War of the Thorns

This event runs from July 24, 2018 until the release of Battle for Azeroth, August 13 - 14, 2018.

This article concerns content exclusive to Battle for Azeroth.

War of the Thorns (ends with the "Burning of Teldrassil") is an in-game event that takes place with the last patch release of Legion, the pre-patch for World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth. It is a limited time event that will disappear upon the launch of Battle for Azeroth in August.

Once players have completed the entire questline on a single faction's character, all other characters of the same faction will be able to skip it to go directly to the world quests.

Story

Sylvanas Windrunner, current Warchief of the Horde, has deduced that Anduin Wrynn and the Alliance will use Darnassus as a staging area for their supplies of azerite. Knowing how powerful the substance is, Sylvanas decides that the only way to thwart these plans is to attack the Night Elves, with her ultimate goal to kill Malfurion Stormrage.

The events of this in-game event are expected to reveal the background behind the burning of Teldrassil. You can supplement the in-game lore with the novel, Before the Storm, the novellas, A Good War and Elegy, the animated shorts in Warbringers, and the short cinematic, Old Soldier.

The following rationale for Sylvanas' actions are offered in a conversation Horde players can elect to have with her upon accepting The Warchief Commands:

You would ask a question of me, <name>?

Warchief, may I ask why we want to capture Teldrassil?

Time is not a luxury we possess, but I respect your desire to know more.
<Sylvanas points to Silithus on the map.>
THIS has forever altered the balance of power in Azeroth.
Deposits of Azerite are being located across the world, <name>. Though we do not yet understand its full potential, it is clear that this substance has vast destructive capability.
What will war look like in twenty years? In a hundred?
How can the Horde hope to defend its borders if the Alliance controls the flow of Azerite?

It is uncertain, Warchief.

What IS certain is that the Alliance will use Darnassus as a safe harbor for funneling Azerite into the Eastern Kingdoms. Anduin Wrynn will build powerful new weapons, and sooner or later he will turn them upon our homelands. First he will strike at the Undercity and Silvermoon, then his gaze will fall upon Kalimdor.
For the sake of the Horde's future, we must be the first to act.
By occupying Darnassus, we will control the flow of Azerite and ensure it cannot be used against us. The Alliance will dare not attack its own city for fear of harming civilians.
With a single stroke, we will guarantee generations of peace.

The night elves will fight us at every step.

The kaldorei will defy our occupation... unless we break their spirits.
We must inflict a blow that will show them what is at stake. They need to lose something... someone... in whom they have absolute trust and faith. A symbol of hope.
<The Dark Lady narrows her eyes.>
Malfurion Stormrage must die.

Quests

Both Alliance and Horde players have a quest line to follow. The first of these is introduced with the July 24, 2018 pre-patch. This follows with another segment introduced on July 31st.

Alliance

Quest chain

edit quest chain

Part One

1.  [110] A Short-Lived Peace
2.  [110] The Horde Uprising
3.  [110] A Disturbance in Ashenvale
4.  [110] The Light of Elune /  [110] Knives of the Forsaken
5.  [110] A Soft Glow
6.  [110] Hidden Amongst the Leaves /  [110] Mercy for the Mad
7.  [110] Garden Grove
8.  [110] Enraged Furbolgs /  [110] Elves in the Machine
9.  [110] The Wake of Something New
10.  [110] Azerite Denial /  [110] No Horde Allowed
11.  [110] Malfurion Returns
12.  [110] "Rock" The World
13.  [110] Long Away
14.  [110] A Looming Threat

Part Two

1.  [110] A Threat from the North
2.  [110] Rescue Effort /  [110] Defending Lor'danel
3.  [110] Action This Day
4.  [110] The Guidance of Our Shan'do
5.  [110] A Flicker of Hope
6.  [110] From the Ashes...

World quests

edit quest chain

•  [110] Arboria
•  [110] Blunt the Spikes
•  [110] Break Free
•  [110] Detonate!
•  [110] Fey There
•  [110] I Want It All
•  [110] No Turning Back
•  [110] One Vision
•  [110] Our Sacred Forest
•  [110] So We Meat Again
•  [110] Spiritual Aid
•  [110] Stop the Drilling
•  [110] The Azerite Stuff
•  [110] We Will "Rock" You

Horde

Quest chain

edit quest chain

Part One

1.  [110] The Warchief Awaits
2.  [110] The Warchief Commands
3.  [110] A Quick Diversion
4.  [110] Everybody Has a Price
5.  [110] A Timely Arrival
6.  [110] Zoram'gar Outpost
7.  [110] On The Prowl
8.  [110] Into the Woods
9.  [110] Ripe for the Picking
10.  [110] A Quick Flyover
11.  [110] An Unstoppable Force
12.  [110] Clearing Them Out /  [110] A Glaive Misunderstanding
13.  [110] Blurred Vision
14.  [110] The Trees Have Ears
15.  [110] The Blackwood Den /  [110] Aggressive Inspiration
16.  [110] The Start of Something Good
17.  [110] Fueling the Horde War Machine /  [110] A Very Clear Message
18.  [110] A Gift of Azerite
19.  [110] A Wild Ride
20.  [110] A Looming Threat

Part Two

1.  [110] Saurfang Returns
2.  [110] No Small Mercy /  [110] Seaside Rendezvous /  [110] Driving Them Out
3.  [110] Killer Queen

World quests

edit quest chain

•  [110] Don't Stop Me Now
•  [110] Extinguish the Lights
•  [110] Fuel for the Demolishers
•  [110] Hang On In There
•  [110] I Want It All
•  [110] It's a Kind of Magic
•  [110] Ours For the Taking
•  [110] Pruning the Thorns
•  [110] Staying Power
•  [110] The Azerite Stuff
•  [110] They Eat Like Orcs
•  [110] Under Pressure
•  [110] Wicked Kegger

Rewards

Both the Alliance and Horde players who complete the entire line will receive exclusive mounts:  [Smoldering Reins of the Teldrassil Hippogryph] or  [War-Torn Reins of the Undercity Plaguebat].

Additional rewards can be attained by completing the World quests associated with the event, but players must first complete the first quest series (part 1) in order to unlock those. World quest reward gear starts around ilvl 210.

Media

Images

Note: This is a generic section stub. You can help expand it by clicking  Edit to the right of the section title.

Videos

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War of the Thorns Chapter 1

Jul 24, 2018 by WorldofWarcraft

War of the Thorns Chapter 2

Aug 1, 2018 by WorldofWarcraft

Cinematic “Old Soldier” (EU)

Aug 2, 2018 by WorldofWarcraft

The Siege of Lordaeron Has Begun

Aug 7, 2018 by WorldofWarcraft

See also

• Ashenvale
• Battle for Lordaeron (scenario available early, Aug 7th, for players who pre-ordered )
• Darkshore
• Teldrassil

Lore

• Before the Storm
• A Good War (novella)
• Elegy (novella)
• Old Soldier (short cinematic)
• Warbringers (animated shorts)

External links

Wowhead Search Results for War of the Thorns

Guides

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead Burning of Teldrassil 8.0 Pre-Patch Event Overview by Kittyx 2018/07/17 (changelog)

News

PC Gamer World of Warcraft players are removing their shoulder armor to protest their evil warchief By Steven Messner August 3, 2018

Polygon World of Warcraft’s latest story campaign has ignited the fanbase By Cass Marshall Aug 1, 2018, 1:30pm EDT

Official WoW Site (US) Experience the War of the Thorns: Chapter 2 — Now Live! by Blizzard Entertainment July 31st, 2018

Official WoW Site (US) Experience the War of the Thorns—Chapter 1 Now Live! by Blizzard Entertainment July 24th, 2018

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News Burning of Teldrassil - War of the Thorns - 8.0 Pre-Patch Event Guide (Spoilers) by perculia 2018/07/16 9:07 AM

Contains spoilers!  MMO-Champion Patch 8.0.1 - War of Thorns Quest Chain by chaud 2018-07-16 05:05 AM

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News Burning of Teldrassil - Horde Playthrough Part 2 Now Available on the PTR by Neryssa 2018/06/30/ 1:02 AM

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News Burning of Teldrassil - Alliance Playthrough Part 2 Now Available on the PTR by Neryssa 2018/06/28 7:05 PM

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News Burning of Teldrassil - Horde Playthrough and Unlocking Darkshore World Quests by Neryssa 2018/06/20 5:09 PM

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News Burning of Teldrassil - Alliance Playthrough Part 1 and Unlocking Darkshore World Quests by Neryssa 2018/05/31 8:58 PM

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News Burning of Teldrassil - Darkshore and Stormwind Harbor Zone Updates by perculia 2018/05/15 10:28 PM

Contains spoilers!  MMO-Champion Burning of Teldrassil Intro, Zandalar and Kul Tiras Map, Blue Posts, Before the Storm by chaud 2018-04-22 06:44 AM

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News Burning of Teldrassil Intro Questing (Spoilers) by perculia 2018/04/20 3:40 PM

Contains spoilers!  Wowhead News =Burning of Teldrassil Broadcast Text Updates (Spoilers) by perculia 2018/02/22 9:38 PM