Published on November 21, 2022
Updated on December 5, 2022

World of Warcraft Expansions in Order of Release

About WoW

Release Date
Nov 23, 2004
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment
Country of Origin
United States

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World of Warcraft has released 9 expansions so far, with no signs of slowing down! Since the 1st expansion, The Burning Crusade, Blizzard has been releasing a new one every 2 years, offering confidence and predictability to WoW’s player base.

While tons of new areas, races, classes, dungeons, activities & systems have been added over the past 2 decades, a considerable amount of content also had to be removed, or reworked into something entirely different. It’s the price to pay for a live-service game that has been running for so long, I just wish Blizzard was more considerate about our past achievements in Azeroth, before turning many of them into just visual memories…

The good news is that you can revisit any expansion’s storyline, quests and rewards, by activating it through Chromie in any major city.

Below, we’ll be breaking down all WoW expansions from the most recent to the oldest one, pointing out the main features & changes that each expansion brought to the World of Warcraft!

Table of Contents

Dragonflight (November 2022)

Dragonflight, World of Warcraft Expansion

Release Date: November 28, 2022

Dragonflight Features

  • Level Cap: From 60 to 70.
  • Continents: Dragon Isles
  • 1 Race / Class Combo: The new race Dracthyr, is the only one that can use the new class, Evoker, and they can’t use any other classes.
  • New Mechanic: Dragonriding. (Befriend & ride dragons in the Dragon Isles’ zones).
  • 8 Dungeons: Ruby Life Pools, Neltharus, The Nokhud Offensive, Brackenhide Hollow, Azure Archives, Halls of Infusion, Algeth’ar Academy & Uldaman: Legacy of Tyr
  • 1 Raid: Vault of the Incarnates
  • Talent Tree Rework: Players will now have 2 separate Talent Trees, one based on their Class, and one based on their Class Specialization.
  • HUD Rework: UI customization & placement is now possible without external addons.
  • Professions Rework: Crafting Orders will allow you to request crafted items outside of your Profession, from NPCs or other players, while Profession Specializations also make their return.

Shadowlands (November 2020)

Shadowlands, World of Warcraft Expansion

Release Date: November 23, 2020

Shadowlands Features

  • Level Cap: From 120, down to 60.
  • Continents: Shadowlands (Oribos, Bastion, Maldraxxus, Ardenweald, Revendreth & The Maw)
  • New Mechanic: Covenants. (4 NPC Factions, Kyrian, Necrolord, Night Fae & Venthyr, each one offering special abilities and cosmetics).
  • New Mechanic: Soulbinding & Conduits. (Become soulbound to a Covenant NPC, unlocking even more abilities, and customization through Conduits).
  • Torghast: A procedurally generated & scalable dungeon, that gets harder the further you progress.
  • New Currency: Anima
  • New Table Mission Quests: Adventures. (Side-progression “mini-game”, that can also be managed through the Companion app).
  • 8 Dungeons: The Necrotic Wake, Plaguefall, Mists of Tirna Scithe, Halls of Atonement, Theater of Pain, De Other Side, Spires of Ascension, Sanguine Depths
  • 1 Raid: Castle Nathria
  • New Character Customization options & character creation screen.
  • Heirloom Rework: Instead of extra XP, heirlooms now offer increased Rest XP.

Battle for Azeroth (August 2018)

Battle for Azeroth, World of Warcraft Expansion

Release Date: August 14, 2018
Announcement: BlizzCon – November 3, 2017

Battle for Azeroth Features

  • Level Cap: From 110 to 120.
  • Continents: Kul Tiras & Zandalar.
  • 4 Allied Races for Alliance: Void Elf, Lightforged Draenei, Dark Iron Dwarf & Kul Tiran
  • 4 Allied Races for Horde: Nightborne, Highmountain Tauren, Mag’har Orc & Zandalari Troll
  • Warfronts: A new 20-player PvE mode, with RTS and siege elements.
  • Island Expeditions: A new 3-player PvE mode, that will help you collect Azerite for your artifact by killing enemies or looting and completing special events.
  • New Artifact: Heart of Azeroth.
  • New Warlock Spell Effects.
  • New Upright Posture for Orcs (can still change to Hunched posture through Barber).

Legion (August 2016)

Legion, World of Warcraft Expansion

Legion Features

  • Level Cap: From 100 to 110.
  • Continents: Broken Isles (Dalaran, Val’sharah, Stormheim, Azsuna, Highmountain, Suramar, Broken Shore & Argus)
  • New Hero Class: Demon Hunter (only available to Night Elves & Blood Elves).
  • Artifact Weapons: A unique weapon that you receive based on your class specialization, that has its own progression paths & customization.
  • Class Orders: Send NPCs to carry out missions for you on a timer, and ability to manage them through the Companion app.
  • 9 Dungeons: Halls of Valor, Black Rook Hold, Vault of the Wardens, Eye of Azshara, Darkheart Thicket, Neltharion’s Lair, Helheim, Suramar City & Violet Hold
  • 2 Raids: Emerald Nightmare & Suramar Palace
  • PvP Rework: Exclusive talents for PvP, removal of PvP gear, gear importance lowered in PvP, Prestige Ranks & rewards added.
  • New Profession Questlines & UI Rework.
  • New Spell Effects for All Classes (except Warlocks)

Warlords of Draenor (November 2014)

Warlords of Draenor, World of Warcraft Expansion

Warlords of Draenor Features

  • Level Cap: From 90 to 100.
  • Continents: Draenor (Shadowmoon Valley, Frostfire Ridge, Gorgrond, Talador, Spires of Arak, Nagrand & Tanaan Jungle)
  • Garrisons: A form of instanced player-housing, with several upgrade paths and rewards.
  • 7 Dungeons: Bloodmaul Slag Mines, Grimrail Depot, Auchindoun, Skyreach, Shadowmoon Burial Grounds, The Everbloom, Iron Docks
  • 2 Raids: Blackrock Foundry & Highmaul
  • Group Finder: A tool that makes the formation of 5-40 player parties way easier, no matter the type of group activity.
  • Reworked character models.
  • Heirlooms, Toys & Tabards become account-wide collectibles.

Mists of Pandaria (September 2012)

Mists of Pandaria, World of Warcraft Expansion

Mists of Pandaria Features

  • Level Cap: From 85 to 90.
  • Continents: Pandaria (The Wandering Isle, The Jade Forest, Valley of the Four Winds, Krasarang Wilds, Kun-Lai Summit, Townlong Steppes, Dread Wastes, Vale of Eternal Blossoms & The Veiled Star)
  • New Race: Pandaren (available to both Alliance and Horde)
  • New Class: Monk
  • New Mechanic: Pet Battles (all pet companions can now be leveled up through turn-based battles)
  • 6 Dungeons: Temple of the Jade Serpent, Stormstout Brewery, Shado-Pan Monastery, Mogu’shan Palace, Gate of the Setting Sun & Siege of Niuzao Temple
  • 3 Raids: Mogu’shan Vaults, Heart of Fear & Terrace of Endless Spring
  • Scenarios: A new type of mini-dungeon for 3 players.
  • Player Farms: Gather materials and rewards through an instanced area.
  • Achievements, Titles, Mounts & Pets become account-wide collectibles.

Cataclysm (December 2010)

Cataclysm, World of Warcraft Expansion

Cataclysm Features

  • Level Cap: From 80 to 85.
  • 6 Azeroth Zones: Mount Hyjal, Uldum, Vashj’ir, Twilight Highlands, Deepholm & Tol Barad.
  • 2 New Races: Worgen (Alliance) & Goblin (Horde)
  • 7 Dungeons: Blackrock Caverns, Throne of the Tides, Vortex Pinnacle, Stonecore, Lost City of the Tol’vir, Halls of Origination & Grim Batol
  • 4 Raids: Blackwing Descent, Bastion of Twilight, Throne of the Four Winds & Baradin Hold
  • Guild Leveling, Achievements & Rewards
  • New Archaeology Profession

Wrath of the Lich King (November 2008)

Wrath of the Lich King, World of Warcraft Expansion

Wrath of the Lich King Features

  • Level Cap: From 70 to 80.
  • Continents: Northrend (Howling Fjord, Borean Tundra, Dragonblight, Grizzly Hills, Zul’Drak, Sholazar Basin, The Storm Peaks, Crystalsong Forest, Hrothgar’s Landing, Icecrown & Wintergrasp
  • New Hero Class: Death Knight
  • 11 Dungeons: Utgarde Keep, Utgarde Pinnacle, Nexus, Oculus, Drak’Tharon Keep, Gundrak, The Violet Hold, Halls of Stone, Halls of Lightning, Azjol-Nerub, Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom
  • 3 Raids: Eye of Eternity, Obsidian Sanctum & Vault of Archavon
  • New Inscription Profession

The Burning Crusade (January 2007)

The Burning Crusade, World of Warcraft Expansion

The Burning Crusade Features

  • Level Cap: From 60 to 70.
  • Continents: Outland (Hellfire Peninsula, Zangarmarsh, Terokkar Forest, Nagrand, Blade’s Edge Mountains, Netherstorm & Shadowmoon Valley)
  • 2 New Races: Draenei (Alliance) & Blood Elf (Horde)
  • 8 Dungeons & Raids: Karazhan, Caverns of Time, Hellfire Citadel, Coilfang Reservoir, Auchindoun, Tempest Keep, Gruul’s Lair & Black Temple
  • New Jewelcrafting Profession
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Babalon, Mother of Abominations

16-hours / day in front of the screen entrepreneur, of which 6+ are spent on gaming. MMOs, CCGs, RPGs and many more, Steam-addict & achievement-w***e. Currently wasting life on BDO & Gacha Games.

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2 responses to “World of Warcraft Expansions in Order of Release”

  1. Tom says:

    Lol. In order of release, and then you proceeded to list them backwards.

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