Crusader-Storm opens Outland and lets players choose x1 to x3 XP up to level 58

Crusader-Storm moved into Phase 0 on Saturday 7 February 2026 at 17:00 GMT, five weeks after its launch. The level cap went up to 70, Outland opened and Jewelcrafting became available, along with the phase's items and quests.

From an XP event to an XP choice

To help newer players catch up for Outland, the server ran x2 XP for levels 1 to 58 in the run-up to Phase 0 and kept it for one more week after. Levels 58 to 70 stayed at x1.

By 15 February the event had turned into a choice. Players between levels 1 and 58 can set their own rate to x1, x2 or x3 with the command .xp followed by the rate, and .xpinfo shows the current one. From 58 to 70 everyone levels at x1.

The team explained why on Reddit: "There was a bit of a scuffle over some players wanting to skip vanilla content and jump right into TBC, but we have created a variable XP rate to keep both sides happy."

Other changes in the first weeks

• Rested XP builds up faster while you are logged out in a city or inn. It only counts for XP from kills
• Weapon and Defence skills are maxed as you level
• The game can also be played on Linux
• Gruul's Lair joined the Phase 1 plan, next to Karazhan, Magtheridon's Lair and Arena Season 1

In January and February the team said 20 to 50 new accounts were being created every day. It also said the server will stay in The Burning Crusade: "The lifetime plans are to follow the Phase releases up to the final Phase 5 stage in which it will stay there."

Sources: the team's Reddit posts of 10, 17 and 24 January and 7 February 2026, and its replies on Reddit on 15 February 2026.