Listing of World of Warcraft Expansions in the Order they were Released, including the latest and upcoming editions
In the ever-evolving world of Azeroth, players of World of Warcraft (WoW) have been treated to a series of expansions that have added new continents, races, classes, and challenges since the game's inception in 2004. Here's a chronological overview of WoW's expansions, starting from The Burning Crusade in 2007.
The Burning Crusade (2007)
The first expansion for WoW, The Burning Crusade, introduced the continent of Outland and raised the level cap to 70. This update also brought the Draenei (for the Alliance) and Blood Elves (for the Horde) as new playable races, as well as the introduction of the Death Knight as the first "hero" class.
Wrath of the Lich King (2008)
Wrath of the Lich King, the second expansion, added the continent of Northrend and raised the level cap to 80. It also introduced the Death Knight class for all players, and the epic battle against the Lich King reached its climax.
Cataclysm (2010)
Redesigning the original world, Cataclysm introduced the Goblin and Worgen races, raising the level cap to 85. The expansion also brought significant changes to the game's zones, including updated quests and revamped landscapes.
Mists of Pandaria (2012)
Introducing the continent of Pandaria, Mists of Pandaria raised the level cap to 90. The expansion also brought the Monk class, a new playable race for both the Alliance and the Horde, and the Pandaren.
Warlords of Draenor (2014)
Adding the continent of Draenor, Warlords of Draenor raised the level cap to 100. This expansion also introduced the Orc's homeland and a new group-finder system.
Legion (2016)
Legion, the sixth expansion, introduced the Broken Isles and raised the level cap to 110. It also introduced the Demon Hunter class and the Broken Isles as new playable zones.
Battle for Azeroth (2018)
Battle for Azeroth, the seventh expansion, raised the level cap to 120. It introduced new zones like Kul Tiras and Zandalar, as well as eleven new dungeons and eleven new raids.
Shadowlands (2020)
Shadowlands, the eighth expansion, introduced the realm of the afterlife and raised the level cap to 60 (with a level squish). The expansion overhauled the leveling-up system and introduced the Covenant system.
Dragonflight (2022)
The latest expansion, Dragonflight, added the continent of the Dragon Isles and raised the level cap to 70. It also introduced the dragonriding mechanic, making players able to ride dragons for the first time in WoW's history.
The War Within (2024)
Expected to be the ninth expansion, The War Within is anticipated to delve further into the lore of the Titans and raise the level cap to 80. It will introduce the subterranean continent of Khaz Algar and the Harbinger of the Void, Xal'atath.
Midnight (planned for 2026)
Planned for a 2026 release, Midnight is expected to focus on surface zones and introduce new features like player housing.
This article was co-authored by Glenn Carreau, a staff writer for an unspecified website. Glenn Carreau is currently based in Los Angeles and has over four years of experience writing for online publications. He graduated with honors from Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Interactive Arts and Media and a minor in Professional Writing.
[1] Note: The release of Midnight is anticipated but not yet confirmed in the search results provided. However, it is widely discussed as part of the Worldsoul Saga.
[2] Note: The article lists all the expansions of World of Warcraft (WoW) in chronological order, starting from The Burning Crusade in 2007 to Dragonflight in 2022.
[3] Note: Each expansion also brought new zones, raids, and dungeons, as well as profession changes and updates to character models.
In the world of Azeroth, players seeking new adventures might consider updating their entertainment systems at home, as the release of the latest expansion, Dragonflight (2022), introduces the continent of the Dragon Isles and allows players to ride dragons for the first time. For those eagerly anticipating their next journey, a possible future expansion, The War Within (2024), is rumored to delve deeper into the lore of the Titans and potentially offer player housing within surface zones.
