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WoW Classic Cataclysm Pre-Patch Release Time, Date & Content

We count down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the WoW Classic Cataclysm expansion pre-patch releases, and explain the content you can expect.

By Wessel Minnie |

First Published April 22, 2024, 11:30

WoW Classic Cataclysm Pre-Patch Release Time, Date & Content — Blizzard

Where were you when Deathwing broke the world...of Warcraft? Well, you have another shot at being in Azeroth when it happens, thanks to the WoW Classic Cataclysm expansion pre-patch, which is going live at the end of April 2024.

Entitled "The Shattering of Azeroth," no WoW Classic players should miss out on the pre-patch for Cataclysm, ushering in so many changes and additions that it could be considered an expansion in its own right. Here's what you need to know, including all the content and the precise launch time of the WoW Classic Cataclysm pre-expansion patch.

Countdown To WoW Classic Cataclysm Pre-Patch
Content in WoW Classic Cataclysm Pre-Patch

Countdown To WoW Classic Cataclysm Pre-Patch

wow classic cataclysm pre-patch release date time launch content schedule world of warcraft — Join us in counting down to the time when Deathwing broke Azeroth. (Picture: Blizzard)

The precise release date for the WoW Classic Cataclysm pre-patch is 30 April 2024 at 15:00 PDT. That's when the servers will go live again with the new content as Deathwing bursts from the heart of the Maelstrom, unleashing his rage on Azeroth.

Standard WoW Classic server maintenance generally runs for just one hour on Tuesdays, from 07:00 to 08:00 PDT for US servers and 03:00 to 04:00 on Wednesdays for European servers. However, since this is the launch of a big expansion pre-patch, we expect the standard eight-hour extended maintenance to occur. This puts the release time of the WoW Classic Cataclysm pre-patch at 15:00 to 16:00 PDT on 30 April 2024.

You'll find a countdown timer below, ticking down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the expected release of WoW Classic Cataclysm's pre-patch.

WoW Classic Cataclysm Pre-Patch US Launch

7 days, 14:40:49

There's a lot to get excited about, so let's jump into what content WoW Classic enjoyers can expect from the return of Deathwing.

We suggest keeping a close eye on our WoW Classic Server Status page, which is consistently updated, just in case unforeseen events occur.

Content in WoW Classic Cataclysm Pre-Patch

If you aren't a big WoW player, or you want to jump back into Azeroth after a long period away, well, you should know that an expansion pre-patch is actually a VERY big deal. For WoW Classic Cataclysm, the pre-patch is even more important, as it completely reshapes the landscape of the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, offering a new leveling process.

New Player Races: Goblin and Worgen
New Race and Class Combinations
Leveling Updates: Level through a changed landscape in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms from level 1 through 60.
Class Updates: New Talents, Trees, spells and More
New Profession: Archaeology
New Feature: Transmog Collection
Updated Character and Gear Stats

As far as pre-patches go, this one is the biggest in World of Warcraft history by quite a large margin.

Just in case you've been living under the smoldering rubble of Deathwing's destruction, you can check out the WoW Classic Cataclysm trailer below and get hyped for the expansion's pre-patch.

That's everything WoW Classic players need to know about the Cataclysm expansion pre-patch, including the precise release time and all the content you can enjoy. If anything changes, we will endeavor to update this article with haste, so stay tuned!

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