Is the Heart of Azeroth Still Worth It? A Deep Dive into WoW’s Relic
The straightforward answer is: it depends. The Heart of Azeroth, a powerful artifact from the Battle for Azeroth expansion, has a complex legacy in World of Warcraft. In modern content like Dragonflight, it’s largely obsolete, providing only base stat bonuses from its equipped level. However, in older content, specifically Timewalking dungeons and raids from the Battle for Azeroth era, the Heart of Azeroth, especially when combined with Azerite gear and Essences, can become incredibly potent, offering a significant DPS boost and altering gameplay in surprising ways. So, while you won’t be using its core powers in Dragonflight zones, its relevance hasn’t entirely disappeared.
Understanding the Heart of Azeroth’s Mechanics
The Heart of Azeroth was introduced as a necklace that players powered up by collecting Azerite, a resource tied to the planet’s lifeblood. It enabled the use of Azerite Traits found on specific pieces of armor, and also unlocked the ability to use Essences, which provided additional abilities and character customization. While this system was a key part of Battle for Azeroth, its functionality has been limited in subsequent expansions.
How It Works in Different Content
- Dragonflight and Shadowlands: Within these newer zones, the Heart of Azeroth functions as a regular necklace with only its base stat bonuses. Its unique powers, such as Azerite traits and Essences, are disabled. It’s just a piece of gear that you might choose to use for its item level if it’s higher than other available necklaces, but it won’t provide any gameplay-altering benefits.
- Timewalking: In Timewalking dungeons and raids from the Battle for Azeroth era, the Heart of Azeroth reclaims its full potential. The Azerite traits on armor and Essences become fully functional, allowing you to unleash its powerful combinations for increased damage, utility, and survivability. This is where the Heart of Azeroth can truly shine.
- Other Old Content: Outside of Battle for Azeroth Timewalking, the Heart of Azeroth retains its basic stat boosts but lacks any of its unique abilities. This includes old dungeons and raids, or open world areas from expansions prior to Shadowlands.
Gearing Up for Timewalking
If you plan on delving into Timewalking dungeons and raids, finding some spare Azerite armor pieces in your bank is well worth your time. The combination of these gear pieces, the Heart of Azeroth, and the right Essences can significantly enhance your character’s performance, making you feel like you are playing the original expansion. You’ll often find yourself doing considerable amounts of damage compared to players who haven’t invested in this system.
The Timewalking Advantage
The real benefit of the Heart of Azeroth lies in its synergy with Azerite gear and Essences in Timewalking events. It transforms your gameplay, offering a level of customization and power not otherwise available. This is why dedicated Timewalking players often maintain specific gear sets, specifically for taking advantage of this powerful mechanic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Heart of Azeroth
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Heart of Azeroth to help you navigate its complexities:
1. Can I still get the Heart of Azeroth?
Yes, you can still obtain the Heart of Azeroth! You need to be level 50 or above. You’ll receive a quest, “A Dying World,” from the Earthen Guardian in your capital city, Boralus or Dazar’alor, after visiting. It will not be available if you are already on the Dragonflight intro quests.
2. Does the Heart of Azeroth work in Dragonflight?
No, it does not. While you can still equip it, the unique abilities and bonuses linked to the Azerite Traits and Essences are disabled in Dragonflight zones. It only provides the base stat bonus from the item.
3. Can I get rid of the Heart of Azeroth?
The Heart of Azeroth itself cannot be discarded from your inventory, but you can choose to unequip it. The Essences you’ve collected cannot be removed from your inventory either.
4. How do I power up the Heart of Azeroth?
The Heart of Azeroth automatically increased in item level when you unlocked the Heart Forge and obtained Essences for it during Battle for Azeroth. This process is still the same. Complete the initial questline in Nazjatar to unlock the Heart Forge and begin the Essence acquisition process.
5. Why is the Heart of Azeroth so special?
The Heart of Azeroth is special because it unlocked powerful Azerite Traits on specific pieces of gear, as well as access to unique Essences, adding an additional active ability and significant customization to character builds. It allowed for highly variable builds that could radically alter your combat styles.
6. Is Azerite gear worth keeping?
Yes, absolutely! If you plan to engage in Timewalking dungeons and raids from Battle for Azeroth, Azerite gear can offer a significant performance boost when used with the Heart of Azeroth, giving you an edge in that type of content. Keep these items in your bank for when Timewalking events are active.
7. What are Essences and how do they work?
Essences were obtained through various activities in Battle for Azeroth content, and each one offers a unique active ability and passive bonuses to your character. They work fully during Timewalking Battle for Azeroth content but are disabled elsewhere, such as in Dragonflight.
8. How long does it take to get the Heart of Azeroth?
If you are level 50 or higher, it can take a few hours to get through the initial quest line and get access to the Heart of Azeroth. The quest itself doesn’t take very long, but you need to complete some initial Battle for Azeroth intro quests.
9. What should I do with the Heart of Azeroth?
In Dragonflight, equip it if it’s a higher item level, but you won’t get any special bonuses. In Timewalking, use it to power up your Azerite gear with Essences for a considerable damage boost. It is also required if you want to unlock the Allied Races from the expansion.
10. Can I fly in Battle for Azeroth zones?
Yes, you can fly in Zandalar, Kul Tiras, Mechagon and Nazjatar after you complete the Azeroth Pathfinder, Part Two achievement. This will allow for more efficient travel through these zones when gearing for timewalking or when doing old content.
11. What’s the connection between the Heart of Azeroth and Azerite Armor?
The Heart of Azeroth unlocks the power of Azerite Armor, which features special traits that enhance your character. These traits become active when you equip the Heart of Azeroth and unlock them. It works like an additional talent tree on specific armor.
12. How do I get my Heart of Azeroth back if I abandoned the quest?
Return to your faction’s main city (Boralus or Dazar’alor) and talk to the Earthen Guardian there. They will help you return to the Chamber of the Heart and continue the questline.
13. Why did people dislike the Battle for Azeroth systems?
Many felt the endgame power systems were clunky and not as enjoyable as in previous expansions. The Heart of Azeroth itself was often viewed as being a repetitive grind, where each week players needed to grind the same content to improve their power.
14. Was the Battle for Azeroth expansion worth playing?
Yes, Battle for Azeroth is generally worth experiencing due to its diverse content, lore, and storylines. Now that it is scaled down, it’s easier to access with more refined gearing systems that have come out since its release. For a new player, it’s one more expansion that has content to experience on the path to end-game.
15. Is the Heart of Azeroth still relevant in current WoW content?
Only in Timewalking. Its powers are inactive in Dragonflight, Shadowlands, and other older expansions. While it has no relevance in current end-game content, its continued function in Battle for Azeroth timewalking makes it more relevant than Artifact Weapons from the Legion expansion.
Conclusion
The Heart of Azeroth is a relic of the past with a surprising second life in Timewalking events. While its abilities are disabled in most content, it’s worth digging out those Azerite armor pieces if you plan to take advantage of the power it provides in Battle for Azeroth dungeons and raids. Don’t dismiss it entirely—it’s a powerful and fun mechanic that can enhance your experience with World of Warcraft in specific, nostalgic ways. For those who value the additional power for those events, or want to explore past lore, the Heart of Azeroth remains surprisingly relevant.