World of Warcraft

As Azeroth celebrates 20 year ofWorld of Warcraft , it has been fun to reflect on the various evolutions that the game has get over the decades . The very landscape of the zones has been alter through the destruction due to Deathwing inCataclysm , and entire young islands have been reveal during eras such asMists of Pandaria . Through a total of ten expansions in those 20 years , a whole history has been create , and it continues to evolve and raise even today .

The current elaboration , riot : The War Within , is the first part of an larger-than-life three - part arc of expansionsthat will contribute together an incredible amount of lore from Azeroth ’s history . WoW : Midnight , the second portion of this saga , will be releasing in the summer of 2025 , and is contribute anew feature of player housing to the game . However , looking back at the preceding twenty years , a lot has already happened in this MMORPG . Here are each of the ten expansion already out forWorld of Warcraft , ranked in order of average critique scores and player response .

Every somebody is going to have their own favorite memories and personal penchant regarding the best expansions forWorld of Warcraft , and everyone is boost to make their own opinions . Each enlargement has beneficial and bad features with a lot to build on and enjoy .

mixcollage-24-dec-2024-11-16-am-457.jpg

10Battle For Azeroth Introduced The Kul Tiras And Zandalar Continents

Seventh Expansion, Released August 14, 2018

engagement for Azerothis broadly speaking the least appreciated expanding upon toWorld of Warcraft , despiteadding eight very popular Allied Races to the gameand giving a deeper admiration for the backstory of Jaina Proudmoore . move around to Kul Tiras and Zandalar , there was a very seafaring and hobo camp feel to the expanse , extend promising colors , diverse landscapes , and a bare contrast to much of the dark tale ofLegion .

Unfortunately , Blizzard was still working at figuring out exceptional items that could be added with expansions , andBattle for Azerothended up pick out away the popular artifact powers that were introduce inLegion . Instead , it introduced the Heart of Azeroth artefact , which many felt was more of a irksome dweeb than a fun new power to play around with .

9Shadowlands Took A Look At Life And Death

Eighth Expansion, Released October 27, 2020

Shadowlandswas a heavy and emotionally charged expanding upon , both in history and visuals . With players face a actual demarcation of life and destruction , lighter and dark , and the hereafter , it had a more depressing and hopeless flavour that did not resonate well with a big component of its participant base .

The bleakness of the Maw took up a large portion of the early storyline ofShadowlands , but after player escaped from there , they could move on to new zones where players could work on a chosen Covenant . This also suffered from feeling repetitive , and players hadmany quest change that developer mercifully listenedto , but with each Covenant offering its own campaign , it give player a neat variety of storyline to follow in their own , preferred fiat .

8Mists Of Pandaria Added The Pandaren Race And Monk Class

Fourth Expansion, Released September, 25, 2012

TheMists of Pandariaexpansion toWoWis one that players seem to either love or hate . The story had a heavily Asiatic flavour to it , with folklore and themes loosely tie into the cause of the field . Players also were divided regarding the new Pandaren raceway , with some feel that the anthropomorphized pandas were too childish for the game , while others excitedly bosom the new race , which could prefer to be either Alliance or Horde .

WoW Remix developer Ciji Bambrick and Brian Dowling confabulation with Screen Rant regarding the new , nostalgic , experience of the Mists of Pandaria Remix .

Mists of Pandariawas the outset ofWorld of Warcraft ’s favored battle automobile mechanic , essentially create a minigame within the game . Players can choose to participate in pet battles , or cut the system entirely , but collecting and adding raw pets to the best-loved journal can be a playfulness and rewarding experience .

World of Warcraft image of a collage of key artworks from different expansions

7Warlords Of Draenor Introduced Garrisons To The Game

Fifth Expansion, Released November, 13, 2014

Warlords of Draenortook the fight to an alternate realness variation of Draenor , where players battled against the Iron Horde . Many PvP improvements were made forWoWwith this elaboration , include an overhaul to the way items worked for PvP and the increase of an entire island , Ashran , dedicated to PvP battles .

The most memorable and notable biz mechanic that came fromWarlords of Draenorwas the raw instrumentalist Garrison system . Players could build their own Garrison in a special , instanced , localization and recruit NPCs to go on mission to make amber and items . The Garrison encouraged day-to-day logins , with rewards , battle pets , toys , and mounts . As players completed mission , the Garrison could be upgraded , andit became a very loved feature of the game , until it was dead made pointless when the next enlargement come out .

6Cataclysm Changed The Very Landscape Of Azeroth

Third Expansion, Released December 7, 2010

domain of Warcraft : Cataclysmquite literally became a turn point in the chronicle ofWoW , in multiple direction . Not only did the storyline entirely change the landscape of the two main Continent , Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms , but it change many of the political roles as well . Along with the death that Deathwing The Destroyer cause in Azeroth , the relationship between Horde and Alliance was changed , and Thrall stepped down from his role as Warchief .

Even with the more recent development ofWorld of Warcraft Classicrealms , many role player remain divided up regarding whether " classic"should even work up into theCataclysm Classicexpansion . The very estimation of classicWoWseems to breathe in thoughts of the world before Deathwing ’s wipeout .

5Wrath Of The Lich King Added The Continent Of Northrend

Second Expansion, Released November 13, 2008

ire of the Lich Kingis a best-loved enlargement for many . The storey was entrancing to those who followed it , with the tale of the Lich King Arthas and his undead minion , inspiring thenew playable course of Death Knight . Meanwhile , it also bring role player into the continent of Northrend , where the snow-covered landscape painting introduced the walrus - like Tuskarr NPCs who tot up a Modern character of culture that quickly won the hearts of many .

The Death Knight class which came fromWoLKwas the first poor boy class to be added to the biz , and was an exciting change . At the time , Death Knights were only available after a player had another character that was at least tier 55on that realm , causing them to experience even more elect and extra .

Despite being an former expanding upon , many of the feature ofWrath of the Lich Kingare still popular for thespian , especially many of the dungeons and raid , such as Icecrown Citadel .

World of Warcraft the War Within Xal’atath and Nerubians

4Legion Brought Illidan Back And Added Demon Hunters To WoW

Sixth Expansion, Released August 30, 2016

TheLegionexpansion toWoWis another that players seem to either dear or detest . Its storyline lend the return of Illidan who role player had antecedently interacted with inThe Burning Crusade , a newly remodeled version of Dalaran that was familiar fromWrath of the Lich King , and insert the new Demon Hunter playable class .

One of the favorite vista for many role player was thatWoW : Legionintroduced powerful items called Artifact Weapons . These weapons were specific for every year and speciality and had telling names and narration behind them , including the Doomhammer which had once belong to to Thrall . Even for angle there was the unique Underlight Angler artifact . Sadly , although players enjoy these particular weapons , they were only useful during theLegionexpansion , which disappointed many .

3The Burning Crusade Was The First Major Story Expansion For World of Warcraft

First Expansion, Released January 16, 2007

The very first expansion toWorld of WarcraftwasThe Burning Crusade . This narration took players to Outland and introduce many popular fresh donjon and raids , as well as added the Draenei and Blood Elves as playable raceway . front with the impressive Dark Portal , from whichdemons of the Burning Legion poured out , player were able to feel heroic and powerful in their endeavour .

This expansion also make for the addition of flying mount toWoW , although they could only be ridden in the new zone of Outland at the prison term . These flying mount mechanics were so positively incur that they were wreak to the quietus of Azeroth afterCataclysmoccurred .

2The War Within Is The First Part Of The Worldsoul Saga

Tenth Expansion, Released August 26, 2024

The most late expanding upon toWorld of Warcraft , and the first portion of theWorldsoul Sagatrilogy , The War Withinbuilds the origination for the most epic tale thatWarcrafthas toldthus far . While also having its own self - incorporate storyline that feature the new Earthen backwash and their struggles , many of the fundamental figures from the history ofWoWare fall together . Anduin Wrynn , Jaina Proudmoore , Thrall , Magni Bronzebeard , Alleria Windrunner , and more are all coming together while many people across Azeroth are have unusual imagination .

World of Warcraft released The War Within as its 10th expansion , and it play large changes with it that keep the game feeling smart after 20 age .

Even see beyond the story that is being built withThe War Within , there are many new feature that have been introduced with this expansion . From the smaller donjon - corresponding Delves to the fresh compounding ofplayer Warbands on an account , plus the addition of Skyriding flight across much of Azeroth , the update mechanism that came alongsideThe War Withinhave made it an even better experience .

PC-1

1Dragonflight Introduced A New Style Of Flight

Ninth Expansion, Released November 28, 2022

Dragonflightwas , in many ways , a fresh start forWoW , as it revamped several of the games ' mechanics and systems . The profession system was modernize , skill trees that were unique to each family were added , and account - wide renown made it , so there is less grinding of rep on multiple type . Most significantly of all , the expansion add a new flying mechanic for mounts called Dragonriding , which is now knight Skyriding . Using a physics - based approach , it gives role player bully controller over their flight and added customizable dragon saddle horse .

All these change came alongside one of the most loved storylines that the game has go out as well . Many players were instantly pull to the history fence the five Dragonflights , and the beautiful zones which made up the Dragon Isles . The Dracthyr race and its Evoker course were like the cherry on top , makingDragonflightone of the most popular expansions in the history ofWorld of Warcraft .

Your Rating

Your comment has not been saved

Gaming

World of Warcraft

PC Games