Well met traveler! As the title reads, this is the next expansion of Blizzard’s MMORPG World of Warcraft: Guardians Primordial. I am a lead member of Blizzard’s Marketing team. I was in charge of the now sadly cancelled Blizzcon 2021, Blizzconline 2022, and the upcoming expansion reveal on April 19th, 2022. Blizzard plans to reveal the expansion through a series of videos uploaded to the World of Warcraft Website and YouTube. These videos will cover a variety of content such as the actual reveal, a deep dive of planned features, a look at the art and design of the expansion, some insight from the story team, and finally the release of their preorder expansion bundles which will include a new Emerald Drake mount in the deluxe version. Blizzard has a lot to show off and is keen to make a good first impression.
I am releasing this leak for two reasons. One, I thought it would be interesting to see how seriously the truth is taken this late into ‘leak season’ as it is a concept I find intriguing. Two, because Blizzard is deciding to go the video route rather than a small live debut with a Q&A section, I spoke up saying it would be a bad move. Blizzard should allow the community to pose valid questions to their face to be heard, even if it is mostly indignant criticism. This was not received well and eventually led to me being fired. As one can imagine, after having numerous events planned and cancelled, leading up to the reveal in April, I was just a little upset they decided to not only ignore my input, but fire me for it. No, I don’t care about the privacy laws protecting their content and frankly it’ll be hard to track down the one employee out of a substantial number that was let go with contempt. Unfortunately, many in my team were let go for not being seen as valuable and for recommending courses of action that made Blizzard uncomfortable. With that nasty business out of the way, allow me to introduce World of Warcraft: Guardians Primordial!
- New Class
- New Locations
- New Systems
- Story Elements
1: New Class
The new hero class of Dragon Guard will be the main selling focus of the expansion reveal. The Dragon Guard are a long-forgotten group of dragons from all Flights that were sent out amongst the younger races to protect Azeroth. After the fall of Deathwing, this group was disbanded because the dragons thought their time as guardians was over. With Azeroth once again on the verge of death, the Flights recognize they should never have fully shed their responsibility but should’ve instead shared the burden of protecting Azeroth with fellow mortal champions. You are the first of this group’s resurgence. You are a dragon who was saved by a mortal friend at the cost of their life. To forever remember them and to repay an impossible debt, you take on their mortal form and aid their people as they aided you. Harboring the soul of younger mortal unlocks much new potential in your power, but it is an uphill battle to remain in control of this new power without falling to madness as those before you.
This hero class wears mail armor and is open to all races and allied races. Dragons’ ability to shapeshift is almost limitless, so all new Dragon Guard are welcome. There are four specializations to choose from. The melee dps Infernal Dragon Guard who use their fire to ignite their bodies and their enemies while using their power over life to heal their injuries. The ranged dps Runic Dragon Guard who use ancient mastery over magic to layer various runic circles and create deadly combinations of attacks to overwhelm their foes. The healing Lucid Dragon Guard who use their mastery over nature and the Emerald Dream to sooth the mind and body of their allies while inflicting their opponents with paralyzing nightmares and poison. Finally, the tanks that are the Temporal Dragon Guard who use their mastery over time to slow attacks of their foes, reverse time over injuries, and summon familiar aid from alternate realities to protect their allies. All of this power comes at a cost to the Dragon Guard and remaining in control is struggle that all must fight in order to be of any use to themselves and Azeroth.
2: New Locations
The Dragon Guard have a starting zone known as Ddraigosis, and island north of Lordaeron and west of Quel’thalas. This Island serves two purposes. First is to act as a decoy and throw off the scent of the real Dragon Isles which the Aspects forbade anyone to go to. Second is a testing ground for finding a successful way to regularly reproduce and protect any eggs that are laid. Results have been minimal to unsuccessful and the Dragonflights must find a solution soon, or the age of dragons on Azeroth will be over.
The time has come for the world to discover the mysteries of the Dragon Isles. This new continent is located at the base of the world, opposing Northrend. There are seven new zones to explore on this strange continent. The pine forest of Tirisrise Fjord is home to Vrykul who consider themselves the true descendants of the Titans and view the Dragonflights as insults to the Pantheon’s legacy. The untamed wetlands of the Spawnmarsh are a breeding ground for a plethora of undiscovered species. The wise Jinyu have been here for millennia worshipping the runoff water of the Dragon Isles’ mountains, viewing it as holy gifts from the heavens. Any attempt to disturb the rivers is met with extreme hostility. The high island plateau of the Thundering Plains in almost inhospitable to all but the most stoic and crafty of races. A group of Tauren and a group of Sethrak have made this place their home. They must learn to work together to overcome a common foe. The blissful autumnal island of Azshari Ridge is a place of bad memories for the Dragonflights, for it is here they first attempted to make landfall so many years ago, but were driven out. Now the lands’ history of conflict is set to continue as tensions continues to build between the Alliance forces led by Turalyon and his Lightforged, and the Horde armies led by Geya’rah and her Mag’har orcs. The lush jungle of Syrakuul Cavern is by all accounts an impossibility in this climate. The jungle itself feels alive and rests upon a massive underground cavern of unknown darkness. At the heart of this jungle are the Trolls who worship both Loa and Elune under the shade of their Gilded World Tree Yggdrasil. Athenar Crater is a volcanic island off the coast of the Dragon Isles which is home to a guardian turned adversary. From their fortress in the volcano, he and his Thirty Tyrants wreak havoc on the denizens of the Dragon Isles and threaten to doom all of Azeroth in the process. Last but not least, the snow topped mountain range of Lokrin Peaks is a place of mystery and reverence. No mortal in living memory has taken the pilgrimage on the Path of the Titans up to the peak, and a strange barrier makes it impossible to venture there. All that is known is that pained roars emanate from the seemingly tranquil mountain tops.
3: New Systems
There are a ton of new or revised systems in the upcoming expansion, many of which are still in the works and may even be pulled from the table. Here’s brief list of everything planned to come in World of Warcraft: Guardians Primordial.
World update. Blizzard plans to implement a way to gradually update the old world (Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor). They will do this by using assaults introduced in the pre-patch to update zones. These changes are meant to be permanent (no Bronze Dragon help) and are meant to last for several expansions.
Timewalking Revamp. They intend to make Timewalking a constant feature with new rewards that will merely be more lucrative whenever it’s a Timewalking week. How they intend to determine what dungeons can be done at any given time is still in development.
Player Housing. With the new World Update, Blizzard intends to finally implement a player housing system they have been working on for the last few years.
Profession Revamp. Professions will be heavily involved in player housing construction and decoration. Particular attention is being paid to archeology based on community feedback.
Player Power. In this expansion, Blizzard intends to try and take successful elements of previous expansion and combine them. Using the Runic Cartographer and the Firstforge, players will gather runes by exploring and completing activities, then bring those runes and materials to the forge to craft their legendary. It is intended that legendaries are constantly upgraded and worked on, so players feel invested in their craft. There is also a system similar to covenants where players join local groups of dragons called Wings. Each class will get a new ability, but this ability is the only ability available. Wing choice is purely cosmetic and changes the flair of the ability.
Pre-patch. For the pre-patch, numerous threats arise that we must push back. After the Jailer’s attack, Azeroth’s soul was weakened. Her now vulnerable anima was absorbed by the remains of Galakrond. He has risen and took over the remnants of the scourge. He now leads the Necrotic Dragonflight who works in conjunction with the Infinte Dragonflight, the Twilight Dragonflight, and the Nightmare Dragonflight to attack Azeroth in Tirisfall Glades, Tanaris, the Twilight Highlands, and Mount Hyjal respectively. These flights will continuously assault Azeroth while Galakrond seeks revenge on Wyrmrest temple in Northrend, acting as the World Boss.
4: Story Elements.
Unless it was a description or an explanation, I am not privy to detailed story elements. It was not required to design advertisements, slides, or posters. That being said I do know the basic plot after picking up enough info and asking friends and coworkers.
The threat of Galakrond forces the Dragonflight to unite once more, especially the reformation of the Blues.
We join with Wrathion, Magni, M.O.T.H.E.R. and Khadgar to find a way to save Azeroth from a slow death. Particular attention is paid to Sargeras’ sword and the threat of the Dreadlords.
Eventually we ask the Dragonflight to show us the REAL Dragon Isles (not Draigosis).
They don’t know how to get there without all the Aspects, so Nozdormu travels in time to see if Deathwing knew how to get there on his own.
Nozdormu is successful in finding the information but is attacked by Deathwing and the Old Gods, wounding him.
The champions, Dragonflights, Wrathion, Magni, M.O.T.H.E.R. and Khadgar all journey to the Dragon Isles.
We are initially met with hostility, but are eventually given sanctuary in the Vrykul city of Geatswulf.
We learn of the Three Primordials, believed to be some of Azeroth’s firstborn, who have not been heard from in some time. Their names are Hermoris, Kritias, and Timaeus. These great dragons lead their three broods known as Wings to protect the Dragon Isles and Azeroth.
The Vrykul have many traditions regarding these Primordials and the Titans. They say Hermoris is a colossal drake and Primordial of the Earth. Kritias is the world’s largest winged serpent, who is Primordial of the Sky. Finally, Timaeus is the oldest and wisest among her brothers; a dragon who is Primordial over the heavens.
Hermoris is trapped in Syrakuul Caverns, battling the great serpent Nidhogg, son of Kritias, who has burrowed his way into the roots of the gilded world tree Yggdrasil, driving the local Troll population into a frenzy.
Kritias has fallen to corruption of the Dreadlords and rules from his fortress of Athenar Crater. His most loyal children, The Thirty Tyrants, wreak havoc upon the Dragon Isles and seek to take all the Titan’s power for themselves.
Timaeus has not been heard from in eons. From the Lokrin Peaks, the denizens of the Dragon Isles hear roars of pain but are barred from taking the pilgrimage on the Path of the Titans by an unknown force.
In the player’s adventures to aid the Dragon Isles and in turn get the aid of the Primordials and their guarded Titan Facilities, Alextrasza is struck down by Kritias in a cinematic titled “Death of a Queen and Mother”.
This is the last stick that snaps and sends Nozdormu into spiraling madness. He finally turns into Murozond and escapes to break the Timeways.
A funeral is held for Alexstrasza in a cinematic titled “Sister’s Reunion”. This shows Kleia and Uther coming to escort Alextrasza’s spirit to Pelagos, where he sends Alextrasza’s soul to Ardenweald and into the waiting arms of Ysera.
Alexstrasza had a child who she believed to be the next leader of the Red Dragonflight. We seek this child out and find only an egg.
Wrathion is enraged that the Red Dragon would once again dictate the fate of another whelpling.
Eventually, this egg hatches. It is an unnamed daughter. Alexstrasza’s new daughter has heard everything, including Wrathion’s justifiable rage. She says that while it might be unfair to her, she now has a chance to change that fate for future generations.
Calmed, Wrathion suggests the daughter’s name be Rhea. Everyone is confused because all Dragons have unique names and Rhea is the name of the dragon that forcefully produced him and took him from his real mother.
Wrathion also says she sacrificed her own child to save him and did what she thought was necessary to save Azeroth, as they must now do. Though he may never forgive her, he understands now, and is grateful he now has a chance to set it all straight.
The daughter likes the idea on take up the name Rhea or Rheastrasza.
Wrathion vows to help the Dragonflights and this new daughter so that one day new whelplings might hatch with only the dream of flying above a free Azeroth
We don’t know where murozaond went, but now Chromie must lead the Bronze Dragonflights.
She refuses saying there are plenty of older wiser Bronze Dragons for the job, but everyone agrees she has the most skill and is perfect for the job.
Kalec says he will lead this new council of the Dragonflights which in turn lead the Dragons of Azeroth into a new era.
There are eight new dungeons at launch. Four off the bat and four at max level adding up to two per initial zone. The first raid will be storming Kritias’ Fortress in Athenar Crater to either free him, or kill him in order to gain control of his Titan Facility.
With that, this is everything I know about the upcoming expansion “Guardians Primordial”. Hope you are excited for the reveal on April 19th. Despite the circumstances behind me leaving Blizzard, I too am excited for the next expansion because I have seen the genuine love the team has poured into this new chapter. The visuals are absolutely stunning too! Hope you have a great day, and thanks for reading. Farewell.
