WoW Midnight Roadmap
The WoW Midnight Roadmap defines how the expansion unfolds from pre-patch through launch and into Season 1. Blizzard has confirmed a phased rollout that determines when leveling content, zones, new systems, Delves, PvP, Mythic+, and raids become available.
For guilds, Mythic+ groups, and PvP-focused players, understanding the World of Warcraft Midnight phases is essential for planning gearing, character prep, and weekly progression. Knowing when each system unlocks helps avoid wasted effort and ensures resources are used at the right time as Season 1 ramps up.
Midnight Pre-Patch — Twilight Ascension
The Midnight Pre-Patch launches on January 20, 2026, acting as the bridge between The War Within and Midnight. This phase introduces core system changes, class updates, and early housing features, while also closing out Season 3 content.
A week later, on January 27, 2026, the Twilight Ascension pre-patch event becomes available.
The pre-patch serves three main purposes:
- preparing characters, addons, and UI for Midnight systems
- introducing major class and talent changes ahead of leveling
- offering catch-up gear and cosmetic rewards before launch
Players do not level past 80 during pre-patch, but many permanent changes take effect immediately.
WoW Midnight Release Dates
The WoW Midnight Roadmap outlines how players will move through the expansion’s zones, unlock new systems, and transition into Season 1.
- Release Date (March 2, 2026) – Leveling, new zones, Housing, early dungeons, Delves
- Midnight Early Access (Feb 27, 2026) – Epic Edition users
- Season 1 (March 17, 2026) – Raids, PvP, Heroic/Mythic dungeons, Delves
- Mythic+ Season Start (March 24, 2026)
- Season 1 Final Raid Unlock (March 31 & April 7)
The roadmap below explains the intended gameplay progression. Midnight launches fully loaded; players simply move through the game in a natural content flow from level 80 to 90.
WoW Midnight Roadmap: Leveling, Zones & Progression
The roadmap below outlines how Midnight’s content unfolds as you progress through the expansion, showing when each zone, system, and activity becomes part of the leveling and endgame experience.
| Stage | Level Range | Zones | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 - Launch (80–83) | 80–83 | Eversong Woods | Campaign start, Player Housing, early dungeons (Windrunner Spire, Murder Row), early Delves, Valeera companion, Devourer DH, professions |
| Stage 2 - Mid-Game (83–88) | 83–88 | Zul’Aman | New story chapters, Den of Nalorakk, Maisara Caverns, Delves: Twilight Crypts, Atal’Aman |
| Stage 3 - Late Leveling (83–88) | 83–88 | Harandar + Eversong Extensions | The Blinding Vale, Delves: Grudge Pit, Gulf of Memory, Encounter Warning UI |
| Stage 4 - Pre-Endgame (88–90) | 88–90 | Voidstorm | Nexus-Point Xenas, Voidscar Arena, Magister’s Terrace (revamp), Delves: Sunkiller Sanctum & Shadowguard Point, PvP zone Slayer’s Rise, 40v40 battleground, Apex talents unlock |
| Stage 5 - Endgame (90) | 90 | Endgame zones | Story Chapter 1, Visitor quests, Prey, Saltheril’s Soiree, Abundance, Legends of the Haranir, Stormarion Citadel, Amani Abyss, high-end Delves (Torment’s Rise, Shadow Enclave), Sparks crafting |
WoW Midnight Roadmap
Leveling content in Midnight arrives all at once, but Season 1 is released in weekly waves. This is the full schedule Blizzard has confirmed so far, and it represents everything currently known about how competitive content will roll out at launch.
| Release | Raids | Mythic+ | PvP | Delves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Week – March 17, 2026 | Voidspire (LFR Wing 1, Normal, Heroic) Dreamrift (LFR, Normal, Heroic) | — | PvP Season 1 Begins | Bountiful Delves Begin |
| Mythic Week – March 24, 2026 | Voidspire (Story Mode, LFR Wing 2, Mythic) Dreamrift Mythic | Mythic+ Season 1 Starts | Active | Active |
| Quel’Danas Week – March 31, 2026 | March on Quel’Danas (Normal, Heroic, Mythic) Voidspire LFR Wing 3 | Active | Active | Active |
| Story Mode Week – April 7, 2026 | March on Quel’Danas (Story Mode, LFR) | Active | Active | Active |
Any further adjustments, item level tuning, dungeon rotations, or raid-specific changes will appear as Season 1 testing continues.
WoW Midnight Phase 1 - Leveling & Housing (March 2, 2026)
Phase 1 launches with the expansion’s release.
Content Overview:
- Zones: Eversong Woods (expanded, story kickoff)
- Level Range: 80–83
- Housing System: Fully functional from day one
- Dungeons: Windrunner Spire, Murder Row
- Delves: Collegiate Calamity, Parhelion Plaza, The Darkway
- Delve Companion: Valeera Sanguinar
- New Class: Devourer Demon Hunter
- Professions: Updated for Midnight’s economy
This phase builds the foundation: early story, leveling, professions, housing, and the first instanced content.
Features Available During the Midnight Pre-Patch
Class, Talent, and Combat Changes
- New and revamped talents for all 39 specializations
- Fourth Hero Talent column added (fully unlocked while leveling to 90)
- New specialization: Devourer Demon Hunter, a mid-range DPS spec using Void-based abilities
- Void Elf Demon Hunters unlocked via a short questline
- Vengeance Demon Hunters swap the Fel-Scarred Hero tree for Annihilator
- Global stat squish, reducing item stats, health, and damage values across the game
These changes are fully active during pre-patch, allowing players to relearn rotations before Midnight launches.
User Interface and Addon Changes
The pre-patch introduces Blizzard’s new approach to addons:
- Addons lose access to most real-time combat data
- Combat tracking is handled primarily through the Blizzard UI
New and expanded UI elements include:
- Built-in damage meter
- Boss timers with ability timelines
- Expanded cooldown manager and raid frames
- Updated nameplates with deeper customization
Popular addons like WeakAuras are no longer maintained into Midnight, while tools like DBM rely on Blizzard’s native UI systems.
Transmogrification System Updates
Transmog receives major quality-of-life improvements:
- Outfits replace per-item transmogs
- Outfits automatically apply to newly equipped gear
- Players start with 2 outfit slots and can unlock up to 20 with gold
A new Situations system allows outfits to change automatically based on:
- content type (raids, dungeons, PvP, delves)
- mount status
- specialization or form (e.g. Worgen, Dracthyr)
Player Housing: Pre-Patch Access
The pre-patch unlocks Charter Neighborhoods and Neighborhood Endeavors:
- Charter Neighborhoods allow player-created communities without guild requirements
- Endeavors are shared neighborhood events that unlock decor and visual upgrades
Full housing ownership still requires Midnight, but housing-related systems begin rolling out here.
Read more:WoW Housing System Midnight
Twilight Ascension Event (January 27, 2026)
The Twilight Ascension event takes place in the Twilight Highlands and offers:
- Event-specific world quests
- Rare enemies spawning every 10 minutes
- Catch-up gear at item level 121 (Champion 1/8)
- 2 mounts, 3 battle pets, 3 housing decor items
- Twilight Cultist transmog and themed weapons
This event is the main gearing and cosmetic incentive during pre-patch.
Final Thoughts
The WoW Midnight Roadmap outlines how players progress from leveling content into the competitive season, showing when raids, Mythic+, PvP, and Delves come online and how the first month of gameplay is structured. It gives guilds, key groups, and solo players a clear picture of when gearing ramps up, when progression actually begins, and how each system fits together once Season 1 starts.
As Blizzard continues adjusting dungeon tuning, raid pacing, and Mythic+ balance, including the latest beta changes to returning dungeons, this roadmap will be updated to match the most accurate information available.
FAQ
When do raids unlock in WoW Midnight?
The first Season 1 raids unlock on March 17, 2026, starting with Normal, Heroic, and LFR wings. Mythic raid difficulty and additional LFR wings unlock in subsequent weekly resets, with the final raid wings opening by early April.
When does Mythic+ become available in Midnight?
Mythic+ Season 1 starts on March 24, 2026, one week after the launch of Season 1. This delay gives players time to gear through dungeons, raids, and Delves before keystone progression begins.
When does WoW Midnight Phase 1 start?
WoW Midnight Phase 1 begins with the official launch of the expansion on March 2, 2026. This phase covers the initial leveling experience from level 80, access to the first zones, full Player Housing functionality, early dungeons, and the first set of Delves.
When does the WoW Midnight pre-patch start?
The Midnight pre-patch launches on January 20, 2026, with the Twilight Ascension event going live a week later on January 27, 2026. The pre-patch introduces class and system changes, UI updates, the stat squish, early housing features, and catch-up gear, but does not include Midnight leveling content.
Our reviews
in 12 years of experience
