Black Temple still requires one of the longest raid unlock chains in TBC Anniversary Phase 3, sending you through Shadowmoon Valley, Arcatraz, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep, and Mount Hyjal before you can finally enter the raid. Anniversary changes removed some older raid access requirements and made Black Temple attunement account-wide, but the core questline — and several easy-to-miss steps — still remain.
In this guide, we cover:
- Black Temple attunement requirements in TBC Anniversary Phase 3
- What changed with SSC, Tempest Keep, and Mount Hyjal access
- Where to start the Black Temple attunement questline
- The full 16-step attunement chain
- Arcatraz, Karathress, Al’ar, and Rage Winterchill requirements
- How to earn the Medallion of Karabor
- What unlocks after attunement, including the Blessed Medallion of Karabor
Once you’re inside, our Black Temple Raid Guide covers resistance preparation, trash mechanics, all nine bosses, Tier 6 tokens, and Illidan loot.
Quick Facts
- Level 70 required
- Aldor or Scryer allegiance required
- Account-wide once completed
- Requires visits to Arcatraz, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep, and Mount Hyjal
- SSC and Tempest Keep access attunements are no longer required in Anniversary Phase 3, but Mount Hyjal attunement still is
- Final reward: Medallion of Karabor
- Available with Phase 3 since August 27, 2026
Black Temple Attunement Changes in TBC Anniversary Phase 3
The old SSC and Tempest Keep access attunements are gone — you can enter those raids without completing their original attunement chains. Mount Hyjal is different: you still need to complete The Vials of Eternity to enter Hyjal, which means collecting Vashj’s Vial Remnant and Kael’s Vial Remnant. That’s relevant to Black Temple attunement too, since An Artifact From the Past sends you into Hyjal to kill Rage Winterchill.
Attunement is account-wide. One character finishing the chain unlocks Black Temple for your alts too — you only need to do this once per account. Quest progress itself doesn’t carry over, and it’s not yet fully clear whether an alt’s account-wide access also hands over the Medallion of Karabor and its 40 Shadow Resistance. If you want that on a specific character, it may still be worth running the chain on it directly.
Where Is Black Temple?
Black Temple sits in eastern Shadowmoon Valley (/way 71 46). The actual raid entrance isn’t the giant front gate you can see from a distance — it’s the smaller opening into the Karabor Sewers nearby. Don’t waste time looking for a way into the front doors; there isn’t one.
Where to Start the Black Temple Attunement
You must be level 70, have finished the Shattrath intro (through City of Light), and have picked Aldor or Scryer:
- Aldor: Anchorite Ceyla, Altar of Sha’tar (/way 62.6 28.4)
- Scryer: Arcanist Thelis, Sanctum of the Stars (/way 56.2 59.6)
Both lead into Tablets of Baa’ri.
Don’t want to work through the entire quest chain yourself? The TBC Anniversary Black Temple Attunement Boost completes the required dungeon and raid steps, finishes A Distraction for Akama, earns the Medallion of Karabor, and unlocks Black Temple for your character.
Black Temple Attunement Quest Chain: All 16 Steps
Budget more than one evening for this. The chain moves through Shadowmoon Valley, The Arcatraz, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep, and Mount Hyjal before sending you back to Black Temple for the final unlock.
Shadowmoon Valley: Tablets of Baa’ri to Akama
- Tablets of Baa’ri — collect 12 Baa’ri Tablet Fragments. Some can be picked up as ground spawns around the area.
- Oronu the Elder — kill Oronu the Elder and loot Orders From Akama.
- The Ashtongue Corruptors — recover all four medallion fragments from the Ashtongue Corruptors in Shadowmoon Valley.
- The Warden’s Cage — travel to the Warden’s Cage and speak to Sanoru.
- Proof of Allegiance — kill Zandras to prove your allegiance.
- Akama — find Akama beneath the Warden’s Cage and continue the questline.
The Arcatraz: Seer Udalo and Ata’mal Terrace
- Seer Udalo — enter The Arcatraz on Normal or Heroic and find Udalo dead on the ramp before Harbinger Skyriss. Anyone with the Key to the Arcatraz can open the dungeon door, or a Rogue can lockpick it with 350 Lockpicking.
- A Mysterious Portent — return to Akama with what you learned from Udalo.
- The Ata’mal Terrace — bring roughly a five-player group and kill the three elite Fel Orcs channeling the Heart. Shadowlord Deathwail will then descend; kill him and loot the Heart of Fury.
- Akama’s Promise — deliver Akama’s message to A’dal in Shattrath.
There is no immediate follow-up quest after Akama’s Promise. The chain resumes once you kill Fathom-Lord Karathress in Serpentshrine Cavern and speak to Seer Olum.
Serpentshrine Cavern: Fathom-Lord Karathress
- The Secret Compromised — kill Fathom-Lord Karathress in Serpentshrine Cavern. After the fight, speak to Seer Olum behind his platform to continue the Black Temple attunement chain.
Tempest Keep: Al’ar and Ruse of the Ashtongue
- Ruse of the Ashtongue — kill Al’ar in Tempest Keep while wearing the Ashtongue Cowl disguise.
Dying and remaining dead still preserves the disguise and gives quest credit. However, if you’re battle-rezzed, re-equip the Ashtongue Cowl before Al’ar dies, because being resurrected removes the disguise. This is an easy step to lose a raid lockout on, so make sure the quest is active and the Cowl is equipped before the pull.
Need more than the individual attunement kills from Phase 2? The TBC Anniversary All Phase 2 Raids Bundle clears both Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep, giving you access to their Tier 5 loot while covering the raids that Black Temple progression keeps sending you back into.
Mount Hyjal: Rage Winterchill
Before continuing, make sure you’ve completed The Vials of Eternity and unlocked Mount Hyjal. Phase 3 removed the old SSC and Tempest Keep access attunements, but Mount Hyjal still requires its own attunement.
- An Artifact From the Past — pick up the quest from Akama, enter Mount Hyjal, and fight through the first eight trash waves to reach Rage Winterchill. Kill him and loot the Time-Phased Phylactery.
Still locked out of Hyjal? The TBC Anniversary Mount Hyjal Attunement Boost completes The Vials of Eternity, including the required Lady Vashj and Kael’thas kills, so you can enter Hyjal and continue the Black Temple chain at Rage Winterchill.
Final Black Temple Attunement Quests
- The Hostage Soul — return to Shattrath and speak to A’dal.
- Entry Into the Black Temple — travel to Black Temple and speak to Xi’ri outside the entrance at /way 65.2 44.0.
- A Distraction for Akama — help Xi’ri’s forces create a diversion so Akama and Maiev can enter Black Temple. Completing the quest awards the Medallion of Karabor and unlocks Black Temple access.
Black Temple Attunement Checklist
| Step | Requirement |
| Level 70, faction chosen, Shattrath intro complete | Prerequisite for the whole chain |
| Ashtongue questline through Akama’s Promise | Shadowmoon Valley + Arcatraz |
| The Secret Compromised | Kill Fathom-Lord Karathress (SSC) |
| Ruse of the Ashtongue | Kill Al’ar while disguised (TK) |
| An Artifact From the Past | Kill Rage Winterchill (Hyjal) |
| Final quests | A’dal → Xi’ri → A Distraction for Akama |
| Reward | Medallion of Karabor — Black Temple unlocked |
If that checklist is more progression than you want to coordinate, the TBC Anniversary Black Temple Attunement Boost handles the full access chain through Arcatraz, SSC, Tempest Keep, Mount Hyjal, and the final Medallion of Karabor quest.
After Black Temple Attunement: Blessed Medallion of Karabor
The Medallion isn’t the end of the story — a parallel questline runs alongside your raid progression: Seek Out the Ashtongue → Redemption of the Ashtongue → kill Shade of Akama → The Fall of the Betrayer → kill Illidan → Blessed Medallion of Karabor.
The base Medallion doesn’t teleport you to BT. The Blessed Medallion — an Epic upgrade earned after this follow-up chain — adds an on-use teleport to BT’s entrance on a 15-minute cooldown, independent of your Hearthstone.
Finishing the attunement chain also leaves you Friendly with the Ashtongue Deathsworn before your first pull — which happens to be exactly the reputation threshold where the first Shadow Resistance recipes unlock. Handy timing, whether or not it was intentional.
Quick Takeaways
- The attunement chain gates you well before Mother Shahraz — start early.
- Phase 3 removed the old SSC/TK/Hyjal access attunements, but the BT chain still sends you to all three anyway.
- Attunement is account-wide; only one character needs to finish it.
- Don’t skip the Ashtongue Cowl disguise kill on Al’ar.
- The follow-up chain to the Blessed Medallion runs alongside your raid progression, not before it.
Attuned and ready to raid? Our Black Temple Raid Guide covers resistance preparation, trash, all nine bosses, Tier 6 tokens, and Illidan loot.
Want to go beyond unlocking the raids and finish the whole Tier 6 tier? The TBC Anniversary All Phase 3 Raids Bundle combines Black Temple and Mount Hyjal across all 14 bosses, with both Phase 3 attunements, Tier 6 opportunities, raid loot, and Scale of the Sands reputation included.
Check out more TBC Anniversary guides:
- TBC Anniversary Mount Hyjal Attunement Guide: Unlock Hyjal in 4 Steps
- TBC Anniversary Mount Hyjal Raid Guide: Survive 32 Waves & Beat Archimonde
- TBC Anniversary Black Temple Raid Guide: How to Beat All 9 Bosses
- TBC Anniversary Phase 3 Tier List: Best Classes for Black Temple, Mount Hyjal & Arena Season 3
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get attuned to Black Temple in TBC Classic Anniversary?
You must complete the full Black Temple attunement chain beginning in Shadowmoon Valley and continuing through The Arcatraz, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep, Mount Hyjal, and the final quests outside Black Temple. The chain ends with A Distraction for Akama, which awards the Medallion of Karabor and unlocks Black Temple.
Where do you start the Black Temple attunement quest chain?
At level 70, finish the Shattrath introduction through City of Light and choose Aldor or Scryer. Aldor players begin with Anchorite Ceyla at the Altar of Sha’tar, while Scryer players begin with Arcanist Thelis at the Sanctum of the Stars. Both routes lead into Tablets of Baa’ri.
Is Black Temple attunement account-wide in TBC Anniversary?
Yes. Once one character completes the Black Temple attunement, access is unlocked for your other characters on the account. Individual quest progress does not carry between characters.
What level do you need to start Black Temple attunement?
You need to be level 70, complete the Shattrath introduction, and choose either Aldor or Scryer before starting the main chain.
What are the requirements for Black Temple attunement?
You need level 70, an Aldor or Scryer allegiance, completion of the Shadowmoon Valley and Arcatraz portions of the chain, specific kills in Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep, and access to Mount Hyjal for the Rage Winterchill step.
Do you still need SSC and Tempest Keep attunements for Black Temple?
No. Anniversary Phase 3 removed the old access attunements for Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep. You still have to enter those raids for Black Temple quest objectives, but their original access chains are no longer required.
Do you need Mount Hyjal attunement for Black Temple?
Yes. Mount Hyjal still requires The Vials of Eternity, and Black Temple attunement sends you into Hyjal to kill Rage Winterchill. That makes Hyjal access a required part of completing the Black Temple chain.
How do you complete The Vials of Eternity for Mount Hyjal?
You need to obtain Vashj’s Vial Remnant from Lady Vashj in Serpentshrine Cavern and Kael’s Vial Remnant from Kael’thas in Tempest Keep. Completing The Vials of Eternity unlocks Mount Hyjal.
Which raid bosses do you need to kill for Black Temple attunement?
The Black Temple chain itself requires kills on:
- Fathom-Lord Karathress in Serpentshrine Cavern
- Al’ar in Tempest Keep
- Rage Winterchill in Mount Hyjal
Mount Hyjal access also requires Lady Vashj and Kael’thas through The Vials of Eternity.
Do you need the Arcatraz key for Black Temple attunement?
Not necessarily. Someone in your group can open The Arcatraz with the Key to the Arcatraz, or a Rogue can open the door with 350 Lockpicking.
Can the Seer Udalo quest be completed on Normal Arcatraz?
Yes. Seer Udalo can be completed on either Normal or Heroic Arcatraz. Udalo is found dead on the ramp before Harbinger Skyriss.
What quest comes after Akama’s Promise?
There is no immediate follow-up quest after turning in Akama’s Promise to A’dal. The chain resumes after you kill Fathom-Lord Karathress in Serpentshrine Cavern and speak to Seer Olum behind his platform.
Where is Seer Olum after Fathom-Lord Karathress?
Seer Olum appears behind Fathom-Lord Karathress’s platform after the boss is defeated. Speak to him there to continue the Black Temple attunement chain.
What happens if you forget the Ashtongue Cowl when killing Al’ar?
You need the Ashtongue Cowl disguise active when Al’ar dies for Ruse of the Ashtongue. If you miss the requirement, you will not receive the required quest credit from that kill.
Do you lose Ruse of the Ashtongue credit if you die or get battle-rezzed?
Dying and remaining dead does not remove the disguise for quest-credit purposes. If you are battle-rezzed, however, the disguise is removed, so re-equip the Ashtongue Cowl before Al’ar dies.
How do you complete An Artifact From the Past and get the Time-Phased Phylactery?
After unlocking Mount Hyjal, take An Artifact From the Past from Akama. Enter Hyjal, fight through the first eight trash waves, kill Rage Winterchill, and loot the Time-Phased Phylactery.
How do you get the Medallion of Karabor?
Complete the entire Black Temple attunement chain through A Distraction for Akama. The final quest awards the Medallion of Karabor and unlocks Black Temple access.
Does the Medallion of Karabor teleport you to Black Temple?
No. The base Medallion of Karabor does not have the Black Temple teleport. That ability belongs to the upgraded Blessed Medallion of Karabor.
How do you get the Blessed Medallion of Karabor?
After completing the initial attunement, continue the follow-up Ashtongue questline while progressing through Black Temple. The chain includes Shade of Akama and Illidan Stormrage and eventually upgrades the Medallion to the Blessed Medallion of Karabor, which can teleport you to the Black Temple entrance on a 15-minute cooldown.
Do alts get Black Temple access and the Medallion of Karabor automatically?
Black Temple access is account-wide once one character finishes the chain. Quest progress itself is not shared, and it is still not fully clear whether an alt receiving account-wide raid access also automatically receives the physical Medallion of Karabor and its 40 Shadow Resistance. If you specifically want the Medallion on an alt, completing the chain on that character remains the safer option.
