Legion Invasions

The Legion Invasions or Demon Invasions were the pre-Legion launch event. Playing on other events like the pre-Naxxramas Scourge Invasion and pre-Wrath of the Lich King Zombie Infestation, the Burning Legion invaded Azeroth before the launch of the expansion starting on August 9, rewarding players that stood against them with unique armor appearances, weapons, toys, and pets. The start of the event also coincided with the release of a related questline to the Battle for the Broken Shore. The event ended with the release of Legion on August 30.

The event saw invasions in six separate locations, split between Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. The invasions began in the more remote zones, such as Tanaris, and drastically ramped up from there each week. The first week had two zones under invasion every four hours. The second week had three invasions every two hours. The final week culminated with a constant Legion invasion across every invasion zone.

The invasions themselves featured the arrival of Legion forces, with each invasion split into three stages. To defeat the invasion players were required to battle ground troops, destroy Legion structures and defeat a number of elite commanders, fighting back the Legion's advances, while legion ships rained felfire from above. Players were aided in populated areas by the local NPCs, who were neutral for both factions for the duration of each invasion.

The invasions scaled from level 10 to 100, so that even those who were leveling in the area were able to participate. For sub-max-level characters the invasions also offered substantial experience rewards, allowing for highly accelerated leveling.

While all eyes were focused on the invasions, dark whispers were heard in the Alliance and Horde capitals, tempting heroes to join the Legion. The willing were transformed into mighty dreadlords, raid boss-level demons with powerful abilities.

Dun Morogh
Under the command of Harbinger Faraleth and Dread Commander Il'tholzul, the Legion launched an attack on the Dun Morogh region.

Muradin and Moira defended Kharanos while Falstad Wildhammer took the skies against the felbats. Mountaineer Helmholt defended Misty Pine Refuge against an Annihilan. The remaining Frostmanes were enslaved by the Burning Legion under a nathrezim and used as tools for their army. Amberstill Ranch also fell under the Legion's command and the dwarves there were enslaved as well. The battle at the Frostmane Front was ended as the Legion took over. The Tundrid Hills, Grizzled Den and the Brewfest area had been taken by the Legion. The Legion blocked the road leading to Gnomeregan, cutting off communication between the areas. The Ironforge Airfield was taken by the Legion and the last defenders were led by Mountaineer Falmor. The Gol'Bolar Quarry was also attacked by the Legion.

Among the defenders of the mountains were a high number of Dun Morogh Mountaineers, Ironforge Guards, Ironforge Gryphon Riders and Wildhammer Gryphon Riders as well as a contingent of Dark Iron dwarves including demolitionists, riflemen, shadowcasters and skulkers. Many siege weapons operated by dwarven and gnomish engineers were fielded by the defenders, such as siege engines, mechano-tanks and gyrocopters, which had a special corps of Battle Pilots. Several Covert Operatives from Gnomeregan also participated in defending Kharanos. Thunder Special beer was freely available to raise the morale of the defenders. A randomized Alliance military camp could also spawn in the region.

Azshara
Under the command of Fel Commander Maz'golar, Flamebringer Az'rothel and Vel'thrak the Punisher, the Legion launched an attack on Azshara. The goal of the mission was to charge into Orgrimmar.

Jastor Gallywix defended the Orgrimmar Rear Gate, making sure that no demon passed through. At Talrendis Point, the remaining Alliance forces defended the area under Commander Jarrodenus. Valormok was defended by its residents. The Legion's advance took the Ruins of Eldarath and the Shattered Strand, killing all the local naga. The Mountainfoot Strip Mine was also conquered by the Legion, as the local inhabitants of orcs and night elves were enslaved by a nathrezim.

Among the defenders of the Orgrimmar rear gate were Orgrimmar Grunts and Bilgewater Soldiers under the command of Ag'tor Bloodfist and Gallywix. Several demolishers, goblin engineers and Orgrimmar Wind Riders had been deployed as well. On the Alliance side, Talrendis Point was defended by the Talrendis Ancient and the garrison of the outpost.

Northern Barrens
Under the command of Fel Commander Vorgroth and Arch Magus Velysra, the Legion launched an attack on the Northern Barrens. Their main goal was to take the hearth of the Barrens, the Crossroads. The Crossroads was defended by High Overlord Saurfang.

Near the Crossroads, the mighty beast Echeyakee was subdued by a dreadstalker, but was saved and bandaged, thus joining the fight alongside adventurers. A big part of the Gold Road was held by the Legion, whilst the Horde attempted to fight them back. All the old True Horde structures (the Kor'kron elemental camp, the Kor'kron lumber yard, the Kor'kron refinery and the Kor'kron meat camp, which was used as a field prison) had been taken by the Legion. Parts of the Forgotten Pools were taken by the Legion as well, and the local centaurs had been killed off. Thorn Hill and Grol'dom Farm were in turmoil with the Legion invading these areas as well. Darsok's outpost fell to the Legion. Mercs of the Venture Company defended the Sludge Fen against the demons. The goblins of Ratchet defended the town under Gazlowe, which was riding his own custom shredder. However, the Legion outside the city had mind controlled several goblins to their will. Far Watch Post also fell to the Legion as Kargal Battlescar defended the bridge to Durotar.

Among the Horde defenders were many Horde Guards and Orgrimmar Wind Riders, supported by the grunts of the various local outposts. A randomized Horde military camp could also spawn in the region. The oil platform at the Sludge Fen was defended by Oilrig Bombers, Oilrig Snipers and Oil Rig Engineers.

Tanaris
Under the command of Mal'serus and Arch Magus Velysra, the Legion launched an attack on Tanaris. Their main goal was to take the capital of the Steamwheedle Cartel, Gadgetzan. Gadgetzan was defended by Marin Noggenfogger, which was riding his own custom shredder.

Thistleshrub Valley had been taken by the Legion and they now controlled the entrance to Uldum. Eastmoon Ruins was in conflict as the demons were trying to claim it from Wastewanders. Sandsorrow Watch had fallen to the Legion. Goblins, Horde and Alliance fought against the Legion at Gadgetzan. Most of the Abyssal Sands and all of the Broken Pillar had been taken over by the demons. The Bootlegger Outpost and Dunemaul Compound fell to the Burning Legion. Some other goblin enclaves resisted against the Legion, such as the Dunemaul Recruitment Camp and Wumble's one.

The area was less well-defended than the other regions of Azeroth, being further away from Alliance and Horde capitals. Still, Gadgetzan could count on its bruisers, bombers and balloons as well as the staff of its arena, including Katrina Turner and quartermasters such as Argex Irongut, Blazzek the Biter and Tiny Tayger. Meanwhile, the Bronze dragonflight sealed off the Caverns of Time as Illidari demon hunters held the area, and the entrance of Un'Goro Crater was defended by Maximillian of Northshire and, surprisingly, Stone Guardians. Initially found south of Sandsorrow Watch, even a stranded mechanical chicken could be found fighting against the invaders. A randomized Horde, Alliance or Goblin military camp could also spawn in the region.

Westfall
Under the command of Fel Commander Urgoz and Arch Magus Zyrel, the Legion launched an attack on Westfall. Their main goal was to take the hearth of Westfall, Sentinel Hill. Sentinel Hill was defended by Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle.

In the plains of Westfall, war raged between the demons and the transient people of the area. Being simple farmlands, the demons took much of the land with ease. The Dead Acre, the Dust Plains, Stendel's Pond, the Molsen Farm, the Jansen Stead, Furlbrow's Pumpkin Patch, Jangolode Mine, Alexston Farmstead and Demont's Place had been taken by the Burning Legion. Saldean's Farm was also attacked, with Farmer Saldean and his wife managing to hide in their house. The residents of Moonbrook were obliterated. The demons also refurbished some of the local machineries, with the Reconstructed Fel Reaper 5000 and the Soul Harvesters now under their grasp.

A contingent from Stormwind City was sent to defend the area. Among it were Stormwind Guards, Stormwind Knights, Stormwind Gryphon Riders, Stormwind Mages and siege engines. The guards at the Dagger Hills camp were mind controlled by a nathrezim. Sentinel Hill was defended by a militia of Uprooted Farmhands, Displaced Workers and Sentinel Hill Marksmen.

Hillsbrad Foothills
Under the command of Rotbringer Velthux and Flameweaver Verathix, the Legion launched an attack on the Hillsbrad Foothills. Their main goal was to take the largest Forsaken town here, Tarren Mill. Tarren Mill was defended by Helcular.

Jorek Ironside guarded the entrance to Frostwolf Village successfully. Corrahn's Dagger was under attack and being defended by Captain Iceheart. The Headland was being fought over by Instructor Rufus, Drill Sergeant Magnus, and Captain Crudbeard against the Legion. Gavin's Naze was also under siege while Stormwind Knights defended the siege weapons there. Darrow Hill was taken by the Legion. The Nethander Stead was attacked and all the Mudsnout gnolls were killed by the Legion. The Ruins of Southshore were also attacked by the Legion, which seemed interested into researching the blight there, and the guards of the Sludge Fields were enslaved by a nathrezim.

Among the Horde defenders were Dreadguards, Deathguard Elites, Forsaken Bat-Riders as was as a contingent from Undercity including Undercity Guardians, Bragor Bloodfist and Aleric Hawkins. On the Alliance side, the Stormpike Guard had deployed Stormpike Battle-Priests to support their troops. A randomized Alliance military camp could also spawn in the region.

Randomized military camps
Several of the attacked regions had areas dedicated to spawning randomized military camps. Each military camp was defended by a small contingent of guards and had several siege weapons that could be taken away by adventurers.
 * Blood elven camp: Defended by Silvermoon Guardians, glaive throwers were being worked on by Silvermoon Engineers.
 * Orcish camp: Defended by Horde Guards, demolishers were being worked on by Goblin Engineers. Hearty Haunch could be found there as well.
 * Forsaken camp: Defended by Deathguards, Forsaken catapults were being worked on by Forsaken Engineers.
 * Night elven camp: Defended by Darnassus Sentinels, glaive throwers were being worked on by Field Engineers.
 * Gnomish camp: Defended by Gnomeregan Infantries, mechano-tanks were being worked on by Gnomish Engineers.
 * Dwarven camp: Defended by Ironforge Guards, siege engines were being worked on by Dwarven Engineers.
 * Goblin camp: Defended by Gadgetzan Bruisers, shredders were being worked on by Goblin Engineers.

Illidari Camps
After being freed from the Vault of the Wardens, the Illidari set up camps around the world. The camps were defended by Illidari Enforcers. A reluctant vendor in the form of a Captive Wyrmtongue plus an Illidari Darkdealer could also be found there. The main leader of each camp was Falara Nightsong. These camps could be found in Azshara, Northern Barrens, Tanaris, Hillsbrad Foothills, Dun Morogh and Westfall, as well as the capital cities of Stormwind City and Orgrimmar.

Stages
Legion invasions play out in scenarios. Much like Garrisons and open-world quest scenarios, as players enter an invasion zone, they will automatically join a scenario in progress. There can be multiple concurrent invasions taking place in a zone - players will always join a scenario that's in Stage 1, however.

Stage 1
Defend .

The main objective in stage one is to defend the main town of the local area. A Legion ship will appear over it and a big portal will open. A meter will appear and the phase will end when it reaches 100%.
 * Dun Morogh: Kharanos.
 * Azshara: Orgrimmar Rear Gate.
 * Tanaris: Gadgetzan.
 * Hillsbrad Foothills: Tarren Mill.
 * Westfall: Sentinel Hill.
 * Northern Barrens: Crossroads.

Kharanos

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * emote

Gadgetzan

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Sentinel Hill

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Orgrimmar Rear Gate

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Crossroads

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Tarren Mill

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Stage 2
Defeat the Demon Commander.

After you defend the town, three or four demons will appear (two or three Lieutenants and one Commander). After defeating the Lieutenants the Commander will spawn. Defeating the Commander will give you a Small Legion Chest.

Kharanos

 * Demon Commander appears
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Gadgetzan

 * Demon Commander appears
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Sentinel Hill

 * Demon Commander appears
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Orgrimmar Rear Gate

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Demon Commander appears
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Crossroads

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Demon Commander appears
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Tarren Mill

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Demon Commander appears
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Stage 3
Repel the Legion forces.

After the commander dies, the Burning Legion appears throughout the area. Structures are teleported all over the zone, and Legion ships will start patrolling between these bases. A meter will appear and the phase will end when it reaches 100%.

Kharanos

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Gadgetzan

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During Battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Sentinel Hill

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Orgrimmar Rear Gate

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Crossroads

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Tarren Mill

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * During battle
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Final Stage
Defeat the Demon Lord.

After Stage 3, the final boss will appear at the main town. Defeating it will give you a Large Legion Chest and end the invasion.

Kharanos

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Victory
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Gadgetzan

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Victory
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Sentinel Hill

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Victory
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Orgrimmar Rear Gate

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Victory
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Crossroads

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Victory
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Tarren Mill

 * Start
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell


 * Victory
 * yell
 * yell
 * yell

Currency
Nethershard is the currency given for completing an invasion event, the Legion Chests, and by killing the stronger demons.

They can be used to buy several things from the Captive Wyrmtongues and Illidari Darkdealers.

Large Legion Chest
The chest contains, one to two item level 700 armor pieces of your character's armor type, a chance at a weapon, and a chance at a Coalesced Fel

Small Legion Chest
The chest contains and one to two item level 700 armor pieces of your character's armor type, and a chance at a weapon.

Named demons
All named demons (and those marked with a green skull on the zone map and minimap) will drop.

Armor and weapons
All armor and weapon types can be found inside the chests. The chests will only contain loot equippable by the character that opens the chest, including the Glaive of the Fallen which can otherwise be bought on Nethershard vendors instead.

Pocket Fel Spreader
Classes that have a way to sense demons, or using Elixir of Detect Demon sometimes have another option towards the Doomsayer. When saying the line There's something not quite right about you... the doomsayer is revealed to be a Dread Infiltrator. Once they are killed, they have a chance to drop a Pocket Fel Spreader.

Secrets
On or before The Battle for Broken Shore (quest), players can interact with four secret NPCs to acquire some unique items. These NPCs are limited to their faction, and those of the opposite faction cannot interact with them.
 * Griftah's Authentic Troll Shoes
 * Whole-Body Shrinka'
 * Sen'jin Spirit Drum
 * Xan'tish's Flute
 * Thoughtful Post
 * Happy Post
 * Angry Post
 * Old Lucky Coin
 * Lucky Rat's Tooth
 * Lucky Charm (Legion)
 * Lucky Shirt
 * Alaina's Bonnet
 * Lucky Charm (Legion)
 * Lucky Shirt
 * Alaina's Bonnet
 * Alaina's Bonnet

Dark Whispers
A complement to the invasions taking place in the various zones, the Dark Whispers event took place within Stormwind and Orgrimmar, tempting the heroes of Azeroth to turn against their allies and join the Burning Legion.

During the event players in the two cities had a very small chance of hearing a whisper asking them to convert to the Legion's line of thinking. If the player accepted, they would get a new action bar with some interesting abilities, and gain 9 stacks of the Frail Mind debuff. The process then had two phases: in the first the player used their abilities to wreak havoc in the city, causing them to slowly remove their stacks of Frail Mind. Once all Frail Mind stacks were gone, the player was able to transform into a Dreadlord for 1 minute, gaining raid boss-level abilities. Transforming into a Dreadlord or using certain abilities during the first phase would mark the player an ally of the Legion, making them hostile to friendly characters and allowing them to attack and kill NPCs and other players.


 * Phase 1

Transforming into a Dreadlord provided the following abilities:
 * Phase 2

Auction Houses were a popular location for transforming into a Dreadlord due to the large number of players normally gathered there, many AFK, providing easy targets. Absent players could be killed in 2-3 globals using the Dreadlord's abilities.

Videos

 * Dark Whispers - WoW Legion Pre-Launch Event - Turning into a Dread Lord in Orgrimmar (2016-08-11)

Buffs

 * Battle-Mender's Dressing - On tables near field infirmaries.
 * Blight Sample - In the Ruins of Southshore.
 * Doom Shroom / Moongrass / Chaos Clover / Bleakthorn / Felbloom - On the fel-scorched ground near some Legion Structures.
 * inv_stone_grindingstone_02.png Gleaming Weaponry - Provided by and.
 * Helbrim's Special - Provided by Apothecary Helbrim.
 * Hearty Haunch - In Crossroads inn and at orcish camps.
 * Jar of Spiders - In Tarren Mill.
 * inv_misc_legarmorkit.png Reinforced Armor - Provided by.
 * Skyfire Stone - At Saldean's Farm in Westfall.
 * Thunder Special - In Kharanos.
 * In Horde Supplies, in the Hillsbrad Foothills:
 * Battleguard's Sharpening Stone
 * Fel Sharpening Stone (Legion Invasions)
 * Felstone (Legion Invasions)
 * Molted Feather (Legion Invasions)
 * Potion of Fel Protection
 * Potion of Bubbling Pustules
 * Shadowstone
 * Ward of Sargeras

Alliance

 * Mechano-Tank


 * Warstrider Prototype


 * Glaive Thrower


 * Gyrocopter


 * Siege Engine

Horde

 * Demolisher


 * Forsaken Catapult


 * Glaive Thrower


 * Goblin Shredder
 * Note: Using this vehicle type will prevent any XP from mobs.
 * Note: Using this vehicle type will prevent any XP from mobs.
 * Note: Using this vehicle type will prevent any XP from mobs.
 * Note: Using this vehicle type will prevent any XP from mobs.

By location

 * 1 Don't use if you want to earn XP from killing mobs.

Doomsayers
Doomsayers have started to appear in major cities. They give pamphlets to the locals for the achievement It All Makes Sense Now.

Units

 * Original NPCs
 * Khrim Powderkeg

Alliance

 * Devoted Battle-Priest
 * Elemental Defender
 * Ironforge Crusader
 * Keen Huntress
 * Stalwart Defender

Horde

 * Acolyte of Pain
 * Earthfury War Rager
 * Forsaken Frostflinger
 * Kezan Firebender
 * Seasoned Marksman
 * Sen'jin Battle-Healer
 * Sen'jin Shaman
 * Silvermoon Arcanist
 * Stealthy Assassin
 * Thunder Bluff Skyspeaker
 * Windsworn Skycaller

Ulduar and Karazhan quests
On August 16, a new quest chain opened up in which Khadgar summons players who have completed the Battle for the Broken Shore, inviting them to Dalaran in its new location over Karazhan in search for means to stop the Legion assault.

Achievements

 * It All Makes Sense Now
 * Stand Against the Legion
 * Defender of Azeroth: Legion Invasions

Notes and trivia

 * Most of the named NPCs from the zones were actually created anew with raised level and added to their original spots. This caused several story inconsistencies as some NPCs, that were originally part of quests that required killing them, made appearance, such as Flesh-Shaper Arnauld, Warden Stillwater, Drill Sergeant Magnus, Captain Crudbeard, Captain Iceheart, Instructor Rufus, Commander Jarrodenus, Echeyakee, Two-Shoed Lou and Talrendis Ancient (and possibly Captain Grunwald, High Priestess Silthera and Lord Kassarus.).
 * It could mean that lore-wise they survived the attempts on their lives. Alternatively, it could be a development oversight.
 * The matter was even brought up to Matt Burns on Twitter.
 * According to an official infographic released following the launch of Legion, the Legion Invasion event saw 2.5 million individual invasions repelled, with the participation of 155 million different characters. The pre-patch also saw the creation of 3.9 million demon hunters, with 536,000 of these participating in battlegrounds, as well as 1.7 million dungeon runs with parties comprising 4 demon hunters and a healer.
 * The large amount of XP awarded made the event popular for leveling characters, with some players leveling characters from creation to max level in a matter of hours. This was partly enabled by a design flaw that allowed players to restart invasions by leaving the area prior to that invasion's completion. This allowed players to repeatedly farm the same invasion, for potentially limitless Nethershards and experience, even prior to the event's final week.
 * Early in the Legion alpha, the Wetlands was also an invasion site. Several unused Dragonmaw clan NPC entries were created for the occasion, including Dragonmaw Bonewarder, Dragonmaw Centurion, Dragonmaw Raider, Dragonmaw Shadowwarder, Dragonmaw Whelpstealer, and Dragonmaw Captive.
 * The Legion Invasions inspired the later Legion Assaults events.
 * Mulgore was initially planned to be a Legion Invasion point (likely as the Wetlands counterpart).
 * There are unused IDs of Mulgore braves and inhabitants. New and unused tauren may have probably been intended to participate as well, such as Tortured Civilian, Wrangled Kodo Herder, and Kalla Darkmane.
 * The unfinished quests in Tanaris, Scouting Report (beta), Not Dead Yet!, and Tearing down the Legion may possibly imply that the defense and counterattacks were initially planned to be more story-driven through quests.
 * The resurface of the Argent Dawn was possibly planned with Sedona Ironshot starting Competitive Exorcise.
 * Unused IDs suggest that during the Legion Invasions, players were planned to be able to summon illusions of several Sandfury trolls.