Do You Need to Complete Shadowlands Before Dragonflight? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer is no, you absolutely do not need to complete the Shadowlands campaign before diving headfirst into Dragonflight. Blizzard Entertainment has designed Dragonflight to be accessible to new and returning players alike, regardless of their experience with the Shadowlands expansion. Think of it as a fresh start, a new chapter in the World of Warcraft saga.

Moving On From The Shadowlands

While Shadowlands offered a specific storyline and endgame experience, Dragonflight introduces a brand-new narrative, zone, and progression system. You can jump straight into the Dragonflight content as long as you meet the minimum level requirement. This is a welcome change for many who found the Shadowlands systems restrictive.

Dragonflight is designed to be a standalone experience, meaning that the narrative threads introduced in Shadowlands are largely concluded or addressed in a way that doesn’t require prior knowledge. You won’t be lost in the story or unable to participate in the core gameplay loops if you haven’t completed the Shadowlands campaign. In fact, the game anticipates players joining from various points in the game’s history.

Shadowlands, Dragonflight, and Leveling

The level squish implemented before Shadowlands made this transition even smoother. Now, reaching level 60 is a relatively quick process, achievable through various leveling methods, including previous expansions. The Dragonflight expansion requires players to be level 60 to start the Dragon Isles questline. This means you can level up to 60 using any content you prefer—be it classic zones, Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, Mists of Pandaria, Warlords of Draenor, Legion, or Battle for Azeroth.

For players who prefer a streamlined experience, there’s the option to level through Chromie Time, which allows you to choose an expansion timeline and level within that content from level 10 to 60. This allows players to enjoy the content they prefer while leveling and it’s a great way for new players to catch up and enjoy the storylines that interest them.

Threads of Fate and Skipping Shadowlands

For those who did venture into Shadowlands and are leveling alts, the Threads of Fate system, which allows you to skip the main Shadowlands campaign, is available to level 60 characters in the latest Dragonflight builds. This option lets players immediately choose a Covenant and begin engaging in world quests and other activities to level up, bypassing the linear campaign progression.

Dragonflight Campaign Requirements

In Dragonflight, however, while there are no prior expansion requirements, you will need to finish all the main quests of the expansion itself. Completing the main quests unlocks World Quests, randomized tasks that reward gear, supplies, and reputation. Another reason to clear the campaign is unlocking Adventure Mode for your alts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the transition from Shadowlands to Dragonflight:

1. Can I buy Dragonflight without owning Shadowlands? Yes, once Dragonflight launches, Shadowlands will be rolled into the base game subscription. Until Dragonflight launches, you will need to buy Shadowlands to play Shadowlands. Buying Dragonflight will not give you access to Shadowlands.

2. What level do I need to be to start Dragonflight? Your character needs to be at least level 60 to begin the Dragonflight intro questline.

3. How do I start the Dragonflight questline? Once you reach level 60, the Dragonflight intro questline will become available in Stormwind (for Alliance) or Orgrimmar (for Horde).

4. Can I still access Shadowlands content after Dragonflight is released? Yes, you can still access Shadowlands dungeons, raids, and zones. However, your focus will likely shift to the new Dragonflight content for progression and rewards.

5. Can I level to 60 without going through Shadowlands at all? Yes, you can level to 60 using previous expansions through Chromie Time, quests, dungeons, pet battles, or battlegrounds.

6. What happens if I pre-ordered Dragonflight but don’t own Shadowlands? You won’t be able to access Dragonflight content until it launches. You’ll need to reach level 60 using existing content or purchase Shadowlands to level in that expansion before Dragonflight‘s release.

7. Is Dragonflight a good expansion for new World of Warcraft players? Yes, Dragonflight is designed to be accessible and engaging for new players. The return of the Dragonflights as Azeroth’s protectors offers a compelling entry point into the game’s lore. The story is mostly self-contained and offers a fresh perspective on Azeroth.

8. What should I do in Shadowlands before Dragonflight launches? If you enjoy collecting, focus on completing Shadowlands achievements, obtaining mounts, and finishing covenant storylines. If you enjoy raiding, then you could get the Vengeance’s Reins – Mythic Sylvanas Mount or Fractal Cypher of the Zereth Overseer – Mythic Jailer Mount. If you’re more concerned with prepping a character for Dragonflight, clear out your quest log, and bags.

9. Can I skip the Shadowlands campaign on my alts? Yes, with the return of Threads of Fate for level 60 characters, you can skip the Shadowlands campaign on your alts and choose a Covenant immediately.

10. Will my Shadowlands Covenant choice affect my experience in Dragonflight? No, your Shadowlands Covenant choice will not significantly impact your gameplay in Dragonflight. The Covenant system is largely separate from the Dragonflight expansion.

11. Can I do Shadowlands dungeons while leveling in Dragonflight? For characters that own Dragonflight and are level 60 or higher, your character will only be able to queue for dungeons in the current expansion. In either case, characters can use the LFG tool to make groups for Shadowlands dungeons or manually use the dungeon’s entrance in game.

12. How long does it take to level from 60 to 70 in Dragonflight? It will take you anywhere from two to 15 hours to reach Level 70 in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight.

13. Can I go to the Dragon Isles at level 58? No, you need to be level 60 to start the Dragonflight intro questline and access the Dragon Isles.

14. Where can I find more resources about game-based learning and research? For those interested in the broader applications of games and learning, I highly recommend checking out the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The GamesLearningSociety.org is a great place to learn about the research and best practices being used in learning environments to improve the learning processes.

15. What expansion was before Dragonflight? Shadowlands (2020) was the expansion before Dragonflight (2022).

Conclusion

In summary, you don’t need to complete Shadowlands before playing Dragonflight. The new expansion offers a fresh start, allowing you to jump in and experience the Dragon Isles without being bogged down by previous content. With the ability to level up through various expansions and the return of Threads of Fate, accessing Dragonflight has never been easier. Prepare your characters, embrace the new story, and get ready to soar through the skies of the Dragon Isles!