When The War Within was first revealed, Blizzard put a surprising amount of attention on the Harronir. Some players, and even the in-game quests, use the name “Haranir” instead, but most people these days just say “Harronir,” and that seems to be the more commonly known version.
These root-wielding guardians appeared in the announcement cinematic, helped us during early questing in the Isle of Dorn, and had a unique design that stood out.
We met Orweyna. We saw their culture, learned about black-blood magic, and their ties to the deep roots of Azeroth. Some players even speculated they could be a future playable race, based on datamined customization options and armor sets.
But now that Patch 11.1 is almost behind us, and 11.2 is sending us into K’aresh, there is one big question on everyone’s mind: Where did the Harronir go?
Orweyna Just Kind of Vanished
Orweyna had a strong start. Her presence in the leveling campaign felt important – she helped us push back against Xal’atath’s plans. But after that? Just a brief appearance in the Undermine patch, and then nothing – just a few lines of dialogue without any real follow-up.
No continuation, no closure, no big moment to justify her early spotlight. For a character who felt so central at the start, her vanishing act feels a little strange.
Were the Harronir Supposed to Be a Playable Race?
The Harronir were datamined with full character customization options early on. We are talking body types, skin colors, tattoos, accessories – more than some actual playable races had at launch.
Naturally, players started wondering if they were secretly being prepped as a future Allied Race. It would not be the first time – Nightborne and Vulpera followed that same pattern: major NPC presence, datamined customizations, and eventual playability.
But unlike those two, nothing materialized.
The Rootlands Theory
There is also the mystery of the Rootlands, a zone that was leaked and datamined before the launch of The War Within. The Rootlands were believed to be an entire fifth zone situated between Azj-Kahet and Hallowfall. The theory is that it was cut before release due to story changes, and it was meant to be home to the Harronir and the remnants of a long-lost World Tree: Elune’Ahir, a mysterious World Tree said to be planted by Elune and Eonar, and later torn from the earth by Aman’Thul.
Some of the clues pointing to this cut zone included:
- A hidden portal entrance with a “sleeping” debuff in Azj-Kahet
- Datamined files showing a Rootlands connection to black blood and Old God corruption
- A mural showing a possible Old God creature.
Many players saw the Rootlands as the logical destination for the Harronir’s arc. Their culture and use of black-blood magic lined up perfectly with the deeper Void themes hinted at in the mural. They were seen as the protectors of this uprooted World Tree, which lined up with why they were introduced so early.
But that story never picked up again, and now we are heading to K’aresh instead.
We covered all this back in our original Rootlands leak article, and it is still one of the best looks at what might have been.
So… Were the Harronir Cut or Just Delayed?
It is hard to say.
A lot of discussion on Reddit points to the latter. One great thread speculates the Harronir were never truly scrapped, but simply introduced early to set up their return in future expansions like Midnight or The Last Titan. You can read the full community theory here:
According to that theory:
- The Harronir’s troll/elf heritage is connected to the Midnight expansion and Quel’Thalas
- Their connection to Azeroth’s roots links them to Elune’Ahir, the Void, and even Saronite
- Orweyna’s story is unfinished and could return in Patch 11.2.5 or 11.2.7
- Their isolation could fit a slow-burn story arc – one that pays off later rather than now
This would not be the first time Blizzard played the long game. Vulpera, Nightborne, even the Dracthyr – all were seeded well before becoming central. The Harronir could easily follow that path.
Still, the Silence Is Hard to Ignore
The Harronir had interesting early story quests and some unique areas for us to quest in. Not to mention the cinematic appearances and big marketing presence, as well as being datamined with full armor sets and customization options in the files.
And yet, now, they are barely even mentioned anywhere. With other factions like the Ethereals suddenly taking center stage, it feels a little like the Harronir quietly faded into the background.
But They Are Not Gone Yet
With Metzen back and the possibility of the narrative scope being shifted toward long-form storytelling, it is possible that the Harronir’s storyline was simply pushed, not abandoned. If the World Tree and Rootlands storylines really are coming in Midnight or The Last Titan, the Harronir might still play an important role.
And if you are hoping they become a playable race down the line? You are definitely not alone.
There is just no way for us to know, currently. We do not have answers yet. But what we do know is that the Harronir were clearly being set up to matter. And right now, a lot of players are hoping they still will.
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