World of Warcraft: hadowlands
What you can expect from this dark new chapter.
This is the eighth major expansion for World of Warcraft and it’s the most dramatic since Cataclysm tore the world apart. Sylvanas Windrunner has pierced the veil between Azeroth and the realm of the dead, granting players access to the titular Shadowlands: an eerie afterlife featuring five brand new zones to explore.
One of the biggest changes in Shadowlands can be found in the levelling system. When they enter the Shadowlands max level players will be dropped from level 120 to 50, and work towards the new level cap of 60. The idea is to make levels feel meaningful again.
“I don’t think we did a great job between levels 110 and 120,” admits Patrick Dawson, production director. “It felt like you were getting weaker every time, like you weren’t gaining enough new talents and abilities. But the journey from 50 to 60 in Shadowlands will feel a lot better.
You’ll really feel like you’re becoming more powerful.”
Shadowlands is also making a fun change to the Death Knight class, opening it up to all existing races. If you’ve always wanted to roll a Pandaren version of Arthas, or a tiny evil fox man lord of evil, your dreams have come true. The expansion will also offer new customisation options for characters, to help make your hero stand out, and a new infinite dungeon called Torghast.
Known as the Tower of the Damned, Torghast is an otherworldly prison where the most dangerous, terrible souls in the universe are locked away. This sinister place will feature some of Shadowlands’ toughest trials, but delving into its depths will be worth the risk.
“You can go in there and get runes which can then be used to create Legendary items,” says level designer Sarah Verrell. “You take the runes you find to a runeforge and you get to choose which stats and abilities they have. You can create some really powerful items.”
SECTS EDUCATION
Covenants are another new feature. You’ll have to align yourself with one of several mysterious sects, each with their own plans for how to harness the power of the Shadowlands. Pick one and you’ll gain access to their sanctum, a place where you can pick up unique quests. Your covenant will also grant you new abilities.
As for the new zones, these include Bastion, which features gleaming spires and sweeping vistas, and Revendreth, a gloomy gothic village dominated by a looming keep. This is one of the darkest World of Warcraft expansions yet and also one of the most unique – it looks full of good reasons to return to Azeroth. ANDY KELLY