World of Warcraft Season of Discovery Phase 7 Now Live

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Phase 7 for the Season of Discovery version of World of Warcraft is now live for players.

Instead, let me rephrase it for you: In contrast to the original 40-player raids found in classic World of Warcraft, the cherished Naxxramas raid now requires a minimum of only 20 people, although up to 40 players can join it.

Prior to Naxxramas becoming accessible for players on February 6th, there will be a Scourge Invasion. Blizzard suggests significant alterations in comparison to previous Scourge Invasions that we’ve encountered.

This version maintains the original’s meaning while using more casual and conversational language.

In Phase 7 of the “Season of Discovery”, a significant addition is the debut of the high-level, five-player dungeon known as the Karazhan Crypts, located in Deadwind Pass. This dungeon was originally planned but later cut from the initial release of “World of Warcraft”. Blizzard hinted at its return during the announcement of “Season of Discovery” at BlizzCon 2023.

If you’re seeking a classic World of Warcraft feel, the Molten Core and Onyxia raids on the 20th anniversary servers were activated last month for those who prefer a traditional gaming experience.

Patch Notes for Phase 7 of World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery

In addition to the storm outside, Blizzard is preparing some changes for Naxxramas, including introducing new levels of challenge and refreshing the equipment you can acquire there.

For more information, check out the full list of patch notes below.

Remember that Blizzard tends to maintain a veil of secrecy regarding the Season of Discovery. Consequently, players can anticipate numerous unexpected elements beyond those already mentioned.

Scourge Invasions

The Scourge Invasion event commences following the deployment of the 1.15.6 update and routine maintenance in all regions within the Season of Discovery. Compared to past occurrences in World of Warcraft Classic, the Scourge Invasion event will showcase unique elements during this season.

  • As with previous iterations, zones currently under attack will be marked on your world map with a purple skull icon.
  • Zones that are under attack will contain necropolis objects that siphon energy from nearby scourge pylons.
  • Defeating scourge forces will weaken the pylons and eventually players will be able to summon a Shade of Doom, a boss monster that serves as a guardian of its scourge pylon.
  • Defeating the Shade of doom will destroy the nearby pylon and do damage to one of the Necropolis within the zone.
  • When the Necropolis in each zone is destroyed, the invasion will end in that zone but will return after a short cooldown.
  • Defeating Invasions will award Necrotic Runes which can be used for a variety of purposes, including to summon Shades of Doom, as well as to purchase powerful consumables and equipment from Argent Dawn NPCs in Major Cities and at Light’s Hope Chapel.
  • In Season of Discovery, the Scourge Invasion event will no longer automatically end when a certain number of Invasions are defeated. Instead, the Scourge Invasion event will run throughout the entirety of phase 7, and very likely beyond.
  • The rewards for the Scourge Invasion have also been adjusted and there are now multiple variants of each armor type’s “Undead Slaying” sets to accommodate different roles.
  • Additionally, the Undead Slaying sets are considered “Sanctified” gear and will allow you to unlock additional power inside of Naxxramas.
  • Undead Slaying set items may be obtained in the following ways:
  • Gloves – Purchasable from the Argent Dawn Quartermaster vendors at Light’s Hope Chapel and in major cities for Necrotic Runes that are obtained by participating in Invasions.
  • Bracers – May drop from rare elite creatures that can appear at each invasion point. These Bracers are Bind on Equip and can be traded.
  • Chests – May drop from the Shades of Doom final boss monsters summoned during Invasion events.

Alongside the exciting outdoor Scourge Invasion tasks, you’ll find extra bosses hidden within these dungeons. These unexpected bosses may make an appearance and reward unique loot specifically tied to the Scourge Invasion event.

  • Stratholme Main Entrance (Level 58-60)
  • Scholomance (Level 57-60)
  • Dire Maul (Level 57-60)
  • Razorfen Downs (Level 37-42)
  • Scarlet Monastery Graveyard (Level 30-35)
  • Shadowfang Keep (Level 20-25)

Karazhan Crypts

For the first time in Season of Discovery, the ominous Karazhan Crypts, a five-player dungeon, can be found in Deadwind Pass. Access is limited by a 24-hour lockout system.

  • To enter Karazhan Crypts, brave adventurers will need to complete a short attunement quest chain that starts with a wanted poster in Light’s Hope chapel.
  • This new dungeon experience is tuned to be a challenge for well-geared characters and will require a higher level of communication and coordination than most other dungeon content in Season of Discovery.
  • Karazhan Crypts is afflicted with a malign and oppressive darkness that will require players to use a special enchanted torch object to be able to see in the darkness and discover the mysteries within. Wander too far from the light and your allies may lose track of you. Lingering too long in the dark could prove deadly.
  • In order to fully explore Karazhan Crypts, players will need to keep their eyes peeled for details within the environment that can lead not only to advantages that can be exploited to more safely traverse the dungeon but also expose new dangers that may need to be overcome in order to claim powerful rewards.
  • Multiple visits may be required to discover all of the secrets of Karazhan Crypts. Good luck, adventurers!

In World of Warcraft Classic, this particular small group content stands out due to its distinct structure and speed compared to traditional dungeons. Some players might discover that their assumptions about dungeon mechanics in WoW are different here. This design is reminiscent of old-school tabletop games and early roleplaying computer games, and like many elements in the Season of Discovery, it’s somewhat experimental and innovative.

As a fellow adventure enthusiast, I’d like to caution you about the upcoming paragraph in these patch notes. It contains hints about the mysteries hidden within the Karazhan Crypts that might spoil your exploration experience if you’re not ready. If you prefer the thrill of uncovering secrets on your own, I’d suggest giving this section a pass!

  • The darkness in Karazhan Crypts will prevent you from targeting or seeing allied players and targeting most creatures outside of the radius of a light source. There are multiple different types of light sources within the dungeon other than the enchanted firebrand torch that your party carries.
  • Attempting to charge into a new area blindly, pull large groups of enemies, or ignore environmental and creature mechanics will likely lead to a very fast defeat.
  • When the player carrying the torch is defeated, it will linger for a short while before teleporting itself back to the entrance of the dungeon. Surviving party members may be able to quickly retrieve it to prevent this and save the party from a wipe.
  • There is some content such as boss encounters, puzzles, and other secrets that may not be immediately obvious and may require careful exploration and keen observation to unearth.
  • Voice chat, text to speech, speech to text, or some other form of more rapid communication will enable better coordination and help alleviate frustration your groups may encounter.
  • Most of the content is non-linear, meaning there are multiple different routes available for players to take when they enter. There is no first or final boss.

Some players might prefer to observe first, allowing others to explore and uncover the secrets of the dungeon, before joining in and tackling the content together.

Naxxramas

I’m thrilled to share that, as a fellow enthusiast, I can’t help but get excited about the impending arrival of the ominous Naxxramas! Mark your calendars for February 6, 2025, because Season of Discovery is the destination where this legendary fortress will materialize.

What makes this even more tantalizing is that Naxxramas has been optimized for a group of 20 adventurers, yet it can accommodate up to 40 brave souls in the raid. So, gather your friends and let’s conquer this formidable citadel together!

  • At the entrance of Naxxramas, players who wish to take on an additional challenge will encounter special pylon objects. These can be channeled by 5 or more players to empower one or more of the quarters of Naxxramas.
  • Once empowered, a quarter will feature new mechanics that players will need to overcome to succeed, and the health and damage of all creatures in all areas of Naxxramas will be greatly enhanced.
  • Activating multiple pylons empowers multiple quarters, each time adding new mechanics to each quarter, greatly increasing the challenge of the entire raid, and offering additional chances at the raid’s powerful rewards.
  • Most new epic items found in Phase 7 of Season of Discovery have been Sanctified. These Sanctified items are the key to securing an advantage in the newly empowered Naxxramas.
  • Initially, it will be difficult to engage more than one empowered quarter without being overwhelmed. To help players survive the onslaught, the Argent Dawn will offer a powerful Seal of the Dawn item. When used, the Seal of the Dawn will provide a massive power boost, based on the number of Sanctified items you have equipped, up to a total of 8 items at once.
  • Initially, the Seal of the Dawn’s additional power is strong, but nominal. Each week players will have the opportunity to spend a special currency found in Naxxramas to upgrade their Seal of the Dawn. Each rank your Seal of the Dawn gains will provide a massive increase in the potential benefit that the item could provide.
  • With fewer quarters empowered, the maximum power of your Seal of the Dawn will be constrained and the maximum amount of power you can gain from your Sanctified gear will be capped. As you empower more quarters and increase the difficulty further, the full power of your Seal of the Dawn can be unleashed.
  • Players brave and powerful enough to clear all four quarters while empowered will unlock the ability to challenge Sapphiron and Kel’thuzad at their most deadly and will encounter a few special surprises awaiting them in the final wing of Naxxramas, the Frostwyrm Lair.

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2025-01-29 01:39