World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is the eighth expansion for the large online game World of Warcraft, which follows the Battle for Azeroth expansion. It was announced and made available for preorder at BlizzCon on November 1, 2019. The expansion was originally planned to release on October 27, 2020, but was delayed until November 23, 2020, which marked the sixteenth anniversary of the original game’s release.
This expansion introduces the Shadowlands, a realm in the game’s story where the dead exist. It includes changes to how players level up, called a "level squish," and allows players to use the Death Knight class for races that previously could not. New areas called Covenants, along with new dungeons and raids, are also featured.
On February 20, 2021, a new update called Chains of Domination (Patch 9.1) was announced. This update added a new location called Korthia to the Shadowlands and introduced a new raid called "Sanctum of Domination," where players face Sylvanas Windrunner, a famous character from the game, as the final boss. The update was released on June 29, 2021, for the United States and on June 30, 2021, for Europe.
On February 22, 2022, another update called Eternity's End (Patch 9.2) was released. This update added a new area called Zereth Mortis, which is described as the origin of all reality. A new raid called "The Sepulcher of the First Ones" was also introduced, concluding the Shadowlands story with Zovaal the Jailer as the final boss.
Gameplay
Shadowlands changes the character levels in the game. Player characters who were level 120 (the highest level in Battle for Azeroth) are now level 50, and the new highest level is 60, as it was in the original game. Blizzard calls this a "New Game+ experience." New characters start on an island called "Exile's Reach," where they learn the game's basics. New players who finish the starting experience on Exile's Reach move to Battle for Azeroth content. Veteran players who create new characters can choose which expansion content to play through to reach level 50 before moving to Shadowlands.
Shadowlands has four zones for leveling up: Bastion, Ardenweald, Revendreth, and Maldraxxus. There is also an endgame zone called the Maw. The city of Oribos is in the center and acts as the main hub for players, similar to cities like Shattrath in Outland or Dalaran in other expansions. Four new dungeons are available for leveling, four more for maximum-level players, and a new raid. A new roguelike dungeon called Torghast, Tower of the Damned, was added for solo and group play.
All playable core races (not allied races) have new customization options. For example, humans can choose different ethnicities, dwarves and trolls can add tattoos, and undead characters can show different levels of decay. The Death Knight class, introduced in Wrath of the Lich King, is now available to pandaren (from Mists of Pandaria) and all allied races (from Legion and Battle for Azeroth). Players who pre-ordered Shadowlands could use Death Knights for these races starting with Patch 8.3.0, released on January 14, 2020.
The four leveling zones in Shadowlands are ruled by groups called "Covenants," similar to Class Orders in Legion. Each Covenant has its own campaign, with gear and abilities specific to the faction and class. The four Covenants are the Kyrian of Bastion, the Night Fae of Ardenweald, the Venthyr of Revendreth, and the Necrolords of Maldraxxus. Players who start Shadowlands content for the first time must reach level 60 before choosing a Covenant. Other characters can choose a Covenant at the beginning of the Shadowlands content.
During the Covenant campaigns, players can insert conduits into the "Forge of Bonds," which improves their stats and abilities. A system called Renown was introduced, which gives rewards when players raise their Renown level. Players can increase Renown by completing dungeons, raids, or specific quests for their Covenant. At launch, the maximum Renown was 40, but it was later increased to 80 with the Chains of Domination update.
Shadowlands introduced a roguelike dungeon called Torghast, Tower of the Damned. Some parts of the Shadowlands story take place in Torghast. A character named the Runecarver can add special powers to armor if players return "Memories" to him. To create powerful legendary items, players need armor or jewelry that matches their class's preferred type and a currency called Soul Ash, found in Torghast. For the strongest legendary items, players must complete difficult challenges on the highest levels of Torghast to obtain another currency called Soul Cinders.
Plot
After killing High Overlord Saurfang with powers from another world (at the end of Battle for Azeroth), Sylvanas Windrunner goes to Icecrown Citadel. There, she takes the Lich King’s Helm of Domination from Bolvar Fordragon and destroys it. This action creates a hole in the sky above Icecrown, opening a path to the Shadowlands, a place where the dead go. Dark angel-like figures kidnap King Anduin Wrynn, former Warchief Thrall, tauren leader Baine Bloodhoof, and Lady Jaina Proudmoore. They are taken to Torghast, a maze-like tower called the Tower of the Damned in the Maw. Tyrande Whisperwind, who became the "Night Warrior" after the moon goddess Elune gave her power following the burning of the World Tree Teldrassil, fights and kills Sylvanas’ ally, Nathanos Blightcaller, outside his old home in the Eastern Plaguelands.
The Knights of the Ebon Blade, a group of Death Knights who left the Scourge during Wrath of the Lich King, use pieces of the Helm of Domination to teleport into the Shadowlands with heroes from Azeroth. They arrive in the Maw, a place of eternal punishment, and fight through the armies of Zovaal the Jailer, the ruler of the Maw. It is discovered that Sylvanas has made a deal with the Jailer. The heroes find a special stone placed by the mysterious "First Ones" and escape the Maw, reaching Oribos, a city at the center of the Shadowlands. There, they learn that the Arbiter, who judges the souls of the dead, is no longer working. This has caused all new souls to be sent to the Maw, and the Shadowlands are suffering from a lack of Anima, the energy of souls. To find the cause, the heroes are sent to explore the four realms of the Shadowlands: Bastion, home of the angelic Kyrian; Maldraxxus, home of the undead Necrolords; Ardenweald, home of the enchanted Night Fae; and Revendreth, home of the vampiric Venthyr.
In Bastion, the heroes learn that the spirit of Uther the Lightbringer, the first Paladin, has joined a group of rebel Kyrian called the Forsworn, who want to overthrow Kyrestia the Firstborne, the ruler of Bastion. Uther does not know that the Forsworn are working for the Jailer. An attack by Necrolord forces leads the heroes to Maldraxxus, where a war is happening. They are helped by Draka, Thrall’s mother and a member of the House of the Chosen, to find the regalia of the Primus, the missing ruler of Maldraxxus. In Ardenweald, the heroes find the spirit of Ysera, the green dragonflight’s Aspect, who was killed during the Legion. Ardenweald’s ruler, the Winter Queen, is hesitant to help Ysera because of old conflicts with Elune, but she eventually awakens Ysera as a spirit tied to Ardenweald. In Revendreth, the heroes discover that its ruler, Sire Denathrius, is working with the Jailer. They attack Denathrius’ stronghold, Castle Nathria, and defeat him.
Meanwhile, Baine, Thrall, and Jaina are rescued from Torghast with help from Bolvar, but Anduin remains hidden. The Jailer needs special symbols held by the rulers of each realm. After taking the symbols from Denathrius and the Primus, the Jailer and Sylvanas force Anduin to help them take the symbols from the Archon and the Winter Queen.
The heroes learn that the Primus was trapped in Torghast under the name "Runecarver," forced to make weapons for the Jailer’s army, including the Helm of Domination and Frostmourne, the Lich King’s regalia. After freeing the Primus, he explains that Zovaal was the original Arbiter before being banished to the Maw for trying to control everything. The current Arbiter in Oribos was created to replace him. The heroes also discover that the Nathrezim, once thought to be demons from the Burning Legion, are actually agents of Denathrius. They have been behind many major villains in Warcraft history, including the Legion and the Scourge, as part of the Jailer’s plan. The Nathrezim also caused the Anima drought by disabling the Arbiter with the corrupted spirit of the Titan Argus, who was killed during the Legion.
The heroes help Uther, who has repented for his role in the Forsworn rebellion and wants to understand how Frostmourne fractured his soul. After finding a piece of Frostmourne’s power in Torghast, they return to Bastion, where Uther relives his memories, ending with his death at the hands of Arthas Menethil. Uther’s decision to keep his memories inspires the Kyrian to change their ways. The heroes also seek other Night Warriors to help save Tyrande, who is being harmed by the Night Warrior’s power. During a ritual to remove the power, the Winter Queen must intervene, and Tyrande is briefly possessed by Elune’s spirit. Elune and the Winter Queen reconcile, and Tyrande is restored.
The Jailer plans to attack Oribos to take the Arbiter’s symbol. Azeroth’s champions team up with Jaina, Thrall, and Bolvar to stop the attack by entering the Jailer’s fortress, the Sanctum of Domination. The mission fails, and the Jailer takes the Arbiter’s symbol, turning into an armored giant. He reveals his goal of creating a world where everyone serves him, which goes against Sylvanas’ earlier desire to end the cycle of death. Sylvanas, seeing similarities between the Jailer and Arthas, who once forced her to serve him in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, breaks her alliance with the Jailer. As a reward for her help, the Jailer gives Sylvanas a piece of her soul taken by Frostmourne, causing her to collapse. The Jailer and Anduin escape.
To pursue the Jailer, the Primus creates new symbols to open a gateway to Zereth Mortis, the mystical realm where the First Ones created the Shadowlands. With Uther’s help, Sylvanas’ soul is restored, and she agrees to help defeat the Jailer. Using her aid, the heroes find a stone that opens a path to the Sepulcher
Reception
Shadowlands received mostly positive reviews. It scored 83 on Metacritic and 8 out of 10 from IGN. PC Gamer gave it an 80 out of 100, saying it was "ambitious but uneven" and "an exciting evolution of World of Warcraft." Screen Rant called it "immensely fun" and gave it a 4 out of 5 score. The expansion was praised for combining the excitement of earlier expansions like Wrath of the Lich King with the ease of playing from Battle for Azeroth. PCMag rated it 4 out of 5, noting that although some parts of the endgame had problems, the story choices and new gameplay features made it a strong experience. Game Informer gave it a score of 8.75 out of 10, stating that while it reused many familiar systems, it also introduced new challenges, such as a dangerous zone called The Maw and a roguelike tower called Torghast, which offered many surprises. Overall, Shadowlands was considered a satisfying addition to World of Warcraft.
On its release day, after a four-week delay, Shadowlands sold 3.7 million copies. This broke the previous expansion sales records held by Legion and Cataclysm. It also sold more copies on launch day than any other PC game before it, surpassing the record previously held by Diablo III.
At first, players had positive reactions to Shadowlands, especially during the early stages of the expansion. However, player satisfaction dropped later, particularly after the release of the first major patch, Chains of Domination. Many players criticized late-game systems, the use of time-gating (limiting access to important parts of the game until later), and the long delay between the expansion's release and the patch. The story also faced criticism, especially regarding the character Sylvanas.