What’s new in Shadowlands! – Every single change explained

Shadowlands is the 8th World of Warcraft expansion that launched on November 23, 2020.

Summary of what’s new

  • Leveling experience
  • You choose the past expansions to level in (if you have a level 50 character)
  • Barber shop has new character customization options
  • No new classes in Shadowlands, but many classes are overhauled and spells return from the past
  • Four new covenant zones in the Shadowlands (where souls go in their afterlife)
  • Can choose only one of the four covenants to unlock soul binds to increase your character’s power
  • Torghast is a new infinite dungeon!
  • Ray tracing and other graphic engine enhancements

Shadowlands explained

1:14Shadowlands is a realm where souls go in their afterlife. It is the heaven and hell of the Warcraft universe.

Recent events in the Shadowlands caused a major imbalance that affects reality in the living world.

That is where you come in, to restore the balance 🙂

Barber shop

The WoW Shop has been removed and replaced by the barber shop for customizing your character.

There are new skin tones, hairstyles and colors!

You can completely change the look of your characters, including your eye color.

Shadowlands map

Shadowlands appears as another world when you zoom out on the in-game map.

There are six new zones in the Shadowlands: the Capital City, the four Covenant zones, and the Maw that you will level through following the in-game story.

When you hit Level 60, you can choose only one of the four covenants to pledge yourself to, each with unique abilities and spells.

Soul binds are passive upgrades that enhance your character’s power and let you get unique sets of gear and mounts that each covenant controls.

Professions overhauled

Professions are much more relevant in WoW Shadowlands.

Crafters create items required for Legendary gear, so resources like cloth, leather, ore and herbs are now in great demand. Even gatherers will have no problem earning gold.

Runecrafters use materials from professions and let you choose your stats for your Legendary, but they also need a Legendary material called Soul Ash.

Soul Ash is earned by completing layers in Torghast, the new Shadowlands dungeon.

Soul Ash is obtained in Torghast

Soul Ash is earned by completing layers in Torghast, the new infinite dungeon!

Collect Anima Orbs that grant you Anima Powers for as long as you stay in Torghast.

Defeat the end boss on Floor 6 to get the Soul Ash required to craft Legendary gear. This unlocks the next layer at a higher difficulty that rewards larger amounts of Soul Ash.

Credits

Video producerRaganark on YouTube
Article writerGeorge Vanous in Freedom!
GameWorld of Warcraft

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