Do You Need to Complete Shadowlands to Play Dragonflight?
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The short answer is: no, you do not need to complete the Shadowlands campaign to play Dragonflight. However, there are nuances and benefits to consider before skipping it entirely. While the narrative threads are separate, there are gameplay elements that might make a full or partial completion of Shadowlands beneficial. This article will delve into the specifics, ensuring you’re fully informed before embarking on your Dragon Isles adventure.
Shadowlands and Dragonflight: A Disconnection
The transition between Shadowlands and Dragonflight marks a significant shift in the World of Warcraft narrative. The events of Shadowlands took place in a distinct realm, and while they have implications for the larger Warcraft universe, Dragonflight focuses on a completely different storyline centered around the Dragon Isles and the return of the Dragonflights. This means the narrative connection is minimal, allowing players to jump directly into Dragonflight without a deep understanding of Shadowlands.
The Leveling Experience
The most important factor here is that you need to reach level 60 to begin the Dragonflight campaign. This can be achieved through multiple avenues, and completing the Shadowlands campaign isn’t a necessary requirement for reaching that level. You can:
- Level through Chromie Time by choosing a past expansion, which scales the content to your level.
- Level in the Battle for Azeroth zones, which also scale to the player.
- Level through the Shadowlands content.
With the return of Threads of Fate for level 60 characters, even if you have a level 60 character that hasn’t touched the Shadowlands content, you can bypass the main Shadowlands campaign completely and head straight to Oribos, the hub city for that expansion, and then progress directly into Dragonflight.
The Benefits of Skipping
For many players, skipping Shadowlands can be very appealing. The story of Shadowlands received mixed reviews, and many simply want to move on to the new content. Therefore, bypassing the mandatory campaign on alts is a blessing to many.
The Potential Benefits of Partial Completion
While you don’t need to complete the Shadowlands campaign, there are benefits that might make a partial playthrough worthwhile. For example, completing the campaign on one character will ensure you have access to the benefits of Adventure Mode and World Quests for your alts. The story elements will also help you fully understand a large part of the overall Warcraft story, even though it’s largely disconnected from Dragonflight.
Dragonflight: What You Need to Know
Starting the Dragonflight Campaign
To start the Dragonflight campaign, you’ll need to be level 60 and have purchased the expansion. Once those conditions are met, you’ll receive a quest in your faction’s capital city, either Orgrimmar or Stormwind, called “The Dragon Isles Await.” This quest will kick off your adventure into the Dragon Isles.
Mandatory Campaign Completion
To fully unlock the end-game content in Dragonflight, including World Quests and Adventure Mode for alts, it is mandatory to complete the main Dragonflight campaign on one character. However, this campaign is entirely separate from the Shadowlands campaign and does not require that you have progressed in the Shadowlands story.
Dragonriding
A key feature of Dragonflight is the introduction of Dragonriding. This new way to fly around the Dragon Isles is unlocked early in the Dragonflight campaign after completing the introductory questline. You will receive your first Dragon Isles Drake shortly after beginning your journey into the new expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the requirements and benefits of playing Dragonflight in relation to the Shadowlands expansion.
1. Do I need to buy Shadowlands to play Dragonflight?
No. You do not need to own Shadowlands to purchase and play Dragonflight. Shadowlands is now integrated into the base game.
2. Can I start Dragonflight at level 58?
Yes, technically you can start the introductory quest line at level 58, however, it is recommended to reach level 60 before starting your Dragon Isles adventure.
3. What level do I need to be to start the Dragonflight campaign?
You need to be at least level 60 to start the Dragonflight intro questline.
4. Can I skip the Shadowlands campaign entirely?
Yes, if you are level 60 you can skip the Shadowlands story and head directly to Oribos, thanks to the return of Threads of Fate.
5. Do I need to complete the Shadowlands story on my alt if I’ve already done it on my main?
No. Once you have completed the Shadowlands story on one character, you do not need to repeat the campaign on your alts.
6. What happens to my character after Shadowlands before starting Dragonflight?
Between Shadowlands and Dragonflight, a relatively short time has passed in the world’s lore, it is essentially a time of rest. Nothing major has occurred during this three-year span.
7. Do I have to complete the Dragonflight campaign?
Yes, to unlock World Quests and Adventure Mode (allowing you to level alts more easily), you need to complete the main Dragonflight campaign on one character.
8. Can I level past level 60 without owning Dragonflight?
No, you cannot level past 60 without owning the Dragonflight expansion.
9. What are the minimum system requirements for Dragonflight?
The minimum system requirements include:
- CPU: 4 Cores, 3.0 GHz processor (4th Gen Intel Core Haswell / AMD Ryzen Zen)
- RAM: 8 GB
- Video Card: DirectX 12 capable 3GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series / AMD GCN 4th gen / Intel Iris XeGraphics
- Dedicated Video RAM: 3 GB
10. Can I access Shadowlands content after starting Dragonflight?
Yes. There are portals in Orgrimmar and Stormwind that allow travel to Oribos, the central hub for the Shadowlands expansion.
11. What should I do to prepare for Dragonflight?
A few things you can do to prepare include:
- Clearing out your bags.
- Clearing out your quest log.
- Setting up your leveling talents.
- Completing the Intro questline to the Dragon Isles.
12. Why can’t I fly in the Dragon Isles initially?
Flying is unlocked by completing the introductory quests and starting the Dragonriding system.
13. Can I do Shadowlands dungeons in Dragonflight?
Yes, you can access them manually by going to the entrances of the dungeons in game, but you will not be able to queue for them using the dungeon finder.
14. Can I level to level 60 without going into the Shadowlands content?
Yes. You can level through Chromie Time or through the Battle for Azeroth zones.
15. What content was removed when Dragonflight launched?
The Fates of the Shadowlands Raids achievement (along with its rewards) was removed with the launch of Dragonflight.
Conclusion
While the world of Shadowlands is now available for all players as part of the base game, it is entirely optional to progress through its content to start Dragonflight. Dragonflight is a separate story that is primarily dependent on your character being at least level 60 and having purchased the expansion. While there may be some side benefits to partially progressing through Shadowlands, such as getting your alts to benefit from world quests and adventure mode, they are not needed to progress into the new expansion’s content. This ensures a smoother transition into the Dragon Isles for those keen to jump directly into the new adventure without delay.