The history of the Karazhan raid extends backward into classic WoW

　　The history of the Karazhan raid extends backward into classic WoW. The first caster legendary, Atiesh, was earned by very few raiders before the ability to earn it was removed. world of warcraft gold  Those lucky few could use the staff to open a portal to Karazhan as an on-use effect.

　　Players received their first taste of level 68+ mobs outside of Kara. The patch prior to the official Burning Crusade release added high-level ghosts to Deadwind Pass near the tower. Level 60 players formed parties or solo-kited the ghosts and stocked up on otherwise unavailable Netherweave Cloth. During that time, it sold for outrageous amounts on the auction house.

　　Karazhan was the first raid designed specifically for the 10-man size. Most people think of Upper Blackrock Spire as the first, but Blizzard did not design it as such originally. It remained a 15-player experience from patch 1.3 to 1.10. Given that most raids required 40 players, UBRS didn't even really "count" as a raid in the eyes of many. It had no lockout timer either, so it was viewed only as a dungeon.

　　As a raid, Kara was highly controversial. Players who were accustomed to the 40-man raids of classic balked at the idea of fracturing their raid team down to such a miniscule number. They also didn't like the idea of epic tier gear dropping in what most still considered a "dungeon" -- even if it had a lockout.

　　Blizzard caused difficulties for guilds by designing Karazhan as part of the gearing and attunement process for larger 25-man raids. 25 does not divide neatly into tens, and many guilds found it difficult to make the awkward transitions from 40 to 10 to 25.