World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Guide and Overview!

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Venturebeat)

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Guide:

Shadowlands is World of Warcraft’s new expansion! This expansion pack follows the Battle for Azeroth, which was released on the 14th of August 2018. World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is due to release on the 27th of October, 2020. 

In World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, WoW’s eighth expansion, new features will be introduced, including covenants, a megadungeon in Torghast, Tower of the Damned, and 6 new zones. This expansion will also feature the very first level squish in WoW. 

World of Warcraft Shadowlands Launch Information:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Blizzard Entertainment)

The expansion will be released with a global launch, and can be expected on 26th October (NA) and October 27th (EU).

UPDATE: World of Warcraft: Shadowlands was due to release on October 26th (NA) and October 27th (EU).

However, Blizzard announced in a statement on the World of Warcraft website, that Shadowlands will be delayed until some time "later this year".

Blizzard confirmed they are still releasing a Shadowlands "pre-patch" on 13th October. Unfortunately it has not been made clear yet what the new official release date will be.

Season 1/Raid Opening:

Season 1 opens on November 10, with a new Mythic Keystone dungeon seasonal affix, and a new season of PvP, along with the first Raid - “Castle Nathria”.

Expansion Pre-Orders:

Shadowlands is World of Warcraft’s new expansion! This expansion pack follows the Battle for Azeroth, which was released on the 14th of August 2018. World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is due to release on the 27th of October, 2020. 

In World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, WoW’s eighth expansion, new features will be introduced, including covenants, a megadungeon in Torghast, Tower of the Damned, and 6 new zones. This expansion will also feature the very first level squish in WoW. 

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Collector's Edition - $120

You can secure yourself the World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Expansion with the following pre-order options:

• Base Edition: (£34.99) Includes a pre-purchase* of World of Warcraft®: Shadowlands™, early access to Death Knights for Allied Races and Pandaren starting with the Visions of N’Zoth content update.
• Heroic Edition: (£49.99): Everything in the Base Edition, plus instant access to a Level 120 Character Boost and the Ensorcelled Everwyrm flying mount.The Ensorcelled Everwyrm mount grants a quest for the Vestments of the Eternal Traveler transmog set.
• Epic Edition: (£69.99): Everything in the Heroic Edition, 30 days of game time, an otherworldly Eternal Traveler’s effect for your Hearthstone, the Anima Wyrmling pet, and Illusion: Wraithchill, a cosmetic effect for selected weapon types.
• Collector's Edition (£109.99): Everything in the Epic Edition, plus an Art of the Shadowlands book, a mouse mat, a four-pin collectors set of covenant sigils, and the Collector's Edition Soundtrack key.

Shadowlands Lore:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Blizzard Entertainment)

Fallen leader of the Horde, Sylvanas Windrunner, has set in motion a series of events that threatens to upset the cosmic balance between life and death, by piercing the veil between Azeroth and the realm of the dead.

The machine of death has been broken, sending souls brought to the Shadowlands straight to The Maw, instead of going through The Arbiter. The Maw and it’s Jailer have grown increasingly stronger, while the other Shadowland domains have become deprived of Anima, a new, fundamental resource in the Shadowlands. Sylvanas Windrunner has been working with the Jailer to inflict as much death as they can, growing stronger with each death, each soul being sent to The Maw. Many thousands of innocent souls, of civilians, are now withering in torment in The Maw.

With adventurers slowly arriving in the Shadowlands, they too, will be sent to The Maw, however their intense connection to Azeroth will save them from the same eternity of torment as the innocent souls that reside there. The adventurers are tasked with exploring the Shadowlands to become strong enough to return to The Maw, save their allies, and ultimately understand the realm of the dead. 

Afterlives:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Blizzard Entertainment)

Blizzard has released another set of movie shorts for Shadowlands, this time introducing us to each of the Covenants within Shadowlands!

New Zones and Maps:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Blizzard Entertainment)

In World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, you will be exploring the expansion’s namesake. The Shadowlands is an area in which deceased souls go to be judged, and then assigned to areas depending on their deeds during life. This is where the souls will then spend their afterlives:

• Oribos, the Eternal City
• Bastion
• Maldraxxus
• Ardenweald
• Revendreth
• The Maw

New System: Covenants:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Blizzard)

Unlike previous expansions, Shadowlands will have Covenants in the place of Factions. From The Arbiter’s judgement, every soul is assigned an appropriate Covenant to guide them in the afterlife:

• The Kyrian Covenant of Bastion governs over souls that led a life of service. With them, souls seek ascension to become a Kyrian themselves.
• The Venthyr of Revendreth seek souls that were prideful in life. The Venthyr Covenant punishes those who led a life of sin, determining if they are worthy of redemption.
• The Necrolords of Maldraxxus govern over souls that are battle-hardened. The covenant rewards strength, while weaker souls become cosmic weapon fuel. 
• The Night Fae of Ardenweald seek souls that hold a deep connection with nature. This Covenant utilises the Anima in the Shadowlands to infuse slumbering spirits with the knowledge of old, to prepare them for rebirth.

Choosing a covenant is the biggest character choice in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Blizzard)

Each Covenant provides various different class and signature abilities, cosmetic rewards including covenant-themed armor, upgradable mounts, and a new system called Soulbinds. You can choose to change Covenants later on, at a steep price of course.

Soulbinds: You’ll meet three key members from your Covenant, and you’ll be able to choose one of them to Soulbind with. This process allows you access to enhancing traits for your skills.

Adventures: You can put your tactical skills to the test by lending aid to your Covenant by tackling the unique challenges facing your allies in the Shadowlands. You’ll need to be carefully strategic with who you’ll send to face these puzzles, and how you’ll utilise their skills to claim victory in every combat.

Transport: Each Covenant has a zone-specific travel network and are specific to each covenant. You will be able to access additional content within each zone by investing Anima into activating it.

Additionally, each Covenant will have a unique end-game activity:

• The Kyrian of Bastion will have the Path of Ascension - where you will inhabit the consciousness of a Soulbind, attempting to help them confront their own challenges.
• The Venthyr of Revendreth hosts the Ember Court, throwing themed parties for important guests.
• The Necrolords of Maldraxxus have the Abomination Factory, in which you can build your own Abominations.
• The Night Fae of Ardenweald have charge of the Soul Garden, a beautiful sanctuary.

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands - New Character Customizations:

Some customisations were previewed at the last BlizzCon, but more new character customisations are included in World of Warcraft Shadowlands. 

These customisation options include:

• Tattoos for Trolls, various skin tones, eye colour, and an upright posture option
• New skin tones for Undead, as well as the option to remove bones
• More facial options

New Leveling System in Shadowlands:

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Image Credits: Blizzard)

The first ever level squish in World of Warcraft history will be added alongside Shadowlands. Players at the current level cap of 120 in Battle of Azeroth will be squished down to level 50 in World of Warcraft Shadowlands, with the overall expansion level cap being 60. 

New Leveling Paradigm.

In order to allow new players to get caught up to the most recent portion of WoW’s history in an easier, streamlined way, there is going to be a complete revamp of the leveling system. Leveling from 1 - 50 in Shadowlands will be 50-70% faster.

Check out the complete list of October game releases HERE!