World of Warcraft Classic's 20th Anniversary Edition servers launched Phase 5 on July 10th, kicking off the massive Ahn'Qiraj War Effort. Both factions now face a race to gather millions of supplies before the gates to C'Thun's domain can be opened.
The War Effort began at 3:00 PM PDT, requiring unprecedented cooperation between players to unlock the twin raids hidden behind Ahn'Qiraj's sealed gates. Fresh start realms will experience this legendary server-wide event for the first time.
Massive Supply Requirements Hit Both Factions
Each faction must deliver staggering quantities of materials before accessing the ancient Qiraji empire. Alliance players need to gather 14,000 Rainbow Fin Albacore, 17,000 Spotted Yellowtail, and 20,000 Roast Raptor just for food supplies.
Bandage requirements dwarf everything else. Alliance forces must collect 800,000 Linen Bandages, 600,000 Silk Bandages, and 400,000 Runecloth Bandages. Metal and leather demands add thousands more items to faction shopping lists.
Horde supply needs follow similar patterns but with different specifications. They'll gather 17,000 Spotted Yellowtail, 10,000 Lean Wolf Steaks, and 10,000 Baked Salmon for their war chest. Bandage quotas include 250,000 Wool Bandages, 250,000 Mageweave Bandages, and 400,000 Runecloth Bandages.
Players turn in supplies to faction commanders in capital cities. Field Marshal Snowfall patrols Ironforge's Military Ward for Alliance contributors, while Warlord Gorchuk paces Orgrimmar's Valley of Spirits for Horde players.
Black Qiraji Mount Creates Scarab Lord Competition
The most coveted reward requires completing the "Scepter of the Shifting Sands" questline and being first to ring the Scarab Gong. Only one player per realm gets the server-wide announcement, but multiple players can earn the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal mount.
Ringing the gong triggers a crucial 10-hour window called the Ten Hour War. Every eligible player must complete their questline and ring the gong during this period to claim the mount. Miss the deadline and the opportunity vanishes forever.
Players who complete the questline through "The Might of Kalimdor" but miss the gong deadline can still claim epic weapons through "Treasures of the Timeless One." Four options await: Fang of Korialstrasz, Shadowsong's Sorrow, Runesword of the Red, or Ravencrest's Legacy.
The questline includes significant raid requirements and complex material gathering. Players can use the Proxy of Nozdormu to deputize others for collecting Silithid Carapace Fragments, turning solo grinding into group efforts.
Two Raids Await Behind the Gates
Ahn'Qiraj houses two distinct raid experiences once the gates open. Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj accommodates 20-player groups, while Temple of Ahn'Qiraj demands full 40-player raids. Both require level 60 characters and sit in Silithus.
Ruins focuses on Cenarion Circle reputation and features six bosses: Kurinnaxx, General Rajaxx, Moam, Buru the Gorger, Ayamiss the Hunter, and Ossirian the Unscarred. This serves as the entry-level Ahn'Qiraj experience.
Temple represents the peak challenge with Brood of Nozdormu reputation requirements. Nine bosses guard its halls: The Prophet Skeram, Silithid Royalty, Battleguard Sartura, Fankriss the Unyielding, Viscidus, Princess Huhuran, The Twin Emperors, Ouro, and C'Thun himself.
Complete Armor Set Overhaul for All Classes
Phase 5 delivers two full armor set tiers for every class. Ruins provides three-piece sets with rings, cloaks, and weapons, while Temple offers five-piece Tier 2.5 armor sets.
Druids claim Symbols of Unending Life from Ruins and Genesis Raiment from Temple. Hunters grab Trappings of the Unseen Path and Striker's Guard respectively. Each class gets thematically appropriate gear from both raids.
Building Tier 2.5 sets requires specific Brood of Nozdormu reputation levels plus Qiraji Tokens, class-specific Idols, and Scarabs from raid encounters. The system rewards dedicated raiders with some of Classic's best gear.
Mages collect Trappings of Vaulted Secrets and Enigma Vestments. Paladins earn Battlegear of Eternal Justice and Avenger's Battlegear. Priests gather Finery of Infinite Wisdom and Garments of the Oracle.
Rogues obtain Emblems of Veiled Shadows and Deathdealer's Embrace. Shamans claim Gift of the Gathering Storm and Stormcaller's Attire. Warlocks acquire Implements of Unspoken Names and Doomcaller's Attire.
Warriors collect Battlegear of Unyielding Strength and Conqueror's Battlegear. Every class receives weapons matching their armor themes, from daggers to maces to axes.
Fail-Safe Systems Prevent Realm Lockouts
Blizzard included automatic assistance for struggling realms. If factions don't complete War Effort requirements within 15 days, the system starts contributing small supply amounts automatically. This mirrors the original version 1.12 mechanics.
The safety net ensures all realms eventually access Ahn'Qiraj before Naxxramas launches. Players still need someone to ring the gong, but supply shortfalls won't permanently lock out content.
Highly motivated realms could see gates open just over one week after launch. The timeline depends on faction completion speed plus the mandatory five-day transport period before materials reach Silithus.
Cross-Faction Intelligence Available
Players can monitor opposing faction progress through special ambassadors. Horde members consult Ambassador General Zog in Ironforge for Alliance intelligence. Alliance players visit Ambassador Commander Stronghammer in Orgrimmar for Horde updates.
This information helps gauge overall server progress and creates additional strategic elements. Factions can adjust contribution efforts based on competition status.
War Effort Commanders also track real-time progress for their own factions. Field Marshal Snowfall and Warlord Gorchuk provide detailed breakdowns of completed and remaining supply requirements.
Server Communities Face Defining Moment
The War Effort represents the first major server-defining event for Anniversary realms. Success requires coordination between individual players, guilds, and entire factions on a scale not seen elsewhere in Classic.
The combination of collective requirements and individual achievements creates unique social dynamics. Players organize resource gathering efforts while competing for limited Scarab Lord positions.
These events establish server hierarchies and relationships that persist through remaining Classic phases. Each realm develops its own timeline and community narrative around opening Ahn'Qiraj.
The limited 10-hour window for Black Qiraji mount acquisition generates intense competition alongside necessary cooperation. Only dedicated players who complete the full questline during this brief period claim the prestigious reward.
Path to Naxxramas Opens
Phase 5 positions Anniversary servers for eventual Naxxramas release. Ahn'Qiraj raids provide crucial gear upgrades and encounter experience needed for Classic's final challenge.
Temple of Ahn'Qiraj's complex mechanics prepare raiders for Naxxramas coordination demands. Guilds mastering C'Thun and Twin Emperors gain valuable experience for the game's ultimate encounters.
The War Effort's fail-safe mechanisms ensure no realm gets left behind before Naxxramas arrives. Every server will eventually access this preparation content regardless of population or organizational challenges.
Fresh start realms now face their biggest collaborative challenge. The coming weeks will determine which servers rise to the occasion and which struggle with the massive coordination requirements. Either way, Ahn'Qiraj's opening marks a pivotal moment in each realm's Classic journey.
