1. #1

    Wrath Classic Zone Guide: Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord

    Wrath Classic Zone Guide: Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord
    Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
    Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord? With two starting zones to choose from, which one should you choose? You don’t have to choose just one. Both offer a fair amount of glorious adventuring for heroes of the Alliance and Horde. There are local factions for you to help, enemies to thwart, quests to be completed, achievements to be attained, and you can do them all.

    Borean Tundra (68 – 72)

    Located in the southwest corner of Northrend, Borean Tundra is primarily a large, flat glacial zone devoid of vegetation, with small areas of rimy grass and rock. To the north of this sprawling land is Coldarra, an intimidating fortress of ice and stone tucked in a pocket protected by ragged arctic cliffs.


    The Horde and Alliance both have strongholds in this zone, and there are zeppelins and boats to get you where you need to go.

    How to get here:

    • From Orgrimmar, players can take the zeppelin just outside the main gate to Warsong Hold.
    • Players can hop on the boat from Stormwind harbor to Valiance Keep from Stormwind City.

    Warsong Hold


    An impregnable fortress that is a testament to the Horde’s tenacity takes center stage. Heroes of the Horde who have flown here from afar will begin their journey through Northrend from this stronghold after diminishing the Nerubian numbers that plague it.

    Valiance Keep


    This Alliance stronghold is under constant turmoil as the Lich King’s army continues to lay siege. From this keep, our Alliance champions who have landed in Northrend face the first of their challenges—defense against a Nerubian threat.

    Inhabitants

    The tuskarr are prominent throughout Northrend, with their capital city of Kaskala located in the eastern part of the Borean Tundra. Kaskala is available to both the Horde and Alliance, and players will be tasked with helping the Kalu’ak tuskarr.

    As you adventure and explore, you’ll meet other friends and foes along the way. Some of these are the blue dragonflight, the Drakkari tribe of ice trolls, the Undead Scourge, and the taunka, ancient relatives of the tauren.


    Howling Fjord (68 – 72)

    The Howling Fjord is in the southeastern part of Northrend and is home to the vrykul of Utgarde Keep. It hosts a coastline of treacherous cliffs, dark forests, open plains, and tree-covered outcroppings.


    This zone is ripe with territorial disputes, and players will be tasked with aiding its denizens.

    How to get there:

    • Heroes of the Horde can take the zeppelin from Tirisfal Glades, just outside the Undercity, to Vengeance Landing.
    • From Menethil Harbor, on the western shores of the swamp-covered Wetlands, heroes of the Alliance can take the boat to Valgarde.

    New Agamand


    Sylvanas and the Forsaken stand ready with the makings of a new plague, prepared to strike the Lich King; their staging ground is New Agamand. This is the beginning of the journey through Northrend for the Horde heroes who have landed here. They’ll be tasked with assisting the plague development efforts designed to bring an end to the Lich King.

    Valgarde Keep


    Despite attacks from the vrykul from land and sky, Valgarde Keep maintains a heavily fortified staging ground for the Alliance. Courageous Alliance heroes will be challenged to help learn more about the aggressive vrykul and why they have returned after being dormant for so long.

    Inhabitants

    The vrykul, an ancient race of half-giants, are the primary inhabitants of the Howling Fjord. Their architecture can be seen throughout the zone as they built their civilization. As you journey, you’ll come face to face with this once forgotten race, along with other denizens of this region.


    Getting Around

    There are plenty of flight paths, but why fly when you can hop on the shell of a colossal, carrot-loving turtle? These massive, water-bound turtles ferry riders between Unu’pe in Borean Tundra to Moa’ki Harbor in Dragonblight.

    From Moa’ki Harbor, players can get a connecting turtle taxi to Kamagua in Howling Fjord if they choose. Remember to grab the flight paths whenever possible—sometimes, taking a turtle is slow-going.

    Everything You Need, Almost

    In each major hub, there is enough to get players what they need without continually traveling back and forth between the main capital cities. Most of what you’ll want can be accessed in Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord:

    • Expedition Quartermaster
    • Flightpaths
    • Innkeeper
    • Mailbox
    • Reagents and Supplies
    • Stable Master
    • Trade Goods
    • Trainers

    If you need to get to the Auction House or Bank, hop on a boat or zeppelin for a quick trip back to your capital city, and don’t forget to speak to an Innkeeper and set your Hearthstone before you go.

    We’re excited to bring this classic adventure to you, so don’t forget to sign up for the beta. And, for the latest information and updates, keep checking WorldofWarcraft.com/news and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

    See you in Northrend!

  2. #2
    lol it's funny how Wrath seems to look better than Dragonflight.

    This is not poly count or resolution, it's just the artistic use of environments.

  3. #3
    The Lightbringer Fullmetal89's Avatar
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    I am so hyped for a 15-year-old game! Can't wait to spend months farming Naxx on my ret pally so I can be denied Betrayer of Humanity over and over again. Ninja loot/master loot hype!!!

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Swnem View Post
    lol it's funny how Wrath seems to look better than Dragonflight.

    This is not poly count or resolution, it's just the artistic use of environments.
    nostalgia is a hell of a drug

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by deenman View Post
    nostalgia is a hell of a drug
    It's not nostalgia. Wrath zones looked a lot different than anything that came before it. Everybody remembers their first time in Storm Peaks, or Grizzly Hills. I can't even remember what the Shadowlands zones are called.
    How joyous to be in such a place! Where phishing is not only allowed, it is encouraged!

  6. #6
    Seriously tooting your horn like its a new expansion when in reality its as rerun.... how stupid am Blizzard?

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Ringthane View Post
    It's not nostalgia. Wrath zones looked a lot different than anything that came before it. Everybody remembers their first time in Storm Peaks, or Grizzly Hills. I can't even remember what the Shadowlands zones are called.
    Yeah the zones were cool at the time,but they have fallen a lot behind the new ones,you proly dont remember the new zones because you got old and bitter,the game doesnt feel new and interesting to you like it did,i have the same feeling,but im not blind to the reality that is before my eyes

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Ringthane View Post
    It's not nostalgia. Wrath zones looked a lot different than anything that came before it. Everybody remembers their first time in Storm Peaks, or Grizzly Hills. I can't even remember what the Shadowlands zones are called.
    I have to agree with deenman. It's like how TBC Classic (or whatever it is called) where I saw quite a number of people saying it was boring or getting boring because they've played it for so long already - yet it was one of the expansions people claimed was "the best". In my opinion, Wrath was alright when it was new, but then it quickly felt boring afterwards. There was very little reason to visit any of the zones again once you were done leveling, save for a small number of daily quests that rarely changed. Other than that, 80% or so of each zone was just used as a questing area and you never went back there ever. Yes, this is true for pretty much every expansion until Legion (due to world quests), but for some reason Wrath felt much more desolate.

    Wrath was also the start of Blizzard using one to two sets of questing gear/green item appearances for each armor type, but in various colors. Vanilla and TBC at least used a multitude of item appearances, even if they mismatched. Something I am not fond of, as each expansion now has very limited options for transmog, save for raids some times having some neat items. If none of the choices appeal to someone, well then they will just have to hope the next expansion has better looking gear.

    Again, this is all MY opinion and your mileage may vary.
    Last edited by RevenantReaper; 2022-08-11 at 07:01 AM.

  9. #9
    The Lightbringer Azerox's Avatar
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    Maaan dis is like brand new stuff
    /sarcasm

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by deenman View Post
    Yeah the zones were cool at the time,but they have fallen a lot behind the new ones,you proly dont remember the new zones because you got old and bitter,the game doesnt feel new and interesting to you like it did,i have the same feeling,but im not blind to the reality that is before my eyes
    Falling behind is not necessarily to the old zones' detriment given how... unfriendly the design of the more recent zones has been.

    I also think that Northrend zones are simply very well designed, irrespective of whatever nostalgia I/we might have for them. I remember liking Northrend zones from the very beginning. By contrast, I mostly disliked Outland zones during TBC but grew to like them later because of nostalgia.

  11. #11
    I agree. I think blizzard go too far these days with maps that are confusing (yes I sound very old), filled with valleys and unclimbable hills. New zones look interesting, but are a bit of a nightmare to traverse without flying.

  12. #12
    I did not play wrath and zones are more beautiful than modern

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Swnem View Post
    lol it's funny how Wrath seems to look better than Dragonflight.

    This is not poly count or resolution, it's just the artistic use of environments.
    I could draw up a better looking Icecrown in 15 minutes using MS Paint and one of my feet.

  14. #14
    Reforged Gone Wrong The Stormbringer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Swnem View Post
    lol it's funny how Wrath seems to look better than Dragonflight.

    This is not poly count or resolution, it's just the artistic use of environments.
    No offense, but I think that's just a matter of opinion. Dragonflight looks pretty damn good from what I've seen. I still think Wrath looks quite good, but they really stepped up their art game with MoP and going forward.

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Zypherz View Post
    I could draw up a better looking Icecrown in 15 minutes using MS Paint and one of my feet.

    Do it and upload to Youtube.

  16. #16
    Bloodsail Admiral Konteil's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by deenman View Post
    Yeah the zones were cool at the time,but they have fallen a lot behind the new ones,you proly dont remember the new zones because you got old and bitter,the game doesnt feel new and interesting to you like it did,i have the same feeling,but im not blind to the reality that is before my eyes
    good thing im old and like reruns lol. hell i watch the same handful of movies and shows. and never tire of them. si i guessim teh old guy demographic they are catering to and i cant be more excited.
    “Listen, three eyes,” he said, “don’t you try to outweird me, I get stranger things than you free with my breakfast cereal.”

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Jotunhammer View Post
    Seriously tooting your horn like its a new expansion when in reality its as rerun.... how stupid am Blizzard?
    Lol was about to comment that. They are presenting the stuff like its brand new.
    English is not my main language so grammar errors might happen.

  18. #18
    Borean Tundra suuuuccckkked.

  19. #19
    I still like questing in these zones (especially Howling Fjord), I always liked how the Alliance and Horde experiences feel so much different with their own stories. We don't really get that these days where we all get the exact same quests. The aethestics and atmosphere remains some of the best.

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