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

Silithus - The Wound in the World

Sargeras' sword at the Wound in the World

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.

Pre-8.0 breadcrumbs (no longer available):

1.  [110] Summons to Stormwind /  [110] Summons to Orgrimmar
2.  [110] Gifts of the Fallen /  [110] A Recent Discovery
3.  [110] Witness to the Wound

Active quests:

1.  [45] Free Samples /  [45] Lazy Prospectors!
   • Optional:  [45] It's a Sabotage /  [45] No Spies Allowed
2.  [45] The Twilight Survivor
   • Side quest at Twilight Outpost:  [45] A Wee Bit O' Cloth
   • Optional quest chain:
   1.  [45] Desert Research
   2.  [45] The Source of Power &  [45] Larvae By The Dozen
3.  [45] A Recent Arrival /  [45] Khadgar's Request
4.  [45] The Speaker's Perspective
5.  [45] The Blood of Azeroth

Pre-8.0 finale for players with Legion Artifact weapons (no longer available):

1.  [110] The Speaker's Call
2.  [110] The Power in Our Hands

War of the Thorns

The Horde sets sights on Teldrassil

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.

1.  [110] A Short-Lived Peace (starts July 24/25)
2.  [110] The Horde Uprising
3.  [110] A Disturbance in Ashenvale
4.  [110] The Light of Elune &  [110] Knives of the Forsaken
5.  [110] A Soft Glow
6. Complete both:
   •  [110] Hidden Amongst the Leaves
   •  [110] Mercy for the Mad
7.  [110] Garden Grove
8. Complete both:
   •  [110] Enraged Furbolgs
   •  [110] Elves in the Machine
9.  [110] The Wake of Something New
10. Complete both:
    •  [110] Azerite Denial
    •  [110] No Horde Allowed
11.  [110] Malfurion Returns
12.  [110] "Rock" The World
13.  [110] Long Away
14.  [110] A Looming Threat
15.  [110] A Threat from the North (starts July 31/Aug 1)
16. Complete all of:
    •  [110] Rescue Effort
    •  [110] Defending Lor'danel
    •  [110] Action This Day
17.  [110] The Guidance of Our Shan'do
18.  [110] A Flicker of Hope
19.  [110] From the Ashes...

Horde

Teldrassil burns

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.

1.  [110] The Warchief Awaits (starts July 24/25)
2.  [110] The Warchief Commands
3.  [110] A Quick Diversion
4.  [110] Everybody Has a Price
5.  [110] A Timely Arrival
6.  [110] Zoram'gar Outpost
7.  [110] On The Prowl
8.  [110] Into the Woods
9.  [110] Ripe for the Picking
10.  [110] A Quick Flyover
11.  [110] An Unstoppable Force
12. Complete both:
    •  [110] Clearing Them Out
    •  [110] A Glaive Misunderstanding
13.  [110] Blurred Vision
14.  [110] The Trees Have Ears
15. Complete both:
    •  [110] The Blackwood Den
    •  [110] Aggressive Inspiration
16.  [110] The Start of Something Good
17. Complete both:
    •  [110] Fueling the Horde War Machine
    •  [110] A Very Clear Message
18.  [110] A Gift of Azerite
19.  [110] A Wild Ride
20.  [110] A Looming Threat
21.  [110] Saurfang Returns (starts July 31/Aug 1)
22. Complete all of:
    •  [110] No Small Mercy
    •  [110] Driving Them Out
    •  [110] Seaside Rendezvous
23.  [110] Killer Queen

Battle for Lordaeron and continent introductions

Lordaeron

The siege of Undercity

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.

1.  [10-50] Tides of War
2.  [10-50] The Nation of Kul Tiras
3.  [10-50] Daughter of the Sea
4.  [10-60] Out Like Flynn
5.  [10-60] Get Your Bearings
6.  [10-60] The Old Knight
7.  [10-60] Sanctum of the Sages &  [10-60] Ferry Pass
8.  [10-60] A Nation Divided

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.

1.  [10-60] Battle for Azeroth: Mission Statement
2.  [10-60] The Stormwind Extraction
3.  [10-60] Welcome to Zuldazar
4.  [10-60] Rastakhan
5.  [10-60] Speaker of the Horde

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

← Previous: Legion epilogue

Next: Tiragarde Sound storyline, Drustvar storyline, Stormsong Valley storyline →

Next: Zuldazar storyline, Nazmir storyline, Vol'dun storyline →