In addition, the Battle for Azeroth. Free WoW: Battle for Azeroth servers

So, the next add-on for World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth has been announced. Large-scale, global, cool addon!

An impressive introductory video tells us how much the representatives of the Horde and the Alliance hate each other, some time ago they helped each other defeat Sargeras and push the demons of the Burning Legion back into the underworld during the campaign on Argus.

The developers promise an incredible intensity of passions and - of course - we cannot do without hair-raising plot twists: betrayals, cunning and sophisticated plans, sudden changes in the balance of power, etc. All this will be served with a good plot sauce on the islands of Zandalar and Kul Tiras. The presence of the Old Gods and the return of Azshara are possible!

How to get to the free WoW: Battle for Azeroth server?
There is only one official free server - this is the test server of the addon. You can get there completely free of charge if you have received (or purchased) an invite to beta testing. It should be noted that a beta test cannot be called a full-fledged game: you will encounter many bugs, repeated resets of character progress, alterations or imperfections in quests, etc. But you can fully enjoy the process of creating and balancing your favorite game. You will be the first to see those ideas that developers later implement in real conditions. And, of course, don’t forget about spoilers: there are plenty of them, as well as problems with connection and disconnection, balance, and even just downloading files.

List of free WoW: Battle for Azeroth servers

Unfortunately, the list of free World servers of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is empty for now. If you are a server administrator and want to add your server to this list, contact me!

Generally speaking, WoW free servers allow you to play for free current version MMORPG. Unfortunately, they usually have one common drawback: due to the friability, admins introduce donations to maintain the operation of their shards. For money they sell things, boosts, amplifiers and all sorts of gizmos and goodies. Sometimes this does not affect the gameplay, but sometimes without a donation, an ordinary player cannot even come close to the strength of other characters.

- the seventh addition to World of Warcraft. To understand when WOW Battle for Azeroth will be released, we analyze the development time of past additions, the duration of the arena seasons, the connection with the release of fiction books on WWII and other factors.

Please note: The exact release date of the Battle for Azeroth expansion is known only to Blizzard, but we can only make assumptions based on indirect factors. However, such assumptions often make it possible to predict the release date of a new WOW patch.

So, when can we expect Batte for Azeroth to release?

Updated: The developers stated that the expansion will be released on "September 21, 2018 or earlier." The exact date is not known, but you can read the reflections below.

Relationship between books and add-ons

Due to the postponement of the release date of the book Before the Storm to June 12, 2018, players began to speculate about when the WOW add-on “Battle for Azeroth” would be released.

Historically, a book will appear before an expansion is released, but the time between its publication and release can vary greatly.

Compare:

Cataclysm - 49 days between the release of the expansion and the publication of The Shattering book.
Mists of Pandaria - 32 days between the release of the expansion and the release of the Tides of War novel.
Draenor – 191 days between the release of War Crimes and the launch of the expansion.
Legion - 140 days between the publication of the Illidan book and the release of the expansion.

As you can see, quite a lot of time passed between the release of the books and the launch of Draenor and Legion, while Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria were released literally 1-1.5 months after the publication of the corresponding books.

One thing is certain: books are always published before the official launch of the add-on.

Thus, we can conclude that we will not see any pre-patches until at least mid-June 2018.

Legion Patch Schedule

There is a theory that Legion patches come out at intervals of 77 days.

In principle, this is how it was before patch 7.3 and Antorus. Information about Antorus first appeared in the game files long before the notorious 77 days, and the update itself comes out 91 days after the previous patch.

There is already information about patch 7.3.5 - let's assume it will be released 77 days after Antorus, on February 13, 2018. Let's add another 77 days to this date, we get May 1, 2018 - too early for the release of a new addition.

If we remember that in Legion the release time for patches has changed slightly, then the calculations should be revised a little - let the release of update 7.3.5 be on February 27, 2018 (91 days), and the next patch May 29, 2018– such a date is already quite suitable as a pre-patch before the release of a large-scale addition.

Duration between Legion patches (days)

Arena Seasons in Legion

Another way to predict the release date of Battle for Azeroth (albeit a rather rough one) is Legion Arena seasons.

Season 6 began on November 28, 2017, and season 8 on at the moment there is no information. The start of the new season is not tied to the release of patches, nor does it follow the 77-day rule. Typically each season lasts from 77 to 105 days.

If we assume that the next 2 arena seasons will last 80-100 days, then the end of season 7 will be sometime in June, which is quite coincides with the theoretical release of the pre-patch Battles for Azeroth.

Length of seasons WOW arenas Legion

Add-on development

Statistics show that since the announcement of the new WOW add-ons a year or more passes before its publication - from 340 to 470 days.

However, Legion has made changes to the development process:

Mists of Pandaria had 4 global patches and several small ones within 5.4.
Draenor had 2 large-scale patches and several small ones after 6.2.
Legion has currently released 3 global patches, but the changes being made are clearly divided into categories (unlocking raids, continuing the storyline, class changes, etc.).

Table with release dates and timing of all patches for the latest World of Warcraft additions:

	Mists of Pandaria	Battle for Azeroth
Release date
X.1 patch
X.2 patch
X.3 patch
X.4 patch

Duration of patches within the add-on

Conclusions about the release date

If we take into account the old methods of determining the release date of the expansion, then we can say with confidence that the Battle for Azeroth will have to wait at least another year. However, given the acceleration in the release of updates in the Legion, it can be assumed that new information on the Battle will appear already in the third quarter of 2018(July-September).

In patch 7.3.5, most likely, the Legion storyline will come to its logical end - blocked raid content, time travel (Ulduar), etc. will be opened.

Also in 7.3.5 should start new story, so that the events on Argus smoothly flow into the plot of the Battle for Azeroth.

Blizzard has thoroughly revised the release of patches - before they always brought new locations, class changes, raids, etc., but now, starting with Legion, patches only open up known, but blocked features.

This method of releasing updates allows the company to update game content more often and reserve more time to work on the final elements of the expansion (raids, storylines).

When do you think the Battle for Azeroth expansion will be released? Write your guesses in the comments!

And pre-orders for the Battle for Azeroth expansion are open in the in-game store! When you pre-order, you'll be able to instantly level up your character to level 110 and set off on a quest to find four new allied races that will appear in the expansion: Highmountain Tauren, Lightforged Draenei, Void Elves, and Nightborne. And for developing an Allied Race character from level 20 to level 110*, you will receive a special set of traditional armor - a true symbol of devotion to Azeroth.

Whose side are you on?

The inhabitants of Azeroth managed to repel the surprise attack of the Burning Legion. The victory came at a high price: many noble heroes fell in battle, the blade of Sargeras inflicted a severe wound on the world. But there is an old split that will be even more difficult to overcome. The age-old mistrust between the Alliance and the Horde threatens to escalate into a new conflict - and no one can foresee how this will turn out for Azeroth. Now to the heroes - you! - you need to find new allies and go into battle for your faction. With arms in hand, you have to take part in a key episode of a long-term confrontation.

This is not the time to sit back! Start preparing for battle now. Pre-order Battle for Azeroth, mount a Gilded Ravasaur or a Salt-Maned Stallion, and set out in search of the Allied Races. Announce to all of Azeroth which faction you are for, and get ready to meet the enemy fully armed.

Battle for Azeroth: Standard Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition

Battle for Azeroth is available in two digital editions: Standard and Deluxe.

Both the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions include:

full version of the Battle for Azeroth expansion;
increasing the character's level to 110.
Pre-order now to immediately level up your character and start searching for allied races.

The Deluxe Digital Edition also includes:

Zandalari Gilded Ravasaur (Horde) or Kul Tiran Salt-Mane Stallion (Alliance);
pet Cake, a small tortollan;
Hearthstone card back;
graffiti in StarCraft II;
fireborn saber (vehicle) in Heroes of the Storm;
lines, emotes, sprays and icons in Overwatch.

We'll soon share more details about the Collector's Edition, which will only be available in retail sales. It will include the soundtrack, exclusive artwork and story details for the Battle for Azeroth expansion.

New Battle for Azeroth

Kul Tiras is a kingdom of the Alliance: the homeland of Jaina Proudmoore has become a hotbed of intrigue and dark magic. You will battle power-hungry pirates, witches who use death magic, and mysterious priests of the sea.

Zandalar is the empire of the Horde: in these troll-inhabited lands lies an ancient evil, ready to awaken and subjugate the entire world. You will need to defeat crazed blood trolls, giant dinosaurs and the creations of the titans.

New Allied Races: By pre-purchasing, you can start building connections with the Highmountain tauren, Lightforged draenei, Void Elves, and Nightborne. This, in turn, will give you the opportunity to create new characters belonging to these races.

Islands not on the map: Team up in groups of three and fight cunning invaders (or players from the opposing faction). The islands are constantly changing, so many challenges await you.

Battles on the fronts: take part in a large-scale battle for 20 players in the mode cooperative game to recapture strategically important territory. Lead your troops and fight the enemy commander in a new PvE mode, similar to battles in classic Warcraft strategy games.

Heart of Azeroth: Receive the Heart of Azeroth, a legendary necklace, from the hands of Magni Bronzebeard himself. Infuse the necklace with Azerite, a valuable resource that has become a source of contention between two factions, to give your armor new properties.

Start recruiting new Allied Races!

When you pre-order, you'll be able to experience Azeroth through the eyes of a character from one of Battle for Azeroth's new allied races. The heroes of the Horde will be able to attract the Highmountain tauren and the nightborne to their side, and the Alliance - the lightened draenei and the elves of the Abyss. If you form an alliance with these races, you can choose them when creating new characters.

Before one or another race will side with your faction, you will need to fulfill a special set of conditions - earn a reputation or complete certain tasks. Once these conditions are met, you will receive a special task that will allow your faction to gain the support of the race. And if you can develop a character belonging to one of the Allied Races from level 20 to 110 - without using the services of a level increase, changing race or faction, and without gaining levels through the Refer-a-Friend program! - you receive a special set of traditional armor of this race. The set is a set of decorative items that will subsequently be available to all your characters of the corresponding race.

Allied Races: Features, Abilities and Conditions

Highmountain Tauren - Horde

Descendants of Huln, the brave hero of the War of the Ancients, the Highmountain tauren revere the spirits of the earth, river and sky. Although Legion forces invaded their lands, sowing seeds of distrust between the tribes, the Highmountain tauren united once again. For the first time in for a long time they are ready to leave the sacred mountain and join their relatives from Kalimdor. The Horde will certainly be glad to receive such noble and powerful allies.

Highmountain Tauren Racial Abilities

Bull Rush: Charges, knocking opponents down.
Highlander: Increases your versatility.
Pride of the Iron Horn: Increases mining skill and ore extraction speed.
Durable Hide: Reduces damage taken from attacks.
Thrift: sometimes collects more meat and catches more fish.

How to Enlist the Support of Highmountain Taurens

Earn Exalted status with the Highmountain Tribes.
Earn the "Knee-deep Mountains" achievement.

Lightforged Draenei - Alliance

For thousands of years, the Army of Light fought the Burning Legion in the Twisting Nether. Draenei, who have completely dedicated their lives to fighting demons, take part in a special ritual and absorb the essence of the Light of heaven, becoming illuminated. Having won their final victory on Argus, the Lightforged draenei set themselves a new task - to protect Azeroth from all threats and help the Alliance defend against the attacks of the Horde.

Lightforged Draenei Racial Abilities

Forge of Light: Increases your blacksmithing skill and allows you to install an anvil.
Light Resistance: Reduces damage taken from Holy magic.
Light's Judgment: Deals big damage from light magic to enemies in the selected area.
Holy Retribution: Explodes upon death, dealing Holy damage to enemies and healing allies.

How to Enlist the Support of Lightforged Draenei

Earn Exalted status with the Army of the Light.
Once these conditions are met, you can begin the quest chain to unlock this race.

Nightborne - Horde

The elves of Suramar spent 10,000 years protected by a magical barrier, and during that time they became overly dependent on the arcane magic of the Nightwell. To protect this source of power, the Nightborne leaders made a deal with the Burning Legion, which led to civil war. Having won freedom from the demons who subjugated them, the Nightborne strive to form an alliance with the Horde and regain their rightful place in this world.

Nightborne Racial Abilities

Ancient History: Increases inscription skill.
Magic Affinity: Increases magical damage dealt.
Focus: Summons a flying tome that serves as a mailbox.
Arcane Surge: Fills an area with arcane energy, dealing damage and pinning nearby enemies.
Arcane Resistance: Reduces Arcane damage taken.

How to Enlist the Support of the Nightborne

Earn Exalted status with the Nightborne.
Obtaining the "Uprising" achievement.
Once these conditions are met, you can begin the quest chain to unlock this race.

Void Elves - Alliance

Many have tried to curb the dangerous magic of the Abyss. Most of them lost their minds. Alleria Windrunner is determined to use this power for the good of Azeroth - she has become the first mortal not subject to the influence of the whispers of the shadows. After she managed to save a group of brethren who had nearly perished in the arms of darkness, Alleria vowed to teach the Void Elves to hold dark force under control and ensure that the newfound power serves the Alliance.

Void Elves Racial Abilities

Child of the Night: Reduces damage taken from Shadow magic.
One with Entropy: Your abilities have a chance to empower you with Void Essence, increasing your healing and Shadow damage.
Aetherlink: Reduces transmog and Void storage costs.
Preternatural Calm: Casting spells is no longer delayed when taking damage.
Dimensional Rift: Opens a rift in space, allowing you to teleport a short distance.

How to Enlist the Support of the Void Elves

Earn Exalted status with the Defenders of Argus.
Earn the "Now You're Ready!" achievement.
Once these conditions are met, you can begin the quest chain to unlock this race.

Additional character slots

All players will receive four additional slots for creating characters of new races.**

When will Battle for Azeroth be released?

Battle for Azeroth will be released in the summer of 2018. The expansion will bring many new features to the game. In a fierce battle for the future of Azeroth, you will find yourself on the front line!

Pre-order the Battle for Azeroth expansion and go in search of new Allied Races!

*To obtain Heritage Armor, you must develop your character without leveling up, changing races or factions, or gaining levels through the Refer a Friend program.

**Not part of pre-order. The developers are currently working on expanding the number of cells for all players. Changes are expected in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned for news and updates.

There will be no winners or losers in this battle.

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Addition Battle for Azeroth became the fastest selling in history World of Warcraft: by the time the heroes of Azeroth received news from Magni Bronzebeard and hung their “Azerite vacuum cleaner” around their necks, more than 3,400,000 copies of the addon had already been sold. And there is every reason for this: a loud announcement during BlizzCon, gorgeous videos, exciting pre-patch events and, of course, allied races available only to owners of the expansion. But the main factor, perhaps, turned out to be the long-forgotten feeling of unity with one’s faction, expressed in the first cinematic trailers: “ For the Horde! For the Alliance!"And with weapons - wow!

But now new lands have been discovered, explored and explored, dungeons have been completed, crafts have been learned, battle pets have been defeated and collected. There are only a few days left until the opening of the first raid, the first PvP season and the first mythical dungeons. It's time to take a look at the entire starting state of Battle for Azeroth and try to understand whether it was worth the haste to join these three and a half million.

The battle for motivation

For a long time we were not given the opportunity to face not some “alien evil”, but a close, understandable and familiar enemy. And the preliminary events of “Battle for Azeroth” plunged us into an epic and bloody confrontation between the Horde and the Alliance. Have you ever wanted to throw a fireball at Anduin or rip Saurfang's shoulder pads? Here they are, right in front of us, former comrades-in-arms, for whom bills have accumulated over many years! Come on, neighbor, are you ready to answer for Theramore and Taurajo, for the homeless elves and oppressed orcs?

We witnessed episodes that forever changed World history of Warcraft. Before our eyes, the sacred world tree Teldrassil turned to ashes. With our direct participation, the ruins of Lordaeron became completely uninhabitable. After this, even fans of pet battles wished for retribution with all their hearts.

However, the overwhelming epic nature of what was happening did not completely hide the plot holes and lame motivation of the characters. Why did Sylvanas suddenly decide to start a fire and why didn’t she finish the fight with Malfurion? How do Saurfang's attack in the back and his subsequent feelings about it fit together? Why couldn’t Jaina, who had recently ended the Plague in a matter of seconds, freeze the Horde saboteurs in the same seconds? Finally, what was the princess of Zandalar doing in Stormwind prison and why did no one react to her escape? Why is there flight, here the capital almost burned down, and no one even mentioned it when sending Alliance fighters to Kul Tiras! Concerns arise: will the writers forget by the end of the addon that Darnassus no longer exists?

To somehow mend the holes, Blizzard even released two books of modest literary value. So what, players? Overwatch I’m happy that the game is separate, and the plot is separate!

But the saddest plot failure was hidden in the skies. Fighters "Legion" remember what a powerful weapon the draenei spaceship, the Vindicaar, could become. For what reasons did Anduin Wrynn not think of ending the Horde with a couple of well-aimed shots? Obviously, for the most compelling reasons: the writers decided that “Vindicare” did not fit into the current plot, and simply forgot about it. Yes, the battle between the Horde and the Alliance is more of a friendly match, and you cannot leave half the players as winners and half as losers. But it was possible to at least briefly mention some important mission of Velen or a catastrophic engine failure? Apparently, they decided not to waste their energy. Go into the bushes, Vindicaar, grow some keys.

Battle for resources

Be that as it may, after the unsuccessful battle of Lordaeron for both sides, we will have to happily forget about the confrontation between the largest factions. The leaders of the Horde and Alliance assessed the losses and came to the conclusion: the armies needed fresh blood. Our mission is to find new allies, convince them to forget about their own problems and line them up with their fleet under the banners of the desired color. It seems that somewhere we have already seen the same plot plot... yes, yes, the same melody played after the first unsuccessful attack on the Broken Shore!

Most of all, the first patches of Battle for Azeroth resemble the beginning of Legion. And not only with the plot: on new continents, activities that are very familiar from the previous expansion await us - perhaps in an economical version. The tactical map breaks down a single global mission into three smaller tasks (or six, if you count the scant military campaign in foreign territories), and the entire faction was moved from luxurious class strongholds to the ship deck. Perhaps it was because of this that our companions lost interest in us: now there are only five of them, each with only one slot for equipment, and not a single one can be persuaded to join us on adventures. And the class resources simply changed their name - now they are “military” resources.

But the equipment system has been simplified (at least at first glance). We accumulate power in the same way by collecting Azerite to improve equipment, but instead of several types of weapons we have a single medallion, the level of which unlocks additional abilities on the obtained helmets, shoulders and breastplates. The savings in time and effort are, of course, significant. But previously, in addition to artifact weapons, we received as many as three epic storylines, one for each specialization, and the druids even got four unique stories. Now, instead of all this wealth, you can only count on the inspiring speech of Magni Bronzebeard - the same for all races, classes and factions.

Heroes who reach level 120 begin a two-year journey: they begin to collect equipment. Here, as usual, there are pitfalls, randomness and an endless pursuit of perfection. The thing is with those additional abilities: not all of them are equally useful. The new Azerite Rings carry over some of the abilities of the powerfully buffed Legendary items, but it will take a lot of luck and a lot of trying to find one that combines all the desired talents from the many varieties of items.

Battle for reputation

But in the process of leveling up, wonderfully drawn locations, stuffed with quests and tasks, open up. Sometimes even too generous: if you meet a lone warrior, you can be sure that he has five requests hidden in his stash. And if you stumble upon a camp or village, the number of orders will at least triple!

Most NPCs will be happy to explain to you how the confrontation between the Horde and the Alliance is connected with the urgent need to tear off two dozen tails from lizards or destroy the nests of pterodactyls. Some side effects are absolutely worth going through - especially if you are a fan of mini-plots. For example, a plush tea party in Drustvar with an amazing, albeit useless reward. Or the story of a timid Brutosaurus who needs to find a mate, but all attempts by scientists to match him with someone lead to an unexpected result.

We have to infiltrate the pirate crew and help the dragons, deal with cultists and disrupt human sacrifices, arrange weddings and stab refugees with a needle, be horrified by losses and celebrate victories. We will meet new heroes and whole new tribes, including the vulpera foxes singing about Specks and Dolly and the mysterious serpent people Sethrak.

It’s worth playing for the Horde or going through a military campaign on Zandalar if only to see Bwonsamdi himself in the role of a healer of souls - this loa of death descends from the voodoo Baron of Saturday (aka Baron Samdi), and in his manner of communication he is reminiscent of Ryuk from Death Note " Every time he resurrects your hero, he makes a snide joke.

But in terms of mechanics, you can’t expect much abundance: most tasks come down to “kill, collect, use.” Because of this, even going after a cat stuck in a burning tower is perceived as a revelation and a gift.

But war is war, and local networks are on schedule. If you speed up the progress of story and side quests, this will mean only one thing: the early arrival of the era of world quests, envoy quests and earning reputation with new factions. The latter remains a key element of leveling up: without reputation, you won’t see any flights, new allied races, or useful gizmos.

Battle for DPS

They tried to implement new mechanics in island expeditions - these are special dungeons where a team of three players must manage to collect several thousand Azerite before non-player characters or other users do so. But there was no revolution here either: despite the procedural generation, the expeditions are quite monotonous. But the list of possible trophies includes mounts and pets, so it is unlikely that the islands will suffer the same fate as the Pandaria scenarios. And competing with other players is always fun.

As for the new dungeons, they were a great success. Unless, of course, you pay attention to the narrow corridors where problems with the camera begin, and the labyrinths with nooks and crannies in which newcomers constantly get lost. Group instances look completely different, but are equally atmospheric and detailed. It’s not boring with bosses due to the variety of mechanics and abundance of control, and ordinary mobs guarding approaches sometimes surprise with their ingenuity. Those newbies will probably fray their nerves not only because of the labyrinths, but also because of the traps generously placed along the corridors. And in some dungeons, the opponents are so dangerous that the “high” keys for them will most likely remain unclaimed.

By the time the review appears on the site, most likely, the first raid, Uldir, will have already opened. “Keys” will appear: Mythic dungeons will gain additional difficulty levels. And for those who successfully cope with the new challenges, one of the main problems of the new addition will finally disappear.

But to talk about it, we have to go back in time.

Battle for subscription

The principle of scaling works in some multiplayer games, and not just in arcade session action games. IN The Elder Scrolls Online Adjusting the level gives players the opportunity from the very first minutes to rush into exploring the most “fresh” lands and plots, and then, at their leisure, move to their original territories in search of missed adventures.

WoW scaling was introduced at the start of Legion on the Broken Isles and eventually expanded throughout the game, but it works differently. The world is divided into “pendocks”, between which gates are built: 60th, 80th, 90th, 100th, 110th levels. It doesn't matter if you love Pandaria, you still won't see it until you level it up. It doesn't matter if you like Draenor, you can't escape it unless you decide to level up by collecting resources on the Timeless Isle.

There is nothing wrong with the very idea of scaling; pitfalls are hidden in its implementation, and level 116-120 players most actively count them using the bottoms of their ships. By this time, the effects of legendary items stop working, the epic armor of the “Legion” is almost completely replaced by the quest “green” and, if you’re lucky, by the “blue” from the dungeons.

The already troubled Azeroth has once again become a battlefield. This time there is no external enemy, because the conflict is between the main factions of the game - the Alliance and the Horde. Choose a side and go into battle!

Battle for Azeroth

The swords and axes have barely had time to cool down after the bloody war with the Burning Legion, and a new one is already on the doorstep. There are two prerequisites at once - logical and... Not very logical. Before his death, Sargeras, the creator and leader of the Legion, plunged his giant sword directly into the planet, after which Azerite began to grow from its depths.

This is an incredibly valuable resource that is rumored to be titanium particles that lie dormant deep underground. Of course, both factions are trying to get their hands on as much Azerite as possible. But the spark that lit the flame of war between the Alliance and the Horde was not he, but the banshee Sylvanas, also the leader of the Forsaken.

First, players of both factions take part in the siege of the Undercity, which takes place in several stages, then the action smoothly flows into Stormwind, where a prison riot occurs. Further, depending on the faction, it branches.

Supporters of the Alliance will go to Kul Tiras to support the naval commanders there, and the “Horde” will go to Zandalar, a huge island where an ancient troll civilization has existed for many thousands of years.

New regions: Kul Tiras and Zandalar

To fully learn the story of the “Battle for Azeroth”, you need to go through 2 large campaigns at once - for the Alliance and for the Horde. As noted above, the setting was Kul Tiras and Zandalar. Each region is divided into 3 locations and includes several quest chains, during which you can learn a lot about the warring dynasties of people and the conspiracies of the troll islanders.

The Alliance will be able to fight pirates, uncover the cult of the Ancient Gods and learn about the struggle between witches and the Inquisition. The Horde, in turn, will engage in the palace intrigues of the Zandalari rulers, wander through the swamps of Nazmir, and even go to a “showdown” with the snake people in the Voldun desert. In short, there is more than enough content for both factions.

And that doesn't even take into account the new dungeons and raid! There are 8 of them in Battle for Azeroth, 4 for each faction. Each has its own strictly defined theme, “monster hunt” and a selection of unique rewards for completing. But it was not possible to evaluate the raid: it was closed at the time the addon was released.

Finally, the developers stopped “brothering” factions in the fight against an external enemy and focused on the central conflict of the entire game. However, this is only the beginning: the story campaign is mainly related to preparations for the general battle. And it will happen later, when the next major patch comes out.

From the point of view of execution, there is simply nothing to complain about: all the quests are written well, completing them and watching cut scenes is interesting. Even after so many years of continuous work on, developers can tell new stories and move storyline forward. This is partly why the game is still extremely popular.

Have you called for reinforcements?

One of the features of the expansion is new allied races for both factions. The developers have prepared 4 pieces for each. Horde players will be able to play as Nightborne, Highmountain tauren, Mag'Hara orcs and Zandalari trolls, and Alliance players will be able to play as Void Elves, Lightforged Draenei, Dark Iron Dwarves and the people of Kul Tiras.

Fans of World of Warcraft are already familiar with some of these races. For example, Lightforged draenei and Void elves were needed on Argus in the last expansion.

Mag'har orcs came from Draenor after the end of the story, and the inhabitants of Kul Tiras also appeared in the story. New races boast not only unusual appearance, but also unique racial abilities.

Everything new is well forgotten old

As always, the World of Warcraft developers tried to diversify the standard gameplay scheme. In the case of “Battle for Azeroth”, several additional formats. At a certain stage, the player receives the Heart of Azeroth artifact. It differs from other items in that it can be upgraded multiple times.

Another interesting decision concerns the so-called “War Mode”. There are no longer PvE or PvP servers in World of Warcraft. Players can turn on “War Mode” and thereby confirm that they are ready to fight to the death with representatives of the enemy faction. The game's creators reward this behavior with additional experience points.

At the same time, for each class, “Heart of Azeroth” can be customized to suit you, choosing from various talents. There are other items in the expansion with similar capabilities. However, this mechanic is not new: the first such artifacts appeared in Legion. The situation is similar with the “Fronts” mode, which allows you to feel like a real strategist.

The events of “Fronts” unfold in the vicinity of the city of Stromgarde, where players of both factions can build their own bases and even control troops. The latter, by the way, need to be trained, and as you develop your own garrison, you need to go through additional tasks...So, someone said the word "Garrison"?

And this is not an accident: “Fronts”, upon closer examination, are improved and modified “Garrisons” from the same Legion. On the one hand, this is great, because the mode is interesting and rich in interesting solutions. On the other hand, given the price of the expansion, I would like more unique content made specifically for Battle for Azeroth.

Such different “Islands”

As if feeling that there would be few artifacts and “Fronts”, Blizzard developers Entertainment has implemented another mode in the game. And rightly so! It was called “Islands”, and it is the only one that is truly new. The idea is extremely simple: the player can go to one of hundreds of islands to replenish their Azerite reserves.

Moreover, each time the island is generated randomly. The landscape, side quests, opponents, location of objects - all this is constantly changing. It is impossible to find 2 identical islands, and this has a positive effect on replayability. It’s especially great to explore these locations with friends, feeling like pioneers!

The goal is always the same - to collect more Azerite for limited time, and then exchange the resource for valuable equipment. It will help the character in both PvP and PvE, but all the best equipment, of course, is available only to arena gladiators and raid veterans. But still, the mode turned out to be very interesting, it’s definitely worth trying.

The war between the Alliance and the Horde has flared up with renewed vigor!

World of Warcraft has long established itself in the MMORPG genre, and the question of whether it's worth playing is generally not worth it. The Battle for Azeroth expansion is literally bursting with new content: story missions, detailed dungeons, new races and items.

And even though some of the formats are adaptations from Legion, the addon has something for those hungry for a completely new experience - for example, the “Islands” mode. And while hard-core fans of the series are wondering which faction will be removed from the game following the war, millions of players are returning to World of Warcraft to play with the new addition.