World of Warcraft’s Next Expansion Will Let You Play A Dragon, See The Trailer
Take to the skies!
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Among other issues going on throughout Activision Blizzard, when it comes to the next World of Warcraft expansion, the place has been so bad at stopping leaks you may as well call it The White House. We learned over two weeks ago that the next expansion would be called Dragonflight, and yesterday more details leaked. But now it’s official — the next World of Warcraft expansion will be all about the dragons, and you’ll actually get the chance to play one. Below is the trailer for the expansion, featuring the epic return of the Dragonflights and the rediscovery of the legendary location of the expansion — the Dragon Isles.
Among the other new features of World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, you’ll be able to create and play a Dracthyr. The Dracthyr are a first for the game — a race/class combo that is both a neutral race and a hero class. All Dracthyr will be Evokers, which is ranged magical-based, mail-wearing class who can act as either healers or ranged DPS. Dracthyr also come with wings, naturally, but it isn’t clear just how much players will be able to use them. Footage from Blizzard’s livestream event, however, showed a Dracthyr gliding — like the ability currently possessed by Demon Hunters — and flying relatively close to the ground while in combat. Upon creation, Dracthyr Evokers will start at level 58 and will have a unique beginning questline. Like the Worgen, Dracthyr will be able to shift between more human-appearing and scaly reptilian forms.
Evokers are the first new class to arrive in the game since the introduction of playable Demon Hunters in 2016’s Legion. Not counting Allied Races — which can’t be chosen automatically but must be earned by players through reputation grinds — the addition of the Dracthyr marks the first new playable race in World of Warcraft since the Pandaren of 2012’s Mists of Pandaria. And they aren’t the only new dragon-related feature players will probably be excited about.
Flying mounts have been in World of Warcraft ever since the very first expansion — 2007’s The Burning Crusade — including dragons and/or dragon-like creatures being available through different means. But with the exceptions of cosmetics and speed, all mounts are pretty much the same. However, in Dragonflight players will be able to unlock the new Dragonriding mechanic with Dragon Isle Drakes. Rather than just flying, players will be able to make exciting maneuvers like nosedives, spins, and dashes. There will also apparently be no Pathfinder requirement. Ever since Legion, each expansion has required players to complete specific achievements in order to unlock flying in new zones account-wide. Apparently, any players with flying mount access will be able to fly on the Dragon Isles right away.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight will push the level cap to 70 and add four new leveling zones — the Azure Span, Ohn’ahran Plains, Thaldraszus, and the Waking Shores — as well as the Dracthyr starting area. The expansion will also bring back talent trees, expand the scope of professions, and the User Interface is getting a major redesign. Blizzard hasn’t announced a release window yet, but said details about the Alpha aren’t far away.
