Why Can I Only Access Battle for Azeroth Dungeons?
If you’re a World of Warcraft player at level 60 finding yourself confined to Battle for Azeroth (BfA) dungeons, you’re not alone, and there’s a clear reason why. The primary culprit is your game expansion ownership and how the game’s queuing systems are structured. Essentially, if you are level 60 and do not own the Dragonflight expansion, your dungeon access is limited to BfA content. The dungeon finder system is designed to prioritize content relevant to the current expansion or the one you have access to. Since you don’t have Dragonflight, the game defaults you to the previous expansion content for level-appropriate dungeon runs.
This can feel frustrating, especially if you’re eager to experience other dungeons. This limitation is in place because the game tries to match players within the same expansion content pools, ensuring a smoother experience with relevant scaling and mechanics. Without Dragonflight, you cannot access the latest dungeons or queue for random dungeons beyond Battle for Azeroth content. This also impacts access to Timewalking campaigns, which are inaccessible to level 60 players without Dragonflight.
Understanding Dungeon Unlocks and Restrictions
The way dungeons are unlocked and the restrictions placed upon them are layered and tied to different aspects of your account and character level. Let’s break down these factors to gain a clearer picture:
Level and Expansion Ownership
The first key factor is your character’s level combined with the expansions you own.
- Level 60 characters without Dragonflight: As previously stated, these characters are restricted to Battle for Azeroth dungeons in the random dungeon finder.
- Level 60 characters with Dragonflight: Can also access BfA dungeons but are unable to queue for random dungeons until they reach level 61. This is a small hurdle but still significant.
- Level 61+ characters with Dragonflight: Gain access to Dragonflight dungeons. They can utilize the random dungeon finder to level up and experience current content.
- Level 50 Characters and Below: Access to dungeons varies depending on character level. Initially, at level 13, you gain access to the first dungeon, Ragefire Chasm. Further dungeons will be unlocked as your character levels and progresses through different zones.
Dungeon Finder Mechanics
The Dungeon Finder is the primary tool for accessing group content in World of Warcraft, but it is not a free-for-all system.
- Level Requirement: The Dungeon Finder is unlocked at level 15, opening up the world of group dungeons.
- Queue Restrictions: The queue system prioritizes content that is appropriate for your level and expansion ownership. This means that if you do not have the latest expansion and the appropriate character level, you will not be placed into those dungeons, typically.
- Item Level Requirements: A character’s item level is also a factor in access to dungeon content. For example, if you want to do Timewalking Dungeons at level 60+, you need to have a minimum item level of 180.
Heroic and Other Difficulty Levels
Access to dungeons is not just limited to normal dungeons, the system also dictates entry into harder variants.
- Heroic Dungeons: In Battle for Azeroth, heroic dungeons require your character to be level 50, meet a certain item level requirement, and have unlocked the Heart of Azeroth.
- Dragonflight Heroic, Mythic, and Mythic+ Modes: These modes unlock at level 70.
- Difficulty: Heroic dungeons are substantially more difficult than normal dungeons, with enemies typically at the current level cap to three levels above the level cap.
Campaign Progression and Dungeon Unlocks
In some expansions, the progression through the campaign affects the unlock of dungeons.
- Shadowlands: In Shadowlands, dungeons would not unlock until you’ve progressed far enough in the campaign to unlock the related zone. This ensured that players engaged with the story and world appropriately.
Workarounds and Additional Tips
While the restrictions can feel like limitations, there are a few workarounds that can help you explore other content even when restricted by level and expansion ownership.
- Manual Dungeon Entrances: Characters can always make a group manually to enter dungeon instances through the portals in the open world. For example, even if you are restricted by the dungeon finder, you can create or find a group using the Looking For Group tool and walk to the entrance of the dungeon you wish to run.
- Looking For Group Tool (LFG): If you’re looking for specific dungeons from previous expansions, using the LFG tool to create groups is the best way to manually access them.
- Group With Higher-Level Players: Grouping with players who have Dragonflight and access to other dungeons can sometimes allow you to enter those instances, but this is not always reliable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions that delve deeper into the nuances of dungeon access in World of Warcraft.
1. What is the fastest way to level in Dragonflight?
Dungeon leveling in a group of five players is one of the fastest ways, alongside questing, but questing remains the best if you are playing solo.
2. How long does it take to level from 60 to 70 in Dragonflight?
If you follow a particular path for leveling, a Dragonflight 60–70 leveling time is generally around 4 hours.
3. Can I solo Shadowlands dungeons at level 70?
Yes, most DPS classes can easily solo Shadowlands dungeons at level 70, and using a tank or healer will ensure success.
4. Why can’t I queue for random dungeons at level 60 with Dragonflight?
Level 60 characters that own Dragonflight cannot queue for random dungeons. Once they reach level 61, they regain this option.
5. What are the level requirements for Dragonflight dungeons?
For leveling and Normal mode, you need to be level 60 or above. For Heroic, Mythic, and Mythic+ modes, you must be level 70.
6. What is Timewalking, and why can’t I access it?
Timewalking is an event that allows you to run dungeons from previous expansions with scaled-down characters. If your character is at level 60+, you need to be at least item level 180 to queue for Timewalking dungeons. Recently boosted characters cannot access dungeons and raids from past expansions.
7. Why can’t I access Shadowlands dungeons in the Dungeon Finder?
For level 60+ characters that own Dragonflight, the Dungeon Finder will prioritize dungeons from the current expansion. You can use the LFG tool or manually use the dungeon entrances in-game to access Shadowlands dungeons.
8. What is the item level requirement for Heroic dungeons?
The item level requirement varies by expansion but can be found by hovering over the dungeon name in the Specific Dungeons section of the dungeon finder.
9. How many dungeons can I enter per hour/day?
In WoW Classic and Wrath of the Lich King Classic, you can enter up to five individual instanced zones per hour, and a maximum of 30 instanced zones per day. 40-player raid instances are not affected by this limit.
10. Are heroic dungeons harder than normal dungeons?
Yes, heroic dungeons are significantly harder than normal dungeons with stronger enemies and mechanics.
11. How do I access the Dungeon Finder?
The Dungeon Finder can be accessed through the Group Finder, which is a button on the micro menu at the bottom of the user interface. The finder is unlocked at level 15.
12. What are dungeon keys and how do they work?
Dungeon Keys, such as the one from The Witch Queen, provide access to specific dungeons. They are typically tied to particular seasons or expansions.
13. Can you be in two dungeons at once?
No, you cannot. You can only have one dungeon in your command zone at a time, as if there’s only one “dungeon slot.”
14. Why is my dungeon access limited?
Usually, it’s due to low item level, not owning the relevant expansion or not reaching the required level. You can see the specific reason by hovering over the dungeon name in the finder window.
15. Do dungeons reset?
Normal dungeons can be reset anytime when the party is outside the instance, while heroic dungeons reset daily.
Understanding these factors should help you navigate the world of dungeons in WoW. If you are limited to Battle for Azeroth dungeons, consider leveling up further or purchasing the Dragonflight expansion to unlock access to the latest content. Remember that there are always manual ways to access content through using the LFG tool and physically walking into the dungeons themselves. Happy adventuring!