How to Play Shadowlands After Dragonflight: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’ve conquered the Dragon Isles, soared through the azure skies, and now you’re feeling a bit nostalgic for the ethereal realms of the Shadowlands. Maybe you missed out the first time, or perhaps you just want to revisit the covenants and landscapes you encountered in the afterlife. Either way, getting back to the Shadowlands after venturing through Dragonflight is surprisingly straightforward.

The process essentially involves utilizing Chromie Time, a feature designed to allow players below level 60 to experience past expansions. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Find Chromie: Head to your faction’s capital city. For Alliance players, this means Stormwind, and for Horde players, it’s Orgrimmar. Locate Chromie near the Stormwind Embassy or Grommash Hold, respectively. She’s usually marked on your map with an hourglass icon.

2. Speak to Chromie: Initiate a conversation with her. Tell her you wish to experience a different timeline.

3. Select “The Realms of Death”: Chromie will present you with a selection of expansions to level through. Choose “The Realms of Death”, which represents the Shadowlands expansion.

4. Accept the Quest: Selecting the Shadowlands timeline will automatically grant you the quest “Shadowlands: A Chilling Summons”. This quest serves as the entry point to the expansion’s storyline.

5. Follow the Questline: The “Shadowlands: A Chilling Summons” quest will guide you to the NPC who will send you on your way to the Maw, the first zone of the Shadowlands. From there, you’ll progress through the main storyline, choose a covenant, and explore the various realms of the afterlife.

Important Considerations:

• Level Requirement: Chromie Time is only available to players below level 60. Once you reach level 60, you’ll be kicked out of the Chromie Time timeline and will need to continue leveling in the current expansion (Dragonflight, until the next expansion is released).
• Subscription Required: While Shadowlands is now included in the base World of Warcraft subscription, you still need an active subscription to play the game.
• Gear and Leveling: Remember that the gear you acquire in Dragonflight may be significantly more powerful than what you’ll find in the Shadowlands. Don’t be surprised if you feel overpowered initially. However, the content will still provide experience and help you level towards 60.
• No Dragonriding: Dragonriding is specific to the Dragon Isles. You’ll be traversing the Shadowlands with traditional flying mounts (once unlocked) or ground mounts.

Revisiting the Shadowlands can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re filling in gaps in your lore knowledge or simply enjoying the unique atmosphere of the afterlife. Now that it’s included with the base game, there’s never been a better time to explore this fascinating expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions that will further guide you on how to experience Shadowlands.

Do I need to purchase Shadowlands to play it after Dragonflight’s release?

No, you do not need to purchase Shadowlands separately. With the release of Dragonflight, Shadowlands was added to the base World of Warcraft subscription. This means that as long as you have an active subscription, you can access and play the Shadowlands content.

What is Chromie Time, and how does it relate to playing Shadowlands?

Chromie Time is a feature that allows players below level 60 to level up through past expansions. By speaking to Chromie and selecting the “Realms of Death” timeline, you can experience the Shadowlands storyline and level within that expansion’s content.

Can I still do all the Shadowlands raids and dungeons?

Yes, you can still do all the Shadowlands raids and dungeons. You can queue for normal and heroic dungeons through the dungeon finder. To participate in raids and mythic dungeons, you’ll typically need to form your own group or join a pre-existing one. Note that the difficulty of the content will depend on your level and gear.

What level do I need to be to start the Shadowlands content?

The Shadowlands intro questline is designed for characters between levels 48 and 59. However, you must be below level 60 to utilize Chromie Time and actively level within the Shadowlands. Once you hit level 60, you will be directed to the current content in Dragonflight.

If I level past 60 in Shadowlands, what happens?

If you level past 60 while in Chromie Time, you will be automatically directed back to the present timeline and prompted to begin Dragonflight content (or the content of the most recent expansion).

Are the Shadowlands covenants still relevant after Dragonflight?

While the Shadowlands covenants are no longer the primary focus of the game, you can still join and progress through them. They offer cosmetic rewards, unique abilities, and storylines. The power systems associated with covenants are not relevant in Dragonflight content.

Can I use Dragonriding in the Shadowlands zones?

No, Dragonriding is a feature exclusive to the Dragon Isles zones introduced in the Dragonflight expansion. In the Shadowlands, you will use traditional flying mounts (once unlocked) or ground mounts to traverse the zones.

What are the system requirements to play Shadowlands?

The recommended system requirements for Shadowlands are:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
• RAM: 8 GB
• Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
• OS: Windows 10 64-bit

These requirements may be lower if you’re running the game at lower settings.

Is there anything that is no longer obtainable from Shadowlands?

Yes, some achievements and rewards related to the Fated Raids system from the end of Shadowlands are no longer obtainable. Additionally, certain seasonal events or promotional items may no longer be available.

Can I get a free level boost to 50 to start Shadowlands content?

In the past, Blizzard has offered free level boosts to certain players. Check your Battle.net account to see if you are eligible for a free level 50 character boost, which would allow you to immediately start the Shadowlands content.

What is there to do in WoW after reaching level 70 in Dragonflight?

After hitting level 70 in Dragonflight, you can engage in various activities, including:

• Pushing Mythic+ Keys
• Progressing through raids
• Participating in PvP combat
• Collecting mounts and pets
• Expanding your transmog collection
• Achievement hunting
• Earning Renown with various factions
• Working on your professions

What happened to the story between Shadowlands and Dragonflight?

The time gap between the end of Shadowlands and the start of Dragonflight is approximately three years. Not much of major consequence happened during this time, often referred to as a “time of rest.” The story largely focuses on the rediscovery of the Dragon Isles and the return of the dragonflights.

Why can’t I go to Oribos?

If you are having trouble reaching Oribos, it may be due to your level. The questline that leads to Oribos is intended for characters level 48 and above. If you are below that level, you need to gain more experience elsewhere before you can start the Shadowlands intro questline.

Is Dragonflight connected to Shadowlands?

While Dragonflight takes place after Shadowlands chronologically, the narratives are largely independent. Dragonflight focuses on the Dragon Isles and the dragons’ return, while Shadowlands dealt with the afterlife and cosmic forces.

Where can I learn more about the lore and educational value of games like World of Warcraft?

You can explore the fascinating intersection of gaming and education at the GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society is dedicated to understanding and promoting the educational potential of games. Learning through gaming can be fun, engaging and can have several positive impacts.