Panel Report - Queen Azshara, Zone Scaling, Improved World PvP and More

The World of Warcraft team will be on hand in a few minutes to talk more about what's next for WoW after today's announcement of the Battle for Azeroth announcement. The panel is focused on the systems and locations throughout Battle of Azeroth. 

The World

The expansion reinforces the meaning of World of Warcraft. "Our hearts and minds are with our factions -- for the Horde and for the Alliance". The Battle for Lordaeron is the "Broken Shore" of the Battle for Azeroth expansion.

Horde burns down Teldrassil. Alliance attacks Undercity. Which comes first? You'll find out. The stage is set for an Alliance-controlled Kalimdor, a Horde controlled Eastern Kingdoms. The search is out for the Zandalari and Kul Tiras. No matter who fired the first shot, we are in an all-out war.

Kul Tiras and Zandalar are two new continents being added to the game. Kul Tiras is for the Alliance. Zandalar for the Horde.

Kul Tiras is ruled by four houses. Their problems have to be solved before they join up. Three zones: Tiragarde Sound where Kul Tiras, the capital city and Alliance main hub, is there as well. One of the houses is led by Jaina's mother, Katherine Proudmoore. Tiragarde is plagued with pirates. Drustvar is ruled by House Waycrest and it supplies arms to Kul Tiras. It's a cursed zone. Stormsong Valley is ruled by House Stormsong and led by Sea Priests that provide ships to Kul Tiras. Ship building has come to a stop.

Zandalar is an ancient Troll empire. Trolls have built a powerful naval force. It is a continent in turmoil. There are three territories. Zuldazar is the capital of the Zandalari. It is ruled by King Rastakhan but we have to investigate an uprising and stop blood troll invaders. Nazmir is a festering swampland. To beat back the blood trolls, players will have to enlist the Loa and uncover titan secrets. Vol'dun is a "foreboding desert" where criminals are sent in exile. It is also inhabited by the vulpera, a native race, as well as the snakemen called sethrak.

Character Stories

We will follow the lives of Thrall, Sylvanas, Anduin and Jaina as we fight through the Battle for Azeroth. 

How We'll Level and Experience the World

You can choose which region you want to start. You will level to 120 in your faction's zones. There will be an "Epic War Campaign arc woven throughout the story. World Quests and Emissaries await players at 120.

Allied Races - Each faction will seek out allies to convert them to our cause. As Champion of Alliance or Horde, you will seek out these races playing through custom content and how these groups come to join. As you bring them to your faction, you'll unlock them for your account as playable characters with new racials, customization and begin at level 20. There are six Allied Races at launch, but more are planned. Horde: Nighborne and Highmountain Tauren and Zandalari Troll. Allies: Void Elves, Lightforged Draenei, Dark Iron Dwarves.

Leveling Improvements

The entire world will be level scaled, though not all zones to 110. Each zone will have a minimum-maximum level caps. Flexible Expansion order is being introduced that applies to dungeons and rewards as well. This will begin with patch 7.3.5.

Fighting for the Heart of Azeroth

Magni will summon us to commune with the World Soul to receive a gift. We will get an artifact-quality medallion called the Heart of Azeroth. Artifacts will go away in a special story. It will be replaced by this medallion. When you encounter "Azerite", it will be absorbed by the medallion. It has no trait tree or customization, but it can unlock latent power in armor you find throughout the game world. 

Island Expeditions

We will explore uncharted isles across the Great Sea. Scouts are sent out to scour the seas. Horde and Alliance will skirmish over resources. These are 3-player cooperative gameplay experiences. Complete varied and dynamic objectives. It changes every time dynamically. Varied and dynamic experiences where you are racing against advanced AI opponents.  You can also play in PvP against 3 other players.

Warfronts

These are large-scale battles on the homefront. Fantasy is anchored in WC3 and RTS roots. A Warfront is a 20-player cooperative raid vs NPC armies. You will build structures, research, gather resources, upgrade, train troops and so on. Lead them into battle to victory.

Arenas & a New Battleground & PvP

Two new arenas and a new battleground called the Seething Shore in Silithus. Horde and Alliance descend to duke it out. There will be dynamic control points. You won't always know where they will spawn. It will arrive with 7.3.5.

World PvP ruleset hasn't changed since 2005 but the way we've played has changed. We're updating PvP to reflect the 2018 world. Individual choice to opt into PvP or not. No more PvE or PvP servers. When you venture out, you'll be placed where others who've chosen the same way are. 

Dungeons

10 dungeons, separate level up dungeons (4 in each). All open at 120. Mythic Keystones are still present and "here to stay". 

Dungeons include:

• Freehold 
• Atal'Dazar

Raids

Uldir, Halls of Control with 8 bosses and is a Titan quarantine facility. Players face off against the source of Zandalar's corruption.

We will finally be facing off against Queen Azshara.