Since the expansion launch of Rise of Shadows, Hearthstone players around the world cheerfully enjoy the much more frequent updates to the game. In the World of Warcraft, the newest patch called Rise of Azshara will most definitely have the same effect on WoW players.
In the biggest content update of the current expansion Battle for Azeroth, both Alliance and Horde will have to face the wrath of Queen Azshara, one of the most iconic antagonists in all of Warcraft history.
Our sister site Wowhead spared no expenses to create the most comprehensive guides about all the new content coming with Rise of Azshara!
Heart of Azeroth Update: Essence System
The main story of the Battle for Azeroth expansion focussed on the aftermath of Sargeras’ terrible attack on Azeroth herself. After the leader of the Burning Legion had rammed his sword right into Silithus, the world as players know it is in peril, as Azeroth is slowly bleeding out. Through the Heart of Azeroth, a legendary necklace that each player received after the release of BfA, and Azerite, the magical resource that could be described as the “blood of the world”, both Horde and Alliance are in charge to restore their home planet.
With 8.2 and the introduction of the Essence system, the original Azerite system around the Heart of Azeroth gains additional depth. Up until this point, players were able to activate several new perks on their helmet, shoulder and torso pieces that have been imbued through the power of Azerite.
The newly introduced Essences aim to empower your Heart of Azeroth even more, offering tremendous class synergies or completely new abilities to use. Each class and its specs have unique Essences that they can use and obtain through various content such as world questing, reputation farming, or even PvP and raiding.
Check out Wowhead’s comprehensive class guides for every single class specialization:
- Blood Death Knight Best Azerite Essences
- Frost Death Knight Best Azerite Essences
- Unholy Death Knight Best Azerite Essences
- Havoc Demon Hunter Best Azerite Essences
- Vengeance Demon Hunter Best Azerite Essences
- Balance Druid Best Azerite Essences
- Feral Druid Best Azerite Essences
- Guardian Druid Best Azerite Essences
- Restoration Druid Best Azerite Essences
- Beast Mastery Hunter Best Azerite Essences
- Marksmanship Hunter Best Azerite Essences
- Survival Hunter Best Azerite Essences
- Arcane Mage Best Azerite Essences
- Fire Mage Best Azerite Essences
- Frost Mage Best Azerite Essences
- Brewmaster Monk Best Azerite Essences
- Mistweaver Monk Best Azerite Essences
- Windwalker Monk Best Azerite Essences
- Holy Paladin Best Azerite Essences
- Protection Paladin Best Azerite Essences
- Retribution Paladin Best Azerite Essences
- Discipline Priest Best Azerite Essences
- Holy Priest Best Azerite Essences
- Shadow Priest Best Azerite Essences
- Assassination Rogue Best Azerite Essences
- Outlaw Rogue Best Azerite Essences
- Subtlety Rogue Best Azerite Essences
- Elemental Shaman Best Azerite Essences
- Enhancement Shaman Best Azerite Essences
- Restoration Shaman Best Azerite Essences
- Affliction Warlock Best Azerite Essences
- Demonology Warlock Best Azerite Essences
- Destruction Warlock Best Azerite Essences
- Arms Warrior Best Azerite Essences
- Fury Warrior Best Azerite Essences
- Protection Warrior Best Azerite Essences
Two New Zones: Nazjatar and Mechagon
As both factions move forward in the storyline of Battle for Azeroth, a new challenger approaches the scene: Queen Azshara herself. In a sudden turn of events, she managed to steal the Tidestone of Golganneth, one of the Pillars of Creation, the powerful titan artifacts that were used to create the world we know now.
Through the Tidestone, the Queen of the Naga is able to fully control the seas, and as a result, she opens up and traps both factions within Nazjatar, the subaqueous Naga empire.
This new zone offers everything a BfA player could wish for: Fresh daily and world quests, a unique follower system, two powerful factions, and a currency to upgrade the new Benthic gear to prepare yourself to face Queen Azshara in her Eternal Palace, the new raid of Patch 8.2. Besides that you will meet countless of rare monsters and hidden treasures all over the lost empire of the Highborne.
Click here if you want to check out Wowhead’s Comprehensive Nazjatar Guide!
But Nazjatar is not the only lost city that has been unveiled in Rise of the Azshara.
Just northwest of the island of Kul Tiras lies Mechagon, home of the mechagnomes. A group of gnome explorers received a help signal coming from a secret vault, and together with the goblins of the Horde they decide to travel to the secret island of Mechagon.
Once ruled by King Mechagon, Prince Erazmin now tries to stop his crazed father who wants to remove the curse of flesh from all mortals of the world and turn each and every single living creature into a robot. Both Alliance and Horde decide to work together to help Erazmin and his group called the Rustbolt Resistance.
Similar to Nazjatar, Mechagon provides players with a whole lot of known and new game mechanics: New quest lines around the history of Mechagon, customizable gear, a unique crafting system, a total of eight new obtainable mounts, 30 new battle pets, and a crazy 5-man mega-dungeon called Operation: Mechagon where you will face King Mechagon and his even more crazy fellowship.
Follow this link to get to Wowhead’s Comprehensive Mechagon Guide!
Additional Content: Crafting, Heritage Armor, Flying
But wait, there is still more! With these two new zones, almost all other gameplay elements will receive major updates; first and foremost, all crafting professions can be leveled up from 150 to 175, providing numerous new recipes for stronger consumables, crafted gear or juicy buff food.
Check out Wowhead’s updated Profession Guides for more information:
- Alchemy Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Blacksmithing Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Cooking Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Enchanting Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Engineering Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Fishing Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Herbalism Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Inscription Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Jewelcrafting Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Leatherworking Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Mining Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Skinning Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
- Tailoring Profession Guide for Rise of Azshara
As the BfA storyline moves forward, more and more races receive their Heritage Armor, which serves as a way to identify with one’s race. Thanks to the heavy involvement of gnomes on Mechagon as well as the highly emotional fate of Baine Bloodhoof, leader of the Tauren, both gnomes and tauren will receive special armor to represent their race. Take a look at the Heritage Armor Guide on Wowhead to get a peek at all the Heritage Armor released so far!
Last but not least, Flying in all of Battle for Azeroth zones will be possible once you have unlocked the Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder Part 2 achievement. This achievement includes reaching Revered status with the two new faction and the exploration of both Mechagon and Nazjatar. You will even receive a brand-new mount called Wonderwing 2.0 to test your flying skills in Battle for Azeroth.
Need more informations about Rise of Azshara and World of Warcraft? Feel free to check out wowhead.com!
I’m waiting for Classic WoW to drop in August
Just curious why there is a WoW article in a Hearthstone website.
That’s because the games are heavily connected, and WowHead (just like HSTD) is one of the Fabyte Media sites.
It’s called cross-promotion. They post stuff about HS too (e.g. when the new expansion launches).
Cool
I’ve played and loved Hearthstone since Naxxramas, but Warcraft just seems like too big of a game to get into. Anyone have tips or resources for new players?
8.2 is a great time to get back into the game! You can basically follow all the linked Wowhead guides in the article, and you’ll be more than good to go 🙂 Even the most core mechanics about classes are “tutorialized”!
Just get into Classic. It is objectively better game than current WoW.
You might have meant subjectively, because there’s nothing objective about that statement 🙂