World of Warcraft's Battle of Azeroth takes a deadly twist as Queen Azshara and her naga army have decided to join the fray. The Rise of Azshara is the latest expansion to arrive, with players exploring the naga domain of Nazjatar. Here, Aliiance heroes meet the Waveblade Ankoan while the Horde come upon the Unshackled.
In order to access Rise of Azshara, players need to be at least level 120 and have unlocked Battle for Azeroth World Quests. This means they need to complete either the “Uniting Kul Tiras” quest or the “Uniting Zandalar" one. Failure to do so means players won't be able to get the summor from either Genn Greymane or Nathanos Blightcaller, which kicks of the event.
Mechagon Island
With the update, players are introduced to Mechagon Island, the home of a mechanically augmented gnomes led by King Mechagon. On arriving in Mechagon, players met Prince Erazmin and the Rustbolt Resistance. They then need to complete a series of new faction-based quests in order to join the fight against King Mechagon himself. The new zone comes with two new features:
- Junkyard Tinkering
- As they traverse the zone, players will have access to Pascal-K1N6, a giant iron robot who will help players craft equipment, mounts, toys, consumables, and more in exchange for Spare Parts and Energy Cells found across Mechagon.
- Recipes to craft more items can be found around the island.
- Pocket-Sized Computation Device
- The Pocket-Sized Computation Device is a trinket that players can customize via three Punchcard Sockets, into which players can insert one Red, Yellow, and Blue Punch Card. Punch Cards can be collected by questing, exploring the Mechagon zone, and advancing through the new Mythic-only dungeon Operation: Mechagon.
- Players receive their Pocket-Sized Computation Device after completing the “Upgraded” quest, available shortly after landing in Mechagon.
Essences
One new feature introduced in this latest update is Essences. Basically, these are powerful active and passive abilities that allow players to customize their playstyle in a whole new way. Each Essence possesses a Major Power, like a new active ability, and a Minor Power, generally a passive ability. The Heart of Azeroth has slots for one Major and two Minor Essences. Place an Essence in the Major slot to activate both its Major and Minor Powers, and place up to two in the Minor slots to activate their Minor Powers. Adapt to conquer any situation by applying or swapping Essences out within rest areas, cities, or when using items such as the Tome of Quiet Mind.
Players need to complete a new quest line to unlock the Heart Forge before infusing Essences into the Heart of Azeroth. This unlocks the Major slot, and rewards players with their first Essence. The two Minor slots unlock at Heart of Azeroth levels 55 and 65 respectively. Players with a Heart of Azeroth below level 35 need to go up to level 35 upon unlocking the Heart Forge. Level 120 players who have established their new hub in Nazjatar are invited to join Magni at the Chamber of Heart in Silithus to start the new quest line to unlock the Heart Forge, beginning with the quest “Essential Empowerment."
New Quests
New quests are offered in Rise of Azshara, which include:
- Magni Bronzebeard
- Mysterious magics have awakened across Azeroth.
- Among them are the essences of the five dragonflights, which Magni Bronzebeard suspects can unlock the full potential of the Heart of Azeroth.
- Level 120 players should heed Magni’s call to continue the story and earn their first Essence, which grants a new, powerful ability tailored to their character’s role (damage dealer, healer, or tank) or all roles.
- War Campaign: Stay of Execution
- Upon learning of Sylvanas’s plans to execute Baine Bloodhoof for treason, the Alliance and the Horde send strike teams to infiltrate the Kor’kron Barracks and rescue the noble tauren chieftain—meeting up with an old orcish ally along the way.
- The latest episode of the War Campaign is available to level 120 players who have completed the previous chapters and finished the quest “Clearing out the Cache.” Speak to Lady Jaina Proudmoore or Lor’themar in Nazjatar to begin this perilous mission.
- New Heritage Armor: Gnomes and Tauren
- Delve deeper into the lore of the gnomes and the tauren and unlock Heritage Armor that reflects their legacies.
- Level 120 tauren or gnome players who are Exalted with their faction (Gnomeregan or Thunder Bluff respectively) will be able to embark on a quest line that explores their race’s history.
- Once completed, players gain a new Heritage Armor transmogrification set usable by all their characters of the same race.
- Eligible gnomes and tauren can begin the quest by speaking with their race’s ambassador in their faction’s Embassy in Stormwind or Orgrimmar.
- Those seeking the tauren Heritage Armor are additionally tasked with freeing Baine in the War Campaign quest “Stay of Execution” (on any character on their account) before beginning their quest line.
A complete list of all new features that arrived with Rise of Azshara can be viewed here.
