Why Isn’t My Shadowlands Intro Quest Showing Up?
Have you been eagerly anticipating your journey into the Shadowlands, but are finding that the introductory quest, “A Chilling Summons”, isn’t appearing? It can be frustrating when you’re ready to dive into new content, but the game seems to be holding you back. There are several reasons why this might be happening, and understanding them is the first step to resolving the issue and getting your adventure underway. Generally, the issue stems from a combination of level requirements, previous quest progression, interface settings, and occasionally, a few game-specific bugs or inconsistencies. Let’s explore the common culprits.
Level Requirements and Quest Tracking
The Level Sweet Spot
The primary requirement for the Shadowlands intro quest is that your character is within the level 48-50 range. While you can access the Shadowlands content beyond level 50, the initial questline is designed for this specific level range. If your character is too high-level, the quest may not be immediately obvious.
Trivial Quests
If you’re above level 50, it doesn’t mean you’re locked out, but the game might categorize the introductory quest as a “trivial quest.” By default, these quests are hidden from your map and quest log. To fix this, you’ll need to enable trivial quest tracking on your minimap. To do so, locate the tracking options menu on your minimap. Look for and enable the option to display low-level quests or trivial quests. This should make the “A Chilling Summons” quest visible on your zone map if it’s available to you.
Quest Markers and Interface Settings
The Invisible Quest
Sometimes, the issue isn’t about the quest availability itself, but rather with the visibility of quest markers. Quest markers can be toggled off in your game settings, making it look like no quests are available. To rectify this, go to your game settings, then click Interface. Navigate to Heads-Up Display and ensure that both Quest Tracker and Quest Giver Icons options are set to “ON.” With these toggled on, quest markers should be visible in the game world, allowing you to locate the quest givers you need.
Previous Quest Progress
Legion Intro Conflicts
A common conflict arises if you are partway through the Legion introduction quests. These quests can sometimes interfere with the visibility of other content. If you find yourself unable to see the Oribos Portal in the portal room in Stormwind or Orgrimmar, this could be the issue. You need to either complete the Legion intro up to “Keep Your Friends Close” (for Horde) or “Illidari Allies” (for Alliance). Once you finish this questline, you should be able to find the portal and begin the Shadowlands content. The issue can also affect the quest appearance even if your portal is accessible.
Relog and Location
If you’ve checked all of the above, another trick to try is to relog your character in either Stormwind or Orgrimmar. Sometimes this can resolve the issue. Additionally, look for NPCs near the fountain at the entrance stairs of Stormwind Keep, or just outside Grommash Hold in Orgrimmar. These are common spawn points for the quest starter NPCs.
Character Leveling Through Other Expansions
Leveling Beyond the Initial Quests
If you’ve been leveling using Chromie Time and reached higher levels in another expansion, and therefore you bypassed Shadowlands when originally leveling through 48-50, it might also affect your quest progression. You might need to either complete or bypass the Legion intro to get the Shadowlands intro quest to appear. It is important to note that while it’s possible to manually play through the Maw and get to Oribos from level 48+, the subsequent quest to enter Bastion, “Seek the Ascended,” requires a level of 51. If you’re below this level, you will need to level up further before you can pick up the quest in the Shadowlands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I start the Shadowlands intro quest?
To begin the Shadowlands intro quest, locate Chromie near the Stormwind Embassy (for Alliance players) or Orgrimmar Embassy (for Horde players). Speak to her and choose the “The Realms of Death” timeline. This will initiate the “Shadowlands: A Chilling Summons” quest.
2. What level do I need to be to start the Shadowlands intro?
The initial Shadowlands questline is designed for characters level 48-50. If your character has exceeded this level, you might need to enable trivial quest tracking to see the quest marker.
3. How do I enable trivial quest tracking?
You can enable trivial quest tracking by opening your minimap’s tracking options. Look for and enable the setting that allows you to see low-level quests or trivial quests.
4. How do I get to Oribos for the first time?
You can reach Oribos through portals in the Pathfinder’s Den in Orgrimmar or the Wizard’s Sanctum in Stormwind. The portal will appear once you reach the appropriate point in the quests. Also, portals to Oribos are located in various Shadowlands zones. You can also manually run through the Maw if you are at least level 48 and get there that way.
5. I can’t see the Oribos portal in Orgrimmar/Stormwind. Why?
This often happens if you are partway through the Legion introduction questline. Complete the Legion intro up to “Keep Your Friends Close” (for Horde) or “Illidari Allies” (for Alliance) to see the Oribos portal.
6. Why are my quest markers not showing up?
Quest markers might be turned off in your game settings. Go to Settings, then Interface, then Heads-Up Display, and ensure “Quest Tracker” and “Quest Giver Icons” are set to “ON”.
7. What is the Shadowlands intro experience?
The Shadowlands intro consists of the first few quest lines of the Shadowlands campaign. It starts with Sylvanas shattering the Helm of Domination and tearing a hole in the veil between the mortal plane and the realm of death at Icecrown Citadel.
8. How do I unlock flying in the Shadowlands?
To unlock flying in the four Shadowlands covenant zones, you must: Earn 44 Renown with your Covenant; and Complete all 9 chapters of your Covenant Campaign.
9. How do I start the Shadowlands Covenant campaign?
Find the Shadowlands Covenant Map near Tal-Inara in Oribos. Select a Covenant and complete the quest “Choosing Your Purpose.” After this, the leader of your chosen Covenant will offer you the next quest in your campaign.
10. What if I’m level 70, how do I start Shadowlands quests?
If you are level 70 and can’t see the initial quest, try relogging in Stormwind or Orgrimmar. Check around the fountain at the entrance of Stormwind Keep or just outside Grommash Hold in Orgrimmar. Alternatively, complete the Legion intro quests up to “Illidari allies” (A) or “Keep your friends close” (H).
11. Can I skip the Shadowlands campaign?
Yes, you can skip parts of the Shadowlands campaign on alts. Once you have completed the first 3 chapters, a skip option becomes available by talking to Tal-Inara near the Enclave in Oribos.
12. Is Shadowlands free now?
Yes, all Battle.net accounts without the Shadowlands expansion but had a previous expansion license have received the Shadowlands Base Edition and a Level 50 Character Boost for free.
13. Why can’t I skip the Covenant campaign?
You can skip the first two chapters of the Covenant campaign on an alternative character if you have completed them on at least one other character, but it’s not possible to skip the entire campaign.
14. Do I have to be level 60 to start the Covenant campaign?
No, you don’t need to be level 60. However, you must complete the Shadowlands campaign up to the point where you choose a Covenant, before continuing on with it.
15. Why was there a level squish in WoW?
The level squish was implemented to simplify the leveling system and prevent character levels from reaching excessively high numbers. It’s a change in level numbers but not character power.
By addressing these common issues and keeping these tips in mind, you should be able to resolve any problems preventing the Shadowlands intro quest from appearing. Happy adventuring in the realm of the dead!