Black Temple opens on the TBC Classic Anniversary realms on August 27, 2026, at 3:00 pm PDT / 6:00 pm EDT / 23:00 BST. It is a level 70, 25-player Phase 3 raid in Shadowmoon Valley with nine bosses. A full clear ends with Illidan Stormrage and can award item level 141 epics, item level 146 Tier 6 pieces, item level 151 Illidan loot, and item level 156 Warglaives of Azzinoth.
Entry requires the Black Temple attunement. The quest chain starts with the Tablets of Baa’ri, passes through The Arcatraz, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep, and the Battle for Mount Hyjal, then awards the Medallion of Karabor. This guide covers the access chain, raid setup, resistance targets, every boss strategy, Tier 6 tokens, notable loot, and the week-one preparation that matters.
Current data: TBC Classic Anniversary Phase 3, client build 2.5.6, reviewed August 21, 2026. Black Temple is not live on Anniversary realms yet. Encounter notes are based on Phase 3 PTR testing and the established TBC Classic mechanics. Live details will be checked again after the August 27 launch.
TBC Anniversary Black Temple Overview
| Raid Detail | TBC Anniversary Black Temple |
|---|---|
| Release Date | August 27, 2026, at 3:00 pm PDT / 23:00 BST |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
| Raid Size | 25 players |
| Required Level | Level 70 |
| Location | Eastern Shadowmoon Valley, entrance at /way 71, 46 |
| Bosses | 9 bosses, ending with Illidan Stormrage |
| Attunement | Required at Phase 3 launch; completed through A Distraction for Akama |
| Raid Reputation | Ashtongue Deathsworn |
| Main Rewards | Tier 6 shoulder, leg, and chest tokens; Warglaives of Azzinoth; Phase 3 weapons, trinkets, epic gems, and profession recipes |
Black Temple and the Battle for Mount Hyjal open together. Both raids are part of Tier 6 progression, but they use separate attunement chains and raid reputations. Black Temple grants Ashtongue Deathsworn reputation, while Mount Hyjal grants Scale of the Sands reputation.
Where Is the Black Temple Entrance?
The Black Temple raid entrance is at /way 71, 46 on the eastern side of Shadowmoon Valley. The portal is reached through a breach in the outer wall that leads into the Karabor Sewers. Do not wait at the large front gate. That is not the raid portal.
The Medallion of Karabor proves the character completed the attunement. After killing Illidan and finishing the follow-up quest, it upgrades to the Blessed Medallion of Karabor. The upgraded neck can teleport its owner to the Black Temple entrance.
How to Get Attuned to Black Temple in TBC Anniversary
Black Temple attunement begins at level 70 after you choose the Aldor or Scryers. Aldor characters start with Anchorite Ceyla at the Altar of Sha’tar, around /way 62.6, 28.4. Scryer characters speak with Arcanist Thelis at the Sanctum of the Stars, around /way 56.2, 59.6.
| Step | Quest or Location | What You Must Complete |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tablets of Baa’ri | Collect 12 Baa’ri Tablet Fragments, then continue the Aldor or Scryer version of the chain. |
| 2 | Ruins of Baa’ri and Warden’s Cage | Kill Oronu the Elder, defeat the four Ashtongue Corruptors, question Sanoru, and reach Akama. |
| 3 | The Arcatraz | Find Seer Udalo in the room before Harbinger Skyriss. Normal or Heroic difficulty works. |
| 4 | The Ata’mal Terrace | Bring a five-player group, kill Shadowlord Deathwail, and loot the Heart of Fury. |
| 5 | Akama’s Promise | Return to Akama, then deliver his message to A’dal in Shattrath City. |
| 6 | Serpentshrine Cavern | Kill Fathom-Lord Karathress and speak with Seer Olum for The Secret Compromised. |
| 7 | Tempest Keep: The Eye | Equip the Ashtongue Cowl before the pull and kill Al’ar for Ruse of the Ashtongue. |
| 8 | Battle for Mount Hyjal | Finish The Vials of Eternity, enter Hyjal, kill Rage Winterchill, and loot the Time-Phased Phylactery. |
| 9 | A Distraction for Akama | Return to Shadowmoon Valley, help Akama enter the temple, and finish the scripted event with Xi’ri. |
| 10 | Medallion of Karabor | Receive the Medallion of Karabor and unlock Black Temple access. |
The Rage Winterchill step cannot be completed before Phase 3 opens. Before August 27, finish the chain through the Al’ar objective and complete The Vials of Eternity. That leaves one Hyjal boss and the final Shadowmoon Valley quests for launch night.
Raid attunements are account-wide on Anniversary realms after one character completes the full chain. Quest progress and item rewards are not shared. An alt can gain raid access from the account unlock, but it will not automatically receive the Medallion of Karabor or its 40 Shadow Resistance.
Need a scheduled Black Temple clear? Choose selfplay or piloted mode for all nine bosses, Tier 6 token chances, Illidan loot, and optional attunement or loot priority.
Best Black Temple Raid Composition
A safe launch setup is 3 tanks, 7 healers, and 15 damage dealers. Groups that need more healing can run eight healers and fourteen DPS. Later farm clears can reduce the healer count, but early Black Temple progress is easier when Naj’entus, Gurtogg, Mother Shahraz, the Illidari Council, and Illidan have enough healing coverage.
| Raid Role | Suggested Count | Black Temple Assignment |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks | 3 | Three tanks are useful for Saber Lash on Mother Shahraz. Illidan also needs a main tank and two Fire Resistance tanks for the Flames of Azzinoth. |
| Healers | 7 to 8 | Plan raid healing for Naj’entus and Mother Shahraz, heavy single-target healing for Fel Rage, and separate tank assignments on Council and Illidan. |
| DPS | 14 to 15 | Keep reliable interrupts, dispels, AoE control, and enough ranged damage for Illidan’s air and Demon Form phases. |
| Warlock Tank | 1 assigned Warlock | A Warlock with high Shadow Resistance tanks Illidan during Demon Form from range. |
| Mage Tank | 1 assigned Mage | A Mage tanks High Nethermancer Zerevor on the Illidari Council and steals Dampen Magic. |
Do not build the entire roster around one theoretical class list. Black Temple asks for specific jobs: Misdirection, reliable interrupts, offensive and defensive dispels, raid healing, a Mage tank, a Shadow Resistance Warlock, and two tanks with Fire Resistance sets. Cover those jobs first.
Black Temple Gear and Resistance Requirements
There is no official item level requirement for Black Temple. A practical launch character should have Phase 2 raid gear, useful Badge of Justice pieces, correct enchants, and gems that preserve hit, expertise, defense, or other required caps. Several encounters also need special sets that normal best-in-slot lists do not cover.
| Encounter | Preparation Target | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| High Warlord Naj’entus | Around 10,000 health or more when buffed | Breaking Tidal Shield deals 8,500 Frost damage to every player. Low-health characters can die if they are not topped before the break. |
| Mother Shahraz | About 244 Shadow Resistance after buffs | Prayer of Shadow Protection supplies 70 resistance. A common target is 174 from gear, enchants, and gems, with the 40-resistance Medallion of Karabor included in that total. |
| Illidan: Flame Tanks | Toward 365 Fire Resistance after buffs | The two Flames of Azzinoth deal heavy Fire damage. About 295 from gear plus a 70-point aura or totem reaches the resistance cap. |
| Illidan: Warlock Tank | About 335 to 365 buffed Shadow Resistance and roughly 12,000 health | The assigned Warlock takes repeated Shadow damage while holding Demon Form at range. |
| Illidan: Main Tank | A dedicated Shear avoidance set | Warrior and Paladin tanks commonly plan around 101.8% combined miss, dodge, parry, and block so Shear cannot land. |
Heart of Darkness crafting recipes from the Ashtongue Deathsworn make the Mother Shahraz set much easier after Black Temple opens. Do not rely on launch-week drops for the first clear. Build a working Shadow Resistance set before your group reaches her, then replace weaker pieces with crafted gear as Hearts of Darkness enter circulation.
Black Temple Boss Order and Main Mechanics
| # | Black Temple Boss | Main Mechanic | Most Common Wipe Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Warlord Naj’entus | Impaling Spine and Tidal Shield | Breaking the shield before the raid is healed |
| 2 | Supremus | Hateful Strike, fixate, and volcanoes | A fixated player kites badly or stands in a Volcanic Geyser |
| 3 | Shade of Akama | Channelers, Sorcerers, and add control | Adds overwhelm the tanks before the Shade is released |
| 4 | Teron Gorefiend | Shadow of Death and Shadowy Constructs | The ghost player fails to kill the Constructs |
| 5 | Gurtogg Bloodboil | Bloodboil rotations and Fel Rage | The Fel Rage target dies or Bloodboil groups overlap |
| 6 | Reliquary of Souls | Three Essences with different raid rules | Missed interrupts or uncontrolled reflected damage |
| 7 | Mother Shahraz | Saber Lash, beams, and Fatal Attraction | Fatal Attraction players run through the raid |
| 8 | The Illidari Council | Four targets sharing one health pool | Lady Malande heals the Council or a tank loses an assigned target |
| 9 | Illidan Stormrage | Five phases, Flames of Azzinoth, Demon Form, and Cage Traps | Resistance tank positioning fails or Shadow Demons reach their targets |
Naj’entus and Supremus come first. After Supremus, Shade of Akama, Teron Gorefiend, Gurtogg Bloodboil, and Reliquary of Souls can be handled in the route chosen by the raid. All four must die before Mother Shahraz becomes available. The final path is Mother Shahraz, the Illidari Council, and Illidan.
TBC Anniversary Black Temple Boss Strategies
High Warlord Naj’entus Strategy
Spread ranged players and healers at least six yards apart to limit Needle Spine splash damage. When a player is hit by Impaling Spine, another raider must click the spine to free them. The item goes into that player’s inventory and is needed for Tidal Shield.
When Naj’entus casts Tidal Shield, stop damage and heal every raider to a safe level. Throw a Naj’entus Spine at the shield to remove it. The break triggers Tidal Burst for 8,500 Frost damage across the raid. Naj’entus also heals while the shield remains active, so the spine should be thrown as soon as the healers confirm that everyone can survive.
Main assignment: Name the spine thrower before the pull and make one healer call when the raid is ready for the shield break.
Common mistake: A player throws the spine immediately and kills raiders who were already damaged by Needle Spine.
Supremus Strategy
Supremus alternates between a tank phase and a chase phase. During the first phase, the main tank holds the boss while a second tank remains in melee range and absorbs Hateful Strike. Everyone moves away from Molten Flame trails.
During the chase phase, Supremus fixates on a player. That player keeps moving without dragging the boss through the raid. The room fills with Volcanic Geysers, and standing in one for more than a moment is usually fatal. Threat resets when the boss returns to the tank phase, so DPS must wait for the tanks to regain control.
Main assignment: Mark clear kite lanes and keep the raid away from the fixated player’s path.
Common mistake: DPS resumes at full speed during the phase change and pulls Supremus before the tank rebuilds threat.
Shade of Akama Strategy
Six Ashtongue Channelers hold the Shade in place. Kill them one at a time and switch to any Ashtongue Sorcerer that runs in to replace a dead Channeler. Tanks collect Defenders and the other adds that enter from the doors while DPS keeps the channeling ring under control.
Once the last Channeler or Sorcerer dies, the Shade reaches Akama and the burn phase begins. The raid has a short window to kill the Shade before Akama is defeated. Save damage cooldowns for this part.
Main assignment: Separate the Channeler team from the add-control team before the pull.
Common mistake: DPS stays on ordinary adds while a new Sorcerer restores a channel on the Shade.
Teron Gorefiend Strategy
Teron is a damage check built around Shadow of Death. A selected player dies when the debuff expires, becomes a Vengeful Spirit, and gains a temporary pet bar. Four Shadowy Constructs spawn with that player. The ghost must use its special abilities to slow, control, and kill the Constructs before they reach the raid.
Players with Shadow of Death move to the assigned ghost area before the timer ends. The rest of the raid stays at range, dispels Incinerate quickly, and keeps damage on Teron. Every raider should practice the ghost controls before raid night. Reading the ability names during the pull is too late.
Main assignment: Set one ghost spawn area and require every raider to know the Vengeful Spirit ability order.
Common mistake: The marked player dies beside the raid, and the Constructs reach healers before the ghost can control them.
Gurtogg Bloodboil Strategy
Use three tanks and let them establish threat before DPS starts. Split fifteen ranged players and healers into three groups of five. The active group stands farthest from Gurtogg to receive Bloodboil, then rotates out so another group takes the next cast.
During Fel Rage, Gurtogg fixates on one random raider and gives that player large health, armor, healing, and damage bonuses. Healers focus the target, and the target uses every defensive tool available. Other players move away from the Fel Rage target and can use damage cooldowns because Insignificance removes their threat generation during this phase.
Main assignment: Put the Bloodboil rotation in raid warnings and assign extra healers to the Fel Rage target.
Common mistake: Two groups stand at the same maximum range and share the wrong Bloodboil cast.
Reliquary of Souls Strategy
The encounter has three Essences. Essence of Suffering disables normal healing and uses Fixate, so the raid works through a controlled phase where avoidance and clean swaps matter. Kill the Enslaved Souls between phases near the raid because their deaths restore health and mana.
Essence of Desire increases healing but drains maximum mana and returns 50% of each player’s damage back to that player. Interrupt Spirit Shock and remove or steal Deaden. DPS must stop large bursts when Deaden is active because the reflected hit can kill them. Essence of Anger is the final burn. Its raid damage increases as the phase continues, so threat setup, interrupts, and cooldown timing decide the kill.
Main assignment: Publish the Spirit Shock interrupt order and the Deaden removal before the pull.
Common mistake: A damage dealer hits into Deaden and dies to the enlarged reflected damage.
Mother Shahraz Strategy
Most launch groups should enter with about 244 Shadow Resistance after buffs. Three tanks stand together in front of Shahraz to split Saber Lash. Casters remain outside the 18-yard Silencing Shriek range, and healers prepare for damage from the rotating beams.
Fatal Attraction teleports three players together and deals repeated Shadow damage around them. Those players must move apart quickly, but they should run away from the tanks and the main raid stack. Movement speed on boots is useful here. At 10% health, Shahraz enrages, so save enough cooldowns to finish the last part cleanly.
Main assignment: Define safe Fatal Attraction directions around the room before the first pull.
Common mistake: Linked players cross the raid while separating and add Fatal Attraction damage to everyone they pass.
The Illidari Council Strategy
The Council contains Gathios the Shatterer, High Nethermancer Zerevor, Veras Darkshadow, and Lady Malande. They share one health pool, but each target needs a separate assignment. A normal tank controls Gathios. A Mage tanks Zerevor from range and uses Spellsteal on Dampen Magic. Another tank handles Veras after each Vanish.
Lady Malande needs a strict interrupt plan. Circle of Healing restores a large amount of the shared health pool, while Divine Wrath and Reflective Shield punish loose execution. Move Gathios out of Consecration, keep Zerevor away from the raid, and follow the raid leader’s damage target even though all damage reduces the same encounter health.
Main assignment: Assign every tank, Mage Spellsteal, cleanse, and Malande interrupt before anyone engages the Council.
Common mistake: One missed Circle of Healing erases a large part of the raid’s progress and extends an already long fight.
Illidan Stormrage Strategy
Illidan is a five-phase encounter. During the first ground phase, the main tank controls Illidan while the raid handles Shear and Parasitic Shadowfiend. Infected players move to the assigned parasite area before the adds appear. At 65% health, Illidan takes flight and throws down both Warglaives.
Each Warglaive summons a Flame of Azzinoth. Two Fire Resistance tanks keep the Flames close enough to their blades and away from Eye Blast paths. The raid stays in planned groups, kills both Flames, and avoids pulling them too far from their glaives. Once Illidan lands, the fight returns to ground mechanics and begins alternating with Demon Form.
A Shadow Resistance Warlock tanks Demon Form from range. The rest of the raid stays at least 20 yards from that Warlock to avoid Shadow Blast splash damage. Shadow Demons must die before they reach their linked players. At 30% health, Maiev Shadowsong joins the fight and places Cage Traps. Pull Illidan onto an active trap, then use the stun window to finish the fight.
Main assignment: Lock in the main tank, both Flame paths, the Warlock tank position, parasite drop point, Shadow Demon priority, and Cage Trap caller before progression starts.
Common mistake: A Flame tank crosses an Eye Blast line or moves a Flame too far from its Warglaive, which triggers lethal damage.
TBC Anniversary Black Temple Loot
Most Black Temple boss and trash epics are item level 141. Tier 6 pieces are item level 146. Illidan’s normal drops are item level 151, while both Warglaives of Azzinoth are item level 156. Black Temple also drops epic gems, Heart of Darkness crafting materials, profession patterns, and valuable Bind-on-Pickup trash epics.
| Boss | Tier 6 Drop | Notable Black Temple Loot |
|---|---|---|
| High Warlord Naj’entus | None | Rising Tide, The Maelstrom’s Fury, Halberd of Desolation |
| Supremus | None | The Brutalizer, Syphon of the Nathrezim, Legionkiller |
| Shade of Akama | None | Ring of Deceitful Intent, Blind-Seer’s Icon, Kilt of Immortal Nature |
| Teron Gorefiend | None | Soul Cleaver, Shadowmoon Destroyer’s Drape, Rifle of the Stoic Guardian |
| Gurtogg Bloodboil | None | Shadowmoon Insignia, Staff of Immaculate Recovery, Messenger of Fate |
| Reliquary of Souls | None | Torch of the Damned, Naaru-Blessed Life Rod, Crown of Empowered Fate |
| Mother Shahraz | Shoulder tokens | Blade of Savagery, Shadowmaster’s Boots, Nadina’s Pendant of Purity |
| The Illidari Council | Leg tokens | Madness of the Betrayer, Cloak of the Illidari Council, Helm of the Illidari Shatterer |
| Illidan Stormrage | Chest tokens | Warglaives of Azzinoth, The Skull of Gul’dan, Bulwark of Azzinoth, Cursed Vision of Sargeras, Zhar’doom |
The table lists the most searched rewards rather than every item. Use the full Black Temple loot table when building class-specific Phase 3 best-in-slot lists.
Black Temple Tier 6 Tokens
Black Temple supplies three of the five original Tier 6 armor slots. Mother Shahraz drops shoulders, the Illidari Council drops legs, and Illidan drops chest tokens. The gloves come from Azgalor in Mount Hyjal, while the helm comes from Archimonde. A complete five-piece Tier 6 set therefore requires both Phase 3 raids.
| Tier 6 Token | Classes | Black Temple Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Forgotten Protector | Warrior, Hunter, Shaman | Shoulders, legs, and chest |
| Forgotten Vanquisher | Rogue, Mage, Druid | Shoulders, legs, and chest |
| Forgotten Conqueror | Paladin, Priest, Warlock | Shoulders, legs, and chest |
Exchange the tokens with Tydormu at the entrance to the Battle for Mount Hyjal. Set loot rules before the first clear. Tier tokens, Madness of the Betrayer, and the Warglaives will attract more competition than ordinary off-set drops.
Warglaives of Azzinoth Drop Chance
Illidan drops separate main-hand and off-hand Warglaives of Azzinoth. Each blade has an estimated drop chance of about 5%. The rolls are independent, so receiving one blade does not make the missing blade more likely on the next reset. A 5% drop rate also does not guarantee a Warglaive after twenty kills.
Only Warriors and Rogues can equip the Warglaives in TBC Classic. Completing the pair activates The Twin Blades of Azzinoth set bonuses, including the haste proc and extra attack power against Demons. Guilds should decide the eligible character and backup recipient before the first Illidan kill.
Ashtongue Deathsworn Reputation
Black Temple trash usually awards 15 to 25 Ashtongue Deathsworn reputation, while bosses award roughly 200 to 250. A full clear with normal trash can provide around 7,700 reputation, so Exalted commonly takes about five complete clears. The exact number changes when a raid skips packs or stops before Illidan.
Okuno, the faction vendor inside Black Temple, sells profession recipes at earlier reputation levels and class-specific epic trinkets at Exalted. The Shadow Resistance crafting recipes are especially important for Mother Shahraz progression because they use Hearts of Darkness found inside the raid.
Black Temple Week-One Checklist
| Preparation Task | When to Finish It |
|---|---|
| Complete the Black Temple chain through the Al’ar kill with the Ashtongue Cowl equipped | Before August 27 |
| Complete The Vials of Eternity for Mount Hyjal access | Before August 27 |
| Kill Rage Winterchill and finish A Distraction for Akama | After Phase 3 opens |
| Build about 244 buffed Shadow Resistance for Mother Shahraz | Before the first Mother Shahraz pull |
| Prepare two Fire Resistance tanks and one Shadow Resistance Warlock for Illidan | Before the first Illidan pull |
| Create the main tank’s Shear avoidance set | Before the first Illidan pull |
| Practice the Teron Gorefiend ghost controls | Before entering Black Temple |
| Publish Council interrupts, Bloodboil rotations, and Illidan tank paths | Before raid invites |
| Set Tier 6, trinket, and Warglaive loot rules | Before the first boss pull |
The easiest launch-night failure to avoid is the Al’ar quest mistake. The player must wear the Ashtongue Cowl when Al’ar dies. A completed kill without the disguise does not satisfy Ruse of the Ashtongue.
Sources and Update Policy
The August 27 release date, raid size, level, boss list, reputation, and Phase 3 content come from Blizzard’s Black Temple launch announcement. Attunement, item levels, Tier 6 tokens, boss mechanics, and loot were checked against the current Black Temple raid overview, dedicated encounter guides.
This page will be reviewed after Black Temple opens on August 27, 2026. Any Anniversary-specific boss change, attunement issue, resistance breakpoint, loot adjustment, or confirmed difference from PTR testing will be added with a new review date.
FAQ
When does Black Temple release in TBC Anniversary?
Black Temple releases globally on August 27, 2026, at 3:00 pm PDT, 6:00 pm EDT, and 23:00 BST. The Battle for Mount Hyjal opens at the same time.
How many players and bosses are in Black Temple?
Black Temple is a 25-player raid with nine bosses. The final boss is Illidan Stormrage.
Where is the Black Temple entrance in TBC Classic?
The entrance is at approximately /way 71, 46 in eastern Shadowmoon Valley. Enter through the breach in the outer wall that leads into the Karabor Sewers.
Do I need Black Temple attunement in TBC Anniversary?
Yes. Black Temple requires attunement at the Phase 3 launch. Complete the Akama quest chain through A Distraction for Akama to receive the Medallion of Karabor and unlock access.
Is Black Temple attunement account-wide?
Yes. Once one character completes the full raid attunement, Black Temple access unlocks for the other characters on the same Battle.net account. Quest progress and the Medallion of Karabor reward are not granted to those alts automatically.
Can I finish Black Temple attunement before August 27?
No. You can complete the chain through the Al’ar step and finish your Mount Hyjal attunement before launch. The final Black Temple steps require a Rage Winterchill kill inside Mount Hyjal, which does not open until August 27.
How much Shadow Resistance do I need for Mother Shahraz?
Many progression groups target about 244 Shadow Resistance after buffs. Prayer of Shadow Protection supplies 70, so the common unbuffed target is 174. The Medallion of Karabor contributes 40 of that amount.
What resistance gear is needed for Illidan?
Two tanks need Fire Resistance for the Flames of Azzinoth, with early progression sets often built toward the 365 resistance cap after buffs. A Warlock also needs high Shadow Resistance, commonly 335 to 365 after buffs, to tank Illidan’s Demon Form.
What Tier 6 pieces drop in Black Temple?
Mother Shahraz drops Tier 6 shoulder tokens, the Illidari Council drops leg tokens, and Illidan Stormrage drops chest tokens. Tier 6 gloves and helms come from Azgalor and Archimonde in Mount Hyjal.
What is the Warglaive of Azzinoth drop chance?
The main-hand and off-hand Warglaives each have an estimated drop chance of about 5% from Illidan. They drop separately, and only Warriors and Rogues can equip them in TBC Classic.
How long does a Black Temple clear take?
Plan several hours for an early progression run because the instance has nine bosses and long trash sections. A practiced raid with the required resistance sets and assignments will finish much faster than a launch group learning Teron, Council, and Illidan during the clear.
What is the hardest boss in Black Temple?
Illidan is the most assignment-heavy encounter, but progression can also stop at Teron Gorefiend, Reliquary of Souls, Mother Shahraz, or the Illidari Council. The hardest boss for a specific raid usually depends on ghost execution, resistance preparation, interrupt discipline, and special tank assignments.
