Should I Complete the Shadowlands Campaign Before Dragonflight?
The short answer is: no, you absolutely do not need to complete the entire Shadowlands campaign before diving into Dragonflight. While there are some benefits to completing certain parts of Shadowlands, such as unlocking Covenants and experiencing the story, they are not prerequisites for enjoying or progressing in Dragonflight. Dragonflight is a standalone expansion, and the game is designed to let players jump in with their level 60 characters without prior campaign completion. However, there are nuanced reasons why you might want to complete some or all of Shadowlands before venturing to the Dragon Isles, and this article will explore those reasons, along with a deep dive into common questions players have.
Shadowlands vs. Dragonflight: What You Need to Know
The two expansions are separate entities. Shadowlands takes place in the afterlife, dealing with cosmic forces and the denizens of realms beyond the veil of death, while Dragonflight returns players to Azeroth, focusing on the re-awakening of the Dragon Aspects and exploring the ancient Dragon Isles. These two storylines are not directly connected, allowing you to enjoy each expansion’s narrative and gameplay without needing to be fully versed in the other.
Leveling and Transitioning to Dragonflight
Once your character reaches level 60, regardless of your Shadowlands progress, you can begin the Dragonflight intro questline. This questline starts in either Stormwind or Orgrimmar and is a relatively quick introduction to the new expansion, ushering you to the Dragon Isles. You are not required to have completed the Shadowlands campaign to initiate this questline. Furthermore, you can level to 60 without ever setting foot in Shadowlands, using options like Chromie Time to level in past expansions or by leveling in the Battle for Azeroth zones, which now scale up to level 60.
Reasons You Might Want to Complete Parts of Shadowlands
While not necessary for Dragonflight, there are still compelling reasons why you might want to engage with certain aspects of the Shadowlands content:
- Covenant Choices: If you’re interested in engaging with the specific storylines, abilities, and cosmetic rewards offered by each of the four Covenants (Kyrian, Venthyr, Necrolord, and Night Fae), you will need to complete at least the initial portion of the Shadowlands campaign up to the point of choosing a covenant. This content remains available even after moving to Dragonflight.
- Cosmetic Rewards and Mounts: The Shadowlands expansion provides unique mounts, transmog options, and other cosmetic rewards. Some players, especially completionists, might want to obtain these before moving on, especially unique items such as the Mythic Sylvanas Mount (Vengeance’s Reins) and Mythic Jailer Mount (Fractal Cypher of the Zereth Overseer).
- Legacy Content: For players interested in completing all facets of the game, Shadowlands raids and dungeons, along with their respective glories and achievements, are available even after Dragonflight’s release. This includes the difficult Mage Tower challenges.
- Lore and Narrative: If you are invested in the World of Warcraft lore, you might be interested in the Shadowlands narrative and want to complete it to see how it fits within the broader story arc of the game.
How to Return to Shadowlands After Starting Dragonflight
If you decide later that you want to engage with Shadowlands content, you can easily return to Oribos, the main hub of the Shadowlands, through portals in either Stormwind or Orgrimmar. Once in Oribos, you can proceed with any incomplete content from the expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the connection between Shadowlands and Dragonflight to further clarify the subject:
1. Do I need to own the Shadowlands expansion to play Dragonflight?
No. Shadowlands is no longer required to purchase and play Dragonflight. It’s now part of the base game.
2. Can I skip the Shadowlands campaign entirely on new characters in Dragonflight?
If you have completed the Shadowlands campaign on at least one character, you can opt for “Threads of Fate” on other characters, which bypasses the main campaign and allows you to directly start the endgame of Shadowlands. However, if you don’t want to engage with Shadowlands at all, you can simply go to Chromie and choose a different timeline to level up in, or head to Battle for Azeroth, as those zones scale to 60.
3. What level do I need to be to start Dragonflight?
You need to be at least level 58 to travel to the Dragon Isles but need to be at least level 60 to start the Dragonflight intro questline.
4. Does completing the Shadowlands campaign unlock anything in Dragonflight?
No, completing the Shadowlands campaign doesn’t directly unlock anything in Dragonflight. Dragonflight’s content is accessed independently.
5. What does completing the Dragonflight campaign unlock?
Completing the Dragonflight main quests unlocks World Quests and Adventure Mode for your alts.
6. Can I still get Shadowlands gear after starting Dragonflight?
Yes. Shadowlands gear is still obtainable through various means, such as dungeons, raids, and world content, even after starting Dragonflight. However, it will likely be significantly less powerful than Dragonflight gear.
7. How long does it take to level from 60 to 70 in Dragonflight?
Generally, leveling from 60 to 70 in Dragonflight will take around 4 to 15 hours, depending on your preferred method of leveling (questing vs. dungeons) and how quickly you proceed.
8. Can I level in Shadowlands after starting Dragonflight?
Yes, you can still level in Shadowlands as normal, if you choose to do so.
9. Is Dragonflight good for beginners?
Yes, Dragonflight is considered a beginner-friendly expansion, especially with the return of the Dragon Aspects. Its focus on exploration and new systems make it a good entry point for new players.
10. Where do I start the Shadowlands campaign in Dragonflight?
To begin the Shadowlands campaign in Dragonflight, find Chromie near the Orgrimmar Embassy (for Horde) or in Stormwind (for Alliance), select the “The Realms of Death” timeline, and begin the quest, “Shadowlands: A Chilling Summons”.
11. What should I do to prepare my character before starting Dragonflight?
The most important things to do are: clear out your bags, clear out your quest log, set up your leveling talents, and complete the intro questline to the Dragon Isles.
12. What item level should I have before starting mythic dungeons in Dragonflight?
For Dragonflight Mythic Season 2, a good starting item level for mythic dungeons is 398 ilvl or higher.
13. What should I do after getting to level 70 in Dragonflight?
Once you hit level 70, you can start making friends by completing factional reputations, fully training your dragon riding skills, engaging in PvE activities (dungeons and raiding), and PvP, working on your professions, or creating and leveling new characters.
14. Can I still join a covenant after starting Dragonflight?
Yes. If you haven’t completed the Shadowlands campaign up to choosing a covenant, you can still do so after starting Dragonflight.
15. What happened between Shadowlands and Dragonflight in terms of story?
Not much. There was roughly three years of peace and rest between the end of Shadowlands and the beginning of Dragonflight.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, your decision to complete the Shadowlands campaign before Dragonflight is a matter of personal preference. While not necessary to start and enjoy Dragonflight, there are still reasons to explore parts of the Shadowlands, especially if you value the lore, cosmetic rewards, or completionist challenges. Hopefully, this article and the related FAQs have provided enough information to help you make an informed decision based on your interests and goals within World of Warcraft. Happy gaming!