Players must decide by January 12 whether each character will move forward into the Anniversary Edition or transfer to a Classic Era realm.
Below is an easy breakdown of everything coming with the Anniversary Edition.
What’s Included in the Anniversary Edition
Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Edition brings back many features from the original expansion:
• Level cap raised to 70
• Two new races: Blood Elves (Horde) and Draenei (Alliance)
• January 13: Level 58 Character Boost becomes available
• February 17: Arena PvP Season 1 begins
• February 19: First three raids unlock
• Flying mounts
• A new profession: Jewelcrafting
• Guild Banks available immediately
These features recreate the original Burning Crusade experience in a streamlined way.
Explore Outland Again
Outland returns as the main setting for the expansion. Players level 60 or higher can travel through the Dark Portal to fight the Burning Legion, explore shattered landscapes, and prepare for endgame dungeons and raids.
New Playable Races
Blood Elves (Horde)
Survivors of the Burning Legion’s attack on Quel’Thalas. They can play as:
• Mage
• Hunter
• Rogue
• Priest
• Warlock
• Paladin
Draenei (Alliance)
Exiles hunted by the Legion who now stand with the Alliance. They can choose:
• Warrior
• Paladin
• Priest
• Mage
• Hunter
• Shaman
Draenei also gain a bonus to the new Jewelcrafting profession.
January 13: Level 58 Character Boost
A Level 58 Character Boost (Anniversary) becomes available on January 13. This boost prepares a character for Outland content immediately and can be used on Blood Elf or Draenei characters as well.
It is limited to:
• WoW Classic Anniversary realms
• The specific game account that purchased or redeemed it
February 17: Arena PvP Season 1 Begins
Arena Season 1 starts on February 17 with each region’s weekly reset. Players can compete in the three classic arenas:
• Ring of Trials
• Circle of Blood
• Ruins of Lordaeron
Rewards include:
• PvP gear
• Mounts
• Titles
There is no honor-ranking system, so players can focus entirely on Arena matches.
February 19: First Raids Unlock
Three raids open on February 19 at 3:00 p.m. PST:
Karazhan
A haunted tower full of cursed spirits and powerful magical artifacts.
Gruul’s Lair
Gruul the Dragonkiller and his sons offer tough, straightforward boss fights.
Magtheridon’s Lair
Magtheridon, once ruler of Outland, must be defeated before he regains power.
These raids form the first major progression step in the Anniversary Edition.
Flying Mounts
Flying mounts allow players to explore Outland from above and reach areas that were previously inaccessible. This feature greatly changes how players travel and gather materials in the world.
Jewelcrafting Profession
Players can now learn Jewelcrafting, a profession that creates rings, amulets, trinkets, and gems that improve gear. Trainers are located in:
• Thrallmar (Horde)
• Honor Hold (Alliance)
Guild Banks Available Immediately
Unlike the original Burning Crusade Classic release, the Anniversary Edition includes Guild Banks from day one. Each bank has:
• Eight tabs
• 98 slots per tab
• A starting price of 100 gold for the first tab
Guilds can assign permissions for each tab, making item sharing and gold management much easier.
Free Transfers to Classic Era Until January 12, 2026
From November 25 until January 12, 2026, players can move characters from Classic Anniversary realms to Classic Era realms for free. After that date, all remaining Anniversary characters will automatically transition into Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary.
Final Thoughts
The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Edition brings back one of WoW’s most beloved expansions in a cleaner, more modern way. With new races, new systems, early access features, and a smooth rollout schedule, players have plenty to look forward to as they prepare to step through the Dark Portal once again.