Burning Crusade Anniversary Phase 3 is live: Black Temple, Hyjal Summit, Netherwing, and Epic gems
Burning Crusade Anniversary realms have moved into Phase 3, bringing two iconic raids and a round of endgame unlocks. Both Blizzard Watch and Wowhead confirm that Black Temple and Hyjal Summit are open now, Netherwing daily quests are available, Epic gems are obtainable, and Arena Season 3 is next on the calendar.
- Black Temple: Face Illidan Stormrage and earn Ashtongue Deathsworn reputation. Vendors are inside the raid, and bosses can drop Epic gems (per Blizzard Watch).
- Hyjal Summit (Battle for Mount Hyjal): Progress Scale of the Sands reputation, access its vendor, and mine Epic gems within the instance (via Blizzard Watch).
- Netherwing: Daily quests on Netherwing Ledge lead to Exalted and Netherdrake mounts; you’ll need a flying mount or form to get started (per Blizzard Watch).
- Epic gems: Available from the new raids, with Hyjal offering mining nodes and Black Temple bosses also dropping them (via Blizzard Watch).
- Arena: Season 3 begins September 1 after weekly maintenance (as outlined by Blizzard Watch and Wowhead’s Phase 3 compendium).
If you’re heading straight into progression, note the attunements. For Black Temple, Blizzard Watch highlights that the chain starts with The Tablets of Baa’ri, which you pick up from your chosen Shattrath faction (Aldor or Scryers). You can see that quest on Wowhead here: The Tablets of Baa’ri. Hyjal Summit requires The Vials of Eternity line from Soridormi in the Caverns of Time. Wowhead also notes that Black Temple attunement includes defeating Hyjal’s first boss, Rage Winterchill, as part of the process (Phase 3 compendium).
Hyjal and Black Temple each grant reputation as you clear them, with vendors inside the instances: Scale of the Sands in Hyjal and Ashtongue Deathsworn in Black Temple. Both raids are also sources of Epic gems, and Hyjal specifically includes mineable Epic gem nodes (all via Blizzard Watch).
Arena timeline and gear notes: Arena Season 3 starts September 1 after weekly maintenance. Blizzard Watch adds that Season 2 ended on August 18, with remaining Arena points converting to Honor at a 1:10 rate. Season 2 Arena gear moves to discounted vendors in Area 52, and Season 1 sets are available from Honor vendors in Orgrimmar and Stormwind.
If you want boss-by-boss prep, Wowhead’s announcement collects strategy links for every encounter in both raids, and their Phase 3 compendium gathers key timelines, loot highlights, and class gearing updates. Useful starting points: the Black Temple & Hyjal now live post and the fuller Phase 3 compendium.
On the UI side, this is a good week-one routine: double-check your boss timers and threat readouts, bind a reliable focus interrupt, and tidy your raid frames for Hyjal’s add waves. Nothing fancy—just the basics that keep a first night smooth.
Good luck in Black Temple and Hyjal. We’ll keep an eye on addon quality-of-life updates as the phase settles in.