World of Warcraft
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Looking for a complete list of every WoW expansion released after the 2004 launch? Here is every expansion, in order with a brief overview of what they brought to the game.
Approaching its 20th anniversary, there’s no doubt World of Warcraft is the most influential MMORPG ever released. Launched in 2004, WoW redefined what both online gaming and role playing games could be. With an expansive world that spans both the original release and 10 (Yes, 10!) expansions, WoW has has made sure that players will always be able to call Azeroth their second home.
After 20 years, it’s safe to assume that the majority of modern retail WoW players haven’t been able to experience every expansion while it was current content. Even now, with Chromie Time, you can choose what expansion you want to quest in on your way to max level. So, we have put together this list of every WoW expansion released, as well as what races, raids, and game-play changes they have brought to the game.
Here is a quick list of all releases in chronological order, and keep reading below for more details about each individual expansion.
WoW expansions in order
The Burning Crusade
Released in 2007, The Burning Crusade serves as WoW’s first expansion pack, and took players off of Azeroth. Taking place on the remains of Draenor known as Outland, Burning Crusade brought a multitude of changes to WoW.
Adding two new races (Blood Elf and Draenei) as well as opening shamans up for Alliance players and Paladins up for Horde players, BC forever changed the population of WoW. For example, Blood Elf is STILL themost played racein WoW to this day. The Burning Crusade also brought flying to World of Warcraft, the fastest, and most preferred travel method since.The Burning Crusade also brought multiple changes to PVP and PVE aspects of the game. Raids were downsized to 25 man (with the exception of Karazhan and Zul’Aman, both being 10 man) and 5 man dungeons got a new heroic mode for max level players.
PVP players were introduced to “Arenas,” a 2v2, 3v3, and 5v5 (later taken out) format that is still the most competitive PVP system to this day and serving as the basis for theArena World Championships.
Raids introduced in Burning Crusade:
Wrath of the Lich King
At Blizzcon 2007, Blizzard announced that for the next WoW expansion, we would be heading back to the shores of Northrend, for the first time since the finale ofWarcraft 3. Seen by many as a true sequel to the RTS games, Wrath of the Lich King was the expansion that many had been waiting for. The players finally got the chance to go in and fight Arthas himself in one of the most iconic raids of all time, Icecrown Citadel.
The story of Wrath of the Lich King isn’t the only thing remembered so fondly by players. This expansion also brought an entirely new raid format with all raids being available in both 10 man and 25 man versions, each with their own respective loot tables.
Other notable additions to the game during Wrath of the Lich King, was the first playable hero class, the iconic Death Knight. A thematic class based around the idea of some of Arthas' most powerful soldiers turning against him.
Raids introduced in Wrath of the Lich King:
Cataclysm
When players logged in to World of Warcraft on December 7th, 2010 the world had changed. Deathwing had woken up and reshaped the entirety of Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms. Simply known as Cataclysm, this expansion saw the first ever major world overhaul, drastically changing many of the zones people had come to love. Once empty canyons were now filled with water. Massive plain filled zones were split in half. Towns were destroyed.Often considered the first “divisive” expansion of WoW’s history due to players being so divided on whether it was good or bad, Cataclysm did more than just change the world of Azeroth with both new zones and resigned old ones.
It was also the first full talent tree revision in the game’s history, as well bring in the Rated Battlegrounds game format to PVP game play, bringing back the old honor system titles that were done away with for The Burning Crusade.
Other notable introductions to the game during Cataclysm were the new races; Goblins (Horde) and Worgen (Alliance), as well as giving caster dps their first legendary weapon since 2006.
Raids introduced in Cataclysm
Mists of Pandaria
Mists of Pandaria released in September 2012 and introduced players to the Pandaren race. The first race that were “neutral,” thus giving you the option to pick if you wanted to play Alliance or Horde.
Alongside the release of the Pandaren race, this expansion also gave us the first second new class to be introduced since the launch of the game with the Monk class. A melee class that is capable of tanking, dps, or healing.
Although divisive at the time, Mists of Pandaria has started to be considered one of the “golden eras” of WoW, and widely considered to be one high points of class balance in both PVE and PVP aspects. This expansion also gave up a full talent tree revamp, an extremely popular pet battle tournament, and Challenge Modes, the precursor what is now known as Mythic Plus.
Raids Introduced in Mists of Pandaria:
Warlords of Draenor
Easily the most divisive expansion in WoW’s long history, Warlords of Draneor was released in November of 2014 towide acclaim, though that acclaim didn’t last long. Set in an alternate timeline Draneor, WoD sent plays back through the Dark Portal to a time where the orcs didn’t become mindless soldiers of the Burning Legion.
Warlords of Draneor didn’t introduce a lot of new changes to the game, though the ones that it did bring were massive. Garrisons being the main one. An instanced “base” for the player, it included everything from a personal bank and auction house to herb garden and mine.
While on paper it seemed like an amazing idea, it really took away from the social aspect of WoW, as you could do nearly everything in game from just staying in your garrison all day. Poor reception to the garrison system will always be speculated as to why Blizzard will never give us player housing.
One glimmer of hope from Warlords of Draenor was the raids. I will personally go to my grave saying that all three raids are among my top 10 raids of all time.
Raids introduced in Warlords of Draenor:
Legion
Legion, aka the return of the demons and Illidan Stormrage. Set back on present day Azeroth, the weird time paradoxes created in the Warlords of Draenor expansion allowed Gul’dan to come and summon the Burning Legion to the shores of Azeroth.
Legion is often regarded as the expansion that saved World of Warcraft by providing an engaging story as well as a leveling experience that allowed you pick which of the new zones you wanted to progress through.
Legion also introduced players to a new kind of borrowed power called the “artifact power” system. A system which you used to upgrade legendary artifact weapons as you progress your character. Some of the most iconic weapons in Warcraft history returned as part of the system, such asAshbringer,Doomhammer, andFelo’melorn.
Legion also introduced us to the second hero class to be introduced to the game. The iconic Demon Hunter. A melee class that was capable of both damage and tanking, this class quickly became a fan favorite.Lastly, Legion also gave us the most popular PVE endgame activity, Mythic Plus. A dungeon format that takes the mythic difficulty of dungeons and puts them on a scaling difficulty based on what level keystone you have, as well as adding “affixes” that also increases the difficulty.
Raids introduced in Legion
Battle for Azeroth
Released August of 2018, Battle For Azeroth is the expansion where Blizzard writers took the most chances with story decisions, creating a massive rift in the player base. Most of these changes involve fan favorite character Sylvanas Windrunner and her seemingly quick descent into a villain. From burning down Teldrassil to killing Saurfang and abandoning the Horde, fans still argue about this expansion to this day.
Outside of story decisions, this expansion also received a lot of backlash on it’s expansion of the Artifact Power system of Legion and rebranding it Azerite Power. Instead of one piece of gear you had to grind to level, you now had three pieces all of which had different powers which greatly enhanced your character. Not to mention, the Heart of Azeroth and having to grind AP to increase it’s power as well.
Battle For Azeroth also introduced a new “allied race” area of the game. A system in which you could earn reputation, as well as complete certain quest chains to unlock races you come across in the game. While the majority of allied races were reskins of other races, this new feature has been one that has been praised repeatedly.
In retrospect, BFA wasn’t an overly bad expansion, I personally have fond memories as I thoroughly enjoyed all the side stories and the overall design of all the new zones.
Raids introduced in Battle for Azeroth:
Shadowlands
Remember when I said Warlords of Draenor was the most divisive WoW expansion? I stand by that, I believe Shadowlands may undoubtedly be the most “hated” expansion in WoW’s history.Plagued by real world eventssuch as the pandemic and internal problems at Blizzard, Shadowlands odds felt like they were already stacking against it’s success.
Having far too many new borrowed power systems as well as having a tone that felt miles away from playing something based in the Warcraft Universe, Shadowlands felt like far more of a departure than I am sure they intended. I should also mention the quick “redemption arc” and subsequent banishment of Sylvanas Windrunner, which rubbed a lot of players the wrong way.
Overall, there were some good things to love in Shadowlands. The zone designs were great and the introduction to a “catch up” leveling system for alts definitely helped keep interest after you feel like you had everything done on your main.
Raids introduced in Shadowlands:
Dragonflight
Heading back to Azeroth, Dragonflight as a very welcome return to form for WoW. Taking place in the legendary Dragon Isles, this expansion brought a major overhaul to multiple aspects of the game. From the first talent tree overhaul since Mists of Pandaria, to the new dragon riding mechanic, Dragonflight felt like completely new World of Warcraft.
Dragonflight also introduced not only a new race, but a new hero class as well but made them mutually exclusive to each other. The Dracthyr Evoker, a type of dragonkin that are capable of presenting themselves in both “dragon form” and “humanoid” form. This give players the ability to customize both forms in the character creation options.
Raids introduced in Dragonflight:
The War Within
Released earlier this year, The War Within is the first expansion in the Worldsoul Saga. A trilogy of expansions announced back at Blizzcon 2023.
The War Within sees thereturn of Chris Metzenat the storytelling helm and sends the players directly into the depths of Azeroth, encountering the Earthen dwarves, the ancestors of the original Arathi Empire, and the return of the arachnid race known as the Nerubians as we chase Xal’atath, the Harbringer of the Void throughout the heart of Azeroth.
The War Within also brings massive changes to the game like the following:
Dungeons introduced in The War Within:
Raids introduced in The War Within:
We can’t wait to see where the rest of The War Within takes us, as well as seeing what Midnight and The Last Titan have in store for us.
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