WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Edition Phase 5 Goes Live July 10: Everything You Need to Know

Phase 5 is finally coming to the WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Edition, and it’s bringing one of the most iconic events in the game’s history—the opening of the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj. Set your alarms: the phase officially launches on July 10, 2025, at 3 PM PDT. Whether you’re grinding rep, farming mats for the War Effort, or pushing to become your realm’s Scarab Lord, this phase is where Classic gets real.

What’s Coming in Phase 5?

Phase 5 is all about community-driven gameplay. Blizzard’s recreating the epic War Effort and raid unlock event that defined Vanilla WoW. Here’s what to expect:

• The War Effort – A full-on server-wide grind where both factions race to turn in materials.

• The Gates of Ahn’Qiraj – When the War Effort is done, the gates open and the raids begin.

• AQ20 and AQ40 Raids – Two new raid instances packed with bosses, loot, and rep gains.

• Scarab Lord Title and Mount – Limited-time chance to get one of the rarest achievements in Classic.
  

When Does It Go Live?

July 10, 2025 at 3 PM PDT. Be online early. Materials will start pouring in the moment the servers are up.

The War Effort – What You Need to Farm

To open the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj, the entire server must come together. Both Horde and Alliance need to contribute huge amounts of:

• Silithid Carapace Fragments

• Obsidian Bars

• Herbs like Purple Lotus and Firebloom

• Cloth: Mageweave, Silk, and more

• Leather and other crafting materials

You turn these in at Ironforge or Orgrimmar, depending on your faction. It’s a grind, no sugarcoating it—but it’s also a huge part of what makes this phase special.

War Effort Farming Tips:

• Silithus is your best friend. Farm Silithid mobs for Carapace Fragments and other useful drops.

• Coordinate with your guild. Split up material targets and optimize gathering routes.

• Auction House flipping works. Buy low, sell high, and help the server progress while making gold.
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AQ20 and AQ40 Raid Overview

Once the gates open, it’s game on. Two raid instances unlock:

• Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj (AQ20): A 20-man raid with 6 bosses. Great for gear upgrades and rep with the Cenarion Circle.

• Temple of Ahn’Qiraj (AQ40): The main event. A brutal 40-man raid featuring Tier 2.5 sets and some of the most challenging fights in Classic.

AQ20 Boss Highlights:

• Kurinnaxx: Watch your spacing—he drops AoE poison clouds.

• General Rajaxx: Adds come in waves—burn them quick.

• Moam: Bring interrupts and deal with adds fast.

AQ40 Boss Highlights:

• The Prophet Skeram: Teleports, clones, and AoE. Coordinate interrupts.

• Princess Huhuran: Poison-heavy. Bring Nature Resistance gear.

• Twin Emperors: Shared health, tank swap mechanics. Total coordination needed.

• C’Thun: Classic’s first real raid wall. Massive AoE, multiple phases, and total chaos if you’re not synced.

Best Classes for Phase 5 Raids

If you’re raiding AQ, here’s who shines:

• Tanks: Warriors and off-tank Paladins.

• Healers: Priests, Shamans, and Druids all have strong utility.

• Melee DPS: Rogues and Fury Warriors dominate.

• Ranged DPS: Mages, Hunters, and Warlocks are kings for AoE and control.

Hybrid classes have roles too—whether it’s utility, off-healing, or crowd control.

Reputation Grinding – Cenarion Circle & Brood of Nozdormu

Cenarion Circle Rep (Mostly from AQ20)

• Kill mobs in Silithus and AQ20.

• Turn in Silithid Carapace Fragments.

• Complete daily quests at Cenarion Hold.

Brood of Nozdormu Rep (Tied to AQ40)

• Start with the Scepter questline.

• Gain rep by killing AQ40 bosses.

• Turn in raid items like Qiraji Lord’s Insignias.

Maxing these reps gets you access to:

• Enchants

• Raid crafting recipes

• BiS gear upgrades

Final Tips for Phase 5

• Stockpile consumables now—Nature Protection Pots especially.

• Get pre-raid BIS to avoid slowing your raid team down.

• Save up gold for enchants, repairs, and last-minute mats.

• Coordinate with your guild to hit War Effort targets early.

In Summary

Phase 5 isn’t just another patch—it’s a test of your server’s coordination, your guild’s raid prep, and your own grind tolerance. The rewards? Some of the coolest gear in Classic, legendary titles, and the satisfaction of seeing a true WoW event play out in real-time.

Get ready. It’s almost time to bang the gong.