The Midnight Expansion is the next chapter of World of Warcraft, planned to release before June 30, 2026 (with February 2026 being the most likely launch window, based on Blizzard’s past cadence). Blizzard has confirmed a phased rollout. These WoW Midnight Phases shape how players will progress: leveling in new zones, pushing dungeons, exploring Delves, setting up Housing, competing in PvP, and finally preparing for raids.

For guilds, Mythic+ teams, and PvP players, understanding the World of Warcraft Midnight Phases means knowing when new content opens, and how to time your resources.

Midnight Expansion Phase Schedule

Blizzard has structured Midnight around five major phases. Each phase unlocks new systems, zones, or gameplay loops.

PhaseLevel RangeZonesContentNotes
WoW Midnight Phase 180–83Eversong WoodsHousing, early Dungeons & Delves, new classExpansion launch content
WoW Midnight Phase 283–88Zul’AmanNew Dungeons & DelvesExtends mid-level progression
WoW Midnight Phase 383–88Harandar, expanded EversongUI Encounter Warnings, additional Dungeon/DelvesPre-endgame prep
WoW Midnight Phase 488–90VoidstormPvP Battlegrounds, Epic BGs, Dungeons, TalentsPvP unlock + Raid prep
WoW Midnight Phase 590 (cap)Endgame zonesCampaign, Raids, full Delves, ProfessionsEndgame content loop

WoW Midnight Phase 1 - Leveling & Housing

Phase 1 begins at expansion launch, likely February 2026 (official Blizzard wording is “before June 30, 2026”).

Content Overview:

  • Zones: Eversong Woods returns as a starting hub, with the Arator campaign and Arcan’tina local stories.
  • Level Range: 80–83.
  • WoW Midnight Leveling Phase: Core leveling content with new questlines and class updates.
  • Housing System: The long-awaited Midnight Housing Phase debuts here, giving players customizable homes from the very beginning.
  • Dungeons: Windrunner Spire, Murder Row.
  • Delves: Collegiate Calamity, Parhelion Plaza, The Darkway.
  • Companion: Valeera Sanguinar joins players during Delves.
  • New Class: Devourer Demon Hunter (plus updates to existing classes).
  • Professions: Gathering and crafting systems updated for the Midnight economy.

This stage sets the foundation: exploration, leveling, professions, and the first taste of instanced content.

WoW Midnight Phase 2

WoW Midnight Phase 2 Release Date: Not officially confirmed, but expected 1–2 months after launch based on Blizzard’s pacing.

Content Overview:

  • Zone: Zul’Aman, fully redesigned for Midnight.
  • Level Range: 83–88.
  • Dungeons: Den of Nalorakk, Maisara Caverns.
  • Delves: Twilight Crypts, Atal’Aman.

This is where the Midnight Dungeon Phase expands, giving groups new environments to farm and introducing additional Delves for solo or small-group players.

WoW Midnight Phase 3

Content Overview:

  • Zones: Harandar + extended content in Eversong Woods.
  • Level Range: 83–88 (continues the mid-game bracket).
  • Dungeon: The Blinding Vale.
  • Delves: The Grudge Pit, The Gulf of Memory.
  • UI Update: Encounter Warnings added, prepping players for raid mechanics.

Phase 3 deepens the Midnight Content Phases before the true endgame begins, bridging the gap between mid-level and high-level play.

WoW Midnight Phase 4 - PvP & Raid Preparation

This stage is all about gearing and competitive play.

Content Overview:

  • Zone: Voidstorm, a high-level region tied to endgame storylines.
  • Level Range: 88–90.
  • Dungeons: Nexus-Point Xenas, Voidscar Arena, Magister’s Terrace (revamp).
  • Delves: Sunkiller Sanctum, Shadowguard Point.
  • PvP: The Midnight PvP Phase begins. Slayer’s Rise introduces a large-scale PvP zone with a 40v40 battleground and Epic Battleground rotations.
  • Talents: Apex talents unlocked, giving max-level players their final toolkit.

This phase acts as the raid prep tier, ensuring groups are geared and ready for the upcoming Midnight Raid Release Phase.

WoW Midnight Phase 5 - Endgame Content

The capstone of the expansion.

Content Overview:

  • Level Cap: 90.
  • Campaign: Chapter 1 of the level 90 storyline unlocks.
  • Raids: The first Midnight Raid Release Phase begins (Normal/Heroic first, Mythic likely one week later).
  • Delves: Torment’s Rise, The Shadow Enclave, and more, the full Midnight Delves Phase opens.
  • Activities: Prey, Saltheril’s Soiree, Abundance, Legends of the Haranir, Stormarin Citadel, Amani Abyss.
  • Professions: Sparks system and high-end crafting.
  • Weekly Systems: Visitor quests and seasonal loops.

Here the expansion becomes the full cycle: Raids, Mythic+, PvP, Delves, Housing, and professions all converge into one WoW Midnight Endgame Phase.

Midnight Dungeon Phase

  • Phase 1: Introductory dungeons with leveling rewards.
  • Phase 2–4: New dungeons added as players level.
  • Endgame: Mythic difficulty expected to open in Phase 4, syncing with raid prep.

Midnight Raid Release Phase

The first raid launches during Phase 5. Blizzard hasn’t given exact dates, but historically:

  • Normal & Heroic difficulties release with the raid patch.
  • Mythic unlocks one week later.

Guilds should expect the same format here, making Phase 5 the critical moment for progression raiding.

Final Thoughts

The WoW Midnight Phases roadmap we have right now is only the information Blizzard has revealed through the Alpha. Things will shift, some features might arrive earlier, others could be delayed, and the Midnight Expansion Phase Schedule is always subject to change once testing feedback rolls in.

What this guide gives you is the skeleton of Midnight’s progression: where the WoW Midnight Leveling Phase fits, when PvP likely opens, and how the Midnight Raid Release Phase caps off the expansion’s early cycle.

For now, enjoy the build-up, set your goals, and get ready, because once Phase 1 hits, the race to the endgame begins. And may your guild be ready when Phase 5 finally brings Midnight’s raids online.

FAQ

When does WoW Midnight Phase 1 start?

Phase 1 begins with the official launch of the Midnight Expansion. Blizzard’s preorder page lists “on or before June 30, 2026,” but based on past expansion cycles (The War Within, Dragonflight, Shadowlands), the realistic launch window is around February 2026. Phase 1 covers the WoW Midnight Leveling Phase, Housing, the first Dungeons, and early Delves.

What Phases are in WoW Midnight?

There are five core WoW Midnight Phases:

  • Phase 1: Leveling (80–83), Housing, early Dungeons/Delves, professions.
  • Phase 2: Mid-game content (83–88), Zul’Aman, new Dungeons, Delves.
  • Phase 3: Additional zones, one Dungeon, more Delves, UI updates.
  • Phase 4: High-level Voidstorm zone, more Dungeons/Delves, Midnight PvP Phase unlock, raid prep.
  • Phase 5: Endgame at level 90: campaign, professions, Midnight Raid Release Phase, Mythic+ Dungeons, and full Midnight Delves Phase.

Our reviews

in 12 years of experience