World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, the fifth expansion for Blizzard Entertainment’s iconic MMORPG, launched on November 13, 2014, following the successful run of Mists of Pandaria. First announced at BlizzCon 2013, this expansion introduced players to a dramatically altered version of Draenor, the orcish homeworld, and brought familiar Warcraft legends like Grommash Hellscream, Gul’dan, and Ner’zhul back into the spotlight. The expansion elevated the level cap from 90 to 100 and introduced the much-discussed Garrison system alongside updated character models that modernized the original races of Azeroth.
What Does Warlords of Draenor Add to WoW?
The core features of Warlords of Draenor include:
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- A level cap increase to 100
- Player-built Garrisons
- Updated character models with more detailed animations
- New zones on an alternate-timeline Draenor
- A complete overhaul of stats and itemization
Additionally, Blizzard introduced Mythic raids for a more challenging PvE experience, overhauled PvP gear scaling, and introduced Ashran as a new world PvP zone. Various dungeon and raid difficulties became more flexible, accommodating a range of group sizes.
Is World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor Worth Playing?
Despite some engaging content and impressive visuals, Warlords of Draenor is widely regarded by much of the WoW community as one of the weakest expansions. While it delivered a promising setup, returning iconic lore characters, and high-quality raids like Blackrock Foundry and Hellfire Citadel, the expansion was heavily criticized for its lack of endgame content and a storyline that lost momentum after its initial patches.
Many players felt the Garrison system, meant to personalize gameplay, instead isolated players from the world. Combined with the long content drought after patch 6.2, player satisfaction declined sharply over time. In retrospect, Warlords of Draenor is considered a visually stunning expansion with ambitious ideas that fell short in execution.
Watch Order for World of Warcraft Expansions
If you’re exploring the Warcraft universe chronologically or are new to WoW expansions, here’s the suggested play or exploration order:
Chronological Expansion Order:
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- World of Warcraft (Classic/Vanilla)
- The Burning Crusade
- Wrath of the Lich King
- Cataclysm
- Mists of Pandaria
- Warlords of Draenor
- Legion
- Battle for Azeroth
- Shadowlands
- Dragonflight
- The War Within
Warlords of Draenor – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Garrison system in Warlords of Draenor?
The Garrison is a personal base where players can recruit followers, send them on missions, and build customizable buildings like a mine, herb garden, or stables. It served as the main hub throughout the expansion.
Can you still play Warlords of Draenor content in modern WoW?
Yes. All of the content, including questlines, raids, and Garrisons, is available in Chromie Time for players leveling through that era.
Is Warlords of Draenor necessary for understanding WoW lore?
While the alternate timeline can be confusing, Warlords introduces major lore events, including Gul’dan’s escape to Azeroth, which leads directly into Legion.
How was the player reception at launch?
Initially positive, with over 3.3 million copies sold in the first 24 hours. However, subscriber counts dropped significantly within months due to limited content and long patch gaps.
What raid content does Warlords of Draenor offer?
The expansion features three major raids: Highmaul, Blackrock Foundry, and Hellfire Citadel.
Conclusion
Warlords of Draenor had the makings of a monumental expansion — returning fan-favorite characters, a bold new setting, and modernized systems. However, what started as an exciting journey quickly unraveled due to content stagnation and design missteps. For collectors, lore enthusiasts, and players curious about Grommash Hellscream or Gul’dan’s fate, it’s worth exploring. But in terms of gameplay legacy, Warlords of Draenor remains one of the most divisive expansions in World of Warcraft’s long history — both ambitious and deeply flawed.
If you’re playing WoW Classic, Warlords of Draenor Classic is not yet confirmed as the next step, but as of now, its legacy lives on as an important (if imperfect) chapter in Azeroth’s story.