Phase 5 Launches on July 10 for WoW Classic Anniversary Edition
Luxrah • Published June 16, 2025
The next phase of WoW Classic Anniversary Edition will be launching in less than a month on July 10. The phase will bring players into the Ahn’Qiraj raids, but first we must progress through the War Effort event to trigger the opening of the gates – easily the most memorable and iconic event in World of Warcraft.
A lucky few players will be able to ring the Scarab Gong and earn the coveted Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal mount. The first time the gong is rung on a server, it triggers the Ten Hour War, during which other players can also ring the gong and turn in quests. In Season of Discovery, this event happened on all servers on a set timeline. For Anniversary Edition, we’ll be going back to the original Vanilla WoW approach, where each server must progress through the quest in order to trigger the event for the entire realm.
After the Ten Hour War ends, the two raids (Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj and Temple of Ahn’Qiraj) will open, introducing a wide array of new loot for players to acquire.
The timing of the phase launch falls right in the middle of the pre-patch for Mists of Pandaria Classic. The pre-patch for that game mode launches on July 2, and the expansion launches July 21.
References
- Blizzard
The War Effort begins July 10 at 3:00 pm PDT!
Aid your faction in opening the gates of Ahn’Qiraj—granting access to the Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj and Temple of Ahn’Qiraj raids for your server. Be the first to ring the Scarab Gong to get the coveted Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal mount.
Join the War Effort
On July 10 at 3:00 pm PDT, the War Effort will begin, and each faction can turn in an immense amount of resources that, once completed, require five days to be transported to Silithus. Due to the raid requirements in the questline leading up to the “Bang a Gong!” quest, the earliest that the ringing can occur in Silithus on highly-motivated realms could be just over a week later.
Get Out There and Gather
It’s up to every champion of the Horde and Alliance to pitch in to ensure their faction completes The War Effort requirements by delivering a multitude of supplies and materials. Head to this guide for a complete list of materials and supplies necessary, along with how much of everything you’ll need.
What You Need and Where to Go
Visit Field Marshal Snowfall (Alliance) making the rounds through the Military Ward in Ironforge or Warlord Gorchuk (Horde) pacing the Valley of Spirits in Orgrimmar to turn in your Commendations! If you’re curious about the overall progress of your faction, these War Effort Commanders also help keep a tally of the materials and supplies obtained and still needed.
Care to know the opposing faction’s progress? Horde Ambassador General Zog in the Ironforge and Alliance Ambassador Commander Stronghammer in Orgrimmar for details.
So Many Supplies, So Little Time
The initial War Effort requires a great deal of supplies to be turned in by your faction on your realm. If this is not complete 15 days after the content is unlocked, small amounts of supplies will begin turning in automatically, as they did in version 1.12 of the original WoW. The gates still require somebody to “Bang a Gong!” but this will help ensure that all realms have the chance to unlock Ahn’Qiraj before Naxxramas is released.
Bang a Gong!
Once you complete the “The Scepter of the Shifting Sands” questline, be the first to complete the “Bang a Gong!” quest to open the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj for everyone on your server, earning you the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal mount.
Once the gong is rung on a realm, the Ten Hour War begins, giving players 10 hours to finish up their quests and earn their rare mount. Only the first player on a realm to ring the gong will be announced across the zone in Silithus. On realms that have multiple layers, once the gong is rung on one layer, the Ten-Hour War will begin on all layers.
Once the 10 hours have elapsed, “Bang a Gong!” can no longer be turned in, the two Ahn’Qiraj raids will open, and the “Treasures of the Timeless One” quest will become available.
The exact times for the ringing of the gong, and therefore the raids, will differ on every realm.
Ringing the gong can only be done by players who have completed all of the steps of the “Scepter of the Shifting Sands” questline before the end of the 10-hour window. In addition to raid requirements, players can use the Proxy of Nozdormu to deputize other players to help them amass Silithid Carapace Fragments.
All players who complete the questline and turn in “Bang a Gong!” before the 10 hours are up will receive the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal mount. Any player who completes the questline up through “The Might of Kalimdor” will be eligible for “Treasures of the Timeless One,” which rewards an Epic weapon they can choose—Fang of Korialstrasz (MH Dagger), Shadowsong’s Sorrow (1H Dagger), Runesword of the Red (MH Sword), or Ravencrest’s Legacy (1H Sword)—regardless of whether they were able to complete “Bang a Gong!” in time.
For a more detailed breakdown of how you can prepare for the Scepter of the Shifting Sands questline and get the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal mount, read this guide.
Behind the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj
The Gates of Ahn’Qiraj enclose two massive raid dungeons—the Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj (20-player) and the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj (40-player).
As you delve deeper into the mysteries of Ahn’Qiraj, discover revelations of the Silithid infestation and their shadowy masters, the Qiraji.
Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj: 20-player Raid
Temple of Ahn’Qiraj: 40-player Raid
- Level Requirement: 60
- Reputation: Cenarion Circle
- Where: Silithus
- Bosses:
- Kurinnaxx
- General Rajaxx
- Moam
- Buru the Gorger
- Ayamiss the Hunter
- Ossirian the Unscarred
- Level Requirement: 60
- Reputation: Brood of Nozdormu
- Where: Silithus
- Bosses:
- The Prophet Skeram
- Silithid Royalty
- Battleguard Sartura
- Fankriss the Unyielding
- Viscidus
- Princess Huhuran
- The Twin Emperors
- Ouro
- C’Thun
Two New Class Armor Sets
Earn two new class armor sets—from both the Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj and the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj—by looting items from powerful bosses and gaining Reputation with the Cenarion Circle and Brood of Nozdormu.
Build your Tier 2.5 Raid Set by reaching specific Reputation levels with the Brood of Nozdormu and collecting Qiraji Tokens, class-specific Idols, and Scarabs from the raid instances.
Ruins of Ahn’Qiraj
Temple of Ahn’Qiraj
Druid
Symbols of Unending Life
- Band of Unending Life (Ring)
- Cloak of Unending Life (Cloak)
- Mace of Unending Life (1H Mace)
Genesis Raiment
- Genesis Boots
- Genesis Helm
- Genesis Shoulderpads
- Genesis Trousers
- Genesis Vest
Hunter
Trappings of the Unseen Path
- Signet of the Unseen Path (Ring)
- Cloak of the Unseen Path (Cloak)
- Scythe of the Unseen Path (1H Axe)
Striker’s Guard
- Striker’s Diadem
- Striker’s Footguards
- Striker’s Hauberk
- Striker’s Leggings
- Striker’s Pauldrons
Mage
Trappings of Vaulted Secrets
- Band of Vaulted Secrets (Ring)
- Drape of Vaulted Secrets (Cloak)
- Blade of Vaulted Secrets (1H Sword)
Enigma Vestments
- Enigma Boots
- Enigma Circlet
- Enigma Leggings
- Enigma Robes
- Enigma Shoulderpads
Paladin
Battlegear of Eternal Justice
- Ring of Eternal Justice (Ring)
- Cape of Eternal Justice (Cloak)
- Blade of Eternal Justice (1H Sword)
Avenger’s Battlegear
- Avenger’s Breastplate
- Avenger’s Crown
- Avenger’s Greaves
- Avenger’s Legguards
- Avenger’s Pauldrons
Priest
Finery of Infinite Wisdom
- Ring of Infinite Wisdom (Ring)
- Shroud of Infinite Wisdom (Cloak)
- Gavel of Infinite Wisdom (1H Mace)
Garments of the Oracle
- Footwraps of the Oracle
- Mantle of the Oracle
- Tiara of the Oracle
- Trousers of the Oracle
- Vestments of the Oracle
Rogue
Emblems of Veiled Shadows
- Band of Veiled Shadows (Ring)
- Cloak of Veiled Shadows (Cloak)
- Dagger of Veiled Shadows (Dagger)
Deathdealer’s Embrace
- Deathdealer’s Boots
- Deathdealer’s Helm
- Deathdealer’s Spaulders
- Deathdealer’s Leggings
- Deathdealer’s Vest
Shaman
Gift of the Gathering Storm
- Ring of the Gathering Storm (Ring)
- Cloak of the Gathering Storm (Cloak)
- Hammer of the Gathering Storm (1H Mace)
Stormcaller’s Attire
- Stormcaller’s Diadem
- Stormcaller’s Footguards
- Stormcaller’s Hauberk
- Stormcaller’s Leggings
- Stormcaller’s Pauldrons
Warlock
Implements of Unspoken Names
- Ring of Unspoken Names (Ring)
- Shroud of Unspoken Names (Cloak)
- Kris of Unspoken Names (Dagger)
Doomcaller’s Attire
- Doomcaller’s Circlet
- Doomcaller’s Footwraps
- Doomcaller’s Mantle
- Doomcaller’s Robes
- Doomcaller’s Trousers
Warrior
Battlegear of Unyielding Strength
- Signet of Unyielding Strength (Ring)
- Drape of Unyielding Strength (Cloak)
- Sickle of Unyielding Strength (1H Axe)
Conqueror’s Battlegear
- Conqueror’s Breastplate
- Conqueror’s Crown
- Conqueror’s Greaves
- Conqueror’s Legguards
- Conqueror’s Spaulders
We look forward to following along as events unfold over the next several weeks as you battle your way through the forgotten horrors of Ahn’Qiraj.
Lok’tar Ogar!