The world of Azeroth gained six new zones through the World of Warcraft: Shadowlands expansion, including a main core zone, four leveling zones, and an exploration zone reserved for the bravest of souls.
Oribos, the eternal city
This ancient city predates the Titans and almost all of memory itself. Oribos is the capital of the Shadowlands, as well as the home of Arbiter – a powerful cosmic being who judges the souls of mortals. Both factions can use Oribos as their main hub.
Maldraxxus
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In war-torn Maldraxxus, power – of all kinds – corrects. Here, in the cradle of necromantic magic, those who master the powers of death transform legions of ambitious souls into armies of relentless undead.
Representing the heart of the Shadowlands army,” Maldraxxus is home to all warriors. This is by far the largest area in the expansion and full to the brim of Undead. Maldraxxus isn't exactly the prettiest area, but there's plenty of great content to wade through here.
Ardenweald
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A bustling afterlife for those closely connected to nature, Ardenweald is an endless domain of restoration maintained by the mystical fae of the night. In this eternal forest, huge dream trees attract precious anima – the essence of the soul – to nourish the spirits of nature awaiting rebirth.
The Night Fae rule the land of Ardenweald, which is as beautiful as it is deadly. If the lush forests, dazzling night skies, and fairy dust aren't enough to keep you staying, the Ardenweald storyline is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Related: How To Unlock Allied Races In WoW: Shadowlands
Bastion
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Those who have lived a life of service are drawn to Bastion to take on the highest duty of all: transporting souls to the Shadowlands. Among the gleaming spiers and sweeping vistas of Bastion await challenges to test the mettle of the steadfast Kyrians.
Bastion is beautiful to look at, but its campaign is a bit...er...raising eyebrows. This land boasts of inhabiting the purest souls of the Shadowlands, but look beyond the "perfect order" of its Kyrian alliance and you'll find plenty of dirt in the cracks.
Revendreth
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A realm of towering dungeons and gothic villages, Revendreth is home to the venthyr, the reapers of sin. The wretched souls who arrive here may find penance for their misdeeds...or simply satisfy the appetites of their guardians.
Calling all Dracula fans! Revendreth is a gothic dream, offering gargoyles, Victorian-inspired architecture and a perfectly moody atmosphere. The souls that are sent to this area have been found to be defective and are therefore doomed to atone for their sins in the nightmarish realm. Revendreth is right up there with Ardenweald as the best area in Shadowlands.
The mouth
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To be thrown in the mouth is to be condemned to a dark eternity. It is a tumultuous and hopeless land where the vilest souls of the cosmos are imprisoned forever. If the ancient evil chained here breaks free, all of reality will be consumed.
The Maw, home to souls deemed irredeemably evil, is a max-level, open-world exploration area that actively discourages exploration. With the upcoming 9.1 patch, however, two critical issues are being addressed that are sure to increase the Maw's overall playability: not only will players finally be able to use their mounts, but they will also learn why the "Eye of the Jailer” exists and how to get rid of it.
Do you like Shadowlands? Check out our list of all the best healer classes in WoW: Shadowlands, or get back to basics by reading the most frequently asked practical questions about WoW Classic.
