Patch 4.1 Content Preview: Rise of the Zandalari
Blizzard finally posted a small preview of the Patch 4.1 content, confirming the updated skin of the Amani War Bear in the process.
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker)
In years past, the Zandalar tribe, encompassing the wise and scholarly progenitors of the trolls, heroically assisted the Horde and the Alliance with thwarting the nefarious activities of their brethren in Zul'Gurub and Zul'Drak. Yet the chaos unleashed by the recent Cataclysm has reshaped the Zandalari's philosophy about the world and the dwindling remnants of their race. Led by a mysterious prophet known only as Zul, the Zandalari have issued a call to Azeroth's embattled troll populations: unite into a single mighty empire and save their race from extinction.

Thus far, the Gurubashi and Amani trolls have answered the summons and received aid from the Zandalari, allowing them to rebuild their respective capitals in Zul'Gurub and Zul'Aman. Not all trolls, however, have so eagerly adopted the Zandalari's grandiose vision of a new troll empire. Vol'jin and his Darkspear tribe are opposed to the warmongering espoused by Zul. To prevent the burgeoning Gurubashi and Amani troll forces from wreaking havoc on Azeroth, Vol'jin has reached out to his Horde comrades and members of the Alliance for assistance. Should the Darkspears' campaign fail, a new troll empire shall rise and bring war to a world already beset by suffering and conflict.



A Threat Fought in Secret

Using a great deal of discretion, Vol’jin has dispatched Darkspear delegates to the capital cities of Stormwind and Orgrimmar calling for all able-bodied adventurers to investigate recent threats that have risen in the jungles of Stranglethorn.

The outlook isn't good. The Gurubashi tribe, their strength renewed, is running rampant throughout Stranglethorn. Players will have a chance to embark on all-new level-85 solo quests in Stranglethorn and will discover exactly what tribulations lie ahead -- Gurubashi leadership is still largely intact and rehabilitated through the new union with the Zandalari. Along the way, players will assist a sassy, headstrong Darkspear spirit-talker named Bwemba, they'll track down the elusive Hemet Nesingwary, and they'll encounter many of the new Zul'Gurub bosses throughout the steaming jungles of Stranglethorn.


Rewards for addressing the issues in Stranglethorn include an adorable panther pet of your own to care for. Players should seek out Vol'jin's representatives in Orgrimmar or Stormwind Harbor to begin their adventure.


Return to Zul'Gurub

This ancient city has once again become the staging grounds for an empowered Gurubashi people to strike against those who they perceive to be invading their ancestral lands. Now backed by the Zandalari, the Gurubashi present all-new challenges for players in this level-85 5-player Heroic dungeon. While players may see some familiar faces in this dungeon, the encounters and fight mechanics have been considerably updated. For allying yourself with the Darkspears, High Priest Venoxis, Broodlord Mandokir, High Priestess Kilnara, Zanzil, and Jin'do the Godbreaker would like to make one thing clear -- your intrusion will cost you. Take their heads and you’ll be presented with a treasure map. You’ll want to seek out its precious booty, including an account-bound ring with a gem so big it’s visible when worn!


Also, for those with a high enough Archaeology skill, an additional boss can be unlocked in Zul’Gurub. Gri'lek, Renataki, Hazza'rah, and Wushoolay will be randomly selected to put an end to those who dig too deep for greater riches. Should your group survive the challenge, you'll unearth a selection of rewards available from any of the four bosses, as well as loot unique to each boss.


The Amani Regrouped

With the aid of the Zandalari, the remaining Amani have reassembled under new, sturdy leadership in Daakara. Zul'Aman has been converted into a challenging level-85 5-player Heroic dungeon. For those who fought Zul'jin back during The Burning Crusade, much of the dungeon will feel similar, but the mechanics have been updated to suit a 5-player group. Akil'zon, Nalorakk, Jan'alai, Halazzi, Hex Lord Malacrass, and Daakara look to bring their tribe out of hiding and into the spotlight as a force to be reckoned with. Challengers beware.


Both Zul'Aman and Zul'Gurub will require players to have a minimum average item level of 346 before they can enter. These two Heroic dungeons will exist in a separate Heroic difficulty tier in the Dungeon Finder, above the current Cataclysm Heroic dungeons. In return, they will offer players item level 353 epic-quality loot. Players can expect to find items for nearly every gear slot available in these two dungeons, though much focus has been placed on offering players itemization for hard-to-fill slots or specializations, such as bracers, helms, shoulders, guns, and wands.


Rare Mounts and More

As with the original iterations of Zul'Gurub and Zul'Aman, players will have a chance to obtain updated rare mounts. The Swift Zulian Panther and Armored Razzashi Raptor are obtained in Zul'Gurub, while the Amani Battle Bear can be earned by killing the first four bosses of Zul'Aman in a limited amount of time.


The interests of the Zandalari no longer align with your own. Vol'jin needs your help to stop this play for power. Will you rise to the challenge?
This article was originally published in forum thread: Patch 4.1 Content Preview: Rise of the Zandalari started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 181 Comments
  1. Venziir's Avatar
    Prophet Zul huh? Wonder what happened to Rastakhan....
    Anyways, Hemet Nesingwary is back? Awesome, gief patch naow! And a visible ring woop
  1. Lifestream's Avatar
    They recycled the instances, why not recycle the bear too? Changed from red to green.. you fucking kidding me? They could do a 100x better than all this recycling bs. It's really starting to get annoying. It feels like they're just making fun of us.
  1. LanceDH's Avatar
    For those who would like a clear comparison in the 2 mounts:


    Click for big version
  1. PavlovGW's Avatar
    I don't know about the rest of you, but when I saw that we're getting another Hemit chain, I spilled tears of joy across my desk. And here I thought that we had seen the last of his fantastical quests in Wrath!

    BLESS YOU, BLIZZARD.

    Oh, cool bear, bro.

    EDITEDITEDIT:

    Quote Originally Posted by Lifestream View Post
    They recycled the instances, why not recycle the bear too? Changed from red to green.. you fucking kidding me? They could do a 100x better than all this recycling bs. It's really starting to get annoying. It feels like they're just making fun of us.
    A lot of people didn't get to see Zul'Aman during BC, and a LOT more people didn't get to experience 20-man Zul'Gurub. Just because you've played through it doesn't mean that everyone else has. In fact, I'd be willing to bet my left nipple that the number of people haven't been in those two instances dwarfs the number of those that have. For example, I haven't seen either one of them. I'm happy.
  1. Durbi's Avatar
    I really expcted some more changes to bear mount, instead they changed color of the side part from red to green...jeez
  1. Vehemence's Avatar
    Bad and good news:

    Good news: Almost everything from it, glad that Hemet is back
    Bad news: Did it just had to be a reskin color from the previous bear? I mean it should just be a big black bear instead of putting the fancy armor onto that, imo.

    Also, long live troll raids/dungeons.
  1. Vraizan's Avatar
    Personally I'm glad they changed the bear from that weird purpleish/blue skin pic that was floating around, though it does resemble the old war bear a lot which is kinda lame for those who already have it. Oh well, I didn't play in BC so I'm glad at the chance to add another few mounts to my collection
  1. Ottius's Avatar
    players will have a chance to obtain updated rare mounts
    What a lie. Changing color is not an update.
  1. Falrinn's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Venziir View Post
    Prophet Zul huh? Wonder what happened to Rastakhan....
    Anyways, Hemet Nesingwary is back? Awesome, gief patch naow! And a visible ring woop
    According to Vol'jin's dialog in the Ghostlands, Rastakhan is at least complicit with Zul's message.

    On a related not the term "Zul" generally means "great", so Zul'Gurub probably translates roughly as "Great City of the Gurubasi". This means the new prophet of the Zandalar is literally called "Great Prophet".
  1. zrankfappa's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by tusker View Post
    Looks like fun stuff! Does anyone know if the Amani Battle Bear will be trivial to obtain the same way getting the Reins of the Bronze Drake in CoT was a complete joke?
    Did you read the article?

    while the Amani Battle Bear can be earned by killing the first four bosses of Zul'Aman in a limited amount of time
    Trivial? That depends on how long they give you, how good your gear is, and your skill.

    At this point comparing it to a heroic instance (CoT) that was rendered trivial to people running it with gear an order of magnitude above it probably isn't fair. Consider for a moment that these dungeons are going to be "harder" than current heroics, I suspect that geared guild groups and competant pugs will find it trivial. while the masses will fill the forums with QQ that this mount isn't easily obtainable for casuals.
  1. Dannz's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by PavlovGW View Post
    A lot of people didn't get to see Zul'Aman during BC, and a LOT more people didn't get to experience 20-man Zul'Gurub. Just because you've played through it doesn't mean that everyone else has. In fact, I'd be willing to bet my left nipple that the number of people haven't been in those two instances dwarfs the number of those that have. For example, I haven't seen either one of them. I'm happy.
    hey... this is an MMO, the story moves forwards, if you're not here when certain things are being done, to bad for you, that's the nature of MMORPG's, the story moves forward rather then re-doing the same shit over and over again

    should we perhapse re-open the AQ gate event, just cuz you weren't here on lvl 60...? how about no, move the story forward, don't keep it in place
  1. Arkthugal's Avatar
    What's all this malarkey about the Bronze Drake being easy to get? If I recall correctly pretty much nobody had that drake until everyone massively outgeared the instance.
  1. Grelsha's Avatar
    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh I remember Hex Lord!! With it's OP Warlocks Rain of Fire!!! STACK ON THE EAGLE BOSSES FEET!

    Looking forward to this! Yay!
  1. The Glitch's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kalx View Post
    I like the bear. but what's that zangalarmarsh-thingie is doing in the pets screenshot?
    That screenshot looks like a random shot of a few of the upcoming pets they are bringing in with the patch, the Marsh Strider pet seemingly is going to be a new pet from Children's Week Quests in Shattrath called Legs, And Scooter the Snail as a New pet from the Stormwind/Orgrimmar Children's Week Quest.

    Nothing's been found for the Northrend ones however. Here's hoping they fix it so we can finally own an Oracle and a frenzyheart cub/hatchling

    Source :http://www.warcraftpets.com/news/
  1. Durbi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Arkthugal View Post
    What's all this malarkey about the Bronze Drake being easy to get? If I recall correctly pretty much nobody had that drake until everyone massively outgeared the instance.
    not really no, in the first month or two everyone who wanted it had it, but those that didn't want it at all got it anyway later on cause it was impossible to fail and even if you failed rest of the players carried the group
  1. mmoca46b34a3c5's Avatar
    Love all of this except the tiger and raptor. Dont see why they couldnt have just kept them the same as previously
  1. Phoenix008's Avatar
    Anyone else find the story a bit strange? i mean we helped the Zandalari fight the Gurubashi tribe now they join with them and the Amani and Vol'jin goes "on noes I'm no longer special we must kill them coz... um... you know they must be bad and wanna kill you all yep that must be it". Never mind the fact they were pushed into this position because of the other races i mean Stormwind is practically next door.

    On top of that the story says that the Zandalari fear their race becoming extinct so they want to pool their populace and secure their destiny and immediately that's bad and must be exterminated for good, looks like a natural retreat strategy.

    Also that cub looks cute
  1. Godsmack241's Avatar
    Alright, I'm calling it right here:

    This mysterious "Zul" that now leads the Zandalar tribe is in fact either a) an old god in one of his humanoid (troll obv) forms (strong possibility as N'zoth speculation leads to the belief he is based around Lovecraft's character who wanders around as a tall, slender humanoid, cant remember the name atm) or b) a troll under the influence of the old god we fight in this xpac.

    I'm kinda also thinking these two 5-mans are really only the beginning of troll lore in this xpac, hopefully leading to a new raid. I'm thinking like the Zandalar have secretly built a massive city while we were dealing with the Gurubashi and Amani tribes, and now pose a massive threat.
  1. Azutael's Avatar
    What's all this malarkey about the Bronze Drake being easy to get? If I recall correctly pretty much nobody had that drake until everyone massively outgeared the instance.
    Oh enough people had it allright, even early on.

    Nearly none, besides the top guild on each server got the amani war bear early on, PLENTY bought it from those guilds. And many more farmed it alter on.
    It have always been like that, and will always be like it.

    I didnt get it myself, because I wasnt in a good enough guild. And didnt want to spend gold on it either, aswell as I dint get lucky later on.
    And personally the old one looks better than the new one.
  1. pickley's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Travio View Post
    Oh, all those people who were complaining about that image from the PTRs of what the bear looked like... Perhaps they'll finally learn that you need to wait to see finished products?

    ... probably not.

    Also: In before any Ghostbuster jokes at the name Zul.
    In the Ghostbusters its Zuul not Zul

Site Navigation