Since its 2004 release, World of Warcraft has gained multiple expansions with varying intensity and gameplay. For years, they’ve been reshaping Azeroth and beyond to create intriguing installments of the game. Now, to guide the new or returning players, here are the World of Warcraft expansions in order.
The Burning Crusade (2007)
The beginning of everything is “The Burning Crusade” in 2007. This version took players beyond Azeroth to the Outland which is the Orc homeworld’s remnants. Under this expansion, they have two playable races, Blood Elves for Horde and Draenei for Alliance. This division expanded the existing story of faction rivalry in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.
Further, The Burning Crusade story highlights the battling Illidan Stormrage at the Black Temple. It centers around the confrontation of Burning Legion’s demonic forces. Aside from this, it also provides diverse environments from Nagrand’s lush plains to alien landscapes in Netherstorm. Also, this expansion was the first to introduce flying mounts for the World of Warcraft realm.
Wrath of the Lich King (2008)
Many considered “Wrath of the Lich King” as the best World of Warcraft expansion released. This time, the game is set in the frozen Northrend aiming to confront the Lich King. It introduced the first hero class in WoW which is the Death Knights. Moreover, it starts very uniquely with its storyline focused on the tragic story of Arthas Menethil.
However, this also brings closure to the storyline of Warcraft III to many players’ delight. Further, this expansion also brings one of the most iconic raids which is the Icecrown Citadel that players come back to. There are also quality-of-life improvements in this such as dual-spec option and Looking For Group (LFG) feature.
Cataclysm (2010)
Next for World of Warcraft expansions in order is the Cataclysm. This time, it focuses on the dramatic event brought by Deathwing the Destroyer that reshaped Azeroth. In this expansion, they added Goblins to the Horde as well as Worgen to the Alliance. Besides, they permanently altered many of the original zones with floods, volcanic eruptions, and floods.
The players also redesigned some classic areas and new zones like the Vashj’ir underwater realm and the Uldum. Many user interface updates from this expansion significantly helped to establish its player base.
Mists of Pandaria (2012)
Then, they released the fourth expansion which is the Mists of Pandaria. This expansion featured a new continent that took inspiration from Asian aesthetics and lore. Moreover, Pandaren became the first race playable by both factions and introduced the Monk class.
From the internal Horde conflict, the story shifted to Garrosh Hellscream’s pursuit of power, transforming him into a war criminal. Eventually, this event led to the siege of Orgrimmar bringing tension to the plot. This featured some of the most creative zones that scream uniqueness in the series. Plus, they added a pet battle system and the Celestial Tournament on Timeless Isle as the rite of passage for pet collectors.
Warlords of Draenor (2014)
Meanwhile, the Warlords of Draenor brings players to an alternate timeline of Draenor, exploring the origins of the orcish Horde. The narration follows Garrosh’s return to the past where he created the alternate Iron Horde. This allows players to face some of the legendary figures from the famous Warcraft lore.
It also introduced Garrison features which became controversial among the community for isolating players. Further, many see this as the fastest expansion due to its bonus objectives system.
Legion (2016)
One of the most remarkable expansions for Warcraft fans given that it marked the return of Legion to the lore. The “Legion” has been known for the massive invasion of Burning Legion and the introduction of a new hero class, Demon Hunters. The game took place in The Broken Isles along with the magical city of Dalaran as the main hub.
Here, the players wield legendary artifact weapons directly to their class specialization. It unlocks new appearances and powers in the entirety of the expansion. Moreover, the story specifically sheds attention on Argus’ journey where players win against Titan Sargeras. This features many easter eggs and callbacks to earlier lore, earning the title as the favorite among expansions.
Battle for Azeroth (2018)
It is the Horde versus Alliance conflict once more in the Warcraft universe. So, the expansion started with Sylvanas burning the World Tree Teldrassil. In this expansion, they introduced multiple Allied Races and two new continents. These continents were the troll empire of Zandalar and seafaring kingdom of Kul Tiras.
From faction warfare, it evolves to confronting ancient threats leading to the loss of Old God N’Zoth. Alliance storyline is certainly impressive this time for bringing cohesiveness and meaning to important characters like Jaina. However, it is also heavily criticized for Azerite gear grind being a miss in the entire expansion.
Shadowlands (2020)
A delve into Warcraft’s afterlife realms promised in Shadowlands expansion. Players explored four distinct realms of Shadowlands such as Ardenweald, Bastion, Maldraxxus, and Revendreth. Each of them has a unique aesthetic and principles for a different experience.
The narration centers around Sylvana’s alliance with the Jailer and their complex politics in the afterlife world. Here, players can encounter long-dead characters’ spirits from the Warcraft lore. It also introduces Torghast, an endless roguelike dungeon that is unique from any expansion. Besides, it also features The First Ones which stands even more powerful than any Titans.
Dragonflight (2022)
This time, the players play in the hidden Dragon Isles which serve as the homeland of dragonflights. This introduced the Dracthyr race and Evoker class for the rest of the expansions. They evolved the dragonriding system into flying for a dynamic and engaging experience for everyone.
Also, it shifted back to the core gameplay rather than the temporary power systems, resembling the older expansions. This marks the return of many older players who drifted in the past expansions.
The War Within (2024)
The latest World of Warcraft expansion stands uniquely apart from others for being a part of the Worldsoul Saga trilogy. The War Within serves as the first chapter, taking players deep into Azeroth and discovering Earthen’s underground realms. Zones like Dorn Island, Sanctification, Resonant Caverns and Azj-kahet provided a drastically different setting for players.
On the other hand, the story focuses on Harbinger of the Void and his arachnid army in quest of conquering Azeroth. This part lays the groundwork for a deeper dive into the ancient history of Azeroth before the Midnight and The Last Titan releases.
Conclusion
That’s the complete World of Warcraft expansions in order. It’s been a long run for the World of Warcraft lore yet they continue to provide new and intriguing content. It’ll be best if players play the game to understand the gameplay and storyline better. Yet, there are really no rules to it so it’ll be fine if you skip some expansions.
