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Patch 8.0.1: War of Thorns Preview (Alliance PoV)

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War of Thorns will be available on live servers starting the week of July 24. The event has two stages and culminates in burning down Teldrassil. Here's our gameplay preview from the Alliance side.

The following article contains spoilers.

War of Thorns

  • War of Thorns is the pre-expansion event that will be available on live servers the week of July 24, 2018 through BfA launch.
  • The questline consists of two stages:
    • Stage #1 ends with the Horde forces advancing to Darkshore. Completing it unlocks Darkshore World Quests
    •  Stage #2 ends with the Alliance evacuating Darnassus and taking the portal to Stormwind when Teldrassil's burned down.
      • Important cinematics from this stage are still missing! It remains unclear who actually burned down the World Tree.
    • All quests reward reputation with the Alliance.
  • You can earn the following faction mounts by completing the second part of the pre-expansion event:
  • You can find the War of Thorns preview from the Horde perspective here.

Quests

Part One

A Short-Lived Peace

The initial quest's offered by Anduin who tells you how bravely you fought in the name of the Alliance, but more needs to be done given that he received a disturbing message from Alliance operatives in Orgrimmar.

The Horde Uprising

Unbeknownst to Anduin (who thinks that Horde forces gather in Silithus to get ahold of Azerite), you're supposed to report to Mathias Shaw for further instruction when all of a sudden he appears and tells you his reports were wrong:

Quote

Master Mathias Shaw: Just a moment, your majesty! New information has come to light.

A Disturbance in Ashenvale

Tha kaldorei forces already set sail for Silithus, but the Horde's attack on Ashenvale has begun. This piece of information is important, because the Alliance will get wrecked by the Horde big time, as they don't have enough forces to defend themselves. You are told to report to Captain Delaryn Summermoon in Astranaar. Go outside and enter Field Marshal Cogspark's portal to Astranaar.

The Light of Elune & Knives of the Forsaken

In Astranaar, you'll find Summermoon and many poisoned civilians.

Quote

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: The bodies... so many bodies... We tried to set a trap for the Horde. It failed. We could not stop them. Our outposts were taken by surprise. They fell one by one. The guards were poisoned. And the civilians... not even they were spared. I only hope that some managed to flee before... Forgive me, friend... who did you say you were? Are you the one Malfurion spoke of? There are more wisps than I can count. The loss of life... Merciful Elune, please bless the fallen.

Objective of these quests is to honor bodies of the fallen in Astranaar and fight Undead Rogues.

A Soft Glow

Go find Malfurion in Ashenvale (at the entrance to Darkshore). He'll be fighting Sylvanas and creates a wisp wall to fend them off and win some time. Horde soldiers will try to pass it, but get killed by the wisps.

Quote

Malfurion Stormrage: You will come no further, Banshee Queen!

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Soldiers... No! Do not rush the--! Fools... At least now we know how dangerous wisps can be.

Malfurion Stormrage: You may pass through the wall, $PlayerName. The wisps will not harm you.

Hidden Amongst the Leaves & Mercy for the Mad

Captain Summermoon informs Malfurion that Horde forces gather at Zoram'gar Outpost.

Quote

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: Malfurion! Horde forces have gathered at the Zoram'gar Outpost.

Mafurion Stormrage: The Banshee Queen seeks to capture the World Tree. Delaryn, travel to our outposts. Gather every soldier you can find and bring them here.

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: And you, Shan'do?

Malfurion Stormrage: Sylvanas seeks to engage me, and I plan to give her what she wants. Word has been sent to our fleet. Elune willing, they will soon return.

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: As you command!

Slay 8 Frenzied Blackwood Furbolgs and send 8 Druids to defend the Grove of the Ancients.

Garden Grove

Meanwhile, the sacred grove is already under attack by Goblins and you must go defeat the Monstrous Shredder.

Quote

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: You take the shredder. I will drive the invaders from the grove!

Enraged Furbolgs & Elves in the Machine

Something's going on at the Blackwood Den. You are sent to investigate the disturbance. Entering Blackwood Den reveals that it's under attack by the Horde and you must save Elder Brolg, Gren Tornfur and Elder Brownpaw. At the same time, Summermoon will offer a quest where you must sabotage Horde demolishers. Remain in close range of her to gain stealth and Horde forces won't be able to detect you. Saving a furbolg triggers the following broadcast text:

Quote

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: The furbolgs are normally a peaceful tribe. Being ousted from their home must have sent them into a frenzy.

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: The Horde must have driven the furbolgs from their home.

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: The Horde... there are so many of them...

The Wake of Something New

Onu's pain grows and you are sent to Nazj'vel to investigate the disturbance.

Azerite Denial & No Horde Allowed

You'll find Horde forces collecting Azerite at Nazj'vel and must prevent them from gathering Azerite.

Malfurion Returns

Malfurion needs your aid at the Wildbend River.

Quote

Malfurion Stormrage: Brothers and sisters! The Horde is pressing further into Darkshore! Rally at the Wildbend River.

"Rock" The World

Speak to the Tree of Life to start fighting Horde forces. You'll have access to multiple spells including a self heal.

Quote

Tree of Life: Hold tightly to my branches, $PlayerClass.

Tree of Life: The wrath of nature is upon you!

Tree of Life: I will return you to safety, $PlayerName. Hold on tight!

Long Away

Regroup with Malfurion and Delaryn at Darnassus. At this stage, we had to talk to Zidormi, because Teldrassil was already burned down and inaccessible.

A Looming Threat

Stalemate at the Wildbend River can only be ended when you rally the kaldorei forces in Darnassus. In the meantime, Malfurion awaits the Alliance fleet in Rut'theran Village.

Quote

Janthes Shadeleaf: Darkshore is under attack! We must move swiftly to protect our forest! Rally together our forest allies! The world tree must be preserved!

Myara Sunsong: We must take action! Sentinels, forward face! Huntresses, you are to reinforce the southern border of Darkshore! Bring the Glaive Throwers! Sentinels, create a battle line at the Wildbend River! Rouse our allies at the Grove of the Ancients. Hippogryph Archers, come with me. We will regroup in Lor'danel and remain vigilant as a mobile response unit! That leaves you, hero. Report back to Captain Summermoon and reinforce that border!

Astarii Starseeker: Darkshore is under attack! Send word to the High Priestess at once! Sisters, come with me! We must protect our lands from the Horde!

Talking to Malfurion Stormrage ends the first part of the questline. At this point, players will unlock Darkshore World Quests. The second part probably won't be available immediately.

Part Two

A Threat from the North

The Horde must have scaled the mountains of Felwood in the North. The wisp wall is failing, it is only a matter of time before the Horde breaks through.

Quote

High Overlord Saurfang: FOR THE HORDE!

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: That sound... could it be...? Shan'do! The Horde is approaching from the north!

Malfurion Stormrage: The north? How did... Oh, they scaled the mountains of Felwood. Of course! The wisps... they're growing disoriented! The wall is failing!

Captain Delaryn Summermoon: Horde forces are advancing upon Lor'danel! Champion, to me!

Rescue Effort & Defending Lor'danel & Action This Day

The suddenness of the Horde's attack gave citizens little time to flee. Many are hiding in Lor'danel waiting for help. Evacuate 8 Lor'danel citizens and slay 15 Horde attackers. In order to complete the third quest, you must slay two Horde warriors that have led a charge to try and capture the Alliance fleet.

Quote

Malfurion Stormrage: It is only a matter of time before the Horde breaks through. They will attack us from both sides. Sylvanas seeks to engage me, and I plan to give her what she wants.

The Guidance of Our Shan'do

Lor'danel is overrun and the Horde doesn't relent. Seek out Malfurion in Darkshore. You will find him fighting Sylvanas. High Overlord Saurfang joins the fight and delivers a blow to Malfurion that almost kills him. Tyrande appears and tells you that the war is lost. You are ordered to take her hippogryph to Darnassus.

Quote

High Overlord Saurfang: The warchief faces Stormrage alone! I must...

Malfurion Stormrage: ARGH! Saur...fang?!

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: An audience--perfect! Stay still, Alliance dog. Watch me strike down one of your greatest heroes!

High Overlord Saurfang: A dishonorable blow. I... regret it.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Regret nothing. You did well.

High Overlord Saurfang: It was not my place to interfere.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: My victory was inevitable. He was merely wasting my time.

Lady Sylvanas Windrunner: Finish him and be done with it. Take a moment, if you like... then take his head. Meet me at the World Tree.

Malfurion Stormrage: You have led... your Horde... in service... of death. You will... regret this day...

Tyrande Whisperwind: Malfurion...NO!

Tyrande Whisperwind: You did not kill him, orc. Why?

High Overlord Saurfang: I struck without honor. I did not deserve to end him.

Tyrande Whisperwind: This entire war is without honor. How dare you spill so much innocent blood... for nothing!

High Overlord Saurfang: Not for nothing. We spill blood so that the Horde will endure.

Tyrande Whisperwind: Because you spared Malfurion, I will offer you a choice.

Tyrande Whisperwind: Attempt to stop me from taking him away, and die... or remain there, kneeling in the dirt, and live.

High Overlord Saurfang: You have a choice as well. Take him to Darnassus and both of you will fall when we conquer it... or flee somewhere far from here, so that you both survive.

Tyrande Whisperwind: This war is lost. Teldrassil will soon fall.

Tyrande Whisperwind: Take my hippogryph to Darnassus. Ensure that the Horde's occupation is as... tolerable as it can be.

Tyrande Whisperwind: King Anduin gave me a hearthstone back to Stormwind. There I will tend my love's wounds... and help my people find respite from this madness.

A Flicker of Hope

Darnassus must be evacuated before it burns to ash and you must douse (Bucket of Moonwell WaterBucket of Moonwell Water) the flames and rescue trapped civilians. A three-minute timer will start as soon as you accept the quest and it automatically completes when the timer expires.

Quote

Belysra Starbreeze: I cannot leave without my child! Please, somebody, help!

Darnassian Citizen: Elune, bless you.

Jeana: Thank you! I hope the others made it out...

Darnassian Citizen: Thank you... I did not think I was going to make it.

When the time expires your body becomes heavy as your lungs fill with smoke...

From the Ashes...

Quote

Mia Greymane: Hero... hero? Can you hear me? I am ... relieved... I found you. Astarii... hurry. Evacuate the city... before it burns...

Genn Greymane suddenly appears from the Stormwind portal.

Quote

Genn Greymane: Mia... MIA! Open your eyes, my queen... my love! You can't stay here any longer! We must escape through the portal!

Mia Greymane: The tree... they're burning the tree! The child... save her. Leave... me.

Genn Greymane: Never! I'll take you both! Astarii, you've done all you can! Command the priests to come with us!

Mia Greymane: They... will not go...

Genn Greymane: The Banshee murdered my son. Stole my kingdom. She will not cost me my beloved! May your goddess watch over you.

Take the portal to Stormwind and talk to Anduin to receive your Smoldering Reins of the Teldrassil HippogryphSmoldering Reins of the Teldrassil Hippogryph mount.

Quote

Anduin Wrynn: You have shown courage and heart, champion. On this, one of the Alliance's darkest days. My whole life, I have prayed for peace in this world. But the dream can never be realized so long as Sylvanas Windrunner leads the Horde. She expects this atrocity to crush our spirits. Shatter our unity. But this I vow... The Alliance will endure... and the Banshee Queen's insidious reign will be ended.

Environmental Changes

Darnassus & Darkshore

Darnassus can no longer be accessed and fatigue will eventually kill you. Players can talk to Zidormi in Darkshore to witness the world before the burning of Teldrassil, allowing them to access Darnassus again.

WoWScrnShot_051818_004256.jpgWoWScrnShot_051818_004111.jpgWoWScrnShot_051818_004115.jpgWoWScrnShot_051818_004142.jpg

Stormwind

Night Elves have been forced to retreat to Stormwind.

WoWScrnShot_051818_000725.jpgWoWScrnShot_051818_000715.jpgWoWScrnShot_051818_010320.jpgWoWScrnShot_051818_004013.jpgWoWScrnShot_051818_003958.jpg

Gameplay Preview

The following video contains War of Thorns gameplay from the Alliance perspective. We included the most important moments of the event and edited out unnecessary flying and mob killing!

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As a main Horde i understand sylvanas intentions. But burning down a world tree is truly madness. We couldve just taken it

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21 hours ago, Rooach said:

But burning down a world tree is truly madness.

Still don't understand her intention of taking down world tree. 

Will she be flying out of Azeorth. LOL!

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22 hours ago, Rooach said:

As a main Horde i understand sylvanas intentions. But burning down a world tree is truly madness. We couldve just taken it

Her intention was not to actually destroy Teldrassil. Her intention was to capture it and also avoid citizen casualties.

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