Are you still undecided about whether to buy WoW: Shadowlands? We will reveal everything you need to know.
For fans of World of Warcraft, the most exciting time of the year is beginning, as the new expansion Shadowlands is just around the corner. Starting November 24, players can stream into the Shadowlands to locate Sylvanas Windrunner and thwart the plans of the mysterious jailer.
But what should you definitely know before purchasing Shadowlands? What should be considered before the expansion is bought? We reveal 5 things you should keep in mind before making your purchase.
1. Test changes without buying
With the Shadowlands expansion, Blizzard has significantly revamped the 12 classes. All characters now have more abilities than before, and all specializations of a class share many spells – similar to how it was back in Vanilla. However, the playstyle of some classes has also been adjusted. Specializations like the Shadow Priest now play noticeably differently than they did during Battle for Azeroth.
To find out if the new playstyle of your favorite class is still enjoyable, you don’t have to buy Shadowlands right away. You can simply sign up for a one-month subscription and sneak a peek into the game now, as the class changes have already taken effect with Patch 9.0. If you enjoy the new feel of your favorite class, that’s a good indicator that purchasing Shadowlands is worth it.
If you are interested in all class changes in detail, you can also check out the full patch notes of Patch 9.0.
More freedom, but also more constraints
In Shadowlands, players are faced with some significant decisions. The choice of one of four covenants is just the beginning. Each covenant comes with special abilities, cosmetics rewards, and even its own campaign that significantly defines the endgame of Shadowlands.
But don’t worry: with a little effort, the choice of the covenant can also be reverted and reconsidered. Nevertheless, one should consider in advance what consequences their decisions may have and if they are really satisfied with them.
This is a new type of freedom and choice that has not been present in World of Warcraft to this extent before.
However, elsewhere there is more constraint. For the first time in a long time, you can’t just go out and level up in an area of your choice. You must follow a fixed order in which you tackle the zones of the Shadowlands. You start in the Bastion, travel through Maldraxxus to the Ardenweald, and finally end up in Revendreth. You have no choice here; the first character must complete the entire campaign.
However, second characters can easily skip this process.
Less loot, but more meaningful
In Shadowlands, there will be significantly less loot to gain than in previous expansions. You will not be flooded with loot in every dungeon and will have to work longer for some items. However, this is balanced by the fact that items are subject to fewer random factors. For instance, items can no longer be “warforged”. You always know what kind of item you can get, what item level it has, and what attributes it is equipped with.
The feeling of a slot machine, where items must receive exactly the right upgrades to be truly meaningful, is now a thing of the past.
This was a major point of criticism in the last expansions. Loot should feel more significant and valuable again. Upgrades are directly recognizable as such and do not have to run through multiple simulations to yield a result.
Which version is the right one?
Anyone deciding to purchase WoW: Shadowlands must make another choice. Which game version is the best? Is the Base Edition for €40 enough? Should one opt for the Heroic Edition for €55? Or go “All in” and get the Epic Edition for €75?
It all depends on personal needs. If you just want the base game, already have a character at level 50, and are not interested in “fluff”, the Base Edition is sufficient.
However, if you would like a character boost to level 50 or a special transmog set, you should take a closer look at the other editions. We have a detailed breakdown of all versions of Shadowlands here.
More of the familiar
Essentially, buyers should be aware that while Shadowlands (like any expansion) offers new areas and stories, the core gameplay has changed very little. The core activities remain the same as those known for years.
The endgame largely consists of familiar activities:
- Raids in 4 difficulties: From “tourist mode” LFR to hardcore mode Mythic, there’s something for everyone
- Dungeons with scalable difficulty: Dungeons continue to focus on the “Mythic+” system, where instances become increasingly hard, but better loot is at stake.
- PvP: Arenas and battlegrounds are back – rewards can be purchased directly from the vendor.
But there are also new approaches and content like the Tower of Torghast, which brings fresh challenges repeatedly. However, whether this can hold interest long enough if one does not enjoy the other content remains questionable.
If you consider all these points and have clarified them for yourself, you should already have a good idea of whether Shadowlands is the right expansion for you.
