2018 WoW Esports Announcements
WoW esports manager Jeramy McIntyre will be sharing what esports fans and participants can look forward to this year including changes to the WoW Arena World Championship and the Mythic Dungeon Invitational.


Last Year
  • Last year had more arena cups, the Mythic Dungeon Invitational, and lots of competitive content.

Arenas
  • This year will be the 11th year of WoW arenas.
  • There will be more cups this year and they will be starting soon!
  • The first weekend of February will have the first EU cup, with NA following. EU and NA will alternate weeks for 6 weeks.
  • Last year there were 5 NA and 5 EU cups. This year there will be 9 for each region.
  • The prize pool for each of these cups will be increased to $10k from $6k.
  • The entire year will be broken up into seasons.
  • The first 6 weeks are the online Season 1.
  • At the end of the season, the top 4 from each region are going to meet at seasonal finals.
  • There will be a total of 3 seasons. These aren't tied into the in game seasons. These are just eSport seasons.
  • Each of the season finals (two per year, Spring and Summer) will allow the winning teams to go to the Arena World Championship.
  • At the end of the year, the top 6 teams will make it into the Arena World Championship.
  • Community tournaments will still be a thing this year.

Mythic Dungeon Invitational
  • The MDI will happen in the first half of the year.
  • Proving Grounds were nice last year, but only 8 teams per region were invited.
  • The first segment of Proving Grounds will be the same as last year.
  • The second segment is a Time Trial.
  • This year there will be a "complete 3 dungeons on a certain difficulty level" as a challenge. Every team that completes the challenge will be eligible to compete in the Time Trial on the tournament realms.
  • The Time Trial will be a cumulative run time total compared to everyone else on the realm. Only 8 teams will advance from this trial.
  • The top 8 teams from each region will compete in the regional final events. Double elimination.
  • There is a $25k prize pool for each regional event.
  • The global final event will be a live LAN event.




Blue Posts
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker)
Last year was huge for WoW esports, with the introduction of the Mythic Dungeon Invitational (MDI), the WoW Arena Championship tournament matches throughout the year, and a tense and exciting championship match at BlizzCon. We’re proud of all we have achieved, but we won’t rest on our laurels: we are hard at work gearing up for 2018—with more teams, more talent, and more epic battles that will have us all on the edge of our seats.

The 2018 WoW Arena World Championship (AWC)
The biggest event in WoW esports will be supported by a full calendar of tournaments around the world, ensuring only the most battle-tested and proven teams have a shot at the 2018 WoW Arena World Championship. At the championship tournament itself, teams will be fighting for their share of a $280,000 prize pool and WoW Arena glory.

We'll be back later in the year to discuss how teams from China, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific make their way to the 2018 Arena World Championship.

Introducing Seasonal Finals for North America and Europe
*drum roll* We are delighted to announce TWO seasonal finals where the best North American and European Teams will clash for the first time ever outside of the World Championship. The first season finals will be decided in March at a live event.

  • Each event will feature eight teams: The top four teams from Europe and the top four teams from North America.
  • Both events in 2018 will offer $100,000 prize pools—that’s two opportunities for players in Europe and North America to land a share of $100k before the World Championship is even on the horizon.
  • The eight teams will also be competing for a spot in the WoW Arena World Championship, rewarded to the winners at each of the two events.

Global Qualification
You won’t want to miss either of these milestone events where your favorite players and teams will fight for regional pride, a spot in the WoW Arena World Championship, and a share of $100,000. Dates and additional details on these events to come.

Multiple Seasons of Arena Cups in North America & Europe
We are starting early this year with the first Arena Cups just around the corner. Arena Cups will be spread across the entire year and will offer not only a cash prize but also AWC Points.

Teams with the most points from each season will be invited to compete at that season’s Finals event, while the top overall teams of the year from each region will be invited to the Arena World Championship.

  • The first of three Arena Cup seasons starts Jan 31
  • There will be nine (up from five) Arena Cups in each region (18 total) over the course of the year
  • A $10,000 (up from $6,000) prize pool will be available for each of the 18 cups
  • The top 12 (up from six) teams at an Arena Cup event will earn points
  • New point distribution system will reward consistency
  • Teams in 2018 will follow the same guidelines and rules regarding roster changes as last year—

please refer to the official rules for additional information (coming soon)

The Mythic Dungeon Invitational Returns!
In 2017, we took our first foray into the world of competitive Dungeon Races with our Mythic Dungeon Invitational (MDI). Teams from around the world battled against each other with Australia’s ‘Free Marsy’ standing head and shoulders above the rest to become the inaugural champions.

The excitement and passion we saw from fans meant we couldn’t wait to kick it up a notch. So today we’re truly excited to announce a second season of the MDI.

What Is Changing for the MDI?
  • More teams from the Proving Grounds! All eligible teams that complete the Mythic Keystone dungeon challenge (details still to come) during the Proving Ground stage will be invited to the Time Trials in the tournament realm.
  • In Time Trials, all teams will compete on specific dungeons and post their best times over one week. The top eight teams will advance to the regional playoffs.
  • The regional playoffs will be broadcast like last year, but with a few key changes:

Mythic Dungeon Qualification
  • Each region (Asia Pacific, Americas, China, Europe) will have their own weekend of broadcasts.
  • The format will be double elimination, giving teams a chance to regroup after a loss and bounce right back.
  • The Mythic Keystone level will change over the course of the tournament, rewarding teams who can quickly crush easier dungeons and survive tougher ones.
  • Just like 2017, the top two teams will advance to the Global Finals.
  • The Global Finals will feature the top eight global teams, who will compete head-to-head and on stage at a live event.

For all updates, announcement, fixtures, and news, check out the WoW Arena World Championship hub for all the details—and see you on the stream!
This article was originally published in forum thread: 2018 WoW Esports Announcements started by chaud View original post
Comments 33 Comments
  1. Eleccybubb's Avatar
    I don't know why but I've never had the capability to sit and watch WoW PvP tournaments or the Mythic + races.

    Starcraft and Hearthstone I will but for some reason I just get a bit bored rather quickly.

    I think with WoW PvP that it's just more fun as a participant than a viewer I guess?
  1. Onikaroshi's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Eleccybubb View Post
    I don't know why but I've never had the capability to sit and watch WoW PvP tournaments or the Mythic + races.

    Starcraft and Hearthstone I will but for some reason I just get a bit bored rather quickly.

    I think with WoW PvP that it's just more fun as a participant than a viewer I guess?
    M+ ain't bad but Arena is just "stun stun pillar hump stun pillar hump pillar hump stun oh he might die nevermind full hp pillar hump stun"
  1. bucknadhand's Avatar
    Sorry you can’t watch unless you have aotc
  1. Mendal's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Onikaroshi View Post
    M+ ain't bad but Arena is just "stun stun pillar hump stun pillar hump pillar hump stun oh he might die nevermind full hp pillar hump stun"
    Soooo true and one of the reasons why I never watch (or even play) Arena. dammm too boring
  1. ls-'s Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Onikaroshi View Post
    M+ ain't bad but Arena is just "stun stun pillar hump stun pillar hump pillar hump stun oh he might die nevermind full hp pillar hump stun"
    How dare you disrespect pillar humping!
  1. Riistov's Avatar
    I love that they're going forward with the MDI. I really enjoyed it!
  1. mmoca48d740bf3's Avatar
    MDI was really exciting, hope they will gonna develop it further. Also they should bring something new and fresh to Arenas.
  1. ATZenith's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Onikaroshi View Post
    M+ ain't bad but Arena is just "stun stun pillar hump stun pillar hump pillar hump stun oh he might die nevermind full hp pillar hump stun"
    I bet you only PvE. Nothing wrong with that but no need to hate on PvP
  1. kaintk's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Onikaroshi View Post
    M+ ain't bad but Arena is just "stun stun pillar hump stun pillar hump pillar hump stun oh he might die nevermind full hp pillar hump stun"
    arena should be clear open, no pillar, no rock, nothing at all, pure skill and not go to hide behind anything
  1. Aggrophobic's Avatar
    I just don't see WoW as a very good e-sports game.
    PvP is and has always been rather bland and mythic+? Watching others clear trash for hours on end is really boring to me.

    Seem to me like they could put more effort and energy into actually designing more content instead.
  1. dcc626's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aggrophobic View Post
    I just don't see WoW as a very good e-sports game.
    PvP is and has always been rather bland and mythic+? Watching others clear trash for hours on end is really boring to me.

    Seem to me like they could put more effort and energy into actually designing more content instead.
    because the same team does both huh...
  1. Stacie's Avatar
    I can never get into the eSports stuff normally, just get bored turn it off. However the Nythic+ stuff and racing in raids is something ill defiantly be checking out. Finally something watchable in eSports!
  1. Swalload's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aggrophobic View Post
    I just don't see WoW as a very good e-sports game.
    PvP is and has always been rather bland and mythic+? Watching others clear trash for hours on end is really boring to me.

    Seem to me like they could put more effort and energy into actually designing more content instead.
    What you need to put effort into is either learning exactly how it works or put effort into realizing that you just don't know anything about video game development.
    There is not a single dev who puts time into organizing e-sport events. Unless they're really fan of e-sports and want to get implicated so they do it on their own time but the company is not sacrificing dev ressources to push more on e-sports.
  1. ZettZu's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by kaintk View Post
    arena should be clear open, no pillar, no rock, nothing at all, pure skill and not go to hide behind anything
    is that a joke? there would be less "skill" involved if line of sight was not a part of the equation. strategic positioning and enemy awareness ≠ hiding.
  1. Aggrophobic's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Swalload View Post
    What you need to put effort into is either learning exactly how it works or put effort into realizing that you just don't know anything about video game development.
    There is not a single dev who puts time into organizing e-sport events. Unless they're really fan of e-sports and want to get implicated so they do it on their own time but the company is not sacrificing dev ressources to push more on e-sports.
    No, but they are paying someone to do it. That money could probably be spent better elsewhere.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by dcc626 View Post
    because the same team does both huh...
    No, but again - Blizzard does pay them.
  1. Swalload's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Aggrophobic View Post
    No, but they are paying someone to do it. That money could probably be spent better elsewhere.

    - - - Updated - - -



    No, but again - Blizzard does pay them.
    After all these things there is still a lot of money left. It,s not, and never was, a question of where to put the money, cuz they could put it in both without any problems. You can't have an infinite number of people working on the same things. Not to mention we have reached a point where some people say they can't keep up with the content release pace, that's one sign that you're reaching a point where doing more isn't the most profitable. And on top of that you need place to put all these employees, gotta manage all that, etc.

    Ressources are not just numbers that can be changed like a character stats in a game. There's a lot more going on behind the scene that both requires a minimum amount of people to make things go smooth and also constraints to a maximum so it stays manageable and productive without stepping on each others.
  1. Aggrophobic's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Swalload View Post
    After all these things there is still a lot of money left. It,s not, and never was, a question of where to put the money, cuz they could put it in both without any problems. You can't have an infinite number of people working on the same things. Not to mention we have reached a point where some people say they can't keep up with the content release pace, that's one sign that you're reaching a point where doing more isn't the most profitable. And on top of that you need place to put all these employees, gotta manage all that, etc.

    Ressources are not just numbers that can be changed like a character stats in a game. There's a lot more going on behind the scene that both requires a minimum amount of people to make things go smooth and also constraints to a maximum so it stays manageable and productive without stepping on each others.
    I'm sure. Still, the way I see it, it's wasted effort. Effort and resources better put into other things.
    Also, there is hardly that much more content in this expansion. It's just that you have to do the same content over and over again leading to the worst expansion Blizzard ever released.
  1. Stormykitten's Avatar
    @Aggrophobic, the way I see it is just it's PR for the game, maybe it gets a few people to try it despite the game being so old. Same as with the world firsts etc, totally meaningless stuff to me personally but I appreciate it for maybe making some people take note about WoW or whatever.
  1. Aggrophobic's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Stormykitten View Post
    @Aggrophobic, the way I see it is just it's PR for the game, maybe it gets a few people to try it despite the game being so old. Same as with the world firsts etc, totally meaningless stuff to me personally but I appreciate it for maybe making some people take note about WoW or whatever.
    Yeah, I guess.
  1. mmocbeba583bd0's Avatar
    Didn't they try to make WoW into eSport in like WoTLK or something? That failed, no reason why new attempt shouldn't fail. Its just not fun to watch. Its much more fun to participate.

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