The Cataclysm Classic Pre-Expansion Patch Goes Live April 30
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
You’ve toppled the undead armies of the Lich King and ended Arthas' reign. Now, Deathwing, The Worldbreaker, bursts from the heart of the Maelstrom, unleashing his rage. All will burn beneath the shadow of his wings. Your new journey begins with the pre-expansion patch — the Shattering of Azeroth— on April 30 and continues with the launch of Cataclysm Classic on May 20, 2024 at 3:00 pm PDT worldwide.






Cataclysm Classic Pre-Expansion Patch

The Cataclysm Classic pre-expansion patch ushers in the shattering of Azeroth and the changed landscape in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms, a variety of systems changes along with new class and race combinations, and the new Worgen and Goblin races. Players can also begin learning the new Archaeology profession, use Reforging to upgrade your gear, and more.

  • New Player Races: Goblin and Worgen
  • New Race and Class Combinations
  • Leveling Updates: Level through a changed landscape in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms from level 1 through 60.
  • Class Updates: New Talents, Trees, spells and More
  • New Race and Class Combinations
  • New Profession: Archaeology
  • New Feature: Transmog Collection
  • Updated Character and Gear Stats



What’s Inside Cataclysm Classic

With the launch of Cataclysm Classic on May 20, players will begin their journey from level 80 to 85 through new zones, new dungeons and raids, engage in PvP combat in Tol Barad, and delve further into the mysteries of the Darkmoon Faire on Darkmoon Island.

  • 7 New Zones: Mount Hyjal, Vash’jir, Twilight Highlands, Uldum, Deepholm, Kezan, and Gilneas.
  • 9 New Dungeons: Blackrock Caverns, Throne of the Tides, Vortex Pinnacle, The Stonecore, The Lost City of Tol’vir, The Halls of Origination, Grim Batol, Deadmines, Shadowfang Keep
  • Dungeon Journal Introduced
  • 3 New Raid Dungeons: Throne of the Four Winds, Blackwing Descent, and Bastion of Twilight
  • Flexible Raid Lock system: Allowing players to do both 10 and 25-player raids in the same week.
  • Tol Barad PvP Zone
  • Darkmoon Island: Discover the mysteries Silas Darkmoon has in store for you.
  • Flying in Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor



What’s Going Away with Wrath of the Lich King

With the launch of the Cataclysm pre-expansion patch, some items and achievements will no longer be available or will be harder to obtain. It’s important to keep in mind that the game world is going through tremendous changes that will affect the availability of certain rare mounts and items.

  • Swift Zulian Tiger: Zul'Gurub is changing from a raid to a leveling zone and this mount will no longer be obtainable.
  • Swift Razzashi Raptor: This mount will also no longer be obtainable after the change to Zul'Gurub.
  • Razzashi Hatchling: With the change to Zul'Gurub, this non-combat pet will no longer be obtainable.
  • Tome of Polymorph: Turtle: This tome will continue to be available through other means.
  • Crusader's White/Black Warhorse and Swift Alliance Steed/Swift Horde Wolf: As the attempt-based tribute system is being removed from Heroic Trial of the Crusader, the Argent Crusade Tribute Chest will no longer spawn, and these mounts will no longer be obtainable.
  • Reins of the Blue Drake: This mount will once again be available from defeating 10-player Malygos without needing to use the Dungeon Finder. The Reins of the Azure Drake will only be available on 25-player Malygos.
  • Mimiron's Head: This mount will change to be a very low drop chance when defeating 25-player Yogg'Saron with no Keepers assisting you.
  • Invincible: This mount will change to be a very low drop chance when defeating Heroic 25-player Lich King.

Quest and Loremaster Changes

The shattering of Azeroth will drastically and permanently alter the continents of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. In the wake of Deathwing's devastation, adventurers will be summoned to embark on new quests from levels 1 to 60 in these transformed territories -- and with so much new content to be found on these original two continents, many original quests will no longer be available after the shattering occurs. These quests will automatically be removed from your quest log, while any quests you’ve accepted that still exist in Azeroth will remain in your log.

If you've already completed Loremaster of Eastern Kingdoms or Loremaster of Kalimdor, you will not lose your achievements. However, if you've made progress toward these achievements without yet completing them, be aware that any quests that are removed from the game will no longer count toward your progress, so you may see your achievement quest counter drop. If you’re close to earning either of these achievements, we strongly suggest you finish them with great haste, as Deathwing's return is imminent.

In addition, the Loremaster achievements are being redesigned slightly to make them easier to track. Rather than having players complete a huge number of quests throughout a single continent, the criteria will change so that you will instead need to complete a set number of quests in each zone. Once you've earned the achievements for each listed zone on a continent, you will then be awarded the Loremaster achievement for that continent. For those who do have Loremaster of Kalimdor or Eastern Kingdoms completed already, you can still go back and get the new achievements for questing in individual zones on those continents.

Are You Insane in the Membrane?

With the release of Cataclysm Classic, the Insane in the Membrane Feat of Strength will no longer be available.



Ignite Your Cataclysm Classic Journey with Fiery Upgrades

Cataclysm Classic will require only a WoW® subscription or Game Time to play. However, these optional upgrades can heat up your experience during your adventures in Azeroth.


Blazing Heroic Pack

The Blazing Heroic Pack includes Lil’ Wrathion pet for both WoW Classic progression2 and modern World of Warcraft characters3, the Avatar of Flame flying mount2 for WoW Classic progression characters, and a Runebound Firelord flying mount for modern World of Warcraft characters3. WoW Classic progression characters will also enjoy Hammer Regalia Transmog Set4 and Town-In-A-Box Starter Set toy 4.

Blazing Epic Upgrade

The Blazing Epic Upgrade includes everything in the Blazing Heroic Pack, plus a Level 80 Character Boost and 30 days of Game Time.


Certain restrictions apply. Visit shop.battle.net for more information.


We look forward to joining you in these new adventures within the shattered lands of Azeroth!

  • 1 Available on or before August 31, 2024.
  • 2 Available in WoW Classic progression realms (currently Wrath of the Lich King Classic™) immediately after the purchase.
  • 3 Available after the modern WoW® realms restart with the Guardians of the Dream (10.2) update.
  • 4 Available with the Cataclysm Classic pre-expansion patch.
  • The toy, Transmog set, and Avatar of Flame mount only available on WoW Classic progression realms (currently Wrath of the Lich King Classic™). The Runebound Firelord mount only available on modern WoW® realms.
  • Requires WoW® Subscription or Game Time.
  • Boost only available on WoW Classic progression realms. and usable only on the WoW game account for which it was purchased or redeemed.
This article was originally published in forum thread: The Cataclysm Classic Pre-Expansion Patch Goes Live April 30 started by Lumy View original post
Comments 29 Comments
  1. SinR's Avatar
    Lets Go?

    I guess?
  1. panda040's Avatar
    residentsleeper
  1. Zardas's Avatar
    "7 New Zones: Mount Hyjal, Vash’jir, Twilight Highlands, Uldum, Deepholm, Kezan, and Gilneas."

    No Lost Isles ?
  1. korijenkins's Avatar
    Every day they proceed with the "release all expansions" farce is a reminder of what we were robbed of being denied classic +. Laziest developer on the planet.
  1. Dethecus435's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by korijenkins View Post
    Every day they proceed with the "release all expansions" farce is a reminder of what we were robbed of being denied classic +. Laziest developer on the planet.
    Imagine being mad and trying to gatekeep other classic expansions because blizzard devs didn't give you exactly what you want. It's not like there's other classic players waiting for cataclysm or other future classic expansions. If you hate it that much go play on ascension it's the perfect vanilla classic+ server
  1. deenman's Avatar
    does any1 know if transmog will work like retail?or the atrocious cata version?
  1. Hardstyle89's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by deenman View Post
    does any1 know if transmog will work like retail?or the atrocious cata version?
    imagine playing classic then begging for retail stuff instead of enjoying the original feel of how classic really was. If you want retail PLAY retail STOP CHANGING classic!!!!
  1. doledippers's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Hardstyle89 View Post
    imagine playing classic then begging for retail stuff instead of enjoying the original feel of how classic really was. If you want retail PLAY retail STOP CHANGING classic!!!!
    lol what? they just asked a question about the iteration of a system introduced in this expansion. muh no changes
  1. Hardstyle89's Avatar
    The number of bugs and glitches on beta right now this game isn't going to be launched in a month. Druids using flight form in the last area of VC. Dual spec doesn't work properly, Guild chat still doesn't work, Can't zone into Grim Batol only way to get in is to que via dungeon finder, can't test enchanting because Disenchanting isn't in the game, Archeology is released but can't level it. Still Numerous quests that are bugged, Cant check gear without getting error spam every time you hover over the slot. These are just a few of the items there's even more.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by doledippers View Post
    lol what? they just asked a question about the iteration of a system introduced in this expansion. muh no changes
    Imagine wanting to play classic but requesting changes to the game instead of enjoying how it was originally meant to be played. people who dont want changes are the people who actually want to enjoy the game if you want retail, you can go play retail cata on retail. instead of asking for retail stuff on classic.
  1. doledippers's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Hardstyle89 View Post
    Imagine wanting to play classic but requesting changes to the game instead of enjoying how it was originally meant to be played. people who dont want changes are the people who actually want to enjoy the game if you want retail, you can go play retail cata on retail. instead of asking for retail stuff on classic.
    they didnt even ask for changes, they just asked a question
  1. xanderd's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by doledippers View Post
    they didnt even ask for changes, they just asked a question
    But their question insinuated that they wanted changes by insulting the classic version.
  1. Hardstyle89's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by xanderd View Post
    But their question insinuated that they wanted changes by insulting the classic version.
    100% but you can't explain that to the participation trophy generation that grew up with google and can't use it. They want Retail on classic because it's not retail. The catering of gear isn't there they want everything handed to them without putting in work and think that because they play the game, they should get ALL the Best gear without putting in the work. They also follow everything that their favorite streamer says should happen without even doing their own research to make a decision on their own. Then when someone tells them the truth they get triggered and go cry to GM's or mods because the truth hurts.

    i personally say that blizz should release the heroics how they where orginally tuned on launch of cata and watch all the new kids cry about how hard they are. (even more then they already are crying on beta)
  1. PenguinChan's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by doledippers View Post
    lol what? they just asked a question about the iteration of a system introduced in this expansion. muh no changes
    People gatekeeped having newer models in older versions of the game, you honestly think this was gonna change even though it makes sense to use the newer version on a cosmetic thing? lmao people really are weird
  1. FelPlague's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Zardas View Post
    "7 New Zones: Mount Hyjal, Vash’jir, Twilight Highlands, Uldum, Deepholm, Kezan, and Gilneas."

    No Lost Isles ?
    Lost isles is an instance. Once you leave you can't go back.
    Gilneas is a zone you can go back to.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by korijenkins View Post
    Every day they proceed with the "release all expansions" farce is a reminder of what we were robbed of being denied classic +. Laziest developer on the planet.
    Season of Discovery is Classic + dude.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Hardstyle89 View Post
    imagine playing classic then begging for retail stuff instead of enjoying the original feel of how classic really was. If you want retail PLAY retail STOP CHANGING classic!!!!
    This is cataclysm, cataclysm is when transmog got added...
    Are you ok?
  1. PenguinChan's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by FelPlague View Post
    Lost isles is an instance. Once you leave you can't go back.
    Which is a shame, I would've liked to seen a much larger Lost isles zone that we go back to (kinda like we did in Dragonflight with the evoker starting zone).
  1. Zardas's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by FelPlague View Post
    Lost isles is an instance. Once you leave you can't go back.
    Gilneas is a zone you can go back to.
    Kezan is the same case, yet it's listed.
  1. FelPlague's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Zardas View Post
    Kezan is the same case, yet it's listed.
    I guess kexan is big enough, the "lost isles" is like, super small.
    They prob consider it part of kezan cause of the fact as a goblin you have to do both.
  1. Hardstyle89's Avatar
    they want the retail version of xmog not the cata version
  1. PenguinChan's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Hardstyle89 View Post
    they want the retail version of xmog not the cata version
    Blizzard already confirmed we'll have account bound appearances just like we do with pets and mounts within WotLK Classic. AKA: Modern transmog. From what we know it'll work like how it did back in Cataclysm though with the old transmog rules applied - not the new one with all quest gear and grey / common unlockable.
  1. Zardas's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by FelPlague View Post
    I guess kexan is big enough, the "lost isles" is like, super small.
    They prob consider it part of kezan cause of the fact as a goblin you have to do both.
    Yeah, they most likely consider Kezan + Lost Isles as one zone.

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