World of Warcraft: Shadowlands

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (shortened shadow, shado, or sl) is the eighth expansion for World of Warcraft. Set primarily in the eponymous region of the Shadowlands, the story is dealing with the return of Sylvanas Windrunner breaking the barrier between mortal world of Azeroth and the Shadowlands - the realm of death. The expansion was officially announced on November 1, 2019, at BlizzCon 2019.

The expansion was initially planned to be released on October 26/27, 2020. However, in an update on October 1, the release date was pushed back to later in the year. On October 29th, the release date was announced as November 23/24 2020.

In the weeks leading up to the expansion's release, a new Scourge invasion--Death Rising--was held (similar to Scourge Invasion) as the masterless undead marauded across Azeroth.

Official site
The veil between life and death is no more.
 * Brave The Beyond

''With a single act of destruction, Sylvanas Windrunner has ripped open the way to the afterlife. Azeroth's staunchest defenders have been dragged into all-consuming darkness. An ancient force of death threatens to break its bonds and unravel reality.''

''Hidden realms of wonder and horror await any who would pass to the other side. The Shadowlands is home to an entire realm of the departed; it is a world between worlds whose delicate balance preserves life and death itself.''

''As one of Azeroth's greatest champions, you have been granted the power to cross over in body and soul. Now you must investigate a conspiracy to unmake the cosmos, and help Warcraft legends journey back... or fulfill their ultimate destiny.''

Pre-order pitch
''The Shadowlands are home to an entire universe of the departed. Journey through hidden realms of wonders and horrors that await any who pass to the other side.''
 * Explore Azeroth's Afterlife

Align yourself with one of the Shadowlands' four Covenants—otherworldly shepherds of the dead, each with their own ambitions, motives, and incredible powers to claim as your own.
 * Choose Your Covenant

Test your limits as you ascend Torghast, Tower of the Damned, a highly replayable ever-changing dungeon in the dark heart of the Maw, where the vilest souls are locked away forever.
 * Storm the Eternal Prison

Press release
''Sylvanas Windrunner, fallen leader of the Horde, has pierced the veil between Azeroth and the realm of the dead, setting in motion a series of events that threatens to upset the cosmic balance between life and death. World of Warcraft players entering the fabled Shadowlands will find the realms of the dead in upheaval. Under the normal order, departed souls were delivered to a realm appropriate to the lives they led, but now, all souls are being funneled into the Maw, where the most wicked are damned to suffer for eternity. As they seek to right the cycle and uncover the extent of Sylvanas' designs, players will forge bonds with the Covenants who hold domain over different planes within the Shadowlands.''

Features
A host of new features and activities await players in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. When they cross into the realm-between-realms, players will be able to:


 * Explore the Realm of the Dead: for the first time ever in World of Warcraft, players will cross into the Shadowlands and experience the wonders and horrors of the afterlife across five new zones—the gleaming fields of Bastion, the scarred battlefields of Maldraxxus, the eternal twilight of Ardenweald, the opulent keeps of Revendreth, and the horrific Maw.
 * Claim a covenant's power: players will be called upon to forge a bond with one of four covenants that rule Shadowlands' new zones, setting the tone for their journey through the expansion with a full covenant campaign. As they level up, they'll get new abilities based on their choice, including class-specific abilities for each Covenant—as well as developing soulbinds with specific covenant members, which grant them access to that character's specific traits and bonuses.
 * Ascend the Tower of the Damned: at the heart of the Maw lies Torghast, Tower of the Damned, a cursed otherworldly prison where the wickedest souls in the universe are locked away. Highly replayable and inspired by roguelike games, heroes are invited to explore its ever-changing halls and chambers and do battle with the minions of the Jailer, Torghast's vile ruler. Those who brave its trials can claim legendary treasures and help free the heroic spirits wrongfully trapped within.
 * Every level is meaningful: Shadowlands will introduce a new leveling system, meant to provide a meaningful sense of advancement with every level achieved. Current max-level characters will begin Shadowlands at level 50 and work toward the new level cap of 60.
 * A new army of the dead rises: to combat Sylvanas' assault on Icecrown, Bolvar Fordragon— the revered former paladin who took on the mantle of Lich King to keep the Scourge at bay—has raised heroes from among all the peoples of Azeroth to bolster the Death Knights of Acherus. With Shadowlands, pandaren and all allied races will now be able to become death knights.
 * Improved character customization options: a host of new appearance options for all races will be made available to players when they create new World of Warcraft characters (or alter existing ones at the in-game barber shop).

Zones

 * Shadowlands
 * Ardenweald
 * Bastion
 * Maldraxxus
 * The Maw
 * Korthia (9.1)
 * Revendreth
 * Oribos (city)
 * Exile's Reach - uncharted island on Azeroth. New level 1-10 starting experience.

Four Covenants

 * Four Covenants
 * The steadfast Kyrian of Bastion, whose discipline and duty compels them to safeguard souls from the mortal realm as they pass into the Shadowlands.
 * The mysterious Night Fae of Ardenweald, who fiercely defend the spirits of nature from those who would deprive them of rebirth.
 * The cunning Venthyr of Revendreth, who feast on the souls of the prideful and vain in a gothic realm of opulence and torment.
 * The warlike Necrolords of Maldraxxus, who forge the undead armies that serve as the first line of defense for the Shadowlands and honor those who seek power and glory in battle.
 * Covenant Sanctums will be the Shadowlands equivalent of the Order Halls.
 * Covenant Campaign, a high-end storyline similar to the War Campaign in Battle for Azeroth.

New character customization
Each playable race will have its own unique options available to them whether it's their tattoos, hairstyles, skin color, or even eye color. The undead will also be able to choose whether they show bones or not.

Dungeons

 * 4 level-up:
 * The Necrotic Wake
 * Plaguefall
 * Mists of Tirna Scithe
 * Halls of Atonement
 * 4 max-level:
 * Spires of Ascension
 * Theater of Pain
 * The Other Side
 * Sanguine Depths
 * Tazavesh, the Veiled Market (9.1), 8 boss megadungeon
 * Darkmaul Citadel, mini-dungeon in the starting zone of Exile's Reach.

Raids

 * Castle Nathria, 10 bosses
 * Sanctum of Domination (9.1), 10 bosses

Infinite dungeon

 * Torghast, Tower of the Damned is an infinite dungeon, an everchanging, roguelike challenge open to solo players and groups of up to five.
 * Torghast has six primary wings Skoldus Hall, Fracture Chambers, Soulforges, Coldheart Interstitia, Mort'regar, and The Upper Reaches, each wing has it's own twist on a mechanic, with each wing having eight layers of multiple floors per layer. A selection of two wings are made available each week.
 * Twisting Corridors, a special challenge mode wing that has eight layers of 18 floors per layer.

Leveled-up leveling
The expansion will smooth out the leveling experience and better prepare new adventurers for what's to come. Players will level up to 50 before heading to the Shadowlands (new level cap: 60).

The experience curve is adjusted to make it faster than ever to prepare for the newest challenges, and each level along the way will provide more meaningful increases in progress and power. All expansion zones are getting more flexible, too; they'll be able* to scale to you and your friends while you level to 50, so it's easy to try a zone you've never played.


 * You can still outlevel dungeons and crush them for transmogs or fulfillment.

Levels 1-10

 * A New Journey for New Players

New characters will embark on an introductory voyage to learn about everything there is to do in Azeroth, including your first mini-dungeon.

Levels 10-50
Play the latest expansion, Battle for Azeroth, or follow Chromie back in time and tackle any other expansion you choose, with challenges that scale to characters level 10–50.
 * Pick Your Era

Levels 50-60

 * Enter the Shadowlands

Step into Azeroth's afterlife, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with legends of the past as you fight to preserve the universe.

Systems and rewards

 * Covenant systems and rewards
 * Covenant signature ability and class-specific ability.
 * Renown from 1 to 40 to unlock cosmetics, story and power progression in Covenants.
 * Soulbinding with 3 Soulbinds per Covenant and Conduit items that are put into Soulbinds.
 * Systems available only to one covenant: Abominable Stitching, Ember Court, Path of Ascension or Queen's Conservatory.
 * Anima Conductor enable additional content by investing Anima into specific areas in their Covenant’s realm.
 * Covenant specific teleportation network.
 * Adventures in place of previous expansion missions from the dedicated table within the Covenant Sanctum.
 * Covenants have special buffs with interations in dungeons associated with its home territory.
 * Craft legendery item armor through the Runecarver with Soul Ash, base item from production professions, unlocking Memories of the Runecarver legendary powers and missives from inscription which define stats.
 * Update to weekly loot chest the Great Vault.
 * Professions return consumables from expansions past Armor Kits, Weapon Oils, Sharpening Stones and Weightstones.
 * Optional Reagents for professions.
 * Quest interface updates:
 * New quest markers distinguishing major quests that are required to advance the narrative from optional side quests that tell more localized stories.
 * Lore Book in the Map & Quest Log interface when a main Shadowlands or Battle for Azeroth questline is active.
 * Navigational marker will appear on screen to direct to quest objectives.
 * A Map Pin can now be placed on the World Map.
 * The Threads of Fate alt leveling from 50 to 60.

Classes

 * Focus on class identity first over specialization identity. This means moving back some of the class abilities to all specializations that may have been moved into one spec or even restoring some abilities.
 * Death knight class available for pandaren and allied races.

New figures

 * Eternal Ones
 * The Arbiter, found in Oribos
 * The Jailer, found in the Maw
 * Kyrestia the Firstborne the Archon, ruler of the Kyrian in Bastion
 * The Winter Queen, ruler of the Night fae in Ardenweald
 * Sire Denathrius, ruler of the Venthyr in Revendreth
 * The Primus, the missing ruler of the Necrolords in Maldraxxus that left behind cryptic messages imprisoned in Torghast as the Runecarver
 * Mueh'zala
 * Margrave Gharmal
 * Margrave Krexus
 * Margrave Sin'dane
 * Margrave Stradama
 * Vyraz
 * Prince Renathal
 * Devos

Returning figures

 * Sylvanas Windrunner
 * Bolvar Fordragon
 * Anduin Wrynn
 * Uther the Lightbringer, who struggles against dark forces that seek to transform him into a symbol of retribution.
 * Kael'thas Sunstrider, who pursues vengeance on an enemy from his past while confined to Revendreth for the crimes he committed in life.
 * Draka, whose spirit has risen to prominence within the Necrolords of Maldraxxus.
 * Ysera, whose soul ended up in Ardenweald.
 * Tyrande Whisperwind, who is still very upset about what happened to her people. That leads her to Ardenweald.
 * Bwonsamdi
 * Helya
 * Jaina Proudmoore
 * Thrall
 * Baine Bloodhoof
 * Vashj
 * Alexandros Mograine
 * Kel'Thuzad
 * Ner'zhul, as the Remnant of Ner'zhul
 * Garrosh Hellscream

New creatures

 * Unique
 * The Arbiter
 * Inv slothpet.png Daisy (sloth Shop pet)
 * Denathrius
 * Guardian of the First Ones (9.1)
 * Fatescribe Roh-Kalo (a Maw corrupted attendant, 9.1)
 * Inv oxmount.png Lucky Yun (ox Shop mount)
 * The Jailer
 * Maldraxxi in skeletal naga forms Baroness Vashj and Mordretha, the Endless Empress
 * Marasmius
 * Mueh'zala
 * Painsmith Raznal (9.1)
 * P.O.S.T. Master (9.1)
 * The Primus (9.1)
 * Runecarver
 * Remnant of Ner'zhul (9.1)
 * Inv phoenix2mount blue.png Sapphire Skyblazer (Shop mount)
 * Slime serpent (stitched version of a serpent of N'Zoth as a single NPC and as a mount)
 * Soulrender Dormazain (9.1)
 * Winter Queen

Base option

 * The Shadowlands, a new world containing 5 new zones and the city of Oribos
 * 4 Covenants to join, each with a unique Sanctum
 * New class-specific abilities, and covenant Soulbinds that unlock talent trees
 * All-new dungeons and raids

Heroic edition

 * Everything in the Base Edition, plus:
 * Level 120 Character Boost
 * Instant access to the Ensorcelled Everwyrm flying mount, which grants a quest for the Vestments of the Eternal Traveler transmog set

Epic edition

 * Everything in the Heroic Edition, plus:
 * 30 days of game time
 * Anima Wyrmling pet
 * Eternal Traveler's Hearthstone
 * Illusion: Wraithchill cosmetic weapon effect (cannot be applied to certain weapon types)

Collector's edition

 * A limited-edition boxed set with everything in the Epic Edition, plus physical goodies:
 * Covenant Sigils – Four-Pin Collector's Set
 * Art of the Shadowlands
 * Shattered Sky Mousepad
 * Collector's Edition Digital Soundtrack Key

Tie-in literature

 * Novels
 * Shadows Rising
 * World of Warcraft: Grimoire of the Shadowlands and Beyond
 * Warcraft: Sylvanas


 * Animated shorts
 * Afterlives


 * Short stories
 * Terror by Torchlight
 * We Ride Forth