Dimensional ship

Naaru Ship — A naaru dimensional ship in concept art.

Dimensional ships^[1] (or trans-dimensional ships)^[2] are vessels created and operated by the naaru that can travel between worlds and dimensions, traversing the Twisting Nether just as normal ships traverse the air and sea, and warp time itself.^[3]

Bigger versions of dimensional ships are called dimensional fortresses, of which only two are known, the Genedar^[4] and Tempest Keep.^[5] Tempest Keep has "automated" defenses such as the ability to fly and teleport itself and anything in it by the use of magic in the stead of technology.^[5] The Exodar is originally a satellite structure of Tempest Keep.

Dimensional ships were useful when evacuating important populations from the encroachment of the Burning Legion, such as K'ure's rescue of the draenei with the Genedar. Naaru are their own ships' powerhouses. Traveling across the cosmos requires incredible amounts of energy, however, draining the naaru immensely.^[6]^[7]

Known dimensional ships and purpose[]

Tempest Keep - Dimensional fortress
- The Eye - The central structure of Tempest Keep featuring the ship's bridge and the ability to store massive amounts of harvested mana
- The Arcatraz - Now a prison for the dangerous beings the naaru encountered in their travels^[8]
- The Mechanar - Engineering factory
- The Botanica - Flora research atrium
- The Exodar - Unknown. Current sections are themed for Trade, Light, and Shamanism. Also has a large demon museum. It is possible that the Exodar was used (or was designed to be used) as a housing area or general living quarters for the inhabitants, with space for taking care of day-to-day necessities. This would have made it the ideal section to take for the draenei, needing the living space and not knowing the length of time they would be traveling.
The Genedar - Planetary evacuation^[9]
Aurobos - Used by High Commander Lothraxion and reinforcements from the Army of the Light to travel to Netherlight Temple and aid the Conclave.^[10]
The Xenedar - The vessel of the Army of the Light, crashed on Argus.

Notes[]

Chris Metzen, about the Exodar and the fan's worries about Warcraft including too many elements from science-fiction, originally explained that it is far more than a spaceship from classical science-fiction such as the Millenium Falcon, it does not just "barrel roll", it is part of a bigger, teleporting dimensional fortress, home to the draenei people, and while they were introducing a number of naaru technologies, they planned to keep it reasonable and balanced.^[11]
Dimensional ships work like "hyperdrive" or "slipstream"; that is, the ship enters another realm of existence (or in scientifically incorrect terms, another "dimension") - the Twisting Nether - instead of traversing cosmic space (the Great Dark Beyond). Thus, hyper-accelerated space-travel occurs when the ship moves through an alternate "dimension". When the Exodar crashed, it materialized in the sky above the Azuremyst Isles and fell to the ground when the blood elves commanded by Kael'thas tampered with the engines.

Speculation[]

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

The Burning Legion have their own Legion ships and have had them at least since the War of the Ancients as holograms of them could be seen. Considering that the Legion has incorporated many draenei into its ranks, it might have been easy for them to replicate the technology used by naaru dimensional ships.
The Vindicaar‎, a vessel built by the draenei to return to Argus, could be a dimensional ship.