TBC Prepatch Guide - What and How To Prepare For TBC Anniversary

The TBC Anniversary prepatch is one of the most important preparation windows World of Warcraft players will ever get. This is not just a balance patch or a talent reshuffle. It is a short but extremely valuable opportunity to set yourself up for success before stepping through the Dark Portal. Players who use this time well will level faster, gear easier, and avoid a lot of frustration once Outland opens.

This TBC Prepatch Guide is written from a veteran Classic and Burning Crusade perspective. I have played through multiple launches, and the pattern is always the same. The players who prepare early save themselves weeks of pain later. Some players even choose to buy TBC Anniversary gold through sites like PVPBank to speed up preparation, but smart planning and efficient use of the prepatch matters far more than raw gold.

Why the TBC Prepatch Matters So Much

The TBC Anniversary prepatch is unique because it gives you access to systems, items, and changes that will disappear or become less efficient once the expansion launches. Limited time rewards, cheaper upgrades, and class changes all hit at once.

This is the moment where you clean up your character, your bags, your professions, and your plans. Once TBC launches, the competition ramps up fast. Quest hubs fill up, dungeon queues get crowded, and prices spike. Doing the groundwork now puts you ahead immediately.

Get the Tabard of the Protector Before It Is Gone

One of the most important limited items in the TBC prepatch is the Tabard of the Protector. This tabard has a unique use effect and a short cooldown, and there will be no other tabard in the game with a use effect like this.

To get it, head to the Dark Portal and pick up the prepatch quest. You will need to slay six demons and then return to the quest giver. That is it. The quest is simple, but the reward is permanent and will never be obtainable again once the prepatch ends.

If you care about collectibles or utility items, do not skip this step.

Buy Bank Slots and Clean Your Inventory

Bank slots have been made cheaper in the prepatch, and this is the best time to buy them. Inventory space becomes extremely important in Outland, where you will be picking up new gear, quest items, and materials constantly.

Clean out your bags now. Sell unused items on the auction house or vendor trash you have been hoarding. Organizing your inventory before TBC launches will save you time and stress when leveling.

Visit the Caverns of Time Vendors

The Caverns of Time in Tanaris are now accessible, and vendors inside sell Burning Crusade related items such as food, water, and some armor pieces. While Blizzard may still adjust availability, it is worth checking these vendors during the prepatch.

Even if you do not buy anything immediately, knowing what is available helps you plan your early Outland setup.

Epic Riding Changes and Mount Preparation

The prepatch introduces epic riding as a skill rather than a mount specific unlock, and the total cost has been reduced to under 700 gold. This is far cheaper than Classic.

If you already had an epic mount in Classic, you automatically receive the riding skill. No extra gold required. If you did not, this is the perfect time to prepare.

You can also start farming mounts during the prepatch. Just remember that looting a mount does not grant epic riding automatically. You still need the skill.

Faction mounts are also cheaper, but you still need exalted reputation. If you are close to exalted with any faction, now is the time to finish that grind.

Visit Your Class Trainer Immediately

The TBC prepatch unlocks new talent trees and new spells for many classes, including lower level abilities. All classes can now learn their level 60 spells directly from trainers without needing expensive books.

Mages gain new portals. Other classes unlock core abilities that change how they play. On top of that, talent trees have been reworked, and some talents grant new spells that also need to be trained.

Do not skip this. Visit your class trainer, learn everything, and experiment with builds.

Respec for Leveling and Dungeon Efficiency

This is the perfect time to respec into a strong solo leveling or dungeon leveling build. With the new talent trees, some specs perform far better than they did in Classic.

You should also consider dual specialization if available. Being able to swap between solo questing and dungeon roles will make early Outland progression much smoother.

Max Your Weapon Skills to 300

Weapon skills matter again in TBC. You will replace gear quickly in Outland, and the last thing you want is to equip a powerful new weapon and realize your skill is too low to hit anything.

Level all relevant weapon skills to 300 during the prepatch. You can do this while finishing quests or farming mobs. It is boring, but skipping it will cost you time later.

Prepare Completed Quests for Launch Day

One of the oldest and most effective TBC prep strategies is holding completed quests. Turn in a batch of completed quests right when the expansion launches to get a fast jump to level 61.

This lets you skip some of the early Hellfire Peninsula congestion or jump straight into dungeon leveling if that is your plan.

If you do not want to prep quests, at least clear your quest log so you can accept everything in Outland without issues.

Gear Up Through PvP and PvE

In the prepatch, PvP ranks are removed. That means PvP gear no longer requires rank, only honor and battleground marks. Prices are lower than they were in Classic, making PvP gear a fast and efficient way to prepare for Outland.

Blizzard may adjust prices, but right now this is one of the best gearing paths available.

PvE gear from raids like Blackwing Lair, AQ, and Naxxramas is also extremely strong and can last well into level 70. It is harder to obtain, but worth it if you can.

Stockpile Honor and Battleground Marks

If you have the time, farming 75,000 honor and 100 of each battleground mark is one of the strongest preparations you can do. This allows you to instantly buy powerful rare and epic PvP gear at level 70.

Even if the gear is PvP focused, many classes will use these items in early PvE content while progressing toward heroics and raids.

Update Addons and UI Settings

Now is the best time to update your addons and test your setup. Make sure everything works and remove outdated addons that could cause issues at launch.

If you prefer not to use addons, the new Blizzard edit mode allows deep UI customization using the default interface. Spend time adjusting it now rather than during launch chaos.

Find a Guild Before TBC Launches

Guild recruitment is extremely active during the prepatch. This is the perfect window to find a raid team or social guild before rosters fill up.

Once TBC launches, it becomes much harder to secure a raid spot if you are still leveling or unguilded.

Blood Elf and Draenei Preparation

If you are starting fresh with a Blood Elf or Draenei, the prepatch is ideal. You can level normally or boost to level 58.

Boosted characters gain a massive advantage, as they can quickly hit 60 and begin running Classic raids, where many guilds recruit future members.

Farm Gold and Level Professions

Gold is king in TBC. You will need it for epic flying, consumables, enchants, and crafted gear. Farm gold through quests, dungeons, gathering, or selling services.

Make sure all professions are leveled to 300. Stockpile Classic materials to power level professions early in Outland, saving massive amounts of gold when new materials are expensive.

Alchemy and Tailoring characters should be at least level 50 to learn new profession skills. Tailors at 60 can specialize and craft extra cloth, giving a long term advantage.

Final Thoughts on the TBC Prepatch Guide

The TBC Anniversary prepatch is not something you rush through. It is something you use deliberately.

Every step you take now saves time later. Every mistake you avoid now prevents frustration later. Preparation is what separates smooth launches from stressful ones.

If you follow this TBC Prepatch Guide and handle even half of these tasks, you will enter Outland confident, prepared, and ahead of the pack.