World of Warcraft players entering the fabled Shadowlands will find the realms of the dead in upheaval. Under the normal order, departed souls were delivered to a realm appropriate to the lives they led, but now, all souls are being funneled into the Maw, where the most wicked are damned to suffer for eternity.

As they seek to right the cycle and uncover the extent of Sylvanas’ designs, players will forge bonds with the Covenants who hold domain over different planes within the Shadowlands:

• The steadfast Kyrian of Bastion, whose discipline and duty compels them to safeguard souls from the mortal realm as they pass into the Shadowlands.
• The mysterious Night Fae of Ardenweald, who fiercely defend the spirits of nature from those who would deprive them of rebirth.
• The cunning Venthyr of Revendreth, who feast on the souls of the prideful and vain in a gothic realm of opulence and torment.
• The warlike Necrolords of Maldraxxus, who forge the undead armies that serve as the first line of defense for the Shadowlands and honor those who seek power and glory in battle.

In their journeys through the Shadowlands, players will also come face-to-face with some of the departed legends of the Warcraft universe, such as Uther the Lightbringer, who struggles against dark forces that seek to transform him into a symbol of retribution, and Kael’thas, who pursues vengeance on an enemy from his past while confined to Revendreth for the crimes he committed in life.

Prior to the expansion’s release, Azeroth will begin to bear the effects of Sylvanas’s actions during a special pre-launch in-game event: “Death Rising.” This limited-time event will send players to the frozen wastes of Icecrown, where the veil between worlds has been shattered—and the reawakening of the undead Scourge heralds the stirring of more sinister forces.

The “Death Rising” event is part of the major pre-expansion game update to prepare for Shadowlands’ release, which also includes a newly revamped leveling experience that takes players to the new pre-Shadowlands level cap of 50, the addition of an epic introductory adventure for players new to World of Warcraft set on the accursed island of Exile’s Reach, a variety of updates to classes and abilities in preparation for the expansion, and more.

Azeroth’s champions will soon begin adventuring through Zereth Mortis to face the Jailer when the final major story content update, Eternity’s End, goes live on February 22!

Eternity’s End brings with it a ton of new features, rewards and activities including:

• New Raid: Sepulcher of the First Ones – Battle your way to the Jailer within the Sepulcher, taking on his most powerful lieutenants and working to rescue Anduin, the Alliance king, along the way.
• New Zone: Zereth Mortis – Explore the land of the progenitors from your home base of Haven, and new quest hub complete with daily quests, and new denizens to ally with, including the mechanical Automa and the Enlightened, and faction of former Brokers. 
• Return of Tier Sets – Earn pieces of the new Progenitor-themed class armor set from a variety of activities, including raid boss drops, Mythic+ dungeons, and PVP, with 2- and 4-piece set bonuses for each class specialization.
• And More  – Look forward to various updates and improvements to various features and systems, including class balance, professions, and Torghast, as well as a slew of new mounts and pets to collect!

Shadowlands: The Eternity’s End Content Update Goes Live February 22

The next World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Content Update is drawing near. Prepare to step into the brink and face Zovaal, the elusive Jailer and ruler of the Maw in Shadowlands before he rewrites the very rules of reality.

With the help of the Primus, you’ll be able to step into a strange new land —Zereth Mortis. Created by the First Ones as a workshop to create afterlives, its denizens—the automa—have built all that exists in the Shadowlands. It is an otherworldly location that defies all concepts of reality or physics. The Jailer intends to use the secrets within to reshape reality and bend it to his malevolent will.

Meet new allies—The Enlightened—delve into the runic and lyrical language of the automa and engage in the campaign to push back the Jailer’s forces before he reaches his end goal within the Sepulcher of the First Ones.

Shadowlands Season 2 Ending Soon

The end of Shadowlands Season 2 is around the corner, here’s what to expect:

Shadowlands Season 2: PvP

The current season of Shadowlands PvP content will end at 10:00 p.m. PST on February 21.

With the season’s end, it will no longer be possible to earn PvP seasonal rewards, titles, or Shadowlands Season 2 rankings.

Shadowlands Season 2: Mythic+

The current season of Mythic+ content will end with the start of maintenance on February 22. With the season’s end, ratings that qualify for the 0.1% “Tormented Hero” title and achievement will be recorded.

“Tormented Hero” will be rewarded during the following weeks after the season ends, so be sure not to change factions until after you have received the title.

For one week following the end-of-season, we will have an off-season. Once the off-season ends, Shadowlands Season 3 will begin on the week of March 1 with the weekly reset in each region.

PvP Off-season

Players can still queue for rated PvP and earn appropriate rewards, but the PvP leaderboards will be locked.

Mythic+ Off-season

Mythic+ dungeons will still be playable using Season 2 affixes and rewards. Mythic+ Ratings can still be accumulated, and the seasonal achievements will still be available – except for the 0.1% “Tormented Hero” title and achievement.

Key Features:

• Explore the Realm of the Dead: For the first time ever in World of Warcraft, players will cross into the Shadowlands and experience the wonders and horrors of the afterlife across five new zones—the gleaming fields of Bastion, the scarred battlefields of Maldraxxus, the eternal twilight of Ardenweald, the opulent keeps of Revendreth, and the horrific Maw.
• Explore Warcraft’s Afterlife—Discover the wonders and horrors that await in the world beyond the veil. Ride across the gleaming fields of Bastion, lose yourself among the gothic spires of Revendreth, find yourself at the crossroads of fate in the eternal city of Oribos, and much more.
• Claim a Covenant’s Power: Players will be called upon to forge a bond with one of four Covenants that rule Shadowlands’ new zones, setting the tone for their journey through the expansion with a full Covenant Campaign. As they level up, they’ll get new abilities based on their choice, including class-specific abilities for each Covenant—as well as developing Soulbinds with specific Covenant members, which grant them access to that character’s specific traits and bonuses.
• Ascend the Tower of the Damned: At the heart of the Maw lies Torghast, Tower of the Damned, a cursed otherworldly prison where the wickedest souls in the universe are locked away. Highly replayable and inspired by roguelike games, heroes are invited to explore its ever-changing halls and chambers and do battle with the minions of the Jailer, Torghast’s vile ruler. Those who brave its trials can claim legendary treasures and help free the heroic spirits wrongfully trapped within.
• Every Level Is Meaningful: Shadowlands will introduce a new leveling system, meant to provide a meaningful sense of advancement with every level achieved. Current max-level characters will begin Shadowlands at level 50 and work toward the new level cap of 60.
• A New Army of the Dead Rises: To combat Sylvanas’ assault on Icecrown, Bolvar Fordragon— the revered former paladin who took on the mantle of Lich King to keep the Scourge at bay—has raised heroes from among all the peoples of Azeroth to bolster the Death Knights of Acherus. With Shadowlands, pandaren and all allied races will now be able to become Death Knights.
• Improved Character Customization Options: A host of new appearance options for all races will be made available to players when they create new World of Warcraft characters (or alter existing ones at the in-game barber shop).
• And More. . .—Endure the Jailer’s watchful eye in the Maw, where the challenge mounts the longer you linger; Soulbind with key characters of your chosen Covenant to share their distinct powers; choose how to restore your Covenant’s Sanctum to glory . . . Shadowlands is unlike anything ever before experienced in World of Warcraft.

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is currently available for PC.