World of Warcraft Classic’s experimental gem, Season of Discovery (SoD), is rapidly approaching its ultimate crescendo. Having captivated both veteran players and newcomers with its unique Rune mechanics and phased level caps, the community is now laser-focused on what Blizzard has planned for the highly anticipated final phase and the crucial decisions regarding mechanical longevity and class balance.

The Final Frontier: Level 60 and Classic’s Greatest Raids

The biggest news dominating the conversation is the imminent transition to the Level 60 cap. This final phase will unlock Classic WoW’s most iconic, brutal content, albeit with a uniquely SoD twist.

  • Expected Content: While developers remain tight-lipped, players anticipate the opening of major endgame raids, including Blackwing Lair (BWL) and potentially even a revamped, Rune-adjusted version of Naxxramas. The question remains whether these raids will retain their original difficulty or be tuned to account for the dramatically increased power levels offered by Runes.
  • The Power Spike: This phase promises the largest power spike yet, allowing players to finally unlock their full 60-point talent trees and integrate their most powerful Runes, truly unleashing the potential of hybrid roles like the Rogue Tank and Shaman DPS.

The Great Rebalance: Mechanics Under the Microscope

Community feedback has consistently pointed to several friction points that Blizzard is expected to address before the final phase fully launches. The goal is to ensure the finale is competitive and accessible.

Key Mechanics Slated for Potential Rework:

  • Raid Lockouts: The current system has generated controversy. There is heavy pressure on Blizzard to standardize raid resets (e.g., weekly) to better align with traditional raiding schedules, replacing the faster, more restrictive lockouts used in earlier phases.
  • Rune Acquisition Grind: Many players criticized the excessively lengthy, non-intuitive discovery process for some later-phase runes. Developers have hinted at simplifying or outright handing out several key final-phase runes to encourage broader experimentation.
  • PvP Stalling: Adjustments are heavily expected for the high-level PvP rewards and faction imbalances that plagued the last phase, aimed at revitalizing world PvP interaction.

The Current Meta Report: Calls for Justice

Ahead of the final balance pass, the current meta is defined by several dominant specializations that have seen unprecedented power creep thanks to their Rune synergy:

  • Dominant DPS: Hunters (retaining massive sustained damage) and Mages (unexpectedly strong due to new arcane/fire builds) currently sit atop the meters.
  • Hybrid Powerhouses: Shaman Tanks continue to impress, offering utility and survivability that rivals established tanks. Conversely, some traditional DPS specs, like certain Rogue and Warrior builds, are calling for buffs to close the gap before the final raids open.

Finally, Blizzard is expected to confirm the post-SoD path: whether these unique characters will be transitioned to permanent, Rune-enabled Classic Era servers or if they will simply be retired, concluding the experiment definitively. The answer will determine the long-term legacy of this beloved season.