Blizzard has announced that World of Warcraft Classic will commence the seventh and final phase of Season of Discovery on January 28. This update will bring the new Karazhan Crypts dungeon and the Scourge Invasions event to the game. Shortly after, on February 6, guilds in World of Warcraft Classic will have the opportunity to tackle the iconic Naxxramas raid, which promises new challenges and twists for players.
Phase 7 of Season of Discovery follows closely on the heels of Phase 6, which saw players returning to Silithus to engage with the Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain and the Ahn'qiraj raids. During their adventures in Ahn'qiraj, players encountered a mysterious Shadowy Figure amidst the desert ruins. Many speculated this figure to be Xal'atath, the main antagonist of World of Warcraft: The War Within, though the NPC only hinted at the Old Gods' influence in Phase 6. Whether the Shadowy Figure will reappear in Phase 7 remains a mystery.
Although Phase 7 marks the end of Season of Discovery, World of Warcraft Classic players can look forward to new challenges. Scheduled to begin on January 28 after server maintenance, Phase 7 will introduce the Karazhan Crypts, a new 5-player dungeon located in Deadwind Pass, inviting adventurers to explore beneath the legendary Karazhan tower, which later became a 10-player raid in The Burning Crusade. Simultaneously, the Scourge Invasions event will see undead hordes invading zones and cities across Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. Players can participate in new Scourge Invasion quests at Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands, using Necrotic Runes dropped by undead enemies to acquire new consumable items.
Upon the launch of Phase 7, players will gain access to new runes through Rune Brokers in starting zones and capital cities. A week later, on February 6, the Naxxramas raid will become available. Similar to the Ahn'qiraj raid, Naxxramas will feature an "Empower" difficulty option, adding extra challenges. After conquering the four wings of Naxxramas, players can proceed to the Frostwyrm Lair to confront the final bosses, Sapphiron and Kel'thuzad.
While Season of Discovery is set to conclude with Phase 7, World of Warcraft Classic has an exciting 2025 ahead across all its versions. The future of Blizzard's Seasonal realms remains to be seen.