WotLK pre-patch goes live on Warmane's Onyxia realm

Warmane kept to its November schedule and released the Wrath of the Lich King pre-patch on its progressive realm Onyxia on 22 December 2025. It is the realm's last major step before Northrend opens.

What the pre-patch changes

• Death Knights can now be created
• Wrath-era talent trees, spells and glyphs replace the TBC versions
• The achievement system and other 3.x client features are live
• The level cap stays at 70 until the expansion launches

The expansion itself is due on 10 January 2026, when the cap rises to 80 and Northrend opens. A week later, on 17 January, Warmane plans to release Phase 1 raiding (Naxxramas, The Eye of Eternity and The Obsidian Sanctum) together with Arena Season 5. Unlike Warmane's fully unlocked Icecrown realm, Onyxia moves through Wrath one phase at a time.

Update: Warmane delivered both January releases on schedule. Onyxia then opened Ulduar on 4 April 2026, Trial of the Crusader on 4 July 2026 and Icecrown Citadel on 6 September 2026, completing the full progression from TBC to Wrath for players who joined the realm at its Burning Crusade launch.