Phase 5 of Season of Discovery introduces three new raids: Blackwing Lair, Zul'Gurub, and The Crystal Vale, all with flexible player caps. Blackwing Lair now features Trials of the Dragonflights for extra challenges and rewards. Zul'Gurub updates enchants and the Edge of Madness event, while the Hakkar challenge becomes more intense. The Crystal Vale hosts a revamped fight against Thunderaan. Each raid offers new gear systems, boss mechanics, and class changes, emphasizing versatility and progression. PvP and item balancing have also been enhanced for this phase.
Blackwing Lair in Season of Discovery Phase 5
Blackwing Lair is designed for 20 players but allows up to 40. Players can activate Dragonflight trials for extra challenges and rewards, with a weekly bonus trial providing additional incentives. The raid introduces two versions of Tier 2 armor: Core Forged and Draconic, allowing for flexible gear options.
This flexible system for Tier 2 armor is a unique addition, giving players greater customization in their builds. The trials bring a fresh dynamic to the raid, adding replayability for those seeking tougher challenges and rewards.
Based on the Molten Weapons being rewarded from Molten Core Heat Level 3, it would appear that these Shadowflame Weapons can be earned from the Trials of the Dragonflights in Blackwing Lair.
Zul'Gurub in Season of Discovery Phase 5
Zul'Gurub is a 10-player raid (max 20) with a twice-weekly reset. It introduces revamped Zandalari enchants and the Edge of Madness event with no weekly rotation. Players can fight an empowered version of Hakkar for a greater challenge.
The updated enchants and boss mechanics add layers of strategy to Zul'Gurub. The ability to face Hakkar in his most powerful form offers hardcore players an enticing challenge.
New Raid: The Crystal Vale in Season of Discovery Phase 5
Thunderaan returns as a 20-player raid boss (max 40) in the Crystal Vale, with a twice-weekly reset. The raid introduces unique loot, including Tier 2 belt tokens.
The return of Thunderaan brings nostalgia while providing fresh rewards. The new loot system incentivizes players to revisit Silithus and engage with this iconic elemental encounter.
In the Season of Discovery Phase 5 Patch Notes, it was confirmed that Prince Thunderaan will be dropping Tier 2 Belt Tokens! Prince Thunderaan joins us in Phase 5 as an instanced World Boss in The Crystal Vale raid. In Season of Discovery, you usually acquire Tier Tokens to hand in for your gear piece.
Rune Quest Skips for Alts Added
Four new bind-on-account emblems can be used to skip existing multi-class rune quests and requirements from previous phases if you have completed them on your account.
If you have completed any of the following rune quests, you will be able to purchase emblems for your other characters by visiting
Pix Xizzix in Booty Bay
:
The Dark Riders questline, introduced in Phase 2.
The Illari questline, introduced in Phase 2.
The Wild Gods questline, introduced in Phase 3.
The Leylines "questline", introduced in Phase 3.
The emblems for each questline cost only 5 Tarnished Undermine Real Tarnished Undermine Real and have no requirement beyond the completion of any of the associated runes for the emblem you wish to purchase.
Players can hand in their emblems at the new Rune Broker NPCs found in the major cities of both factions on their alts to receive their chosen rune. The locations for each city are as follows:
Alliance
Stormwind: Cut-Throat Alley (57.5, 26.9)
Ironforge: The Forlorn Cavern (53.0, 12.8)
Horde
Orgrimmar: Cleft of Shadows (49.5, 46.0)
Thunder Bluff: The Spirit Rise (22.8, 13.8)
Molten Core
in Season of Discovery Phase 5
Earlier, Blizzard controlled the team size of Molten Core to 20 people, which caused great controversy. As a part of the recent Phase 5 patch, Molten Core will now allow up to 40 players to enter a single raid instance in Season of Discovery! While this raid will still be tuned to 20 players, guilds will no longer have to bench players who want to join the fun.
Demon Fall Canyon
in Season of Discovery Phase 5
Demon Fall Canyon gets a new boss during this phase in Season of Discovery, and with it comes a new loot. Check out Azgaloth, Lord of the Pit.
Spawning after players kill Zilbagob roughly halfway through the dungeon, Azgaloth is the newest addition to Demon Fall Canyon. This powerful pit lord comes with new loot for those able to bring him down, including a trinket, ring, and several new Epic weapons.
Tome of Conjure Water Rank 8
Mages can learn a new rank of Conjure Water in Season of Discovery Phase 5! Tome of Conjure Water VIII is sold by vendors in Winterspring and Azshara.
This item is BoP and not in limited stock, so it should be easy for Mages to acquire! Tome of Conjure Water VIII Tome of Conjure Water VIII is unique to SoD - previously Rank 7 in Classic created Conjured Crystal Water Conjured Crystal Water. In contrast, Rank 8 creates Mountain Spring Water Mountain Spring Water. However, this is still less powerful than Jungle Durian or Drinkable Stratholme Holy Water Drinkable Stratholme Holy Water for mana regen.
Alliance Vendor
Lyranne Feathersong is located at 52.0 29.2 by Starbreeze Village in Winterspring.
Horde Vendor
Kurll is located at 21.8 52.0 by the Horde flight path in Azshara.
Treatise of the Falcon
Hunters can learn a new Aspect in Season of Discovery Phase 5 - some vendors sell the Treatise of the Falcon!
This item is BoP and not in limited stock, so it should be easy for hunters to acquire! Treatise of the Falcon Treatise of the Falcon now allows the ranged attack benefits from Aspect of the Hawk and Improved Aspect of the Hawk to apply to melee attacks.
Alliance Vendor
Natheril Raincaller is located at 51.4 30.8 by Starbreeze Village in Winterspring.
Horde Vendor
Gruul Darkblade is located at 22.2 51.2 by the Horde flight path in Azshara.
Tarnished Undermine Real
Phase 5 will also bring new ways to earn Tarnished Undermine Real Tarnished Undermine Real! WoW Classic Senior Game Producer Josh Greenfield recently revealed that Onyxia, Azuregos, & Lord Kazzak will drop Tarnished Undermine Real Tarnished Undermine Real beginning in Phase 5.
Class Changes in Season of Discovery Phase 5
Significant adjustments have been made across all classes, including rune changes, damage tweaks, and talent reworks for druids, hunters, mages, paladins, and more.
These changes promote better class balance, addressing core issues that players have raised over the past phases. Blizzard is clearly working toward improving both PvE and PvP experiences by refining each class's capabilities and synergies.
PvP Changes
Base honor gains are doubled in Phase 5. Adjustments to battleground rewards aim to make Arathi Basin and Warsong Gulch more engaging. PvP damage reductions have been increased for both physical and magic damage.
Increase rewards for losing matches and doubled honor gains will likely encourage more players to participate in battlegrounds, promoting a healthier PvP environment. The separation of queue types being removed may bring mixed reactions but should lead to shorter queue times.
Base Honor Gains doubled
Losing a match in WSG or AB now awards 2 Marks of Honor
Level 60 PvP Quests for AB and WSG that require handing in 3 Marks of Honor now award 7500 Honor per turn in
Item and Profession Updates
New relics and tier 2 bracers are added, along with several tweaks to item effects. Professions receive notable changes, allowing for more flexibility in specializations like leatherworking and blacksmithing.
Allowing players to explore all profession specializations without limits adds depth to crafting and enhances gameplay variety. The changes to relics and tier gear provide fresh options for optimizing builds, especially for min-maxing enthusiasts.
World Buffs
Players can now re-trigger world buffs from Onyxia, Hakkar, and Rend once a month by completing repeatable quests. Additionally, Sayge's Darkmoon Faire buff cooldown is significantly reduced.
These changes ease the grind for world buffs, making it more accessible without removing the excitement of these powerful boosts. Shorter Darkmoon Faire buff cooldowns are a welcome quality-of-life improvement, particularly for those who rely on frequent buffs.