Returning Player Guides - What Changed Since Wrath of the Lich King

By Neryssa Updated: 2018/12/27

This Is A User-Submitted Guide!

Wowhead only updates official guides, so information might not be up-to-date.

Returning Player Guides

Vanilla - Click here!

Burning Crusade - Click here!

Wrath of the Lich King - You're reading it right now!

Cataclysm - Click here!

Mists of Pandaria - Click here!

Warlords of Draenor - Click here!

Battle.net AccountBlizzard's Official Merge PageThe Plot So Far

This section is dedicated to how the main lore featured in an expansion has evolved over the years. We will cover important plot points that happened on said expansion, and show what has changed since then!

Each different expansion has had a plot that is likely not covered here. For more information on general lore information, check our Lore of WoW guides!

Icecrown CitadelBroken ShoreC'ThunYogg-SaronRacesWarlords of Draenor official Blizzard pageNew RacesAlliance RacesHorde RacesWorgen

Capital City: As Gilneas City is overrun through their starting zone experience, they now reside at the Howling Oak in Darnassus.

Faction Leader: Genn Greymane

Starting Zones: Gilneas

Classes: Death Knight, Druid, Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior

Racial Mount: Unamored Horses.

Racials:
Aberration: Reduces Shadow and Nature damage taken by 1%.

Darkflight: Activates your true form, increasing current movement speed by an additional 40% for 10 sec.

Flayer: Skinning skill increased by 15 and allows you to skin faster.

Running Wild: Drop to all fours to run as fast as a wild animal.

Two Forms: Turn into your currently inactive form.

Viciousness: Increases critical strike chance by 1%.

GoblinAzshara

Capital City: Bilgewater Harbor

Faction Leader: Trade Prince Gallywix

Starting Zones: Kezan, The Lost Isles

Classes: Death Knight, Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior

Racial Mount: Tricycles, sold by Kall Worthaton.

Racials:
Time is Money: Cash in on a 1% increase to haste.

Best Deals Anywhere: Always receive the best possible gold discount, regardless of faction.

Better Living Through Chemistry: Alchemy skill increased by 15.

Pack Hobgoblin: Calls in your friend, Gobber, allowing you bank access for 1 min.

Rocket Barrage: Launches your belt rockets at an enemy, dealing (1 + Level * 2) fire damage.

Rocket Jump: Activates your rocket belt to jump forward. Other effects which slow the rate of falling cannot be used within 10 sec after using this ability.

PandarenShen-zin Su

Capital City: Stormwind City if they choose to become Alliance, Orgrimmar if Horde.

Faction Leaders: Aysa Cloudsinger/Ji Firepaw

Starting Zones: The Wandering Isle, the back of Shen-zin Su.

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior

Racial Mount: Turtles, likely in homage to Shen-zin Su.

Racials:
Bouncy: You take half falling damage.

Epicurean: Your love of food allows you to receive 100% more of the stats from Well Fed effects.

Gourmand: Your Cooking skill is increased by 15.

Inner Peace: You earn twice as much rested experience.

Quaking Palm: Strikes the target with lightning speed, incapacitating them for 4 sec, and turns off your attack.

Allied RacesAllied Racesspecial Heritage ArmorAllied Races OverviewLightforged Draenei

Capital City: The Vindicaar

Faction Leader: High Exarch Turalyon

Unlocking Requirements: Battle for Azeroth Purchased, Exalted with Army of the Light, earning You Are Now Prepared!.

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Warrior

Racial Mount: Lightforged Felcrusher

Racials:
Demonbane: Experience gained from killing Demons increased by 20%.

Forge of Light: Summon a Forge of Light, enabling Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing skill increased by 10.

Holy Providence: Reduces Holy damage taken by 1%.

Light's Judgment: Call down a strike of Holy energy, dealing Holy damage to enemies within 5 yards after 3 sec. 40 yd. 2.5 min CD. Instant.

Light's Reckoning: When you die the Light avenges you, dealing Holy damage to enemies within 8 yards and healing allies.

Void ElfAlleria Windrunner

Capital City: Telogrus Rift

Faction Leader: Alleria Windrunner

Unlocking Requirements: Battle for Azeroth Purchased, Exalted with Argussian Reach, earning You Are Now Prepared!.

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior

Racial Mount: Starcursed Voidstrider

Racials:
Chill of Night: Reduces Shadow damage taken by 1%.

Entropic Embrace: Your abilities have a chance to empower you with the essence of the Void, increasing damage and healing by 5% for 12 sec.

Ethereal Connection: Reduces the cost of Void Storage and Transmogrification by 50%.

Preternatural Calm: Your spell casts are not delayed by taking damage.

Spatial Rift: Tear a rift in space. Reactivate this ability to teleport through the rift. 30 yd range. 3 min cooldown.

Highmountain Tauren

Capital City: Highmountain

Faction Leader: Mayla Highmountain

Unlocking Requirements: Battle for Azeroth Purchased, Exalted with Highmountain Tribe, earning Ain't No Mountain High Enough.

Classes: Druid, Hunter, Monk, Shaman, Warrior

Racial Mount: Highmountain Thunderhoof

Racials:
Bull Rush: Charges forward for 1 sec, knocking enemies down for 1.5 sec. 2 min CD.

Mountaineer: Increases Versatility by 1%.

Pride of Ironhorn: Mining skill increased by 15 and allows you to mine faster.

Rugged Tenacity: Reduces damage taken by (character level) * 3.

Waste Not, Want Not: You have a chance to loot additional meat and fish.

Nightborne

Capital City: Suramar

Faction Leader: First Arcanist Thalyssra

Unlocking Requirements: Battle for Azeroth Purchased, Exalted with The Nightfallen, earning Insurrection.

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior

Racial Mount: Nightborne Manasaber

Racials:
Ancient History: Inscription skill increased by 15.

Arcane Pulse: Deals (200% Attack Power) Arcane damage to nearby enemies every 2 seconds and snares them by 50%. Lasts 20 sec.

Arcane Resistance: Reduces magical damage taken by 1%.

Cantrips: Conjure up an Eldritch Grimoire, allowing you mail access for 1.5 min.

Magical Affinity: Increases magical damage 1%.

Dark Iron DwarvesMoira ThaurissanKing Magni Bronzebeard

Capital City: Likely Shadowforge City in Blackrock Mountain.

Faction Leader: Moira Thaurissan

Unlocking Requirements: Battle for Azeroth Purchased, complete the 8.0 Alliance War Campaign + Exalted with 7th Legion.

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior

Racial Mount: Dark Iron Core Hound

Racials:
Dungeon Delver: While indoors, move 4% faster.

Fireblood: Removes all poison, disease, curse, magic, and bleed effects and increases your primary stat by 100 for each effect removed. Lasts 8 sec. 2 min cooldown.

Forged in Flames: Reduces damage taken from Physical attacks by 1%.

Mole Machine: While outdoors, summon a Mole Machine that tunnels through the earth. 30 min cooldown.

Mass Production: Items crafted by Blacksmithing are created twice as quickly.

Mag'har Orc

Capital City: Possibly Gorgrond in alternate Draenor

Faction Leader: Overlord Geya'rah

Unlocking Requirements: Battle for Azeroth purchased, complete the 8.0 Horde War Campaign + Exalted with The Honorbound

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior

Racial Mount: Mag'har Direwolf

Racials:
Ancestral Call - Invoke the spirits of your ancestors granting you their power. Increases a random secondary stat by 102 for 12 seconds.

Open Skies - Increases mounted speed by 10%.

Savage Blood - Reduces the duration of Poisons, Diseases and Curses by 20%.

Sympathetic Vigor - Increases Pet Health by 10%.

New ClassesDeath KnightMonk

Playable Races: Dark Iron Dwarf, Draenei, Dwarf, Gnome, Human, Night Elf, Worgen, Blood Elf, Orc, Mag'har Orc, Tauren, Troll, Undead, Pandaren, Void Elf, Highmountain Tauren, Nightborne, Dark Iron Dwarf, Mag'har Orc

Armor Type: Leather Armor

Specializations:
Brewmaster, a tank specialization that focuses on dodging attacks and using brews to mitigate damage.

Mistweaver, a healing specialization that masters the art of manipulation of life energies together with ancient Pandaren techniques.

Windwalker, a Melee DPS specialization artist without peer who pummels foes with hands and fists.

Monk class overview!Demon HunterHero Classlevel 98Black Temple

Playable Races: Night Elf, Blood Elf

Armor Type: Leather Armor

Specializations:
Havoc, a Melee DPS that masters warglaives and the destructive power of Fel magic.

Vengeance, a tank specialization that embraces the demon within to incinerate enemies and protect their allies.

Demon Hunter class overviewLevelingQuesting and Zones

Starting areas: 1-20

Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms: 10-60

Outland and Northrend: 58-80

Cataclysm and Pandaria: 80-90

Warlords: 90-100

Legion: 98-110

Kul Tiras/Zandalar: 110-120

cosmetic wayleveling flow and range changedCataclysm Old World Zone ChangesNorthrend

Cataclysm changed Azeroth zones forever, and uncovered previously hidden zones like the deserts of Uldum and the Twilight Highlands, home of the legendary Grim Batol.

Mists of Pandaria added Pandaria, a continent previously hidden from sight with the help of ancient magic - The Pandaren originally hail from there.

Warlords of Draenor has us go back in time to uncover the original Draenor, before its destruction at the hands of Ner'zhul.

Legion has uncovered the Broken Isles, location of the ancient Tomb of Sargeras and the lush capital of Suramar.

Battle for Azeroth is uncovering the continents of Kul Tiras, an Alliance continent controlled by House Proudmoore, and Zandalar, the seat of power of the Zandalari Troll empire.

Stormwind CityOrgrimmarHero's Call BoardWarchief's Command BoardDungeon LevelingDungeon Finder

By queueing to a Random dungeon, the game will try to find a group for a dungeon in your level range, and you gain extra rewards like Icy Satchel of Helpful Goods, which contains a rare item, as well as extra experience.

By queueing to a specific dungeon, the game will try to find a group for that dungeon you've selected, however, there will be no extra rewards.

Heirloom EquipmentTimeworn Heirloom ScabbardHeirloom HoarderChauffeured Chopperany levelChampion's SealDarkmoon Prize TicketHeirloom CollectionsTalentsDruidDemon Huntermobilitydamage mitigationClass GuidesTome of the Tranquil MindRiding and TransportationWarcraft Transportation GuideClass Quests and Halls

Order Halls are Legion content, which will become obsolete once you hit 110 and start leveling in Battle for Azeroth content.

BenedictionAnathemaRhok'delar, Longbow of the Ancient KeepersSummon ChargerDreadsteedGetting to each Class HallClass Order CampaignArtifact Weapons

Artifact Weapons are Legion content, which will become obsolete once you hit 110 and start leveling in Battle for Azeroth content.

The Heart of AzerothMagni BronzebeardHeart of AzerothAzerite ArmorGear and How to Obtain It

Gear can no longer have more than one Primary Stat at the same time - If you play a class that uses more than 1 Primary Stat (like Paladins, they use Intellect to heal and Strength to tank/dps), your gear will automatically change between Strength and Intellect depending on your current specialization;

Hit Chance and Expertise are now gone, your attacks and spells don't miss anymore;

Armor and Spell Penetration are gone, so are Spell Resistances;

Spell Power and Healing Power are gone, now they come from your Intellect stat;

Defense rating is gone, tanks are now guaranteed to not take critical hits or crushing blows unless sitting or when taking enemies much higher level than they are.

There are also more secondary stats now:
Critical Strike: Gives your attacks a chance to critically strike, dealing double its normal damage;

Haste: Increases your attack speed, reduces your spell cast times and reduces the time between each tick on DOT spells;

Versatility: Increases your damage done and reduces your damage taken;

Mastery: Enhances a key characteristic of your specialization, changes in each specialization.

TitanforgedWarforgedTitanforgedWorld Quests and WarfrontsBattle for Azeroth World Quests OverviewWarfronts GuideReputation GearBattle for Azeroth Reputation OverviewThe Exalted: An Overview of all ReputationsDungeonsNormalHeroicMythicMythic Keystone

Normal is the easiest difficulty there is, you can immediately queue for those after hitting the level cap, and are the only difficulty accessible while leveling.

Heroic is a middle of the road difficulty. You can queue for a heroic via the Group Finder once you reach a certain item level threshold, or if you have a group of friends, you can simply walk to the instance. Heroic Dungeons have a daily lockout.

Mythic is a harder dungeon that cannot be queued for, instead, you need to create a group with your friends, or via the Group Finder, and run to the instance's door. Mythic Dungeons are on a weekly lockout.

Mythic Keystone is a special dungeon mode that can only be accessed by using an Mythic Keystone on the altar near a dungeon's entrance. Mythic Keystone dungeons are special because they offer a scaling difficulty, the higher the value of your Keystone, the harder the dungeon will be. Those can scale indefinitely.

Battle for Azeroth Dungeon OverviewMythic Keystone DungeonsNorthrend Timewalking Dungeon EventThe NexusAhn'kahet: The Old KingdomGundrakHalls of LightningUtgarde PinnaclePit of SaronTimewarped BadgeBadge of JusticeWill of NorthrendBridle of the Ironbound WraithchargerRaidsUlduarTrial of the Crusader

Raid Finder is the easiest difficulty setting and can be queued via the Dungeons and Raids tab. The Raid Finder will gather a group of 25 people to kill bosses.

Normal and Heroic: Those are middle-of-the-road difficulties that you need to find a group and run to the raid's entrance. A Normal or Heroic Raid group can contain 10 to 30 players and bosses will scale accordingly to your group's size. You can also invite your friends that play on different servers!

Mythic: The hardest difficulty setting of a raid, destined for guilds. Mythic raids are balanced around 20 people in a group.

Seal of Broken FateProfessions

Archaeology: A profession that allows you to see what's underneath Azeroth, literally. Travel around the world, explore dig sites, and locate ancient archaeology fragments that can be combined for a wide variety of rewards, including mounts and pets!

Battle for Azeroth Professions OverviewTransmogrificationSanctified Scourgelord's Plate (25 Normal Recolor)Transmogrification ResourcesTransmogrification Guide Database!Pet BattlesPet Battles and YouPvPResilienceWar Mode PvP OverviewWintergraspPrinciples of War

Comments

Comment by Bashcutter

So your getting the vanilla guide and cutting out everything TBC and before? Very well made?

Comment by Itelletas

In the "New Classes" section, the Monk tab has worgen listed as a race that can be monks. That is not the case.

Comment by NickMyers

"In Timewalking dungeons you can collect Emblem of Heroism, yet another reminiscent of the Badge of Justice system." I think you mean time warped badges. Very good guide

Comment by Skildar

Garrosh was not corrupted by Y'shaarj, he took the power of the old god using its heart to gain more strength. At no point is he tied to Y'shaarj or even working for them...

Comment by Billredskin

@69yoloswag420: At first glance it may look like it, but the author of the guide also has to include stuff that was added in an expansion but later removed.

Returning Player Guides - What Changed Since Wrath of the Lich King

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