WoW Classic TBC (The Burning Crusade Classic) first came out on June 1, 2021, with its pre-patch going live on May 18, 2021. Those servers moved on to Wrath Classic in September 2022. Today the path back to Outland runs through the 20th Anniversary Classic realms, which progress into The Burning Crusade as their next phase on Blizzard's announced schedule.
TBC Classic release timeline at a glance
| Original TBC Classic pre-patch | May 18, 2021 (Blood Elves, Draenei, new talents, Dark Portal closed) |
| Original TBC Classic launch | June 1, 2021 (Dark Portal opens, level cap 70) |
| TBC Classic ends | Wrath Classic pre-patch August 30, 2022; Wrath launches September 26, 2022 |
| Current route | 20th Anniversary Classic realms (opened November 2024) progress into The Burning Crusade as their next expansion phase |
| Where to confirm the live date | Blizzard's official WoW news page and the in-game launcher banner |
Why the question has two answers
The first run of TBC Classic already happened and finished. If you played in 2021, Kara, Gruul, SSC and Sunwell all came and went, and the servers were converted into Wrath of the Lich King Classic. There is no going back to those exact realms.
The second answer is the one most people searching today actually want. Blizzard launched fresh 20th Anniversary Classic realms in late 2024 and confirmed they follow the classic progression path: Vanilla phases first, then The Burning Crusade. So "when does TBC come out" now means "when do the Anniversary realms flip to TBC". Blizzard announces that date in advance, with a pre-patch period first, so keep an eye on the official news feed rather than forum rumours.
Is there a pre-patch before TBC Classic goes live?
Yes. Both in 2021 and in the Anniversary progression model, TBC arrives in two steps. The pre-patch adds the new races (Blood Elves for Horde, Draenei for Alliance), the reworked talent trees and class changes, while the level cap stays at 60 and the Dark Portal stays closed. In 2021 that window lasted two weeks. Use it to level a fresh Blood Elf Paladin or Draenei Shaman, sort your professions and bank your consumables.
Do I need to level a new character for TBC Classic?
No. Any level 60 on the realm walks through the Dark Portal on launch day and starts Hellfire Peninsula at 60. If you are starting from nothing, aim to hit 60 before the portal opens: the 60-70 stretch through Outland is where launch-week competition for quest mobs is heaviest, and being there on day one with a raid-ready character is the whole point.
What should I prepare before the Dark Portal opens?
- Level 60 with a flying budget: basic flying is bought in Outland, so bank gold ahead of time rather than scraping for it at 70.
- Professions at 300: Outland recipes and Primals are the early gold engine; skipping to 375 is far faster if you already sit at cap.
- Attunements planned: Karazhan needs the key chain through Shadow Labyrinth, Steamvaults and Arcatraz. Knowing the route saves days.
- Pre-BiS list: a few dungeon and reputation pieces matter more than any Vanilla epic once you hit 70.
Is TBC Classic still worth playing on the Anniversary realms?
If you enjoyed Vanilla-era raiding but want faster combat, heroic dungeons, arenas and flying, yes. TBC is the most popular Classic expansion by a wide margin and the Anniversary realms launched with strong populations, so guild recruitment and dungeon groups are not a problem. The honest downside: raid attunements and reputation grinds eat a lot of hours, which is exactly why the 2021 launch was such a grind race.
If you would rather skip the slowest parts, PewPewShop's vetted human players can help: WoW Classic Character Leveling from EUR 2.99 to get a fresh Blood Elf or Draenei to the portal on time, Classic Profession Mastery Boost from EUR 34.99 so your crafts are ready for Outland recipes, and TBC Classic Gold from EUR 21 for flying and consumables. No bots, no cheats, and a long zero-ban record.