Every game needs new content sooner or later, even a vintage favorite like Classic World of Warcraft. Other than the new zones that everyone rolls an alt to explore, The Burning Crusade is all about the new end game content for your main, and everything else is gravy. In the days before Heroic dungeons existed that meant raids. These were the 20 and 40 players dungeons that were of a higher difficulty level and dropped the best loot.
In response to overwhelming demand, Blizzard added nine new raids with The Burning Crusade and the same ones are in the current Classic WoW expansion. That's impressive considering that there were only seven in the whole of the original game. The raids in TBC require attunement like their Classic counterparts, and that includes a long process to follow that lasts for ten levels. Players take on a lengthy quest chain that takes them through several dungeons and raids, although not all TBC raids are included in the questline. As they progress so does the difficulty. The following list generally follows the same ranking as the TBC raid progression quests.
Updated by Kristy Ambrose on June 11th, 2021: Now that The Burning Crusade expansion is live, we've reviewed our raid addons and have added more current information. This includes more details regarding the attunement process that starts at level 60 for players that plan to raid at level 70. Even when a raid has a level requirement, if there's a quest for the attunement process, players can usually start it a few levels earlier and be able to access the raid immediately. There are also two outdoor raid bosses in Outland that deserve a spot on the list.
11 Karazhan, Level 70
Ever wonder why Deadwind Pass and the adjacent zone, Duskwood, are so messed up? It's time to find out, and we're not just farming runecloth from ogres this time. There's a lot of lore and powerful magical items to be found in Medivh's former home. Karazhan is one of the easiest of the new raids, only requires 10 players, and it's the first one most players get into after they hit 70.
The attunement process, however, is a lengthy one and it's recommended that players start the long quest chain as soon as it becomes available at level 68. You can start this questline in Shattrath with a former apprentice who sends you to the location or just head straight to Deadwind Pass and find the quest on your own.
10 Zul-Aman, Level 70
The new Blood Elf zones are usually associated with starting levels, but the enemies of the Sin'Dorei are still in the Ghostlands, and they aren't done yet. That refers to Trolls along with the Scourge, which explains Zul'Aman. Low-level players will also have some Troll encounters while they grind through the zone.
Players will learn about one of Azeroth's oldest and most bitter rivalries while they explore Zul'Aman, which consists of a city and temple, populated by the Amani Tribe. This is slightly tougher than Karazhan and has better loot but it's one of the few raids not required for the attunement process. Players can access the raid at level 68 but the recommended level is 70.
9 Doom Lord Kazzak, Level 70
Players from Classic WoW will remember some shenanigans with this character, who was once close enough to kite into Alliance territory to wreak some havoc. Originally an elite boss from the Blasted Lands, he can be found today in Hellfire Peninsula at the Throne of Kil'jaeden.
This big baddy hits for an average of 8000 and fighting him is no joke. You need a group of at least 30 players, all with gear from at least Karazhan, to even have a chance against him. The good news is he's an outdoor boss and no attunement is required.
8 Gruul's Lair, Level 70
One of the new raids that's more like Onyxia's Lair, in the sense that the design is only a small cave with some trash and two bosses. This is also part of a long quest chain that leads through the Bladefist Mountains as well as being connected to the raid attunement questline. You also don't need to be on the quests to join a raid to kill Gruul.
Regarding difficulty level, overall this is one of the easiest raids to access as it doesn't require attunements but still has some great loot. Players get here as soon as possible for the tradeable armor tokens, some of which are Best-in-Slot (BiS) for some classes.
7 Serpentshrine Cavern, Level 70
Serpentshrine Cavern is the fourth and last instance in Coilfang Reservoir in Zangarmarsh, and by the time most players reach this raid, they will already be familiar with how to access the entrance. After players visit Karazhan and Gruul's lair, they'll receive the Mark of Vashj and are attuned to enter the cavern.
It's not just the gear and the attunement chain that brings players here. There are also plenty of high-level patterns and recipes that drop from the trash in this instance, so it's worth the trip even if you're not doing the attunement chain.
6 Magtheridon’s Lair, Level 70
This is the raid wing of Hellfire Citadel, a prominent landmark on the ashen landscape only steps from the Dark Portal. Players that are looking for Tier 4 armor tokens will visit this raid, which falls in the middle of the list regarding difficulty level and doesn't require attunement, but you do need to be level 70 in order to enter the instance.
It's a quick visit, similar to Gruul's Lair and Onxyia, to a raid that consists of only a few rooms and in this case, four bosses. Players can actually see the pit where he's kept when going through the Blood Furnace, a level 62 dungeon, that's located upstairs. There are separate quests connected to the raid if you need an extra incentive to visit.
5 Doomwalker, level 70
Players get to know more generic Fel Reavers in Hellfire Penninsula and considering how big and noisy this thing is, it's impressive how often it sneaks up on people. This is a special Fel Reaver and it patrols Shadowmoon Valley, sent by Kil'jaeden to guard the Gates of the Black Temple.
He's not a part of the Black Temple instance and is considered a world boss, so the attunement required for the raid isn't needed to group up and kill him. The Doomwalker is found outside the main gates, but players access the raid through an entrance in the Ruins of Karabor to the south.
4 The Eye, Level 70
Players visit the pinnacle of Tempest Keep close to the end of the TBC raid attunement process. After completing Serpentshrine Cavern, killing Lady Vashj, and finishing "The Hand of Gul'dan" quest, players are tasked with defeating the final boss of this raid, Kael'thas Sunstrider.
They now have the materials to complete the attunement for Mount Hyjal. However, even if players not on the attunement quest the Tier 5 armor tokens drop here, along with the rare and beautiful Ashes of Al'ar mount.
3 The Battle for Mount Hyjal, Level 70
This is where the Tier 6 armor tokens drop, which is the real meaning behind a crazy quest chain that started way back in Karazhan and continues here. Mount Hyjal is located in the Caverns of Time, a location that includes two other instances that are also part of the attunement process. Players usually start with Old Hillsbrad Foothills, followed by Black Morass, before advancing to this raid.
The Caverns of Time is made up of two 5-player instances and one 25-player raid. Like the other two, it recounts the story of another famous historic event. Players who are familiar with the Night Elf campaign from Warcraft 3 will recognize the fight against Archimonde and the Burning Legion at Nordrassil, the first World Tree.
2 Black Temple, Level 70
Naturally, the icon of the expansion would have its own raid, and it would have to be close to the top of the ranking for the most difficult. Illidan Stormrage is one of the most powerful characters in Azerothian lore, so he's not exactly a pushover.
It's not just the Tier 6 pieces that drop here, it's also those crazy fist weapons Illidan is always pictured holding, The Twin Blades of Azzinoth. This is the pinnacle of the attunement process, requiring aspiring players to have completed the questline up to Mount Hyjal before they're able to enter the sanctuary of the Lord of Outland.
1 Sunwell Plateau, Level 70
The Sunwell Plateau is intended to be the most difficult raid in the game, designed for characters with Tier 5 and 6 sets that would have come from the Black Temple and Mount Hyjal. Despite those details, it doesn't require attunement, only the appropriate max level and raid gear. The Sunwell Plateau feels like an extension of Silvermoon City, and the only TBC raid that uses the Blood Elf aesthetic.
At the end of this raid, players will face Kil'jaeden, one of the most powerful villains in the expansion, and possibly one of the most notoriously evil figures in WoW history.