World of Warcraft (WoW) is regularly provided with new expansions. We show you the order of all addons of the game in an overview with the release years.
This is what expansions bring: The expansions bring new content to World of Warcraft and change the max level limit. If you own the base game, you just need to purchase the latest addon to access its content as well as the content of older parts.
Release overview of the addons:
- WoW “Vanilla” (2004) – The base game
- WoW Classic (2019)
- WoW: The Burning Crusade (2007)
- The Burning Crusade Classic (2021)
- WoW: Wrath of the Lich King (2008)
- Wrath of the Lich King Classic (2022)
- WoW: Cataclysm (2010)
- WoW: Mists of Pandaria (2012)
- Mists of Pandaria Classic (2025)
- WoW: Warlords of Draenor (2014)
- WoW: Legion (2016)
- WoW: Battle for Azeroth (2018)
- WoW: Shadowlands (2020)
- WoW: Dragonflight (2022)
- WoW: The War Within (August 26, 2024)
- WoW: Midnight (March 3, 2026)
We show you in an overview which new content and changes the addons brought.
The Burning Crusade
Release: January 15, 2007
Contents:
- New Max Level 70
- New Races/Factions: Blood Elves (Horde), Draenei (Alliance)
- New World: Outland
- New Profession: Jewelcrafting
- Additional Content: Flight Mounts, Arena (PvP), Dungeon Finder, Guild Bank
Wrath of the Lich King
Release: November 13, 2008
Contents:
- New Max Level 80
- New Races/Factions: Death Knights
- New World: Northrend
- New Profession: Inscription
- Additional Content: Achievements, Siege Weapons, Dungeon Finder Cross-Realm
Cataclysm
Release: December 7, 2010
Contents:
- New Max Level 85
- New Races/Factions: Goblins (Horde), Worgen (Alliance)
- New World: Zones revamped from “The Burning Crusade”
- New Profession: Archaeology
- Additional Content: Transmog System, Void Storage, Raid Browser, Darkmoon Island
What you need to know about Cataclysm Classic
Mists of Pandaria
Release: September 25, 2012
Contents:
- New Max Level 90
- New Races/Factions: Pandaren, New Class: Monk
- New World: Pandaria
- New Profession: None
- Additional Content: Pet Battles, Challenge Mode for Dungeons, Account-wide Items, Cross-realm, Battle Tag, Scenarios, Brawler’s Guild, Flex Raids
Warlords of Draenor
Release: November 13, 2014
Contents:
- New Max Level 100
- New Races/Factions: None, but graphical revamp of all classes before Cataclysm
- New World: Draenor
- New Profession: None
- Additional Content: Shipyard, Garrison, Mythic Dungeons, WoW Token, Bonus Events on the Map, Adventure Guide
Legion
Release: August 30, 2016
Contents:
- New Max Level 110
- New Races/Factions: None, but new class Demon Hunter
- New World: The Broken Isles
- New Profession: None
- Additional Content: Artifact Weapons, Class Halls, World Quests, Revamps of Legendary Items, Transmog and PvP Progression
Battle for Azeroth
Release: August 14, 2018
Contents:
- New Max Level 120
- New Races/Factions: Highmountain Tauren (Horde), Nightborne (Horde), Mag’har Orcs (Horde), Zandalari Trolls (Horde), Void Elves (Alliance), Lightforged Draenei (Alliance), Dark Iron Dwarves (Alliance), Kul Tirans (Alliance)
- New World: Kul Tiras, Zandalar
- New Profession: None
- Additional Content: Warfronts, Heart of Azeroth, Looting Unexplored Islands, Communities
Shadowlands
Release: November 24, 2020
Contents:
- New Max Level 60
- New Races/Factions: None. But revamped visual customization.
- New World: Shadowlands
- New Profession: None
- Additional Content: “Endless” Dungeons (Torghast), Covenants, Leveling Phase revamped, new Character Customizations, new Starter Area (Exile’s Reach) for new players
Dragonflight
Release: November 29, 2022
Contents:
- New Max Level 70
- New Races/Factions: New race “Dracthyr” with the class “Evoker”.
- New World: The Dragon Isles
- New Profession: The existing profession system is extensively revamped, with profession equipment and new tools.
- Additional Content: Dragon riding as a new feature, new talent system, new user interface
Everything you need to know about the release of WoW Dragonflight can be found here at MeinMMO. We show you guides, news, and opinions around the contents of World of Warcraft.
The War Within
Release: August 26, 2024
Contents:
- New Max Level 80
- Hero Talents for all specializations
- New World: Khaz Algar
- Depths as a new solo endgame content
- New Race: Earthen
- Beginning of the World Soul campaign
- Warband as account-wide unlocking of all content
- Transmog can be unlocked with any character in the collection – even if the character cannot wear a piece of armor
- Solo queue for rated battlegrounds
Midnight
Release: March 3, 2026
Contents:
- New Max Level 90
- New specialization for Demon Hunters: Devourer
- Takes place in Quel’Thalas – the northern part of the Eastern Kingdoms
- New allied race: The Haranir
- New hunting system for more objectives in the open world
- Housing allows every player to purchase a dwelling and decorate it
Midnight has already launched and attracted many fans. The story around the Sunwell and Xal’atath has been compelling. Nevertheless, many non-players are asking whether World of Warcraft is still worth it in 2026. Our WoW expert Cortyn has taken on the question and explains what you need to pay attention to: Is World of Warcraft still worth it in 2026?
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