Battle for Azeroth End-Game

So the first thing we will do in Battle for Azeroth is to seek allies and resources in Kul’Tiras (Alliance) and Zandalar (Horde).

There are three zones in Zandalar and three zones in Kul’Tiras. We level up from level 110 to 120. Approximately 3 levels per zone. That accounts for 9 levels. There is one level in the air that apparently we might earn while doing scenarios gathering Azerite from Isles; and at some point the Horde will go to Kul’Tiras and assault Alliance PvE objectives there, and the Alliance will also go to Zandalar to do the same against Horde settlements.

So in summary these six zones draw a parallel with the Broken Isles experience from level 100 to 110 (through Azsuna, Val’sharah, Highmountain, and Stormheim).

However, there is a big chunk of content that Blizzard did not mention in both panels at BlizzCon 2017. What is that? End-game content. Where is my Battle for Azeroth’s end-game max level 120 Suramar-content equivalent zone? It doesn’t feel like the Horde will get THAT in Zandalar, nor the Alliance in Kul’Tiras. Unless the elusive end-game is a phased Kul’Tiras with level 120 Alliance targets (for the Horde players), and a phased Zandalar with level 120 Horde PvE targets (for the Alliance players).

Why would Blizzard Entertainment purposely not mention what zone we will go to at level 120? Suspicious? Yes. Of course, we will have to find out either at a later time (i.e. GamesCom), or when Technical Alpha or Beta starts.

Could Kezan be that level 120 end-game content? Well, that doesn’t feel like making much sense. The hook for the leveing up experience through Azsuna, Val’Sharah, Highmountain and Stormheim was really to help each native faction’s problems to then earn their help in securing each Pillar of Creation.

In Battle for Azeroth the hook to going to Zandalar is to gain the trust of the Zandalari so they join the Horde and to contribute their naval fleets. On the Alliance side, to gain the trust of the Kul’Tirans so they join the Alliance and to contribute with their naval fleets. The second hook is collecting Azerite.

So why do we need their fleets? To collect the Azerite from Isles. But these are 3-player scenarios, so that is definitely not the end-game zone Suramar represented; and thus not the purpose of the expansion. Those isle scenarios are the main source of Azerite for your Heart of Azeroth armor synergy.

That means that the Suramar-equivalent for level 120 players is not Zandalar and Kul’Tiras. It is Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms (most likely). It is the Battle for Azeroth. Alliance vs Horde. That’s the purpose of the expansion this time around.

So a huge question is lingering there. A missing piece or pieces in a large puzzle. And [Blizzard] did not feature it at BlizzCon. So we are left with a mystery, and what do we do when we are challenged with a mystery? We use our imagination using the pieces Blizzard did give us to fill the blanks, and connect the dots.

Does that mean the old World: Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms, are the level 120 end-game zones? Will the old world be revamped using phase technology so that low-level players and level 120 players co-exist in the same region separated by phased versions of each zone?

That would mean new level 120 quests in any of these zones? Tirisfal Glades, Darkshore, Arathi Highlands — or wherever these 2 races move into to progress that story of moving into a new location? Wlll there be more Old world zones included as level 120 end-game content?

I can’t really see the only Warfront being the only and main plate of end-game content for us to feast in half the expansion. Feels like a cooperative 20-player Garrison focused only in Arathi. Could Arathi be phased to be the Suramar of this new expansion?

 

Otherwise, where is the Suramar of 8.1? Where is the Broken Shore of 8.2? Where is the Argus of 8.3? It as heck is not Kul’Tiras or Zandalar.

Legion 7.0 was about collecting the ingredients: Artifact power and the Pillars of Creation. Battle of Azeroth 8.0 is about collecting the ingredients: Azerite and Allies with a naval fleet.

Legion 7.2 took us to the goal of collecting the Pillars of Creation: to seal the Tomb of Sargeras. What is Battle for Azeroth 8.2 raid?

Legion 7.3 took us to Argus to defeat the Burning Legion. Battle for Azeroth 8.3 in theory should bring us to a major conflict between Anduin and Sylvanas — and that means PvE and PvP content in Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms.

Maybe the answer lies in these two map (shown below)? Maybe the entire blue-colored portion in the map is the level 120 Horde playground with phased level 120 content where we have multiple PvE quests and targets? Likewise for the Alliance in Kalimdor? If that is the case, and this hasn’t been confirmed in any way, is that entire blue-colored area ripe with Horde-flavored World Quests?

What is proven so far is that the Draenei and Blood Elves are staying in their current city. Will that change beyond Patch 8.0, who knows. The Forsaken and the Night Elves on the other hand remain the only evicted races, but Blizzard hasn’t revealed yet (as of the posting of this article) where they might live from now on.

Alex Afrasiabi: “Well, Silvermoon and Exodar are still Alliance and Horde, respectively. We will have fiction in place. Obviously, those two kinda have become the last bastions of their factions in– maybe a way in for those factions as well, and we will be sure to use them in this battle.”

… Mysterious words.

 

Post-BlizzCon 2017 The Unknown Mysteries of Battle for Azeroth
1. Kalimdor Cities2. Eastern Kingdoms Cities3. Battle for Azeroth: Mysteries4. Battle for Azeroth: End Game

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BlizzCon 2019 Panel Transcripts