This category will keep you updated about everything new in WoW Shadowlands expansion and we will post patch changes and the newest products here. Check back often if you wish to stay up to date.
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Shadowlands Lore:
Sylvanas Windrunner, fallen leader of the Horde, has pierced the veil between Azeroth and the realm of the dead, setting in motion a series of events that threatens to upset the cosmic balance between life and death. In recent years, the machine of death has broken and souls brought to the Shadowlands no longer go through The Arbiter, instead being sent straight to The Maw. Due to this series of events The Maw and it's Jailer have grown far stronger, while other domains of Shadowlands are being deprived of their fundamental resource, Anima. Sylvanas has been working with the Jailer to inflict as much death as they can, and with each death and soul sent to The Maw, her and The Jailer grow stronger. Many innocent souls, including the thousands of civilians killed during the War of the Thorns, are now sent directly to The Maw for eternity of torment.
As we venture in the Shadowlands, players too will be sent straight to The Maw, but their connection to Azeroth will keep them from an eternity of torment. However some allies will be left behind and players are tasked to explore and understand this new realm of the dead, in hopes of becoming strong enough to return to The Maw and save our allies.
New Zones:
⚬ Oribos, the Eternal City - The arrival point for all souls in the Shadowlands, where they will be judged by The Arbiter, who determines where souls will spend their afterlives. Oribos will serve as the player's central hub in the Shadowlands.
⚬ Bastion - Kingdom ruled by Kyrian covenant. Souls drawn to service are sent here by The Arbiter, where they examine their life's deeds and seek ascendance.
⚬ Maldraxxus - Shadowlands military might, ruled by the Necrolord covenant. Souls fueled by war who never yield are sent here by The Arbiter.
⚬ Ardenweald - An enchanted forest ruled by the Night Fae covenant. Souls deeply attuned to nature are sent here by The Arbiter, where they prepare for rejuvenation and rebirth.
⚬ Revendreth - Land of vampires, ruled by the Venthyr covenant. Souls that are prideful or flawed in life are sent here by The Arbiter to atone for their sins and seek redemption through torment.
⚬ The Maw - The endgame zone of the Shadowlands, a swirling vortex composed of the vilest souls sent to the Shadowlands and ruled by The Jailer. The Arbiter only sends to The Maw souls that are considered to be irredeemable and a threat to the Shadowlands if left free. Torghast, Tower of the Damned, the replayable endgame instanced feature is also located in The Maw.
Covenants:
Covenants are a new take on factions for Shadowlands. From The Arbiter's judgement in Oribos, souls are assigned to an appropriate Covenant to help them find a purpose in the afterlife. There are 4 covenants in Shadowlands:
⚬ The Kyrian Covenant of Bastion governs over souls that served a life of service, offering them a chance to look over their past deeds and seek ascension to become a Kyrian themselves.
⚬ The Necrolords of Maldraxxus govern over battle-hardened souls and rewards strength, while weaker souls become fuel for Maldraxxus' cosmic weapons. Those who are deemed determined, quickly rise to positions of power.
⚬ The Night Fae of Ardenweald accepts those with a deep connection to nature, using of the Anima in the Shadowlands to infuse slumbering spirits with the knowledge of old, and preparing them for rebirth.
⚬ The Venthyr of Revendreth take over souls that were flawed or prideful in life, but can still obtain redemption. The Venthyr punish those who lived a life of sin, determining whether they are worthy of redemption.
Choosing a covenant is one of the biggest character choices in Shadowlands. Each Covenant provides different signature and class abilities, a new System called Soulbinds, and cosmetic rewards such as covenant-themed armor with back details and upgradable mounts. You will be able to change covenants, but it will most likely be at a steep price.
Covenants share four major features:
⚬ Soulbinds - You will meet three key members from the covenant you joined. You will be able to choose one of them to Soulbind with, Soulbinding gives you access to traits that enhance your skills.
⚬ Adventures - Similar to sending your companions on missions in BFA, you will be able to send your allies into the Shadowlands to aid your chosen covenant. Blizzard has come up with a more fun and engaging turn based system where you need to be strategic in order to win in these new combat puzzles.
⚬ Transport Network - You will be able to access a zone-specific travel network within their Sanctum. These travel networks are specific to each Covenant.
⚬ Anima Conductor - You will be able to enable additional content within the zone by investing Anima into activating a specific area.
Endgame Content:
⚬ The Great Vault - The Shadowlands version of the weekly M+ Cache. You can now complete Raid and PvP content, as well as M+ dungeons to earn your cache.
⚬ Torghast, Tower of the Damned - Located in the heart of The Maw. Torghast is a procedurally-generated, 1 to 5 player, scalable dungeon that becomes harder as players progress. Each time you enter Torghast, levels and enemies will change, turning each run a very unique experience. Torghast is not a timed event which will allow you to explore at your own pace. Access to Torghast will be unlimited (no daily or weekly lockouts). By completing it you will be rewarded with important weekly items or cosmetics such as transmog items.
⚬ The Runecarver (Legendaries) - In Shadowlands you will have access to Runecarver whos able to craft you your own Legendary if you bring it the correct materials. Materials will be obtained via Professions, meaning that Professions will play a vital role in this expansion.
⚬ Dungeons - The Necrotic Wake (Bastion), Plaguefall (Maldraxxus), Mists of Tirna Scithe (Ardenweald), Halls of Atonement (Revendreth), Theater of Pain (Maldraxxus), De Other Side (Ardenweald), Spires of Ascension (Bastion), Sanguine Depths (Revendreth)
⚬ Raids - Castle Nathria (Revendreth)
Leveling System:
⚬ A a level squish will be applied in Shadowlands. Players at current level cap of 120 in BFA will be squished down to level 50 in Shadowlands, with the Shadowlands expansion level cap being 60.
⚬ Heirlooms will no longer grant bonus experience gain, but instead give you a powerful set bonus to make leveling easier and faster.
⚬ Levels 1-10: Will have a new starter zone Exile's Reach located off the coast of Stormheim. It will serve as a tutorial zone where new players will be taught the basics of WoW. Veteran players will be able to choose between going through Exlie's Reach or repeating their chosen race's starting zone. Demon Hunters and Death Knights start at level 8 and play through their own starting zones instead of Exile's Reach.
⚬ Levels 10-50: New players will be sent to level through Kul Tiras or Zandalar, as BFA was the most recent expansion and this will help them catch up on the recent events leading to the Shadowlands expansion. Veteran players will be able to choose to level in the expansion of their choice. Allied Races will start at level 10.
⚬ Levels 50-60: Once you are caught up on the new BFA level cap, you will start leveling in Shadowlands.
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