World of Warcraft: Midnight is bringing changes to Exile’s Reach! The starting zone is changing to introduce important characters to newer players, and to create a more cohesive storyline leading into the Dragonflight leveling experience. Spoilers ahead!
Faction Leadership Joining the Players
Players looking to level new characters through Exile’s Reach will notice that factions leaders, and a couple dragons, are joining us on our journey to the island. For both factions, we see Kalecgos and Wrathion flying alongside us, while the Alliance is joined by Jaina Proudmoore and the Horde is joined by Thrall.
Parts of Story Changed for More Clarity
Blizzard is making the story of Exile’s Reach naturally transition better into Dragonflight. We learn in the opening cutscene that an expedition bound for the Dragon Isles went missing, and you will be joining Jaina/Thrall, Kalecgos, and Wrathion to find them. As the storm picks up, the two dragons fly ahead to the island. Everything plays out similarly to how it does now, including the shipwreck! The only noticeable difference is speaking to Jaina/Thrall, instead of the expedition leader.
You’re given a choice to continue with Exile’s reach, the recommended option for new players, or go directly to housing.
The story plays out like it does now, until we eventually see that it is now Wrathion that has been captured by the ogres on the island. You learn from Wrathion through a cutscene that Kalecgos has also been captured, and they were planning on using Wrathion’s soul to control him and grab his power! We have to stop them! This a big change from the live servers where the ogres are just using Necromancy.
Wrathion scouts ahead at this point, and Exile’s Reach continues to unfold the same way as it does now. We see more involvement from Jaina/Thrall, as they pose as prisoners, help free the Captain, and join you through Darkmaul Citadel.
At the end of the Darkmaul Citadel dungeon, we see Gor’groth with Kalecgos attempting to complete the ritual. Wrathion joins us at this point to help us defeat Gor’groth and stop the ritual.
As in Exile’s Reach in TWW, we kill Gor’groth too late, and the ritual completes. We must now defend ourselves against Kalecgos until he can dispell himself. We eventually defeat him and leave the dungeon.
From here , there’s a major deviation from current Exile’s Reach. Instead of returning to your capital city and touring it, Kalecgos flies you to the Dragon Isles. He helps you to set your Hearthstone, and then your journey begins!
