you first need its own attunement.

Do I need a key for the Arcatraz step?

Yes. Seer Udalo is inside the Arcatraz, so you need to be able to run that dungeon to reach him. That takes the Key to the Arcatraz, which comes from its own quest chain.

How long does the BT attunement take?

The outdoor quests in Shadowmoon Valley are quick at level 70. The real time sink is the dungeon and raid steps. The exact time depends on your guild's schedule, not on the quests.

Some players would rather skip the grind or don't have a raid team. PewPewShop can help with vetted human players and a clean zero-ban record. TBC raid attunement help starts from EUR 20, and Arcatraz attunement help from EUR 60.