WoW TBC Anniversary Edition is the Burning Crusade phase of the Classic 20th Anniversary realms — the fresh Classic servers Blizzard opened in November 2024, which progressed into The Burning Crusade in 2026. The cap climbs from 60 to 70, Outland opens through the Dark Portal, Blood Elves and Draenei become playable, and flying and Arena arrive. It is included in the standard WoW subscription; there is nothing separate to buy.
TBC Anniversary at a glance
- What it is: the second expansion, re-run on the 20th Anniversary realm set (not a new product or box).
- Level cap: 70. Your Anniversary character carries over — no re-roll needed.
- New zones: Outland — Hellfire Peninsula, Zangarmarsh, Terokkar, Nagrand, Blade's Edge, Netherstorm, Shadowmoon Valley.
- New races: Blood Elf (Horde) and Draenei (Alliance), which also brings Paladins to Horde and Shamans to Alliance.
- New systems: flying mounts in Outland, Arena PvP, Jewelcrafting, heroic dungeons, 10- and 25-player raids.
- Cost: covered by any active WoW subscription or game time.
- Where it lives: its own Anniversary TBC realms, separate from Classic Era, Hardcore, Season of Discovery and the Cataclysm/Mists Classic line.
How it differs from the 2021 TBC Classic
The first Burning Crusade Classic ran from 2021 to 2022 and then rolled forward into Wrath and eventually Cataclysm Classic. Those characters are long gone from level 70 content. The Anniversary edition is a second pass: a fresh economy, fresh raids, and everyone starting Outland at roughly the same time on realms that were only opened a little over a year earlier.
The other practical difference is population. Anniversary realms were consolidated into a handful of large servers per region, so Outland groups, Arena queues and the auction house are busy in a way the tail end of 2021 TBC never was.
Do I need to buy TBC Anniversary Edition?
No. There is no purchase, key or pre-order. If you are subscribed and have a character on an Anniversary realm, the Burning Crusade content is simply there when you log in. Level 60 characters can walk through the Dark Portal immediately; new players start at level 1 on the same realms and level through Azeroth first.
What happened to characters that wanted to stay at level 60?
The Anniversary realms themselves progressed forward, so staying at 60 on them means opting out of the expansion by choice rather than by design. Players who wanted a permanent vanilla experience were pointed at the standing Classic Era realms, which never move past level 60 and remain available alongside the Anniversary servers.
What is the raid and content order?
TBC Anniversary follows the expansion's original phased structure rather than shipping everything at once. Karazhan, Gruul's Lair and Magtheridon's Lair make up the opening tier; Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep follow; then Mount Hyjal and Black Temple; Zul'Aman; and finally Sunwell Plateau. Blizzard controls the exact dates for each phase, so treat the realm's in-game announcements and the official news page as the source of truth for what is currently open.
Is TBC Anniversary worth starting late?
Yes, and more so than most Classic re-runs. Outland leveling is quick, heroic dungeon gear is good enough to get into early raids, and a fresh-ish economy means gold still buys meaningful upgrades. The honest catch is the reputation grind: Cenarion Expedition, Sha'tar, Lower City, Honor Hold or Thrallmar and Keepers of Time all gate heroic keys and useful gear, and that is the part that eats evenings if you only have a few hours a week.
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