Complete Guide to Returning for SoD Phase 8
Time: 2025-03-30 by mmojugg Game: WOW Classic Season Of Discovery Guide
Phase 8 of Season of Discovery launches on 8 April 2025, with the Scarlet Enclave raid following on 10 April. Whether you're a returning player or just curious about the hype, this guide will get you up to speed on New Avalon, the massive new zone, and all the goodies Phase 8 has in store - like the legendary Ashbringer. Let's break it down so you can dive back into Azeroth with confidence!
What's new in Phase 8?
Phase 8 introduces New Avalon, a sprawling zone in the Eastern Plaguelands east of Tyr's Hand, packed with Scarlet Crusade lore that bridges Vanilla and Wrath of the Lich King. The Scarlet Enclave raid introduces eight bosses - Balnazzar, Beatatrix, Lillian Voss and more - and new storytelling exclusive to the Season of Discovery. And yes, Ashbringer finally arrives as a craftable Legendary two-hander, making Paladins even more enticing (though expect some stiff competition for raid spots). Throw in tier 4 sets, new trinkets, and craftable gear that makes the Scarlet Crusade friendly, and you've got a phase worth coming back for.
Picking Your Class and Spec
Paladins will be everywhere thanks to Ashbringer and new tier sets tying into their class fantasy—think holy warrior vibes dialed up to eleven. But don't feel pressured to roll one; there is no "best" spec or class here. The PvE balance in Season of Discovery keeps most specs within 5-10% of each other, so play what you like. Unless you're chasing world-firsts, the meta won't keep you down. Focus on having fun - your enjoyment will always trump min-maxing.
Leveling Up Fast
Starting fresh? Leveling from 1-60 is now a breeze. A solo quest with a bit of dungeon action takes 24-30 hours, depending on your pace. Grab some gold and XP boosts to smooth things out - you'll reach 60 with a decent chunk of change for gear. If you've got gold to burn, the Scourge Invasion boost will cut it down to just 5 hours. Tanks pull massive packs, you tag along and boom, level 60 in an afternoon. Either way, you'll be raid-ready in no time.
Catch-Up Gear Made Easy
Haven't played in a while? No sweat - catching up is easier than ever. Dungeons like Scholomance and Stratholme are buzzing with daily runs that drop Tarnished Undermine Reals. These handy coins can be used to buy full Tier 1 sets, four-piece Tier 2 sets, and extras such as weapons and toys from vendors. World bosses and Naxxramas also drop three coins each.
For raids, Molten Core, Blackwing Lair, Zul'Gurub, AQ20, AQ40, and the Green Dragons (now a single condensed raid) are still popping off. Green Dragons will even drop level 2 and 2.5 gear. Need a challenge? Try Karazan Crypts, a tough five-person mini-raid that is like UBRS on steroids. Gearing up has never been more accessible - jump in and start collecting!
Prepping with Phase 7: Naxxramas and Beyond
Phase 7's Naxxramas is your golden ticket before Phase 8 hits. Regular Naxx is a breeze with decent gear - think baseline Naxxramas from Classic, but with the power creep of Season of Discovery. Smash through for tier 3, which is the class fantasy for many specs. Naxx Mythic (or 'Naxx 4'), the hard mode, ups the ante with trickier mechanics, so bring sanctified gear - eight pieces grant a power boost via Scourge Invasion Tokens and Argent Dawn Seals. Stockpile these now; they'll ease your way into Phase 8 content.
Scarlet Enclave and New Avalon Highlights
The Scarlet Enclave raid's eight-boss lineup weaves a killer story - Balnazzar's back, Lillian Voss returns to her WoW roots, and new faces like Calderan the Scarlet Inquisitor shake things up. New Avalon's craftable gear lets you wander around as a friendly face of the Scarlet Crusade, chatting to blacksmiths and NPCs in a zone that's bigger than you'd expect. It's a fresh take on a faction we've barely explored in WoW's history - perfect for lore nerds and casual explorers alike.
Gear and Tier 4 Rundown
Ashbringer's the star, no question—a dream weapon for any WoW fan. Tier 4 sets, inspired by future expansions like Onslaught, feature a Scarlet Crusade palette (red, yellow, white - think fast food vibes). They're solid but less unique - cloth, leather, mail and plate each get a design with class-specific colours. It's not the bespoke glory of Tier 1-3, but with a smaller development team (down from hundreds in 2004 to 30-50 now), it's a fair trade for the content we get. Professions are important too, leveling them up for craftables and extras like trinkets and toys.
The Bigger Picture: Phase 8 and Beyond
Here's the real talk: Phase 8 marks the "beginning of the end" for Season of Discovery. It's not all doom and gloom - Phase 9 or even 10 could follow - but the patches will shrink as developers move on to TBC Classic (late 2025) and Mists of Pandaria Classic (mid-2026). Expect a slowdown, not a shutdown. Your characters, gear, and legendaries will remain; it's just the beginning of a transition. BlizzCon 2026 (12-13 September) should shed some light on the next chapter of Classic - Classic Plus, perhaps? We'll see.
Thanks for reading
Phase 8 is your chance to dive back into the Season of Discovery with a new zone, a killer raid and the Ashbringer in hand. Level up fast, grab catch-up gear from dungeons and raids, and prepare with Naxx goodies - no crazy prerequisites needed. What's your plan - Paladin for Ashbringer or something else? Let me know in the comments! Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more guides to keep you ahead of the game. See you in New Avalon!
Table of Content
WoW SoD Gold
WoW SoD Items
WoW SoD Boosting