Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsRoadmap to Cataclysm zone overhauls
by Michael Sacco 
Nov 5th 2009 at 9:15PM
We've been wondering about the level of change in each old-world zone for Cataclysm for months now, and the answer has actually been under our noses since BlizzCon. During the Art Panel, the above planning map was shown, along with some information to either side of it. We can't make out everything in it, but there's a lot of information if you know what you're looking at.
The zone colors, from what we can infer, indicate the level of overhaul each zone is receiving. Red is a heavy overhaul, yellow is moderate, green is light, and blue means a brand-new zone. The yellow stars indicate a dungeon, and the red stars indicate a raid. The white tabs each have a letter on them, indicating what in the zone was being changed at that particular point -- L for level, Q for quests, etc.
Astute readers will see some things jump out at them immediately, like Thousand Needles having two stars on it.
The full list of visible zone changes after the break, along with other pertinent info.
Disclaimer: While this image was captured during the BlizzCon 2009 Art Panel, the capture displays a photo taken by Blizzard staff, which is undated. We don't know if it was a day before BlizzCon 2009 or six months before. Things could have changed between when this picture was taken and when this article was published.
Kalimdor - Major overhaul:
- Darkshore
- Azshara
- Darkwhisper Gorge (Current in Winterspring, becoming its own zone?)
- The Barrens (South)
- Stonetalon Mountains
- Thousand Needles (getting its own instances?)
- Stranglethorn Vale (thank heaven)
- Blasted Lands (a surprise)
- Felwood
- Ashenvale
- Durotar
- The Barrens (North)
- Desolace
- Feralas
- Eastern Plaguelands
- Wetlands (likely due to the emergence of the Twilight Highlands)
- Westfall (a surprise)
- Swamp of Sorrows
- Moonglade
- Winterspring
- Mulgore
- Dustwallow Marsh
- Tanaris
- Silithus
- Un'goro Crater
- Tirisfal Glades
- Western Plaguelands
- Silverpine Forest
- Arathi Highlands
- Alterac Mountains
- The Hinterlands
- Hillsbrad Foothills
- Duskwood
- Elwynn Forest
- Dun Morogh
- Loch Modan
- Badlands
- Searing Gorge
- Burning Steppes
- Redridge Mountains
- Deadwind Pass
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: News items, BlizzCon, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 7)
staffan.johansson Nov 5th 2009 10:30PM
Also, one of the maps you showed from Blizzcon (http://www.wow.com/gallery/cataclysm-zones/2226096/ ) indicates that even green-marked zones might get some level overhauling, providing a more natural progression. The example shows the expected progression for the Forsaken:
Tirisfal Glades 1-10
Silverpine Forest 10-20
Hillsbrad Foothills 20-25 (was 20-30)
Arathi Highlands 25-30 (was 30-40)
Hinterlands 30-35 (was 40-50)
Western Plaguelands 35-40 (was 50-58)
Eastern Plaguelands split into 40-45 and 45-50 (was 53-60)
I'm expecting they'll do similar progressions for the other races. Dwarves/gnomes, for example, will likely have Dun Morogh 1-10, Loch Modan 10-20, Wetlands 20-25, and then moving into Arathi Highlands as above. Humans might be expected to do Elwyn Forest 1-10, Westfall 10-20, Redridge Mountains 20-25, Duskwood 25-30, and then Stranglethorn Vale. Of course, there's nothing preventing you from hopping onto another race's track (human going to the Wetlands instead of Redridge), but I'm guessing quests and such will have a flavor targeted at the correct race (Forsaken-based quests out of Tarren Mill, Orc- or possibly Goblin-based quests out of Splintertree Post).
Lilithsblood Nov 5th 2009 10:39PM
I can't remember exactly when or one what stage/room but this was definitely on the Blizzcon pay per view. I remember showing this, the whole thing on power point. They went thru the eastern kingdoms describing the change of levels.. Like from tirisfal thru many zones until eastern plaguelands and so on and forth. EP and WP were like 35-45 zones. I'm guessing the people who posted this didn't watch blizzcon PPV or were at a different panel at blizzcon. Yeah I saw this completely broke down and explained. lol. try to find someone who recorded the PPV and you'll see. hehe.
ecwfrk Nov 6th 2009 1:07AM
The Art Panel was in Hall C. But the Blizz PPV showed the Diablo III Heroes & Monsters panel from the main stage. The WoW Art Panel wasn't shown.
Lilithsblood Nov 6th 2009 1:18PM
Whoops I posted it at the end instead of gettin to reply to your comment ecwfrk. What I said was..
"Well.. that would be wierd, cause I remember seeing it? lol I remember them walking thru the eastern kingdoms on the map showing this and that and improvements, maybe it was a different panel. That wouldn't be an art panel anyway, not art, that was design."
Kaz Nov 5th 2009 10:46PM
But what of IQD?
or did I miss it up there?
Lucidien Nov 5th 2009 10:47PM
Tarren Mill? You mean Southshore, right? ;)
-As proud as I am to be Horde, having hacked my way through that little town many times and finally it paying off, I will be sad to see Southshore go. For those of you less-lore-savvy out there, in the First War, Stormwind was obliterated by the Horde, Northshire razed to the ground. The survivors fled on a fleet numbering ships in the thousands and only stopped sailing when they reached Lordaeron, specifically, a small fishing village called Southshore, where the women and children and some of their less-combat oriented men were offered refuge in and around the town's church. A very touching story of the kindness of Lordaeron taking in refugees, even though the town was only small. I'll be sad to see those good-natured people put out of house and home. That said, I call shotgun on one of the houses, time for my BElf-Mage to set up a tailoring shop. =P
ecwfrk Nov 6th 2009 1:10AM
You'll still be able to visit it in it's glory days, before a bunch of Naga and Murlocs moved in along the beach, via OHB.
Hellwraith Nov 5th 2009 10:48PM
Is it me, or that huge blue rectangle is pointing at some place between Feralas, Desolace and Mulgore? Can this mean some rebirth of Dire Maul, or perhaps something happening on Mannoroc Coven? I've never heard any hints before about movement on these areas. Anybody has any clues?
Ayane Nov 5th 2009 10:53PM
*squints* It looks like...Silvermoon and surrounding area will be untouched?
Interesting....
Hubuly Nov 6th 2009 1:12AM
nothing changed in silithis either, was hoping for lvl 85 c'thun
Josh Poulson Nov 5th 2009 11:21PM
The instances in Thousand Needles seem to be near where the Razorfens used to be...
MrMindless Nov 5th 2009 11:35PM
Ashenvale being a moderate and not a major overhaul makes me believe that only part of it will be razed by the horde. Complete deforestation and takeover by the horde would have been a major overhaul
Makes me kinda happy actually, its been one of my favorite zones
Nawaf Nov 5th 2009 11:45PM
Remember that these are the zones affected to the cataclysm, not the zones that are changing. I've seen a different map for levels, all of the levels of the zones are changing. for example, western plague lands will be a 35-40 zone.
Nawaf Nov 5th 2009 11:38PM
I've noticed two things:
-This expantion is focusing on Kalimdor more than Eastern Kingdoms.
-Most of the red zones are either coastal, or right next to the sea with no coasts (blasted lands, 1000 needles).
A Nonny Mouse Nov 6th 2009 2:28AM
You don't know that it's Kalimdor focused change for sure. Mister Afrasiabi's arm could be hiding a whole mess of change around the Blackrock area.
Maxpowr Nov 5th 2009 11:45PM
If they make RFK and RFD into instances/raids for 85, I think you will have ALOT of unhappy WoW players. The instances are just so poorly designed. Of course Blizz could revamp them into something great.
If I had to take a guess, Darkwhisper Gorge will be an 82-83 quest hub and act as an entrance to Hyjal which will be level 84-85 quests.
Also I feel they are gonna turn "The Tainted Scar" into something more useful (like with Darkwhisper) instead of a bunch of elites running around.
Ralix Nov 6th 2009 12:42AM
A little strange, Desolace is marked as yellow even though we know it gets flooded and the entire zone changes....EPL is also yellow, so I hope that will get turned back into a non-undead place again :D
Thundrcrackr Nov 6th 2009 4:48PM
It appears from the trailer that the changes here are mostly cosmetic. The Kodo and Goblin hut are completely unchanged as the camera flies over. I'm guessing most of the other camps/npcs in the zone will remain the same also. It appears that only its looks are transformed (from desolate to lush) and not the actual terrain itself. If there aren't a lot of quest changes or terrain transformations (lava/craters/mountains/water where land used to be) then its probably not considered a big change.
Laibeus Lord Nov 6th 2009 12:46AM
It is really weird that the Draenei and Blood Elf starting zones are the least affected by the Cataclysm considering how the areas around them are affected much. And are they still going to keep those two starting areas (with 2 zones each) separate from the rest of Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms respectively?
Since they're overhauling "Azeroth" why not just "phased out" all players without TBC when they enter these Azeroth-TBC zones? Or, they'll see NPCs but they won't talk to them, and they won't see any mobs to kill.
I mean, majority of the players already have TBC, and with the ability to fly in Azeroth now a reality, I sure hate "zoning" in and out between Azeroth and Azeroth-TBC zones... it kills immersion and continuity. And seeing that huge portal separating EP and Quel'thalas is soo weird, seriously. Keeping the Draenei starting zones separate is fine I guess, since it is connected by sea not by land. But still, it will be better to be able to Fly there without "zoning".
And I guess the same goes with Northrend :p If you look at the current worldmap, Northrend is too close on the Lordaeron side. But then, the next question is this. Cataclysm + TBC end-content in the Quel'danas (Sunwell Isle). I do hope they put in their so-claimed "unique" (and non copied or inspired from another MMO) Phasing Technology there for those of us who were done with it :p
We will see. We will see. Continuity and Immersion vs. Technicality and Time Limitation? Which one will they choose?
staffan.johansson Nov 6th 2009 5:50AM
I'm hoping they will take this opportunity to discontinue vanilla WoW altogether - make the basic box people will buy when starting out already include Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and possibly even Cataclysm. Otherwise you're going to have newbies spending their first day just installing the game plus patches and such, and that's not going to make anyone happy. As a side effect, they could integrate the Draenei and Belf areas into the "real" Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms, instead of having them float in the Nether outside Outland the way they currently are. Thus, you would be able to take a hippogryph all the way from the Exodar to Gadgetzan, or from Silvermoon to Booty Bay.