Mists of Pandaria Classic: Exact Release Date & Full Phase Roadmap
After months of anticipation, Blizzard has officially revealed the WoW MoP Classic Release Date, and players are gearing up for one of the most beloved expansions in World of Warcraft history. With its rich lore, iconic zones, and refined gameplay systems, Mists of Pandaria is making a grand return in Classic format—and it’s happening sooner than many expected.
The WoW Classic MoP Release Date is now confirmed, along with a detailed phase roadmap and pre-patch rollout schedule. Whether you're a veteran looking to revisit timeless raids or a newcomer curious about Pandaria’s unique flavor, this guide will walk you through the key dates and what to expect at launch.
From pre-patch content to the full release window and future raid unlocks, here’s everything you need to know about when and how Mists of Pandaria Classic will unfold.
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WoW MoP Classic Release Date
The official WoW MoP Classic Release Date has been confirmed—Mists of Pandaria Classic will launch globally on July 21st, 2025. This marks the beginning of Phase 1, introducing players to the timeless lands of Pandaria, new class features, and the iconic Monk class.
While Blizzard has not yet shared exact content breakdowns for each phase, the initial launch will lay the foundation for future content patches. Based on previous Classic expansions, players can expect a multi-phase rollout that mirrors key milestones from the original MoP era.
Whether you're preparing for raid progression, PvP ladder resets, or simply exploring the story-rich zones, the WoW Classic MoP Release Date sets the stage for a fresh yet nostalgic adventure. With the pre-patch already scheduled ahead of launch, now is the perfect time to finalize your class choice and start planning for your journey into Pandaria.
Pre-Patch: Attack on Theramore (July 1st, 2025)
Before the mists part and the gates to Pandaria open, a storm brews on the horizon. July 1st marks the beginning of Phase 0, where players witness the first sparks of conflict through new events, mechanics, and races.
Theramore Falls. In a dramatic lead-in to the expansion, players participate in the Theramore's Fall scenario, a pivotal event that sets the tone for what’s to come. This is no ordinary patch—it's the prologue to war.
A new people rise. The Pandaren, a once-hidden race, now step into the spotlight. For the first time, players can explore the Wandering Isle, a tranquil yet mysterious starting zone that hints at the power and culture of Pandaria.
The Monk awakens. Martial discipline meets Classic gameplay with the introduction of the Monk class. Playable by most races (excluding Goblins and Worgen), Monks bring fluid combat, hybrid specializations, and a new rhythm to every fight.
Change is coming. Say farewell to talent trees of old—the overhauled talent and glyph systems offer more flexibility and customization, laying the groundwork for modern WoW design within a Classic framework.
And for the collectors? The long-awaited Pet Battle system arrives, letting players turn their favorite companions into fierce (and adorable) competitors in turn-based duels across Azeroth.
Phase 0 isn’t just a warm-up—it’s the quiet before the storm, a moment to explore, experiment, and prepare. When the mists finally lift, only those ready will thrive in Pandaria’s uncharted wilds.
Phase 1: Mists of Pandaria (July 21st, 2025)
Phase 1 marks the true beginning of the MoP Classic journey. On July 21st, 2025, players step onto the shores of Pandaria for the first time, unlocking a wave of new content that redefines what Classic WoW can be. This isn’t just another phase—it’s a full expansion launch packed with zones, dungeons, raids, factions, and more.
The level cap rises to 90, ushering in powerful new talents and class abilities. The sprawling continent of Pandaria becomes fully accessible, featuring lush zones like Jade Forest, Vale of Eternal Blossoms, Kun-Lai Summit, and more—each filled with storylines, treasures, and challenges.
Major content highlights in Phase 1 include:
- New Dungeons (6): From the shadowy Shado-Pan Monastery to the majestic Gate of the Setting Sun, each dungeon is crafted for both story and mechanics, offering rich loot and scaling challenge (Level 85+ to 88+).
- 3 Raids: Mogu’shan Vaults, Heart of Fear, and Terrace of Endless Spring provide endgame PvE with distinct mechanics and epic boss encounters.
- Challenge Modes: Time-based dungeon runs return for competitive PvE enthusiasts, where execution matters more than gear.
- World Bosses: Sha of Anger and Salyis’s Warband roam the open world, giving groups large-scale outdoor battles to conquer.
- Reworked Classics: Updated versions of Scholomance and Scarlet Monastery add a modern twist to familiar favorites.
- Scenarios & Battlegrounds: New PvE scenarios like A Brewing Storm and battlegrounds such as Silvershard Mines bring variety to solo and small-group gameplay.
- 8 New Factions: Including Shado-Pan, Golden Lotus, August Celestials, and the beloved Tillers, each with unique reputations and gear rewards.
- New Arena: PvP players gain access to Tol’viron Arena, a fresh battlefield for duels and ranked play.
Whether you're storming raids, exploring verdant hills, or unlocking new mounts through reputation, Phase 1 delivers a fully immersive experience. It’s the expansion’s beating heart—and the gateway to everything that follows.
Phase 2: Landfall
With the war between Horde and Alliance heating up, Phase 2: Landfall shifts the focus from exploration to confrontation. While this phase doesn’t introduce new raids or dungeons, it brings significant narrative progression, new systems, and PvE/PvP content that build on the foundations of Phase 1.
One of the most important additions is the start of Wrathion’s legendary cloak questline, a journey that will span the rest of the expansion. Players begin their pursuit of immense power through reputation, valor, and secrets of the Black Dragonflight.
Phase 2 also adds the item level upgrade system, allowing players to invest endgame currencies to improve their current gear—a welcome addition for progression-oriented players. And for solo content lovers, the fan-favorite Brawler’s Guild returns, offering unique 1v1 PvE encounters with increasing difficulty and bragging rights attached.
Key features in Phase 2 include:
- Pandaren Campaign: The war effort intensifies as Operation: Shieldwall (Alliance) and Dominance Offensive (Horde) push forward on the shores of Krasarang Wilds.
- 3 New Scenarios: Tactical story-driven instances like A Little Patience, Assault on Zan'vess, and the stealth-based Dagger in the Dark deepen faction storytelling.
- 2 Factions: Players gain reputation with either Operation: Shieldwall or Dominance Offensive, unlocking gear, mounts, and achievements.
Though quieter in terms of raid content, Phase 2 is critical for long-term progression. With reputation grinds, gear upgrades, and the first steps toward a legendary cloak, it sets the stage for the thunderous events to follow.
Phase 3: The Thunder King
Phase 3 electrifies the MoP Classic experience with the rise of one of Pandaria’s most powerful threats—Lei Shen, the Thunder King. This phase introduces the first new raid content since launch and delivers a stunning new island zone packed with conflict, storm magic, and ancient mogu secrets.
At the center of it all is the Throne of Thunder, a massive raid sprawling with 12 bosses, each pushing players' coordination and execution to the limit. Considered one of the best-designed raids in WoW history, it blends epic visuals, layered mechanics, and top-tier rewards.
Outside the raid, adventurers can explore the newly unlocked Isle of Thunder and Isle of Giants. These zones serve as world quest hubs with new daily content, rare elites, and major storyline progression. Players face deadly world bosses like Nalak, the Storm Lord and Oondasta, both requiring large groups and precise execution to bring down.
Major additions in Phase 3:
- New Raid: Throne of Thunder – a 12-boss raid with multiple wings and progressive difficulty.
- World Bosses: Face Nalak and Oondasta in massive open-world battles.
- Step 2 of the Legendary Cloak Questline: Continue Wrathion’s epic journey with new objectives tied to raid and faction content.
- 3 New Factions: Reputation grinds return with the Shado-Pan Assault, Kirin Tor Offensive (Alliance), and Sunreaver Onslaught (Horde), each with exclusive gear and mounts.
Phase 3 represents a shift from skirmishes to full-scale war. With one of the most beloved raids in the game and challenging outdoor content, this phase is where PvE-focused players will truly test their strength and coordination. Prepare for thunder.
Phase 4: Escalation
Phase 4 serves as a narrative bridge between the thunderous warfronts of Lei Shen and the final confrontation ahead. While this phase doesn’t feature new raids or dungeons, it delivers rich storytelling through scenarios and upgrades to existing content systems.
The key addition in this phase is the introduction of Heroic Scenario difficulty, adding a new layer of challenge and rewards to small-group content. It allows players to revisit their favorite stories with tighter tuning, better loot, and bragging rights intact.
Four brand-new scenarios debut here, each diving into the rising tensions and political turmoil across Pandaria:
- Battle on the High Seas
- Blood in the Snow
- Dark Heart of Pandaria
- Secrets of Ragefire
In the PvP sphere, two additions shake up the meta:
- Deepwind Gorge: A new battleground focused on resource control and node management.
- Tiger’s Peak: A sleek new arena with vertical elevation and line-of-sight tricks for competitive play.
And for those following Wrathion’s path? Step 3 of the Legendary Cloak Questline becomes available, drawing players deeper into the secrets that will soon erupt into full-scale war.
Phase 4 may be a calm before the storm, but it’s packed with meaningful content for solo players, PvP warriors, and lore lovers alike.
Phase 5: Siege of Orgrimmar
Phase 5 is the final chapter of WoW MoP Classic, delivering the climax of the expansion’s storyline and the most ambitious content rollout to date. With Garrosh Hellscream’s tyranny reaching its peak, players now have a single goal: bring down the Warchief in the all-out Siege of Orgrimmar raid.
This raid introduces flexible difficulty scaling—a revolutionary system that allows groups of varying sizes to tackle encounters without strict 10 or 25-player restrictions. It makes endgame raiding more accessible than ever before.
Beyond Orgrimmar’s walls lies the Timeless Isle, a massive outdoor zone packed with exploration, events, and rare loot. Here, players can encounter five new world bosses, including the mighty Ordos, accessible only to those who’ve completed their Legendary Cloak. Other bosses like Chi-Ji, Niuzao, Xuen, and Yu’lon offer powerful rewards and memorable fights.
Key additions in Phase 5:
- Raid: Siege of Orgrimmar – face Garrosh and his corrupted forces in a sprawling multi-wing raid.
- Flexible Raid Difficulty: Join with groups from 10 to 25 players and scale the content accordingly.
- Timeless Isle: A new quest hub filled with events, rares, and world bosses including Ordos.
- Emperor Shaohao Faction: A mysterious faction offering cosmetic rewards and reputation-based content.
- Proving Grounds: A solo challenge system designed to test players’ class mastery in tank, heal, or DPS roles.
- Celestial Tournament: An elite pet battle scenario requiring top-tier companions and strategy.
- Legendary Cloaks: The conclusion of Wrathion’s questline grants players powerful, cloak-based abilities and access to hidden content.
Phase 5 closes the MoP Classic saga with high stakes, rich rewards, and some of the expansion’s most iconic content. It’s not just an ending—it’s a crescendo worthy of Pandaria’s legacy.
Essential Tips for WoW MoP Classic
- Prepare During Pre-Patch: Use Phase 0 to experiment with new talents, try out Monks, and set up professions or alts before the expansion fully launches.
- Start Wrathion’s Cloak Early: Begin the legendary questline as soon as it unlocks in Phase 2. Delays will push back your access to Ordos and important progression perks.
- Time Your Gear Upgrades: Prioritize valor point spending and reputation grinds in early phases to be raid-ready when Throne of Thunder and Siege of Orgrimmar arrive.
- Engage with Factions: Many upgrades, mounts, and cosmetics are locked behind daily quests and rep. Start early to avoid a tedious catch-up grind later on.
- Watch for Scenario Unlocks: Phases 2 and 4 introduce powerful and lore-rich scenarios. Running these regularly can offer gear, achievements, and story progression.
- Experiment with Group Sizes: Phase 5 introduces flexible raid sizing—perfect for smaller guilds or cross-server communities looking to raid without hard limits.
- Utilize the Timeless Isle: This Phase 5 zone is a treasure trove of upgrades, rares, and currency. Maximize your time here to get BiS gear and rare cosmetics.
- Finish the Legendary Cloak: Completing all steps unlocks endgame content, including Ordos. It’s not just cosmetic—this cloak affects your entire power level.
- Try Different Roles & Specs: MoP's talent overhaul makes switching specs smoother. Use this freedom to explore hybrid builds or optimize for specific content types.
- Don’t Fall Behind the Curve: Every phase builds upon the last. Keeping up with your cloak, gear, and reps makes late-phase content far more manageable.
Conclusion
The WoW MoP Classic Release Date roadmap outlines one of the most content-rich and well-paced expansions in Classic history. From the political tensions of Theramore to the final assault on Orgrimmar, each phase brings meaningful progression, powerful gear, and iconic encounters.
Whether you're chasing Legendary Cloaks, clearing heroic scenarios, or exploring the mysteries of the Timeless Isle, this structured release offers the perfect opportunity to plan ahead and enjoy the expansion at your own pace. With six clearly defined content phases, players can look forward to a steady stream of challenges, rewards, and nostalgia.
So sharpen your weapons, choose your faction, and prepare your Monks—because Pandaria is calling.
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- 30.06.2025 - Mists of Pandaria Classic: Exact Release Date & Full Phase Roadmap published.