5 things you should know before buying WoW: Shadowlands

Still undecided if you want to buy WoW: Shadowlands? We tell you everything you have to take into account.

For fans of World of Warcraft, the most exciting time of the year begins because the new Shadowlands expansion is just around the corner. Starting November 24, players can flock to the Shadowlands to track down Sylvanas Windrunner as they foil the mysterious jailer's plans.

But what do you need to know before buying Shadowlands? What should be considered before buying the extension? We tell you 5 things you should consider before buying

1. Test the changes without buying

With the Shadowlands expansion, Blizzard has significantly revised all 12 classes. All characters now have more abilities than before, and all specializations in a class share many spells, similar to Vanilla back then. The play style of some classes was also adapted. Specializations like Shadow Priest now work noticeably different than in the days of Battle for Azeroth.

You don't have to buy Shadowlands to find out if the new way to play your favorite class is still fun. You can simply get a one-month subscription and try the game now because the class changes were already active with patch 9.0. If you enjoy your favorite class's new gameplay, this is a good indicator of whether the Shadowlands purchase is worth it.

If you're interested in all the class changes in detail, you can also check out the full 9.0 patch notes.

More freedom, but also more compulsion

In Shadowlands, players are faced with important decisions. Choosing one of the four covenants is just the beginning. Each pact comes with special abilities, cosmetic rewards, and even a separate campaign that defines Shadowlands' end.

But don't worry: with a little effort, the pact's choice can be reversed and reconsidered. However, you need to consider in advance what the consequences of decisions will be and whether you are really satisfied with them.

This is a new kind of freedom and choice that has never been seen before in World of Warcraft.

You start in the bastion, without exception.

In other places, however, there is more coercion. For the first time in a long time, you can't just go out and grade in an area of your choice. You have to follow a fixed order in which to approach the areas of the Shadowlands. You start in the stronghold, travel through Maldraxxus to Ardenwald, and finally end in Revendreth. You have no choice; the first character has to play the entire campaign.

The second characters can simply skip this process.

Less loot, more significant

There will be much less loot to get in Shadowlands than in previous expansions. Therefore, you will no longer be showered with loot in all dungeons and will have to work harder to get some items. However, this is offset by the fact that the objects are less subject to random factors. Items can no longer be "Warforged." You always know what kind of item you can get, what item level it has, and what attributes it is equipped with.

The feel of a slot machine, where items need to be exactly the right value to be truly useful, is a thing of the past.

That was a great critique of the latest additions. The prey should once again feel more meaningful and valuable. Updates can be recognized as such, and it is not necessary to run multiple simulations to get a result.

Which version is correct?

If you decide to buy WoW: Shadowlands, you have to make another selection. Because which version of the game is the best? Is the Base Edition enough for € 40? Do you prefer the Heroic Edition for € 55? Or do you go "all in" and get the Epic Edition for € 75?

That depends entirely on your own needs. If you just want to have the basic game, you already have a character at level 50, and you are not interested in "bells and whistles," the Base Edition is a good option.

However, if you want to have a character upgrade to level 50 or a special transmog set, you should also take a close look at the other editions. We have an exact breakdown of all versions of Shadowlands here.

More than known

Basically, as a buyer, you should be aware that Shadowlands (like all expansions) offers new areas and stories, but only the basic gameplay has changed a bit. The core activities remain the same as we have known for years.

The basic ending remains the same, even if there are new dungeons and raids.

The end game consists largely of the already known activities:

Raids on 4 Difficulties: From LFR "Tourist Mode" to Hardcore Mythical Mode, There's Something for Everyone
Difficulty Escalation Dungeons: Dungeons continue to rely on the "Mythic +" system, where instances are getting more difficult, but better loot awaits.
PvP: Arenas and Battlegrounds are overdue; rewards can be purchased directly from the dealer.

But there are also new approaches and content like the Torghast tower, which always brings new challenges. However, it's doubtful that this can keep people excited long enough to enjoy the other content.

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If you've considered all of these points and made them clear to you, then you should already have a good idea of whether Shadowlands is the right expansion for you.