Battle for Azeroth intro experience

The Battle for Azeroth intro experience takes place in multiple parts: an introduction to Silithus: The Wound, a time-limited quest chain dealing with the War of the Thorns, and a permanent quest chain dealing with the Battle for Lordaeron, the Heart of Azeroth, and the introduction to the factions' continents. Both factions have unique perspectives on the depicted events.

The Wound


If players have not already been to Silithus: The Wound in Legion, they will need to do so in Battle for Azeroth to discover the Sword of Sargeras and the presence of Azerite.

War of the Thorns


Sylvanas Windrunner, Warchief of the Horde, has set her sights on the new World Tree, Teldrassil, in events that would later be termed the War of the Thorns. This quest chain was time-limited and was available in parts from July 24 up until expansion launch on August 13/14.

Alliance
For the Alliance, the storyline begins with unsettling reports coming out of Orgrimmar involving the Azerite situation at Silithus: The Wound. Just as adventurers are about to head to Silithus, Master Mathias Shaw reports that the Horde is attacking Ashenvale! The situation quickly spirals out of control as what's left of Darnassus' defenders realize they cannot check the attack.

Horde


Sylvanas realizes the tremendous power of Azerite and wants to keep the Alliance from shipping it in massive amounts through Darnassus, so she sets out to occupy the city. The best-laid plans tend not to survive first contact with the enemy, as things progress much more intensely than expected.

Battle for Lordaeron and continent introductions
After the disastrous events at Teldrassil, Anduin Wrynn and the Alliance leadership decide to strike back and reclaim Undercity from the Banshee Queen.

Upon return from the battle (after the expansion has launched), Magni Bronzebeard, the Speaker of Azeroth, reaches out to the adventurer and requests some assistance in Silithus. The titanic world-soul of Azeroth has been badly wounded by the Sword of Sargeras and needs her champion's assistance to survive. She manifests the Heart of Azeroth and Magni asks the adventurer to look past the Horde – Alliance conflict and focus on what really matters.

Alas, more urgent matters arise back home, and the time has come to set out for new lands with new allies.

Alliance
The Horde have launched an attack on Stormwind and broken some Zandalari inmates out of the Stockade. What's worse, the fleet of ships sent to recover them has mostly been lost, as only one returned. Jaina Proudmoore scries a recollection out of a 7th Legion sailor, and comes to the conclusion that the Alliance cannot defend against the Zandalari navy without allies.

The Daughter of the Sea, along with the adventurer and an escort from Genn Greymane, thus set off for Kul Tiras.

After A Nation Divided, adventurers can choose to begin one of three zone storylines: Drustvar, Stormsong Valley, or Tiragarde Sound.

Horde
Sylvanas has a high-priority objective imprisoned in the Stormwind Stockade, so she tasks the adventurer and Nathanos Blightcaller to recover it. It turns out that the princess of the Zandalari Empire, Princess Talanji, and Zul the Prophet are the prisoners!

In fleeing, the party escapes from Genn Greymane and Jaina Proudmoore by nearly burning down Stormwind Harbor! Talanji decides to head directly home, immediately thrusting the adventurer into some political intrigue with the Zanchuli Council.

After We Need Each Other, adventurers can choose to begin one of three zone storylines: Nazmir, Vol'dun, or Zuldazar.