World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is the seventh expansion to Blizzard Entertainment’s legendary MMORPG, released globally on August 14, 2018. Picking up after the victory over the Burning Legion in Legion, this expansion reignites the age-old war between the Alliance and the Horde. With new continents to explore, fresh features like Allied Races and Warfronts, and a controversial story centered around Sylvanas Windrunner, BFA sparked both praise and backlash across the WoW community.
Despite record-breaking launch sales and stunning visuals, Battle for Azeroth remains one of the most divisive expansions in the game’s long history.
Battle for Azeroth – World of Warcraft Official Trailer
What Was New in Battle for Azeroth?
Faction War Returns to the Forefront
Battle for Azeroth shifted the narrative focus from cosmic threats to the roots of the franchise: the conflict between Horde and Alliance. Key story beats included the Burning of Teldrassil, the Battle for Lordaeron, and later the Siege of Orgrimmar—all driven by Sylvanas Windrunner’s controversial decisions. This direction polarized players: some appreciated the return to Warcraft’s foundation, while others felt the writing diminished beloved characters and themes.
New Continents: Kul Tiras and Zandalar
Two brand-new zones were added:
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- Kul Tiras (Alliance): A rugged, nautical continent steeped in witchcraft, naval politics, and the legacy of Jaina Proudmoore.
- Zandalar (Horde): A lush, troll-dominated empire filled with ancient loa gods, tombs, and tribal intrigue.
Each continent featured three leveling zones and unique questlines designed to immerse players in faction-specific stories before converging at endgame.
Allied Races and Heritage Armor
Battle for Azeroth introduced Allied Races, alternate race variants with their own cultural identity and racial abilities. Players could unlock them by completing specific questlines and reputation grinds.
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- Alliance Allied Races: Void Elves, Lightforged Draenei, Dark Iron Dwarves, Kul Tiran Humans, Mechagnomes
- Horde Allied Races: Nightborne, Highmountain Tauren, Mag’har Orcs, Zandalari Trolls, Vulpera
Each Allied Race begins at level 20 and offers unique Heritage Armor if leveled manually from 10 to 50 without boosts.
Heart of Azeroth and Azerite Gear
Replacing Legion’s artifact weapons, the Heart of Azeroth was a necklace that players powered up by collecting Azerite. Azerite Armor (head, chest, shoulders) had rotating “trait wheels” players could select from—an idea meant to offer customization but widely criticized for being convoluted, unbalanced, and unrewarding in the long term.
Core Gameplay Features
Warfronts
Large-scale 20-player PvE scenarios where players captured resource nodes, constructed bases, and pushed into enemy territory. While initially exciting, Warfronts quickly grew repetitive due to their scripted nature.
Island Expeditions
Procedurally-generated 3-player scenarios focused on gathering Azerite faster than an AI or PvP enemy team. Despite a promising concept, expeditions were criticized for lacking variety and meaningful rewards.
PvP Overhaul and War Mode
War Mode replaced server-wide PvP rules, allowing players to toggle PvP on or off in capital cities. This brought new talents, faster XP gain, and rewards for open-world PvP encounters—reviving world PvP for a time.
Endgame and Narrative Arcs
Major Storylines
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- War of the Thorns: Sylvanas burns Teldrassil, killing thousands of Night Elves
- Battle for Lordaeron: The Alliance retaliates, resulting in Undercity’s destruction.
- Rise of Azshara: Both factions are trapped in Nazjatar to battle Queen Azshara.
- Visions of N’Zoth: The final patch, where players defeat the Old God N’Zoth in Ny’alotha.
- Saurfang’s Rebellion: The old soldier challenges Sylvanas to Mak’gora in a powerful cinematic moment, ending her reign as Warchief.
Was Battle for Azeroth Worth Playing?
Battle for Azeroth had immense ambition. It brought in quality voice acting, breathtaking zones, and important technical improvements. However, many systems felt half-baked or overcomplicated. The Azerite system, Island Expeditions, and Warfronts were not as enduring or engaging as hoped. The faction war storyline, while dramatic, left players divided over character arcs—especially for Sylvanas, Saurfang, and Tyrande.
Still, the expansion had its moments of brilliance, especially in terms of art, cinematics, and the Rise of Azshara content patch.
Where Does Battle for Azeroth Fit in the WoW Timeline?
Battle for Azeroth takes place directly after Legion and leads into Shadowlands. It’s part of the modern era of WoW expansions and acts as a narrative bridge between world-ending threats and cosmic storytelling.
Battle for Azeroth – Frequently Asked Questions
How many Allied Races were introduced in Battle for Azeroth?
Ten in total—five per faction.
What level could players reach in BFA?
The level cap increased from 110 to 120.
Was Battle for Azeroth successful?
Commercially yes—it broke records with 3.4 million copies sold on day one. However, reception among fans became increasingly mixed as the expansion progressed.
Did Battle for Azeroth permanently change the game?
Yes. War Mode, Allied Races, and the abandonment of the “Warchief” title had lasting effects on WoW’s systems and story.
Conclusion: A Visually Stunning but Controversial Chapter
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth was an expansion full of beautiful zones, new races, and explosive faction drama—but also one riddled with flawed mechanics and divisive story choices. While it succeeded in sales and production value, many longtime fans consider it one of the weakest expansions overall.
It’s a crucial chapter in WoW’s ongoing narrative, worth experiencing for story completion—especially as it sets the stage for Shadowlands and the future of Azeroth.
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