World of Warcraft (WoW) is regularly supplied 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 level cap. If you own the base game, you just need to buy the latest addon to access its content as well as the content of the older ones.
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 the overview which new content and changes the addons brought.
The Burning Crusade
Release: January 15, 2007
Content:
- New max level 70
- New races: Blood Elves (Horde), Draenei (Alliance)
- New world: Outland
- New profession: Jewelcrafting
- Additional content: Flying mounts, Arena (PvP), Dungeon Finder, Guild Bank
Wrath of the Lich King
Release: November 13, 2008
Content:
- New max level 80
- New race: Death Knights
- New world: Northrend
- New profession: Inscription
- Additional content: Achievements, Siege Weapons, Dungeon Finder Cross-Realm
Cataclysm
Release: December 7, 2010
Content:
- New max level 85
- New races: Goblins (Horde), Worgen (Alliance)
- New world: Areas before “The Burning Crusade” reworked
- 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
Content:
- New max level 90
- New races: Pandaren, New class: Monk
- New world: Pandaria
- New profession: None
- Additional content: Pet battles, Challenge Modes for dungeons, account-wide usable items, cross-realm, Battle Tag, scenarios, combat guild, flex raids
Warlords of Draenor
Release: November 13, 2014
Content:
- New max level 100
- New races: None, but visual overhaul 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
Content:
- New max level 110
- New races: None, but new class Demon Hunter
- New world: The Broken Isles
- New profession: None
- Additional content: Artifact weapons, Class Halls, World Quests, Overhauls for legendary items, Transmog and PvP progress
Battle for Azeroth
Release: August 14, 2018
Content:
- New max level 120
- New races: 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, plunder of uncharted islands, communities
Shadowlands
Release: November 24, 2020
Content:
- New max level 60
- New races: None. But revised visual customizations.
- New world: Shadowlands
- New profession: None
- Additional content: “Endless” dungeons (Torghast), Covenant, revised leveling phase, new character customizations, new starting zone (Isle of Exile) for new players
Dragonflight
Release: November 29, 2022
Content:
- New max level 70
- New races: New race “Dracthyr” with the class “Evoker”.
- New world: The Dragon Isles
- New profession: Existing profession system will be extensively revised, with profession gear 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, you will find here on MeinMMO. We show you guides, news, and opinions about the content of World of Warcraft.
The War Within
Release: August 26, 2024
Content:
- New max level 80
- Hero talents for all specializations
- New world: Khaz Algar
- Depths as 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 specific armor
- Solo queue for rated battlegrounds
Midnight
Release: March 3, 2026
Content:
- New max level 90
- New specialization for Demon Hunters: Devourer
- Set in Quel’Thalas – the north of the Eastern Kingdoms
- New allied race: The Haranir
- New hunting system for more objectives in the open world
- Housing allows each player to buy a dwelling and decorate it
Those who pre-order Midnight will already receive early access to the new housing feature of the expansion and since the release of Patch 11.2.7, fans can get started with their own house. You can buy a dwelling and decorate it as you like. All other new content of Midnight will only be unlocked with the release on March 3, 2026.
Fans do not have to wait long for Midnight, and through the beta they also get a little taste of what to expect at release. Anyone who is still undecided about purchasing Midnight and needs more information can take a look at our release overview: WoW Midnight: Release, Raids, Early Access – Everything about the next expansion
