The Burning Crusade

The Burning Crusade (TBC or BC) is the first expansion for World of Warcraft. It was announced on October 28, 2005 and came out on January 16, 2007 in North America, Europe and Australia, with other regions following later that year. It takes players to Outland, the broken remains of the orc homeworld Draenor, where they level to the new cap of 70.

The story follows directly from the original game and centers on Illidan the Betrayer: players can help him or prepare his downfall. The expansion sold 2.4 million copies in its first 24 hours, a record for a computer game at the time. In 2011 it became part of the base game at no extra cost.

• Blood elves join the Horde. They are led by Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron, their capital is Silvermoon City and their racial mount is the hawkstrider.
• Draenei join the Alliance. They are uncorrupted eredar led by the prophet Velen, their capital is the Exodar and their racial mount is the elekk.
• Classes that used to belong to one faction opened up: blood elves can be Paladins for the Horde and draenei can be Shamans for the Alliance.

Outland is reached through the Dark Portal in the Blasted Lands or by portals in the major cities. Its seven zones are listed below with their levels at launch; after the later level squish they were lowered to fit levels 10-30.

Flying Mounts, Riding and Skyriding arrived with this expansion and at first worked only in Outland at level 70. The Horde flies wyverns and the Alliance gryphons; the basic flying skill takes riding from 150 to 225 and the epic version from 225 to 300. Druids learned Flight Form, and later got a quest for an epic flight form.

New instance hubs were built in Outland and Azeroth, many split into separate wings so a run takes less time. Dungeons gained a Heroic difficulty: level 70 versions that are much harder and give better loot. Raids were capped at 25 players instead of 40, and the gear included Tier 4, 5 and 6 armor.

• Team Arenas and Solo Shuffle for level 70 players, with rewards on a par with top PvE loot. Three arenas came with the expansion: the Ring of Trials in Nagrand, the Circle of Blood in Blade's Edge Mountains and the Ruins of Lordaeron above Undercity.
• A new battleground, Eye of the Storm in Outland, mixes holding bases with capturing a flag; each team has 15 players.
• Jewelcrafting arrived, making rings, trinkets, necklaces and gems for socketed items. Professions gained a new Master rank up to skill 375.
• Talent trees were expanded with abilities at 41 points, every class got five or six new spells for levels 60-70, and stats such as critical strike and dodge became ratings, with the new resilience stat for PvP.