World of Warcraft News and Raiding Strategies

Immediately after the Tides of Vengeance update goes live with scheduled maintenance in each region, you’ll now be able to target specific kinds of Azerite armor by earning Titan Residuum, which can be used to purchase Azerite armor from everyone’s favorite purveyor of exquisite furnishings: Thaumaturge Vashreen, who can be found alongside his fellow ethereals in either Boralus or Dazar’alor.

In the weekly cache, you’ll now receive an amount of Titan Residuum in addition to your weekly item. Completing higher-level Keystones will award greater amounts of Titan Residuum from your weekly cache. Scrapping or disenchanting new epic-quality Azerite gear obtained in Tides of Vengeance (from any source) also provides Titan Residuum, with more powerful items yielding more Residuum.

After the update goes live, your weekly cache will contain Titan Residuum, and will not have a chance to contain a piece of Azerite Armor. We suggest you complete at least one Mythic Keystone dungeon before the update to make sure that you earn Titan Residuum when you open your cache after the update.

There isn’t a cap on how much Titan Residuum you can hold, and we do not plan to reset Titan Residuum at the start of Season 2. When Season 2 begins, the vendor will offer higher item-level pieces (iLvl 400 or 415) at significantly higher costs than the Season 1 items. Also at that time, the weekly Mythic Keystone cache will begin rewarding proportionally more Residuum, and new iLvl 400+ Azerite armor will yield more Residuum when scrapped or disenchanted.
See you in the dungeons!

Yes. Completing Mythic Keystones higher than level 10 will yield more Residuum for each additional level, with diminishing returns.

The release of Tides of Vengeance opens the way for a new Warfront — Battle for Darkshore, new dwarf and blood elf Heritage armor, Faction Assaults and more. Learn about what’s in store in our Survival Guide and feature previews.



New Warfront: Battle for Darkshore


In the ashen shadow of Teldrassil, the night elves strike back against the Forsaken to reclaim their ancestral homeland in an all-new co-op Warfront. In between battles, discover what awaits in a new version of the Darkshore zone reshaped by the fires of war. This new Warfront will be available to Alliance players as of December 11 and we’ve shortened the cycle for the first two weeks of the Warfront so that players from both factions will have access to it and all its rewards prior to the holidays. Learn More...



Faction Assaults



Grab your friends and take part in the new Faction Assaults in Zandalar and Kul Tiras. Defend against invaders or push deep into enemy territory for fun and great rewards. Learn More...



Pet Battle Dungeon: Gnomeregan



Marshal your menagerie and head into the halls of Gnomeregan to face the challenges within in this new Pet Battle Dungeon. Learn More...



New Blood Elf and Dwarf Heritage Armor


Celebrate your legacy with two new Heritage Armor sets. Learn More...



Explore Two New Islands in Island Expeditions



Set sail for two new islands—Havenswood and Jorundall— and see what new adventures await in Island Expeditions. Learn More...



New War Campaign Chapters Open

Continue your adventures through Kul Tiras and Zandalar with new War Campaign chapters. Delve into new questlines and new missions as you push forward with your faction’s cause.

Azerite Armor Updates

With the release of Tides of Vengeance, we’ve added a new way for players who participate in Mythic Keystone Dungeons to gain specific Azerite Armor. These players will be able to earn a new currency —Titan Residuum—which can be used to purchase specific items from Thaumaturge Vashreen. You can read more in our forum post.

Once Mythic Keystone Dungeon Season 2 begins, we’ll be introducing new Azerite traits and adding a new fifth ring to items that currently have four rings.The re-spec cost will be reset on Azerite traits and will be reduced from 72 hours to 24 hours.

Reaching Friendly, Honored, or Revered reputation with the Champions of Azeroth faction now unlocks the appropriate quests to upgrade your Heart of Azeroth for all characters on your account.

New Mount: Meat Wagon


Prepare to relive the adventure that laid the foundation for Azeroth’s most epic stories. Pre-purchase Warcraft III: Reforged and you’ll receive the new Meat Wagon mount —live in-game with Tides of Vengeance! Learn more at PlayWarcraft3.com.

Battle of Dazar’alor Opens January 22

For ages untold, Dazar’alor has stood at the center of the great and powerful Zandalari empire. Its guards have thwarted numerous attempts on King Rastakhan’s life, and it has endured trials both ancient and new. But as war reaches the shores of Zuldazar, the Alliance embarks on a daring gambit to besiege the golden pyramid and sever the Zandalari’s bond to the Horde.


PvP Season 1 Ending and Season 2 Coming January 22

Battle for Azeroth PvP Season 1 will end and Season 2 will begin at the same time as Battle of Dazar’alor opens on January 22.

Mythic Keystone Dungeon Season 2 Begins January 22

To align with the opening of the new raid dungeon, Mythic Keystone Dungeon Season 2 will begin on January 22 with a new Affix to put you and your group to the test.



There’s more to explore in Tides of Vengeance and we look forward to seeing you in game!

I believe it was Ion that said in a dev chat movement abilities were coming back off the GCD. So is this actually happening?
This is something that is still happening. Here is the list I have so far of abilities that are for sure coming off the GCD:

• Havoc - Vengeful Retreat
• All Druids - Wild Charge
• Arms - Charge
• Fury - Charge
• Protection Warrior - Ignore Pain
• Protection Warrior – Intercept
• Protection Warrior (PvP) – Dragon Charge
• Survival – Harpoon (Source)

Well that’s nice I guess, what about all the other categories?
This is just what we have confirmed so far. There could potentially be more added to the list, but I personally just don’t know of any others yet.

We’d love to hear from you guys on more examples of abilities that you feel should be off the GCD and why. (Source)

The Horde and Alliance have established their footholds in Kul Tiras and Zandalar, each seeking to use these staging points as inroads to the flow of Azerite in enemy territory. Now the Horde and the Alliance will use those hard-earned footholds to launch large-scale assaults deep into enemy territory. While the assaulting faction tries to break through their enemy’s defenses, players must rally the local forces to drive the invaders from their continent.

Who: Level 110 and Above players who have unlocked World Quests on their account and have begun the War Campaign.

Where: Kul Tiras and Zandalar

With the release of Tides of Vengeance, players will be able to take part in Faction Assaults in Zandalar and Kul Tiras. Level 110 and above players from the Horde and the Alliance will be able to take part in these events on either continent as long as they have unlocked World Quests on their account and have begun the War Campaign.

Faction Assaults will cycle regularly between Kul Tiras and Zandalar, giving players an opportunity to either help their faction attack or defend via a series of World Quests. Much like Legion Assaults, players will be able to see when a Faction Assault is occurring by pulling up their world map (M). A Horde or Alliance crest on the map will indicate the type of invasion that is occurring and the available quests associated with it.


Players will be able to take part in a variety of quest types, including taking out elite targets, mowing down enemy armies with powerful magic and siege weapons, taking down the enemy ship, participating in covert assassinations, or embarking on shared quests that bring the two opposing factions in close proximity to each other. For those who have War Mode on, you’ll want to stay on your toes—and maybe grab a friend or two to join you in battle.

Whether you’re participating in PvP or not, you’ll want to keep your eyes out for a variety of additional bonus items such as potions and bombs to aid you in your quest to push out the opposing forces. A little help from something like an Unstable Azerite Flare could turn the tides of battle quickly—if you can hang on to it long enough.

The Spoils of War
If you’re working on leveling an alternate character (or two), Faction Assaults provide plenty of opportunities to earn experience and reputation with the 7^th Legion or Honorbound. Completing a Faction Assault will also provide a 1-hour experience buff to help you as you level your way through Battle for Azeroth and prepare to bring your full might to your faction’s aid.

Players at maximum level will be able to earn bonus reputation, War Resources, and new gear (item level 325–370) with a chance of being Titanforged. There are also many achievements to be earned both in PvE and in War Mode.

Timing is Everything
Faction Assaults will only be available for a set period of time before they are gone—at least until the next one. You’ll want to keep an eye on the Faction Assault timer, which is visible on your world map and will appear as a countdown in any quests you’re participating in as time winds down. Once an event has completed, any quests you’re on will be gone with it. You’ll want to be extra careful if you’re assaulting a ship hovering over the battlefield . . . you might suddenly find the only direction you can go is down.

Bring some friends along for the fun—and maybe for a little extra protection. Faction Assaults are bound to get your blood pumping.