Do I Need to Do Shadowlands Before Dragonflight? A Comprehensive Guide
The burning question on the minds of many World of Warcraft players is whether they need to delve into the realms of the Shadowlands before soaring into the Dragon Isles with the latest expansion, Dragonflight. The short answer is: No, you do not need to complete the Shadowlands campaign to play Dragonflight. While Shadowlands is now effectively part of the base game, and a significant part of WoW lore, its campaign is not a mandatory stepping stone to the new content. Let’s dive into why and what that means for your gaming experience.
Understanding the Transition
Shadowlands Becomes Part of the Base Game
With the launch of Dragonflight, Shadowlands was integrated into the base World of Warcraft experience. This means that you no longer need to purchase it separately to experience its content (though this might not apply for all users). If you have a base WoW account, you likely have access to the entire Shadowlands storyline and content. However, this doesn’t mean you need to play through it to experience Dragonflight.
Leveling to 60 and Beyond
The key point here is that Dragonflight requires your character to be at least Level 60 to begin its questline. Whether you reach that level through Shadowlands content or another means is entirely up to you. The game offers multiple paths to level up, and it is entirely possible to bypass the Shadowlands campaign and jump straight to Dragonflight when you reach the right level.
Threads of Fate: Skipping the Shadowlands Campaign
The “Threads of Fate” system, introduced within the Shadowlands expansion, has made a return for Level 60 characters in the recent Dragonflight PTR builds. This crucial system allows players to effectively skip the entire Shadowlands leveling campaign. Instead of being forced to follow the main story, you can select a Covenant right away and begin exploring the Shadowlands zones through your own personal adventure. This feature has now become an inherent part of the leveling experience, allowing you to skip the Shadowlands campaign as early as level 60 if you so choose.
Why Might You Choose to Play Shadowlands?
Although not mandatory, there are still reasons why you might be interested in completing the Shadowlands content:
Lore and Story
The Shadowlands storyline is a significant part of World of Warcraft’s overall narrative. If you are interested in the game’s lore, and want a deep dive into the realms of death and the cosmic forces at play, then you might want to play through the campaign at least once on one character.
Collectibles and Achievements
Shadowlands offers numerous collectibles, including mounts, pets, transmog gear, and achievements. These items might appeal to completionists and those seeking unique rewards. For instance, you may want to pursue the coveted Vengeance’s Reins mount from Mythic Sylvanas or the Fractal Cypher of the Zereth Overseer from Mythic Jailer. Don’t forget about those Covenant Collections and Shadowlands Raid and Dungeon Glories!
Gaining Experience
While other methods are often faster, going through Shadowlands content is still a method of leveling. If you are below level 60, you will likely be doing quests in the Shadowlands areas. However, you can quickly bypass those quests once your character hits that golden 60 mark!
How to Start Dragonflight
Reaching Level 60
To begin your adventure in the Dragon Isles, your character must be at least level 60. This is the primary requirement. Regardless of whether you leveled through previous expansions or bypassed Shadowlands, as long as you are level 60, you are ready to travel to the Dragon Isles.
The Intro Quest
Once you reach level 60, the Dragonflight intro questline will become available in either Stormwind (for Alliance players) or Orgrimmar (for Horde players). The intro quest is relatively short and serves as a gateway to the new content. It will quickly take you to the Dragon Isles where the primary adventure begins.
No Need to Finish the Dragonflight Campaign, But…
While you can jump into other activities right away, you’ll ultimately need to complete the main quests of the Dragonflight expansion to unlock World Quests and other important features. Doing so will unlock additional end-game content for your alts, too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some additional questions to clarify the situation further:
1. Can I skip Shadowlands entirely?
Yes, you can effectively skip the entire Shadowlands leveling campaign by reaching level 60 through other means. Once you are 60, you can jump directly to Dragonflight.
2. What if I don’t own Shadowlands?
Most accounts that previously owned an expansion, now include Shadowlands for free. This means you can access the content without an additional purchase. However, if you do not own it, your level cap will be limited to 50. You will need Dragonflight to level up beyond this.
3. What happens if I have not done Shadowlands and am level 60?
You’ll be able to pick up the Dragonflight intro quest in Stormwind or Orgrimmar and start your journey. Your previous experience in the Shadowlands is irrelevant.
4. Do I need to do the Shadowlands campaign for end-game content?
No, the end-game content in Dragonflight is completely separate from Shadowlands. You don’t need to finish any of the Shadowlands campaign to enjoy it.
5. What level can I get to without Shadowlands?
Without owning the Shadowlands expansion, your maximum level is capped at 50. You will need Dragonflight to level beyond this point.
6. How do I start Shadowlands if I want to experience it now?
If you are below level 60, you can head to the Stormwind Embassy (for Alliance) or Orgrimmar Embassy (for Horde) and speak with Chromie to choose the “Realms of Death” timeline to begin the Shadowlands introductory quests.
7. Is there any benefit to doing Shadowlands before Dragonflight?
The primary benefit is the storytelling and lore experience. Also, it is a place to gain experience while leveling a character between level 1 and 60, if you so choose. You might also want to collect specific rewards found within that expansion, as well.
8. Can I go back to Shadowlands after starting Dragonflight?
Yes, you can still travel back to the Shadowlands zones using the portal room in Stormwind or Orgrimmar if you want to complete anything you might have missed.
9. What are the benefits of completing the Dragonflight campaign?
Completing the Dragonflight campaign unlocks World Quests, Adventure Mode for alts, and further end-game content. It also unlocks a lot of important end-game features.
10. Do I need to buy the base game to play Dragonflight?
The base World of Warcraft game is not sold separately. When you purchase Dragonflight, you effectively have access to all base content, including older expansions.
11. What should I do if I don’t have Shadowlands?
If you don’t have Shadowlands, there are still plenty of things you can do. You could experience old raids and dungeons, do old quests, farm transmog gear, get into pet battles, or farm for pets and mounts.
12. How long does it take to reach level 70 in Dragonflight?
Reaching level 70 in Dragonflight can vary from 2 to 15 hours, depending on how you level and what you focus on.
13. Is Dragonflight connected to the Shadowlands storyline?
While Dragonflight follows the events of Shadowlands chronologically, the story is largely independent. The game takes place three years later on the Dragon Isles.
14. Can I start Dragonflight at level 58?
No, you need to be at least level 60 to start the Dragonflight introductory quest and begin your journey to the Dragon Isles.
15. What should I do after reaching level 70 in Dragonflight?
After hitting level 70, you should focus on gearing up through World Quests, heroic dungeons, and then moving to mythic dungeons and Mythic+ runs as the season progresses.
Conclusion
In summary, you do not need to play through Shadowlands to start Dragonflight. The focus is on reaching level 60, which can be accomplished through various means. Whether you delve into the Shadowlands or choose to skip it is entirely up to you. Dragonflight offers a fresh start with new storylines and adventures, making it accessible to all players regardless of their previous Shadowlands experience. So, gear up, level up, and get ready to take to the skies on the Dragon Isles!