The TBC Classic Anniversary server population really did fall: the raid-log count went from 212,821 characters in the week of 8–14 September 2026 to 79,345 across the tracked realms for 14–20 October. That is a raider count built from uploaded raid logs, not a census of every character on your realm. The newest census week, 21 October, counted more raiders than the week before in both regions.
How big was the drop?
The first week after the WoW Forever beta opened saw TBC Anniversary fall from 212,821 raiders in the week of 8–14 September to 124,487 in 15–21 September, a loss of 88,334.
By the 14–20 October window the count was 79,345 characters raiding at least once, 50,524 of them on EU realms.
Why it fell
The drop coincided with the first week of the WoW Forever beta, entry to which came through a $60 bundle with guaranteed beta access. WoW Forever launches on 4 November.
Mists of Pandaria Classic showed the same pattern at the same moment, going from 33,125 raiders to 24,971 with the beta launch.
Which realms still have raiders
The realms with reported raiding counts in the 14–20 October window:
- Spineshatter (EU PvP): 27,131 raiding characters, split 44.8% to 55.2% across the two factions.
- Thunderstrike (EU PvE): 23,084 characters, an even 50.1% to 49.9% split.
- Dreamscythe (US PvE): 14,505 characters, split 49.6% to 50.4%.
- Nightslayer (US PvP): 14,316 characters, split 49.6% to 50.4%.
- Russian PvP realm (EU): 309 characters.
What the counts do and don't measure
Every number is based on how many times characters show up in Warcraft Logs raid records for one weekly lockout, meaning a player with three raiding characters is counted three times.
Characters whose faction the logs did not publish are included in the totals rather than guessed at or dropped. A realm with no uploaded logs in a given week shows nothing for that week. The EU 21 October week was a thin week with two realms reporting instead of three.
That makes these a measure of raiding engagement and a useful proxy for realm activity, not a true census of every player.
What is live now and what is left
Zul'Aman went live on 22 October 2026 as a level 70 raid in the Ghostlands, with Nalorakk, Akil'zon, Jan'alai, Halazzi, Hex Lord Malacrass and Zul'jin as its bosses. It needs no attunement and resets on a three-day lockout.
Rescue every hostage before the timer runs out and the raid earns the Amani War Bear, and each lieutenant you kill adds loot and extends the clock.
Sunwell Plateau is the final major raid tier of TBC Anniversary, coming after Zul'Aman.
Catch-up changes that came with the phase
- Black Temple and The Battle for Mount Hyjal: no longer require attunement to enter. TBC Anniversary Black Temple raid guide covers the raid itself.
- Heroic dungeon keys: the reputation requirement to buy them dropped to Honored.
- Heroic dungeons: all adjusted to their final, reduced difficulty state.
- Doomlord Kazzak and Doomwalker: their loot is now Bind on Equip instead of Bind on Pickup.
- Badges of Justice: now drop from Doomlord Kazzak, Doomwalker, and bosses in Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, Magtheridon's Lair, Serpentshrine Cavern, Tempest Keep and Zul'Aman.
- G'eras in Shattrath: sells more powerful goods for badges, including Nether Vortex.
- Epic gems: Magtheridon's Black Sack of Gems and Jewelcrafter's Brilliant Glass can now contain them, though sacks looted earlier and existing Brilliant Glasses will not.
- Primal Nether and Nether Vortex: no longer soulbound.
- Outland faction vendors: now offer Leatherworking recipes for Greater Drums, Knothide Quiver, and Knothide Ammo Pouch.
Should you worry about your guild?
Watch your own realm rather than the headline number. Two EU realms held 50,215 of the 50,524 EU raiders counted for 14–20 October, so a raiding roster on a smaller realm has far less to draw on than one on Spineshatter or Thunderstrike.
The phase gave struggling rosters two reasons to rebuild: Zul'Aman needs no attunement, and Black Temple and Hyjal dropped theirs.
If farming gold for consumables and repairs is the part you would rather hand off, TBC Classic Anniversary Gold covers that.
What players were asking
On the official forums in late September, players asked whether their TBC Anniversary and Mists of Pandaria characters had a future and whether those servers would continue into Wrath or Warlords, saying the roadmaps had pointed them to BlizzCon for answers. The World of Warcraft Classic 2026 Roadmap is where the next step after Sunwell would appear.
Page updates
November 3, 2026
- What is live now and what is left: Sunwell Plateau is the final major raid tier of TBC Anniversary, coming after Zul'Aman.
October 20, 2026
- 86,503 raiders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TBC Classic Anniversary dying?
Raiding counts fell from 212,821 in the week of 8–14 September to 79,345 for 14–20 October, but the 21 October census week was higher than the week before in both regions, and Sunwell Plateau is still to come.
What phase is TBC Classic Anniversary in?
Zul'Aman, live since 22 October 2026 with no attunement and a three-day lockout. Sunwell Plateau is the final major raid tier, coming after Zul'Aman.
Will TBC Anniversary go to Wrath of the Lich King?
Whether TBC Anniversary will progress into Wrath of the Lich King is unclear.
