Soon the first major content patch for World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth will arrive. We will reveal what is included in patch 8.1.
Update 12.11.2018: Shortly before the release of patch 8.1, we have updated the article again. All new information from last month is marked with the addition “(new!)“.
The public test realm for World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is active again and has received patch 8.1. In “Tides of Vengeance” the war between Horde and Alliance is advanced. In this article, we keep all announcements and innovations of the first content update clearly available for you.
The article will be regularly expanded and updated over the next days and weeks, so you always have all information at a glance.
Release date of patch 8.1
At BlizzCon 2018, a release date for patch 8.1 Tides of Vengeance was announced. You can experience the new content update as early as next month.
Patch 8.1 Quick Overview – What features are coming?
- New raid: With patch 8.1, the double raid “Siege of Zuldazar” opens its doors. Horde and Alliance fight in different approaches for the capital of the Zandalari.
- These bosses await you in the Siege of Zuldazar.
- The raid opens in January. We have the opening dates for all wings here for you (new!).
- After the raid launch, rewards from dungeons will also improve (new!).
- Invasions return: In the form of “Incursions,” the invasion system from Legion is returning, where you invade the enemy faction’s territories.
- More allied races: In patch 8.1, you can unlock the humans from Kul Tiras (Alliance) and the Zandalari trolls (Horde).
- More Heritage Armor: For blood elves and dwarves, heritage armor will be introduced.
- New models: Night elves will have the option to choose black eyes and a new skin color as night warriors.
- There will also be some adjustments to gameplay, class balance, and more content for island expeditions.
New story – How the story continues in patch 8.1
In the new patch, the Alliance begins its offensive against the continent of Zandalar and tries to deal a devastating blow to the trolls of the Zandalari Empire.
This story is told in the “double raid” Siege of Zuldazar. While players of the Alliance lead the attack, the Horde experiences the defense of the city of Dazar’Alor. Subsequently, both factions can “play out” the other side of the story. Some heroes will die within the raid – which ones, we will reveal to you in the article about the victims of the Siege of Zuldazar.
The story surrounding Vol’jin’s spirit is advanced. The players search for the origin of his visions and try to find out why Vol’jin made Sylvanas the warchief.
But Tyrande also receives character development. She travels back to the Darkshore and performs the ritual to become a night warrior. Subsequently, she, along with Malfurion, attacks the undead’s camp – this also received a cool cinematic.
Saurfang can also escape from his prison in Stormwind. How this happens is shown in a new CGI cinematic!
Shadow priests can also look forward to meeting the blade Xal’atath.
The leaders of the Alliance are currently in disputes, as Anduin and Tyrande have a small conflict.
New models – What is getting an upgrade in patch 8.1
Players of night elves will be particularly pleased. With the completion of the questline surrounding Tyrande, there will be new customization options. Night elves will soon be able to have black eyes and a new skin tone.
Two more races are also likely to be very popular. Because dwarves and blood elves will get their heritage armor. This will be unlocked through a special questline. Additionally, blood elf leader Lor’themar Theron will be upgraded with a new model.
There is speculation as to whether this magic-breaker armor is the heritage armor of the blood elves – but this has not yet been confirmed. The questline for unlocking the blood elf armor has already been datamined.
- The actual heritage armor of the blood elves can be seen here.
- The heritage armor of the dwarves is already confirmed and can be seen here.
- It has also been confirmed that the races of Kul Tiras and the Zandalari trolls will finally become playable allied races during patch 8.1.
- The characters of the Kul Tiran race can also become druids. And they will naturally need a unique, very bizarre moonkin form.
- It is exciting that there will be a mount that is a rideable brain – that will surely be a new riddle mount.
- New saber models will also be there. How they will be obtained is still unknown.
- There is also a particularly cool mount – a real water elemental as a mount.
New mechanics – What features are being revised in patch 8.1?
The first content patch for Battle for Azeroth continues to adjust existing content.
- The invasions of the Legion return – just without the Legion. Instead, there are so-called “incursions”, where Alliance and Horde invade enemy territories.
- Island expeditions are set to be improved and expanded, including two new islands, and the mechanics on the islands will change.
- For seafarer doubloons you can now buy individual rewards.
- The rewards from island expeditions will function according to a new system (new!).
- A particularly cool new cosmetic item is a top hat as a transmog item (new!).
- There are also changes for tanks. The taunt will be weakened!
- The unlocking of “old” allied races will soon go faster – bonus reputation awaits!
- Engineers will finally get their own auction house – they can use it in Boralus or Dazar’Alor.
- Raids can produce buff food more easily – there are new recipes.
- Anchorroot will be easier to obtain – alchemists can produce it!
- Azerite items will be available from a vendor.
- Here you can find out how much the Azerite armor costs (new!).
- Twinks no longer have to unlock flight points – an item provides a remedy.
- The war mode can be disabled by players in any safe zone (new!).
- For reputation collectors, there is again something to do. These paragon rewards are available (new!).
- Followers for the “table missions” can become legendary starting from the patch (new!).
- Fans with wardrobes will also be pleased. The transmog rules will be loosened again (new!).
- By the way, levelling in patch 8.1 will be faster than ever before (new!).
Many reputation rewards will now be account-wide. This includes achievements and transmogs – fans have been demanding this for a long time.
Impressions and feedback from patch 8.1
The changes on the PTR have naturally also led to criticism and opinions within the community.
- For example, “Red Shirt Guy” is not pleased with the Tyrande-Nathanos plot on the Darkshore.
- But players also criticize a questline involving Saurfang that forces them into a clear position.
- Now, however, they have received a choice and can remain loyal to Sylvanas.
- Cortyn believes that Battle for Azeroth is only a complete game with patch 8.1.
- The patch 8.1 is already unpopular before release (new!).
- Anyone who did not like patch 8.0 will likely not like patch 8.1 either (new!).
Patch 8.1 also brings many items with strange effects. We have introduced 8 particularly strange items here.
Are you looking forward to patch 8.1? Are you satisfied with the contents of the first content update? Or are you a bit disappointed? Let us know in the comments!
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