Do I Still Need Heart of Azeroth? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: no, you don’t need the Heart of Azeroth for current endgame content in World of Warcraft. Its unique powers and traits are disabled in the current expansion, Dragonflight, and the Shadowlands. However, the Heart of Azeroth isn’t entirely useless. It retains its base stat values, acting as a regular necklace, and all of its associated Essences and Azerite armor functionality is still available in the areas they were designed for. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics and address common questions surrounding this iconic item from the Battle for Azeroth expansion.
Heart of Azeroth: Functionality in Different Expansions
The Heart of Azeroth was the central progression system of the Battle for Azeroth (BfA) expansion. It granted players access to powerful Azerite Traits on special armor pieces and allowed the use of potent Essences, both of which significantly augmented player power. However, as World of Warcraft has evolved through subsequent expansions, the functionality of the Heart has shifted.
Shadowlands
When you entered the Shadowlands, the Heart of Azeroth’s unique powers were effectively disabled. While you could still equip it and benefit from its base stats like stamina or intellect, it no longer provided Azerite Trait bonuses or the active abilities from Essences. In the Shadowlands, it functioned as a standard necklace with stats.
Dragonflight
The situation remains similar in Dragonflight. The Heart of Azeroth will still be equipped, and its primary stats will apply to your character, but the Azerite Traits and Essences remain disabled in the Dragonflight zones. You can effectively consider it a stat stick, providing basic power but no unique abilities.
Battle for Azeroth Zones
The Heart of Azeroth retains all its functionality when you are in Battle for Azeroth zones and engaging with Battle for Azeroth content. You will still be able to access the Azerite Traits on your Azerite Armor, utilize your unlocked Essences, and experience its power as it was originally designed. This means you can use it for content such as Timewalking events that involve BFA dungeons, and any legacy content farming you might be doing there.
Is the Heart of Azeroth Worth Keeping?
Despite its reduced function in current content, the Heart of Azeroth is not an item to simply discard.
- Legacy Content: As mentioned before, the Heart of Azeroth fully functions within the Battle for Azeroth expansion. Players revisiting old content, farming transmogs or mounts, will still benefit from its unique powers and the associated Azerite Traits and Essences in those zones.
- Essences Collection: Your Essences are not deletable. You cannot delete the Heart and all Essences that you’ve collected for it. It may be worth keeping to help you when doing legacy raids and dungeons in Battle for Azeroth.
- Base Stats: Even in the newer expansions, it still offers the base stats which can help as you level your character.
- Nostalgia: For many players, the Heart of Azeroth is a symbolic piece of the game’s history. Keeping it might serve as a memory of their experiences during the Battle for Azeroth expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I delete my Heart of Azeroth?
No, you cannot delete the Heart of Azeroth. The game prevents you from destroying it, ensuring you retain its base stats and the ability to use it in Battle for Azeroth content.
2. Can I remove Essences from my inventory?
No, you cannot remove or delete the Essences you’ve earned for the Heart of Azeroth. They will remain in your inventory.
3. How do I obtain the Heart of Azeroth?
To obtain the Heart of Azeroth, you must complete the quest “A Dying World,” which starts in your capital city Boralus or Dazar’alor. Your character must be at least level 50 and not currently in the introductory Dragonflight questline to start this quest.
4. Does the Heart of Azeroth work in Dragonflight dungeons or raids?
No, the Heart of Azeroth does not function with its unique Azerite powers in Dragonflight dungeons or raids. You’ll only benefit from its basic stats while in those areas.
5. Is Battle for Azeroth (BfA) content worth playing?
Yes, BfA content is still worth playing, especially for players who want to experience the story, acquire mounts and transmogs, and relive their memories from that expansion. There is plenty to do at all levels.
6. Do I need Battle for Azeroth to play Dragonflight?
No, you do not need to buy the Battle for Azeroth expansion to play Dragonflight. With a World of Warcraft subscription, you have access to all previous expansions up to and including Shadowlands. You will only need to buy the current expansion (Dragonflight) to access it.
7. Why did people dislike the Battle for Azeroth expansion?
The Battle for Azeroth expansion received mixed feedback due to its endgame power systems and some story elements. Many players felt it didn’t live up to the standard set by its predecessor, Legion.
8. What are Azerite Traits?
Azerite Traits are special bonuses found on Azerite armor pieces that were powered by the Heart of Azeroth. These traits could enhance your character’s abilities and playstyle, but are disabled in the current content.
9. What are Essences?
Essences were additional customization tools for the Heart of Azeroth that provide active and passive abilities, further enhancing your character’s power. Like Azerite Traits, they only function in BfA content.
10. Do inactive characters get deleted?
No, World of Warcraft does not delete inactive characters. They may rename inactive characters with commonly used names if someone requests it, but the characters are still in the system.
11. What is the “WTF” folder in the World of Warcraft directory?
The “WTF” folder stores your in-game settings, addon data, and other configuration files. It is safe to delete the cache, logs folders, but not the WTF folder as this will wipe your in game settings.
12. How do I fix World of Warcraft using too much memory?
You can try resetting your User Interface, reducing your view distance in the game settings, and upgrading to a 64-bit operating system to improve performance and reduce memory usage.
13. What is the best World of Warcraft expansion according to players?
Many players consider Wrath of the Lich King to be the best expansion, based on its critical acclaim and lasting impact on the game.
14. Why are WoW Token prices so high?
WoW Token prices are influenced by in-game factors like an overabundance of gold, new items in the Blizzard store, and the release of new games, such as Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2.
15. Is World of Warcraft still worth playing in 2024?
Yes, World of Warcraft remains one of the most popular MMOs in the world. It has a lot of content to keep players invested, and a very big player base, making it a great game to play in 2024.
Conclusion
While the Heart of Azeroth has lost its core functionality in current World of Warcraft content, it is not completely obsolete. It continues to function in its original zones, providing access to Azerite Traits and Essences. Understanding its limitations and continued uses allows you to better navigate both current and legacy content in World of Warcraft. Therefore, despite not being essential in Dragonflight, the Heart of Azeroth remains a valuable part of your characters history and collection.