WoWClassicUI

Your Classic UI, Upgraded.

Tag: news

  • TBC Anniversary Phase 3 PTR Is Live — Service Systems Only

    TBC Anniversary Phase 3 PTR Is Live — Service Systems Only

    TBC Anniversary Phase 3 PTR Is Live — Service Systems Only

    Blizzard has opened the Burning Crusade Classic 2.5.6 Public Test Realm for the Anniversary Phase 3, with the scope limited to service systems. In the official forum note, Blizzard states there are no gameplay-impacting changes in this build and specifically asks addon authors to jump in and make sure their work still behaves as expected (Blue Tracker post).

    Wowhead’s coverage echoes this and clarifies that you should not expect things like new raid access, new gear, or consumables in this round of testing (Wowhead: TBC Anniversary Phase 3 PTR).

    Note: This PTR is about underlying service systems. Blizzard did not list gameplay features for testing, so players looking for new content won’t find any here (yet).

    Why this matters for addon authors

    When Blizzard calls out service-system updates, it’s a nudge for UI developers to sanity-check load paths, SavedVariables interactions, and any code that leans on client-provided services. Blizzard hasn’t detailed which pieces changed, so the safest path is to run your addon on the PTR and look for early errors or odd behavior before these updates roll to live.

    A quick testing pass you can do today

    • Log into the PTR with only your addon enabled first, then add dependencies and commonly co-installed addons to spot conflicts.
    • Watch for load-time Lua errors and taint warnings; exercise core features (frames opening, chat hooks, tooltips, slash commands).
    • Confirm SavedVariables read/write cleanly across sessions; check for unexpected resets or nil data.
    • Test basic flows that touch UI panels (Character, Spellbook, Talent, Auction, Mail) your addon interacts with.
    • Keep a clean WTF/Interface copy for PTR so you can reproduce issues without live-realm noise.

    If you maintain a public addon, this is also a good moment to add a PTR branch or tag, note findings in your changelog, and invite users to try that build.

    We’ll keep an eye on Blizzard’s thread and update if testing scope changes. For now, treat this as a compatibility sweep: quick to run, valuable to finish. You can follow the official PTR note here: The Burning Crusade Classic 2.5.6 PTR (Blue Tracker).

  • Celestial Dungeons Season 3 on June 16; Diamond Challenge Modes on June 23 (MoP Classic)

    Celestial Dungeons Season 3 on June 16; Diamond Challenge Modes on June 23 (MoP Classic)

    Blizzard has set the next stretch of Mists of Pandaria Classic dungeon content: Celestial Dungeons Season 3 begins with regional weekly resets on Tuesday, June 16, followed by the new Diamond Challenge Mode difficulty on Tuesday, June 23. These dates and features come from Blizzard’s forum post, which also outlines the buffs and rewards coming with the season. You can read the full announcement on the official forums, with a concise recap from Wowhead’s coverage.

    Note: Blizzard specifies these updates arrive “with weekly resets in each region.” Check your local reset time to know exactly when Season 3 and Diamond unlock for you.

    Dates and the big reward

    • Celestial Dungeons Season 3: Tuesday, June 16 (regional reset)

    • Challenge Modes – Diamond difficulty: Tuesday, June 23 (regional reset)

    Clearing Diamond times in Season 3 awards the Celestial Ox transformation mount, per Blizzard’s post.

    What’s changing in Celestial Dungeons Season 3

    Season 3 adds new pressure on enemies and a powerful boon for players:

    • Glory to the True Horde: Creatures in Celestial Dungeons have increased damage and health.
    • Kor’kron Banners: Banners appear throughout dungeons and empower nearby enemies.
    • Garrosh’s influence: At times, a boss gains an extra ability inspired by a Siege of Orgrimmar lieutenant. Blizzard calls out General Nazgrim, Wavebinder Kardis, and Siegecrafter Blackfuse specifically.

    On the player side, when all four Celestials are present at once, a special moment triggers the Celestial Witness buff. Blizzard describes it as a sizable increase to your damage and healing with reduced damage taken, lasting for a good window. Line up cooldowns when this hits.

    Practical prep for your UI and group

    • Update your addons before reset. If you track dungeon timers or interrupts, make sure those are current.
    • Plan pulls around Kor’kron Banner zones. Treat empowered packs like mini-danger areas and save stuns/defensives accordingly.
    • Expect boss ability shifts from Garrosh’s influence. Keep an interrupt order ready and be ready to reposition.
    • Call out the Celestial Witness window. Stack personal and group cooldowns to capitalize on the buff’s burst.

    That’s the confirmed package for launch: new enemy buffs, the Celestial Witness boon, the Diamond difficulty start date, and the Celestial Ox reward. If Blizzard adjusts details in the forum post, we’ll follow up with any notable changes.

  • Season of Discovery Hotfix: You Can Now Turn XP Gains Off (and Back On)

    Season of Discovery Hotfix: You Can Now Turn XP Gains Off (and Back On)

    Blizzard’s June 10 Season of Discovery hotfix adds a long-requested toggle: you can now turn experience gains off and back on. The change is live now and documented in Blizzard’s hotfix notes.

    How to toggle XP gains

    Speak with Grendag Brightbeard in either city to disable or re-enable your XP:

    • Ironforge – Forlorn Cavern
    • Orgrimmar – Valley of Strength

    Known issue: If you disable XP and then log out, the setting does not currently persist after you log back in. Blizzard has acknowledged this in the hotfix notes and is investigating.

    Cost temporarily removed: While Blizzard works on the persistence issue, the usual 1g fee to disable or re-enable XP is temporarily waived, per the official post.

    Why this matters for SoD

    This toggle makes it easier to hold your character at earlier level brackets and revisit content at the intended power level. As highlighted by Wowhead’s coverage, it’s a straightforward way to park at a chosen cap and run bracketed content with friends.

    If you’re returning to Season of Discovery or rolling an alt specifically for earlier-phase runs, this saves you from micromanaging quest hand-ins or skipping content to avoid over-leveling—just talk to Grendag, flip the switch, and play.

    Until Blizzard resolves the logout persistence bug, double-check your XP setting each session. If your bar starts moving again, a quick visit to Grendag will put the brakes back on.

  • Siege of Orgrimmar Raid Test on MoP Classic PTR – Notes, Vendors, Glyphs, and Known Issues

    Siege of Orgrimmar Raid Test on MoP Classic PTR – Notes, Vendors, Glyphs, and Known Issues

    Siege of Orgrimmar Raid Test on MoP Classic PTR – Notes, Vendors, Glyphs, and Known Issues

    The Siege of Orgrimmar raid is open for testing on the Mists of Pandaria Classic PTR. Blizzard’s current playtest window runs from 10:00 a.m. PDT on Friday, May 22 through 8:00 a.m. PDT on Monday, May 25, according to the official PTR development notes. For a quick digest, you can also read Wowhead’s coverage of the test and notes.

    PTR vendors have been added and now offer Legendary cloaks and Timeless Coins. These vendors are located near the vendors who offer Heroic Siege gear in each faction’s shrine. If you’re hopping in to check late-tier gearing and trinket interactions, this makes setup faster.

    Many glyphs that were previously unavailable before 5.5.4 are now available for testing on a Glyphataur NPC. If you’re refining your spec or UI layouts around key glyph swaps, this is a good moment to verify how they feel in raid pulls.

    A teleportation NPC has been added inside Siege of Orgrimmar to send your raid to any boss you choose. Blizzard recommends completing the raid in the original intended order, as jumping around could surface issues that haven’t been discovered yet.

    PTR convenience: During this test, raids reset daily. Boss lockouts clear each day (instead of weekly) to make repeated attempts easier.

    Known issues to watch

    Siegemaster Blackfuse: The encounter may still crash. It doesn’t happen 100% of the time, and Blizzard hasn’t been able to reproduce specific steps internally yet. They’ve asked playtesters to help generate more crash logs to track the cause (see the development notes for the latest status).

    This PTR cycle is part of patch 5.5.4 for Mists of Pandaria Classic. Blizzard’s thread notes that the patch will introduce the Timeless Isle zone and the Proving Grounds scenarios alongside Siege of Orgrimmar testing.

    If you’re planning to test, start with your normal raid order, use the new vendors to get geared, and give the Glyphataur a look for any builds you want to validate. For the full, current details, refer to Blizzard’s official PTR development notes, and for a readable overview see Wowhead’s news post.

  • This Week in Classic: TBC Anniversary Phase 2 Live, MoP Classic Final Phase Dated

    This Week in Classic: TBC Anniversary Phase 2 Live, MoP Classic Final Phase Dated

    This Week in Classic: TBC Anniversary Phase 2 Live, MoP Classic Final Phase Dated

    Blizzard’s weekly round-up highlights a busy stretch for Classic. The Burning Crusade Anniversary Phase 2 is now live, and the final Phase of Mists of Pandaria Classic is slated for June 2. Wowhead’s coverage also notes a limited-time mount tie-in: the Voidfeather Dragonhawk can be claimed in The Burning Crusade Anniversary by playing the introductory scenario of Midnight by May 17. For the official touchpoint, Blizzard posted the summary on the Blue Tracker forums, with a link out to the full article.

    Note: The Voidfeather Dragonhawk deadline listed in the coverage is May 17. If you plan to grab it, act before then.

    For The Burning Crusade Anniversary, Blizzard is calling this Phase “Overlords of Outland.” Per the weekly notes, players can expect:

    • Two raids opening: Tempest Keep: The Eye (Kael’thas Sunstrider) and Serpentshrine Cavern (Lady Vashj)
    • Arena Season 2 with new rewards and updated progression
    • The Druid Swift Flight Form questline culminating with Anzu in Heroic Sethekk Halls
    • New daily factions: Ogri’la and the Sha’tari Skyguard
    • New profession recipes and additional rewards across Outland

    On the Mists of Pandaria Classic side, Blizzard’s weekly post and Wowhead’s write-up both point to the final Phase arriving June 2. If you’re following that progression, mark your calendar.

    The weekly also namechecks the WoW Ambassadors community Discord. The post doesn’t go into detail in the sources we reviewed, but it’s included alongside the other Classic updates.

    If you want the official summary, check Blizzard’s forum post on the Blue Tracker. For a community recap with links to relevant guides and overviews, see Wowhead’s piece: WoW Weekly: Classic Anniversary, WoW Ambassadors Discord, Mists of Pandaria Classic, and More.

  • Save Up to 50% on The Burning Crusade Anniversary Packs and Services Through May 18

    Save Up to 50% on The Burning Crusade Anniversary Packs and Services Through May 18

    Save Up to 50% on Burning Crusade Anniversary Packs and Services Through May 18

    According to a Wowhead report, Blizzard has put The Burning Crusade Anniversary upgrade packs on sale now through May 18. The Outland Heroic Pack and Outland Epic Pack are each 50% off for the duration, and the standalone character boost is also discounted during this window.

    Note: The discounts end on May 18. If you’re considering a bundle, don’t wait until the last minute.

    Both bundles include cosmetics tied to the Anniversary version of Burning Crusade, with mounts and pets that also apply to Retail collections, per Wowhead’s write-up. If you’re returning for Outland and want a cleaner runway, these are meant to pack in theme items and conveniences.

    • Outland Epic Pack — Includes everything in the Heroic Pack, plus a Level 58 Character Boost (Anniversary) and 30 days of game time.
    • Outland Heroic Pack — Includes a Netherdrake flying mount, Phase-Hunter ground mount, a Whelping pet, an Exodar toy, and a Naaru-themed Hearthstone effect for various WoW collections, and more.

    If you just need a jump-start for an Outland alt, the standalone level boost is also on sale, though the Wowhead post doesn’t list all regional prices. For specifics and purchase links, start with the Wowhead announcement.

    Heads-up for Hardcore and Era players: As covered by Warcraft Tavern, there isn’t a Hardcore version of The Burning Crusade Anniversary. Characters that remain on Hardcore realms continue in Classic (vanilla), not into TBC Anniversary. These Anniversary bundles mainly serve characters progressing into Outland.

    Short version: if you’re planning to spend time in Outland during the Anniversary, this is a straightforward way to pick up themed cosmetics, and the Epic Pack adds both a boost and game time. The sale runs through May 18.

  • TBC Anniversary Phase 2 launches May 14: SSC, The Eye, Arena Season 2, and Swift Flight Form

    TBC Anniversary Phase 2 launches May 14: SSC, The Eye, Arena Season 2, and Swift Flight Form

    TBC Anniversary Phase 2 launches May 14: SSC, The Eye, Arena Season 2, and Swift Flight Form

    Blizzard has outlined what’s coming in the next phase of The Burning Crusade Anniversary. Wowhead’s roundup lists the global rollout and the headline features, including the two big raids and fresh progression targets around Outland.

    Global launch: May 14 at 3:00 PM PDT / 23:00 BST.

    What’s new at a glance

    • Two raids: Tempest Keep – The Eye (Kael’thas Sunstrider) and Serpentshrine Cavern (Lady Vashj).
    • Arena Season 2 with new rewards and updated progression.
    • Swift Flight Form: a Druid questline that culminates with Anzu in Heroic Sethekk Halls, including the Idol of the Raven Goddess.
    • New daily factions: Ogri’la and the Sha’tari Skyguard.
    • New profession recipes: Engineering epic goggles and Alchemy discoveries, including raid-friendly cauldrons.

    The raid section of Wowhead’s post also notes that access to Serpentshrine Cavern and The Eye requires preparation, so make sure your team has their prerequisites sorted ahead of pull time. Wowhead further mentions “SSC & TK post-nerf difficulty testing” slated for May 1; that’s context from Blizzard’s additional details, not a verdict on tuning.

    If you’re lining up UI work before the gates open, keep it simple and focused. Clean raid frames and boss timers are the big wins for SSC and The Eye. Make room on your bars for consumables if your guild plans to lean into the new Alchemy cauldrons, and double-check your combat text/cooldown tracking so Arena Season 2 doesn’t surprise you with missing alerts. Druids starting Swift Flight Form may want a spare action bar slot ready for quest items inside Heroic Sethekk Halls.

    Note: For the full list of official details and the exact launch timing, see Wowhead’s coverage of Blizzard’s announcement. There’s also community speculation on the broader roadmap over on MMO-Champion’s forum, but treat those posts as theorycraft until Blizzard confirms more.

  • MoP Classic PvP Season 13 ends May 25; rewards on June 9

    MoP Classic PvP Season 13 ends May 25; rewards on June 9

    Blizzard has confirmed that Mists of Pandaria Classic PvP Season 13 ends on Monday, May 25 at 10:00 p.m. PDT. Season 13 rewards will be distributed with the weekly reset on June 9, according to the official forum post.

    Key dates

    • Season end: Monday, May 25 at 10:00 p.m. PDT
    • Reward distribution: Weekly reset on June 9

    Note: Rewards are not granted at the moment the season ends; they go out with the June 9 weekly reset.

    If you have any last-minute games to finish, plan around the 10:00 p.m. PDT cutoff on May 25. After that time, Season 13 is over and rewards will arrive with the June 9 reset.

    For the announcement and exact wording, see Blizzard’s blue post. You can also find quick coverage on Wowhead’s news post.

  • The Noblegarden Holiday Event is Now Live in WoW Classic, TBC & MoP

    The Noblegarden Holiday Event is Now Live in WoW Classic, TBC & MoP

    Noblegarden is live in WoW Classic, TBC Anniversary, and MoP Classic

    Noblegarden has returned across multiple versions of World of Warcraft. According to Warcraft Tavern, the event looks different depending on where you play: in WoW Classic and The Burning Crusade Anniversary, Noblegarden runs for a single day, while in Mists of Pandaria Classic it spans a full week. All versions revolve around hunting eggs in the starting zones, but the rewards and goals vary by era.

    On Classic and TBC Anniversary realms, the focus is simple and quick: search for eggs and hope for a tuxedo, a dress, or a few basic consumables. In MoP Classic, there’s more to chase over the week, including achievements and additional cosmetic rewards. Warcraft Tavern also notes that retail’s “Midnight” realm starts its Noblegarden a little later, separate from the Classic timelines.

    What to expect by version

    • WoW Classic & TBC Anniversary: one-day event, egg hunts in starting zones, with a chance at a tuxedo, a dress, and basic consumables.
    • MoP Classic: week-long event with achievements and extra cosmetic rewards.

    Note: Event length and available rewards differ across versions. If you’re on Classic or TBC Anniversary, the window is short—plan accordingly. If you’re on MoP Classic, you have the full week to work through achievements and cosmetics.

    If you want a deeper walkthrough by version, Warcraft Tavern has published coverage for these Noblegarden runs. Check your in-game calendar and starting zones to get going.