The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary realms just got their troll raid. Blizzard flipped Phase 3.5, "The Gods of Zul'Aman," live on Thursday, October 22 at 5:00 PM CT, and the post on the official site has already been retitled BCCA: The Gods of Zul'Aman Now Live. On paper it reads like a mini phase. In practice it is the biggest catch-up patch this version has had, and it quietly changes what a fresh level 70 should be doing every night.
If you played the original 2.3 patch, most of this will feel familiar: a 10-player raid with a race against the clock, a bear mount everyone wants, and a pile of nerfs that suddenly made Heroics and the old attunement chains a lot less painful. If you are newer to TBC, or you rolled an alt for the anniversary run and stalled out around Karazhan, this is the phase that lets you catch up without begging a guild to drag you through key quests.
Below is everything Blizzard listed for Phase 3.5, what each change actually means for your week, and how the Zul'Aman timed event works so your group does not waste its one shot per lockout. Where I am giving my own opinion rather than repeating Blizzard's notes, I say so.
What Is in Phase 3.5
Here is the full list, grouped the way you will feel it in game:
- Zul'Aman, a new 10-player, level 70 raid in the Ghostlands with six bosses.
- A timed hostage event inside Zul'Aman that rewards extra chests and the Amani War Bear.
- Attunements removed from The Battle for Mount Hyjal and Black Temple.
- Heroic dungeons nerfed to their final, reduced difficulty, and Heroic keys now need only Honored reputation.
- Doomlord Kazzak and Doomwalker loot changed from Bind on Pickup to Bind on Equip.
- Badges of Justice now drop from far more raid bosses, and G'eras in Shattrath sells better gear, including Nether Vortex.
- Epic gems can now come from Magtheridon's Black Sack of Gems and Jewelcrafter's Brilliant Glass.
- Leatherworking recipes for Greater Drums, Knothide Quiver and Knothide Ammo Pouch added to Outland faction vendors.
- Primal Nether and Nether Vortex are no longer soulbound.
Zul'Aman at a Glance
Zul'Aman sits just south of Quel'Thalas, in the Ghostlands of the Eastern Kingdoms. You start the instance by talking to Harrison Jones at the entrance, who bangs the gong and opens the gates. Blizzard's notes confirm the basics:
The 3-day lockout is the detail that shapes everything. Like Karazhan, you can clear it twice a week on the same character, which makes it a strong gearing raid for anyone with a stable 10-player group. It also means a failed timed run is not the end of the world. You get another try in three days.
The loot is a real step up from Karazhan and sits in the same general band as Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep, with Zul'jin's drops a touch higher. For a geared Black Temple raider, a few pieces are still useful, especially some trinkets and weapons. For an alt coming out of Karazhan, nearly everything is an upgrade.
The Timed Event and the Amani War Bear
This is the part most people are asking about. Blizzard describes it simply: Zul'jin and his lieutenants are holding hostages, and as soon as your raid breaches the gates, the Amani start preparing to execute them. Each time you defeat one of the four animal bosses and rescue a hostage, you earn extra loot and the timer gets extended. Rescue all of them in time and your raid earns the Amani War Bear.
The numbers that matter, as players have long documented on Wowhead's timed event guide:
- You start with 20 minutes once the gong opens the gates.
- Killing Nalorakk (bear) adds 15 minutes.
- Killing Akil'zon (eagle) adds 10 minutes.
- Jan'alai (dragonhawk) and Halazzi (lynx) do not add time.
- That makes 45 minutes total if you hit both extensions, to kill all four animal bosses.
A sensible route
Because only the bear and eagle add time, almost every group kills them first. The common route is Akil'zon, then Nalorakk, then Jan'alai, then Halazzi. Rough splits that experienced groups aim for:
- Akil'zon: done within about 5 to 7 minutes of the gong.
- Nalorakk: about 12 to 13 minutes in.
- Jan'alai: another 9 to 11 minutes after that.
- Halazzi: 12 to 15 minutes, with the boss itself taking around 4 to 5.
Tips that actually save time
My take, after watching a lot of these runs go wrong in the original version:
- Do not loot or free hostages until the fourth boss is dead unless your group is comfortably ahead. Loot rolls cost more time than you think.
- Drink on the run. Healers and casters should top off between pulls, not after them. A shadow priest or a well-geared paladin helps a lot with mana.
- Bring area damage. The gauntlet trash and the packs before Jan'alai punish groups with only single-target damage.
- Shaman water walking can cut a corner across the water after Jan'alai if your raid knows the path.
- Wipe early, wipe cheap. If the first boss goes badly, decide fast whether you are still going for the timer. Half-committing is the worst outcome.
Boss by Boss Primer
Full strategy for each boss deserves its own guide, but here is what each fight asks of your group so you know what to prepare.
Nalorakk
A tank fight more than anything. Nalorakk swaps between troll and bear forms, and the second tank picks him up when he changes, because his bear form stacks a bleed on whoever is tanking. In troll form he charges at a distant player with Surge and cleaves the front with Brutal Swipe, so someone at range should stand ready to eat the charge, and melee should not crowd his front. In bear form, his roar silences casters, so healers need to time their big heals around it.
Akil'zon
The eagle is a positioning check. Electrical Storm lifts one player into the air and blasts the whole raid unless everyone stacks directly underneath them, inside the eye of the storm. Outside of that, keep spread enough that Static Disruption and Call Lightning do not chain through the group, and kill or control the Soaring Eagles that swarm in. Nature resistance is not required, but a Shaman's totem goes a long way.
Jan'alai
The dragonhawk is the most hectic fight of the four. Amani Hatchers run to egg piles on the sides of the room and hatch them into dragonhawks. Your raid controls how many eggs hatch by killing the hatchers at the right time. Jan'alai also breathes fire in a line and periodically teleports everyone to the middle while dropping fire bombs that must be avoided. Around 35% health he hatches every remaining egg himself, so the fewer eggs left on the floor, the calmer your burn phase.
Halazzi
Halazzi splits into a troll and a Spirit of the Lynx at set health thresholds, then merges back. His Corrupted Lightning Totem needs to die fast. His Saber Lash damage is split among the tank and anyone nearby, so you want a second body in melee range to share the hit. It is less a mechanics test than a damage and healing check, which is why it lands last on most timed routes.
Hex Lord Malacrass
Malacrass comes with four adds picked from a larger pool, so the pull changes from week to week. He siphons a random player's soul and then uses abilities from that player's class, which means the raid has to react to something different each time. His Spirit Bolts channel hits the whole raid hard, so plan cooldowns for it. Kill order on the adds and solid crowd control make this fight much easier.
Zul'jin
The final boss runs through five phases: his troll form, then one phase for each animal god he has absorbed. You will deal with whirlwinds and thrown axes, a creeping paralysis that healers need to dispel quickly, an eagle phase where casting spells hurts you, a lynx phase where he jumps between players, and a dragonhawk phase full of fire. It is a long fight that rewards a group that has already learned the four animal bosses, because each phase borrows from them.
The Catch-Up Changes Matter Even More
If you are not in a raid group, this section is the one to read.
Hyjal and Black Temple attunements are gone
The Battle for Mount Hyjal and Black Temple no longer require attunement. The old chain meant clearing Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep bosses, plus a long quest line, before you could step foot into the endgame raids. Now any level 70 can be invited. For guilds, this makes recruiting much easier. For pugs, expect to see more Black Temple and Hyjal runs in Trade chat over the next few weeks.
Heroics are easier, and keys cost less reputation
All Heroic dungeons are now at their final, reduced difficulty, and Heroic keys only need Honored reputation with the matching faction instead of Revered. This is a huge deal for alts. Honored comes quickly while leveling and doing normal dungeons, so a fresh 70 can be running Heroics in their first week.
Badges of Justice everywhere
Badges of Justice now drop from every boss in Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, Magtheridon's Lair, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep and Zul'Aman, plus Doomlord Kazzak and Doomwalker. G'eras in Shattrath has new, stronger stock, including Nether Vortex.
My read: badge gear becomes the main gearing path for anyone not raiding the top content. Combined with the Heroic nerfs, you can get a character from fresh 70 to "ready for Zul'Aman and Black Temple trash" without depending on a lucky drop.
Kazzak and Doomwalker loot is Bind on Equip
The two Outland world bosses now drop Bind on Equip loot instead of Bind on Pickup. Expect some of those items to show up on the Auction House, and expect prices to move around for the first few weeks as guilds decide whether to keep or sell them.
Epic gems
Magtheridon's Black Sack of Gems and Jewelcrafter's Brilliant Glass can now contain epic gems. Blizzard is clear about one catch: existing Brilliant Glasses and previously looted, unopened Black Sacks will not contain epic gems. If you were hoarding them waiting for this phase, they behave like they always did. Only new ones roll from the updated table.
Primal Nether and Nether Vortex are no longer soulbound
This is the change that quietly reshapes the economy. Primal Nether and Nether Vortex were soulbound reagents for some of the best crafted gear in the game. Now they can be traded and sold. Crafters no longer have to farm or raid for every single one, and raiders with spares now have something valuable to sell. If you are a crafter, check what your best patterns now cost to make. If you are a raider, check the Auction House before you vendor anything.
What I Would Do This Week
My suggested plan depends on where your character sits right now:
- Fresh level 70: Get Honored with your Heroic factions, start running Heroics now that they are easier, and buy badge gear from G'eras. You should be ready for Zul'Aman within a couple of weeks of steady play.
- Karazhan geared: Zul'Aman is your next stop. Find a 10-player group, clear it for loot first, and attempt the timed event once your group knows the fights.
- SSC and Tempest Keep raider: You are well geared for the bear run. Organize a dedicated timed group, agree on loot rules, and use the 3-day lockout to get as many attempts as possible.
- Black Temple raider: Zul'Aman is mostly about the bear and a few select items for you. Spend your badges, sell spare Nether Vortex, and help your guildies catch up.
- Crafter: Check the new Leatherworking recipes if you have the skill, and watch what Primal Nether and Nether Vortex sell for over the next week or two.
For the bigger picture of this version and class leveling advice, our TBC Classic Anniversary complete guide is still a good place to start.
How Long Will Phase 3.5 Last?
Blizzard has not announced a date for Phase 4, which in the original game brought the Sunwell Plateau and the Isle of Quel'Danas. Blizzard Watch, which has tracked the anniversary schedule against the 2026 Classic roadmap, described 3.5 as more of a mini phase built around a single raid. That suggests it may not last as long as Phase 3 did, but treat any guess as just that. Until Blizzard posts a date, assume you have time to gear an alt or two through Zul'Aman and Heroics before the next big jump.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Zul'Aman go live on TBC Anniversary realms?
Zul'Aman went live globally on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT, which is 3:00 PM PDT and 23:00 BST. It arrived as part of Phase 3.5, which Blizzard calls "The Gods of Zul'Aman."
Do I need an attunement for Zul'Aman?
No. Blizzard confirmed that no attunement is required to enter Zul'Aman. You need to be level 70 and in a 10-player raid group. Phase 3.5 also removed the attunements for The Battle for Mount Hyjal and Black Temple.
How often does Zul'Aman reset?
Zul'Aman has a 3-day reset lockout, the same style as Karazhan. That means you can clear it roughly twice a week on the same character, and you get a fresh attempt at the timed event every time the lockout resets.
How do you get the Amani War Bear in TBC Classic?
You need to kill all four animal bosses, Akil'zon, Nalorakk, Jan'alai and Halazzi, before the hostage timer runs out. You start with 20 minutes, Nalorakk adds 15 minutes and Akil'zon adds 10, so you have up to 45 minutes total. The final hostage chest carries the Amani War Bear, and only one drops per raid per lockout.
Is the Amani War Bear still obtainable in the anniversary version?
Yes. Blizzard's Phase 3.5 post says that if your raid rescues all the hostages before time runs out, it earns the rare Amani War Bear battle mount. There is no announcement saying it will be removed later, but in the original game it was removed with the Wrath of the Lich King pre-patch, so if you want it, it is smart to go for it during this phase.
Which bosses drop Badges of Justice in Phase 3.5?
Every boss in Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, Magtheridon's Lair, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep and Zul'Aman now drops Badges of Justice, along with the world bosses Doomlord Kazzak and Doomwalker. Heroic dungeons still drop them too, and G'eras in Shattrath has new, stronger gear to spend them on.
Will my saved Black Sack of Gems give epic gems now?
No. Blizzard says that existing Brilliant Glasses and previously looted, unopened Black Sacks of Gems will not contain epic gems. Only Magtheridon's Black Sacks of Gems looted after the update, and Brilliant Glasses made after the update, can contain them.
What reputation do I need for Heroic keys now?
Honored. Phase 3.5 lowered the reputation needed to buy Heroic dungeon keys from Revered to Honored, and all Heroic dungeons are now at their final, reduced difficulty.
Can I trade Primal Nether and Nether Vortex now?
Yes. Both are no longer soulbound, so you can trade them to other players or list them on the Auction House. This makes several high-end crafted items much easier to make and gives raiders with extras something worth selling.
When is Phase 4 and Sunwell Plateau coming to TBC Anniversary?
Blizzard has not announced a date for Phase 4 yet. In the original Burning Crusade, the next phase brought the Sunwell Plateau raid and the Isle of Quel'Danas daily quests. Watch the official World of Warcraft news page for an announcement.
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