Battle for Azeroth Island Expeditions Guide
Battle for Azeroth brings a new Island Expeditions feature. Taking what the team liked from Mists of Pandaria's scenarios and stepping it up, these expeditions take a team of three players to uncharted islands across the Great Sea in search of Azerite against advanced AI opponents.
- The first team to collect a certain amount of Azerite wins.
- Each island is randomly generated and so there is always something unique and new to find.
- The enemy AI does not behave like normal scripted creature AI. They will fight in a much more unpredictable way.
- Island Expeditions are role agnostic, meaning that they do not require a Tank, Healer and DPS in order to succeed.
- Difficulties include Normal, Heroic and Mythic.
- There is also a PvP mode where the enemy AI is replaced with 3 players of the opposite faction.
Island Expeditions Loading Screen
How to Unlock Island Expeditions
You will unlock the ability to queue for Island Expeditions by progressing your War Campaign. At one point you will receive a quest that places you in a solo scenario on a small island and has you go through the ropes of what a basic Island Expedition entails. Completing this will unlock the ability to queue for Island Expeditions on all characters on your account provided they are 110 or above.
Where to Queue for Unlock Island Expeditions
Once you unlock Island expeditions you can queue for them at the Expedition Map in the following locations:
- Alliance - Boralus Harbor
- Horde - Port of Zandalar
Island Expedition Difficulty Modes
Island Expeditions have 4 difficulty modes:
- Normal - Collect 6,000 Azerite.
- Heroic - Collect 9,000 Azerite. Requires item level 295.
- Mythic - Collect 12,000 Azerite. Requires item level 315.
- PvP - Requires item level 295 and a group of three to queue.
Replayability of Island Expeditions
Islands are a unique experience every time you queue up for one. There are countless different themes, enemies and environments you can come across and it's random each time you start one. There will also be different puzzles and obstacles to face every time you visit.
Island Content that is randomly generated:
- Creatures
- Capture points
- Chests and Azerite Nodes
- Questgivers
- Consumables and Shrines
- Start Locations
- Weather
- Environmental hazards
- Caves, Ships...and more!
Island Locales
Three different island locales will be active at any given week with a total of 7 locales at release.
- Dread Chain
- Molten Cay
- Rotting Mire
- Skittering Hollow
- Whispering Reef
- Ungol Ruins
- Verdant Wilds
Island Expeditions UI
When you click on the map you will see your weekly Azerite quest progress as well as the three active Islands for the week. A drawing next to the island maps will showcase what type of enemy is found on that island. You can also select the difficulty before queuing up. Mousing over the difficulty will show you the reward for completion.
Map
The Island map behaves like most other games with Fog of War. Things that are close enough to see for one of your group members are updated on the map. It displays various objectives on the island including Azerite node locations, events, quests and the location of the enemy team. There is also an Azerite Detector timer that counts down and when it runs out, all sources of Azerite will be displayed on the map.
- Blue diamond shapes mark an Azerite source.
- Skulls mark a mini-boss that rewards Azerite.
- X symbols mark an Azerite source in an area that hasn't been explored yet.
- Faction symbols mark the enemy faction players on the map.
- Both factions have a ship icon that mark the initial spawn point.
Enemy AI
Battle for Azeroth will feature new NPC AI for Island Expeditions. This AI is not scripted and will not behave in the way a normal creature usually does. This new AI will behave more like actual players taking part in PvP would. Examples include polymorphing or sapping your healer while you are engaged in a boss fight. This AI also is well aware of important map objectives and will constantly be giving you a run for your money as you race to complete objectives. This AI can make strategic decisions as well. They may stop what they are doing to come disrupt the objective you are working on or to steal your Azerite. Different opponents will also have distinct personalities and unique behaviors. An example would be Sneaky Pete, a rogue who likes to disrupt healers.
Island Buffs
There are several buffs that can be found on islands:
- Azerite Energy - These globes come from more powerful enemies on the island and are needed for Give Me The Energy
- Shrines - Similar to the shrines on Timeless Isle, you can find these across the islands, allowing for a single player to utilize the buff.
- Other Items - You can find other buff items around the island that give you a one time use ability or food that heals you.
Island Consumables
A seafaring vendor shows up at the docks each day to provide unique buffs and consumables to use on the island at the cost of Seafarer's Dubloons earned from expeditions. These power ups tend to fill in role gaps. Examples include buffs to make an Arms Warrior more tanky or another consumable that allows a Mage to heal.
Island Expedition Rewards
Island Expeditions are going to be the most lucrative form of gaining Azerite power. While the Azerite you gain during the match goes towards your faction, you receive some for yourself in many different ways.
- Once a week you may complete Azerite for the Horde or Azerite for the Alliance for a hefty chunk of Azerite.
- A winning bonus that is more lucrative based on the difficulty.
- Rare quest item rewards from drops such as Unscarred Black Scale during an expedition.
- PvP mode also rewards 50 conquest points in addition to Azerite.
Mounts - Island Expedition Rewards
There are some mounts that are rewarded from Island Expeditions!
Pets - Island Expedition Rewards
There are some pets that are rewarded from Island Expeditions!
- Poro
- Barnaby
- Inky
- Bloodstone Tunneler
- Captain Nibs
- Coldlight Surfrunner
- Craghoof Kid
- Deathsting Scorpid
- False Knucklebump
- Giggling Flame
- Juvenile Brineshell
- Kindleweb Spiderling
- Kunchong Hatchling
- Laughing Stonekin
- Littlehoof
- Mischievous Zephyr
- Muskflank Calfling
- Octopode Fry
- Playful Frostkin
- Sandshell Chitterer
- Scuttle
- Snapper
- Snort
- Sparkleshell Sandcrawler
- Sunscale Hatchling
- Thistlebrush Bud
- Voru'kar Leecher
Weapons and Armor - Island Expedition Rewards
There are some new models and color variations of existing models in the weapons rewarded from Island Expeditions.
Level Type Slot Name Model Viewer 325 Off Hand Off Hand Plundered Sapling Seed Modelviewer325 Off Hand Off Hand Plundered Ambershaper's Egg Modelviewer325 Off Hand Off Hand Plundered Sand-Scoured Fetish Modelviewer325 Off Hand Off Hand Plundered Codex of Otherworldly Vision Modelviewer200 Cloth Shoulders Plundered Runecaster's Mantle Modelviewer200 Leather Shoulders Plundered Shoveltusk-Hide Shoulders Modelviewer200 Shoulders Plundered Dragonrider Spaulders Modelviewer200 Plate Shoulders Plundered Gjalerbron Pauldrons Modelviewer325 Shield Off Hand Plundered Torga Blessed Bulwark Modelviewer325 Shield Off Hand Plundered Totem Barrier Modelviewer325 Shield Off Hand Plundered Jadefury Shield Modelviewer325 Shield Off Hand Plundered Beacon-Light Bulwark Modelviewer1 Cosmetic Head Plundered Blue Captain's Hat Modelviewer1 Cosmetic Head Plundered Crimson Captain's Hat Modelviewer1 Cosmetic Head Plundered Pirate Admiral's Bicorne Modelviewer325 One-handed Axe One Hand Plundered Heart Hacker Modelviewer325 One-handed Axe One Hand Plundered Ice-Etched Axe Modelviewer325 One-handed Axe One Hand Plundered Skullsplitter Modelviewer325 One-handed Axe One Hand Plundered Iceshard Bite Modelviewer325 Two-handed Axe Two Hand Plundered Fury-Fin Axe Modelviewer325 Two-handed Axe Two Hand Plundered Molten Reaper Modelviewer325 Two-handed Axe Two Hand Plundered Wingblade Axe Modelviewer325 Bow Ranged Plundered Biting Shot Longbow Modelviewer325 Bow Ranged Plundered Longhunt Bow Modelviewer325 Bow Ranged Plundered Bow of the Chosen Modelviewer325 Gun Ranged Plundered Amber Slinger Modelviewer325 Gun Ranged Plundered Windblaster Modelviewer325 Gun Ranged Plundered Dragon Roar-Barrel Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Horn Pummeler Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Obsidian Scale Smasher Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Stump Mace Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Mrggll Masher Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Paragon's Mace Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Geode Gavel Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Frost Scepter Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Coilpoint Scepter Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Mogu Scepter Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Essence Font Scepter Modelviewer325 One-handed Mace One Hand Plundered Sandstone Gavel Modelviewer325 Two-handed Mace Two Hand Plundered Troll Ceremonial Basher Modelviewer325 Two-handed Mace Two Hand Plundered Petrified Tree Modelviewer325 Two-handed Mace Two Hand Plundered Tenderizing Crusher Modelviewer325 Two-handed Mace Two Hand Plundered Fireheart Pummeler Modelviewer325 Two-handed Mace Two Hand Plundered Crag Basher Modelviewer325 Two-handed Mace Two Hand Plundered Twilight Pummeler Modelviewer325 Two-handed Mace Two Hand Plundered Firegeode Mace Modelviewer325 Polearm Two Hand Plundered Poleaxe of Intimidation Modelviewer325 Polearm Two Hand Plundered Vanguard Trident Modelviewer325 Polearm Two Hand Plundered Jinyu Spear Modelviewer325 Polearm Two Hand Plundered Berserker's Poleaxe Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Splitblade Slicer Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Sand-Dweller's Scimitar Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Carapace Linked Longsword Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Sandfury Blade Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Celestial Finblade Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Jinyu Longsword Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Swarmer's Blade Modelviewer325 One-handed Sword One Hand Plundered Seacrystal Blade Modelviewer325 Two-handed Sword Two Hand Plundered Jadestar Blade Modelviewer325 Two-handed Sword Two Hand Plundered Blade of Northern Kings Modelviewer325 Two-handed Sword Two Hand Plundered Scalebane Claymore Modelviewer325 Two-handed Sword Two Hand Plundered Farakki Hacker Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Voodoo Dancer Stave Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Sea-Sinew Stave Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Hozen Chieftain's Stave Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Silverpaw Staff Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Thorncrowned Stave Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Keeper's Stave Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Oracle Fin Staff Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Squidcaster Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Embercrystal Staff Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Tainted Scarab Stave Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Flamecaster Stave Modelviewer325 Staff Two Hand Plundered Waterbearer's Staff Modelviewer325 Fist Weapon One Hand Plundered Bear-Carved Fists Modelviewer325 Fist Weapon One Hand Plundered Coral-Scale Claw Modelviewer325 Fist Weapon One Hand Plundered Drillbore Fists Modelviewer325 Fist Weapon One Hand Plundered Twinscale Handblade Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Junglestalker's Talon Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Tiki-Bound Blade Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Seatusk Shiv Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Barb-Edged Dagger Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Twinbarb Shanker Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Trident Barb Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Darkscale Blade Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Twinblade of the Tol'vir Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Darkblade of the Old Gods Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Petrified Kelp Blade Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Waterspeaker's Spellblade Modelviewer325 Dagger One Hand Plundered Shadow-Infused Blade Modelviewer325 Wand Ranged Plundered Death Chatter Wand Modelviewer325 Wand Ranged Plundered Desert Hexxer Modelviewer325 Wand Ranged Plundered Light-Binding Wand Modelviewer325 Wand Ranged Plundered Dragonfist Wand Modelviewer325 Wand Ranged Plundered Wand of Tentacle Horrors Modelviewer
Island Expedition Achievements
The Expedition Leader is the Island Expedition meta achievement, rewarding the Expedition Leader title.
Name Points
Archipelago ExplorerComplete expeditions to five different islands.
Azerite AdmiralCollect 1,000,000 Azerite on Island Expeditions.
Bane of the ChainAchieve victory in an expedition to Dread Chain in PvP.
Bayside BrawlerWin 10 Island Expeditions in PvP.
Blood in the WaterWin 20 Island Expeditions in PvP.
Clash at the CayAchieve victory in an expedition to Molten Cay in PvP.
Competent CaptainWin 20 Island Expeditions on Heroic difficulty or higher.
Dread ChainAchieve victory in an expedition to Dread Chain on any difficulty.
Expedition LeaderComplete all of the Island Expeditions achievements listed below.
Expert ExpeditionerWin 50 Island Expeditions on Mythic difficulty.
Give Me The EnergyCollect 30 globes of Azerite Energy on Island Expeditions.
Helping HandRescue all of the explorers on Island Expeditions listed below.
Heroic: Dread ChainAchieve victory in an expedition to Dread Chain on Heroic difficulty or higher.
Heroic: Molten CayAchieve victory in an expedition to Molten Cay on Heroic difficulty or higher.
Heroic: Rotting MireAchieve victory in an expedition to Rotting Mire on Heroic difficulty or higher.
Heroic: Skittering HollowAchieve victory in an expedition to Skittering Hollow on Heroic difficulty or higher.
Heroic: Un'gol RuinsAchieve victory in an expedition to Un'gol Ruins on Heroic difficulty or higher.
Heroic: Verdant WildsAchieve victory in an expedition to Verdant Wilds on Heroic difficulty or higher.
Heroic: Whispering ReefAchieve victory in an expedition to Whispering Reef on Heroic difficulty or higher.
I'm Here for the PetsObtain all of the Island Expeditions battle pets listed below.
Island ConquerorComplete the Mythic Island Expeditions achievements listed below.
Island SlayerComplete the PvP Island Expeditions achievements listed below.
Metal DetectorLoot 100 Seafarer's Dubloons.
Mire MarauderAchieve victory in an expedition to Rotting Mire in PvP.
Molten CayAchieve victory in an expedition to Molten Cay on any difficulty.
My DubsLoot 10 Seafarer's Dubloons.
Mythic: Dread ChainAchieve victory in an expedition to Dread Chain on Mythic difficulty.
Mythic: Molten CayAchieve victory in an expedition to Molten Cay on Mythic difficulty.
Mythic: Rotting MireAchieve victory in an expedition to Rotting Mire on Mythic difficulty.
Mythic: Skittering HollowAchieve victory in an expedition to Skittering Hollow on Mythic difficulty.
Mythic: Un'gol RuinsAchieve victory in an expedition to Un'gol Ruins on Mythic difficulty.
Mythic: Verdant WildsAchieve victory in an expedition to Verdant Wilds on Mythic difficulty.
Mythic: Whispering ReefAchieve victory in an expedition to Whispering Reef on Mythic difficulty.
No TouristWin 10 Island Expeditions on Normal difficulty or higher.
NotoriousWin 50 Island Expeditions in PvP.
Reef MadnessAchieve victory in an expedition to Whispering Reef in PvP.
Rotting MireAchieve victory in an expedition to Rotting Mire on any difficulty.
Ruined the RuinsAchieve victory in an expedition to Un'gol Ruins in PvP.
Skittering HollowAchieve victory in an expedition to Skittering Hollow on any difficulty.
Skittering SmashedAchieve victory in an expedition to Skittering Hollow in PvP.
Sucker PunchKill a player that is affected by a Sticky Starfish on Island Expeditions.
Team DeathmatchSlay all of the Horde champions listed below.
Team DeathmatchSlay all of the Alliance champions listed below.
Tell Me A TaleComplete all of the Island Expeditions quests listed below.
Un'gol RuinsAchieve victory in an expedition to Un'gol Ruins on any difficulty.
Verdant WildsAchieve victory in an expedition to Verdant Wilds on any difficulty.
War for the WildsAchieve victory in an expedition to Verdant Wilds in PvP.
Whispering ReefAchieve victory in an expedition to Whispering Reef on any difficulty.