World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that has enjoyed phenomenal success since its release in 2004. Over the years, the game has been enriched with nine expansions, each bringing its own set of new features, challenges, and adventures. But which are the best World of Warcraft expansions?
In this article, we'll present our ranking of the best World of Warcraft expansions, from first to last, based on both objective and subjective criteria. Whether you're a veteran or a newcomer to the game, we hope you enjoy this journey into the fantastical world of World of Warcraft.
Criteria for evaluating World of Warcraft expansions
Before we begin the ranking, it's important to define the criteria we'll use to evaluate World of Warcraft expansions. These are, of course, subjective criteria that may vary depending on individual tastes and preferences. Nevertheless, we believe they are fairly representative of the essential aspects of a good expansion.
Here are the four criteria we have selected:
The scenario and the narrative
This is the central thread that guides the player through the expansion, revealing the story , characters , conflicts , stakes , etc. The scenario must be consistent with the game's universe , captivating for the player, and well-presented through cutscenes , dialogues , quests , etc.
The gameplay and mechanics
These are the elements that define how the player interacts with the game, in terms of combat , exploration , progression , and so on. The gameplay must be fun, dynamic, varied, and balanced. The mechanics must be innovative, original, intuitive, and well integrated into the game.
Content and lifespan
This refers to the quantity and quality of activities offered to the player in the expansion , in terms of areas to explore , quests to complete , dungeons to traverse , raids to face , etc. The content must be rich, diverse, renewable, and adapted to the player's level.
The atmosphere and aesthetics
This refers to the atmosphere and visual style that characterize the expansion, in terms of music , sound , graphics , color , etc. The ambiance must be immersive, consistent, and in keeping with the expansion's theme. The aesthetics must be polished, detailed, and pleasing to the eye.
Graphic quality is an important element in enjoying a video game; nothing is more pleasant, especially if you are playing in 4k or Full HD on PC.
These four criteria are not necessarily independent of each other, and can either reinforce or undermine each other.
For example , a good storyline can enhance the atmosphere of an expansion, but poor gameplay can ruin the player's enjoyment. Therefore, finding a good balance between these different aspects is essential to creating a successful expansion .
Ranking of the best World of Warcraft expansions
Now, we can move on to ranking the best World of Warcraft expansions in descending order, starting with ninth and last place. We will then give each expansion a score out of 10 , justifying our choice.
Here is our ranking:
9. Warlords of Draenor: The Journey into the Alternate Past
Warlords of Draenor is the fifth expansion for World of Warcraft, released in November 2014. It offers the player the chance to travel to the alternate past of Draenor , the homeworld of the orcs before its destruction by the Burning Legion.
The player must confront the warlords , the leaders of the orc clans who refused to drink the blood of the demon Mannoroth and who formed the Iron Horde , a formidable army that threatens to invade Azeroth .
The expansion introduces the fief, a personal garrison that the player can build and manage, as well as customizable ground mounts.
Strengths
- The fiefdom:
This is an innovative feature that allows players to create their own military base on Draenor. Players can choose the location, architecture, and buildings of their garrison, as well as recruit followers who can carry out missions for them.
- The warlords:
These are the main antagonists of the expansion , inspired by iconic characters from the Warcraft saga. The warlords are charismatic and formidable orcs , each with their own personality, history, and motivation.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is the expansion's major weakness , suffering from inconsistency and confusion in its narrative. The journey into the alternate past is neither well explained nor justified, and creates time paradoxes that are difficult to understand.
- The content:
This is another weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of diversity and innovation in its activities. The content is limited and poorly adapted to the player's level, consisting mainly of repetitive quests, easy dungeons, and a small number of raids.
Rating: 4/10
In our opinion, this is the worst World of Warcraft expansion . It disappointed players with its incoherent and confusing storyline, its meager and repetitive content, and its insufficient length. It failed to capitalize on the potential of its theme, which could have offered a nostalgic and epic experience to fans of the Warcraft saga.
8. Battle for Azeroth: the war between the Horde and the Alliance
Battle for Azeroth is the seventh expansion for World of Warcraft, released in August 2018. It offers the player the opportunity to participate in the war between the Horde and the Alliance , the two rival factions in the game , after Warchief Sylvanas Windrunner set fire to the world tree Teldrassil , the home of the night elves.
The player must explore the two new continents of Kul Tiras and Zandalar , and recruit Allied Races, ethnic variants of existing races. The expansion introduces the Warfront , a game mode inspired by real-time strategy games, as well as Uncharted Islands, randomly generated and dynamic areas.
Strengths
- The allied races:
This is a unique feature that allows players to unlock new playable races by completing quests and increasing their reputation with different factions . Allied races are ethnic variants of existing races, each with their own appearance, history, and culture.
The player can thus play a Void elf, a dark iron dwarf, a zandalari troll, or a Highmountain tauren, among others.
- The unexplored islands:
This innovative game mode invites players to explore randomly generated and dynamic islands, either cooperatively with two other players or against an AI-controlled team. The uncharted islands offer players a varied and repeatable experience, as well as exciting rewards for their progress.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a major weakness of the expansion , which suffers from inconsistency and confusion in its narrative. The story is unengaging and unoriginal, amounting to a pointless war between the Horde and the Alliance, lacking any real stakes or depth.
The end of the expansion is rushed and disappointing , with an improbable plot twist (the betrayal of the Old God N'Zoth) and a rushed final battle.
- The content:
This is another weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of diversity and quality in its activities . The content is limited and poorly adapted to the player's level, consisting mainly of repetitive quests, mediocre dungeons, and unremarkable raids.
Rating: 5/10
In our opinion, this is a mediocre expansion for World of Warcraft . It disappointed players with its incoherent and confusing storyline, its meager and repetitive content, and its insufficient length. It failed to capitalize on the potential of its theme, which could have offered an epic and dramatic experience to fans of the Warcraft saga.
7. Cataclysm: The Redesign of the Original World
Cataclysm is the third expansion for World of Warcraft , released in December 2010. It offers players the chance to discover the changes made to the original world of Azeroth , following the cataclysm caused by Deathwing , the dragon corrupted by the Old Gods.
The player must confront the threat of elementals, cultists, and mutant creatures while exploring the new zones of the Vortex, Deepholm, and Firelands. The expansion introduces goblins and worgen, the two new playable races, as well as flying mounts to the existing zones.
Strengths
- The redesign of the original world:
This is the expansion's main feature , allowing players to rediscover the world of Azeroth in a new light. Existing zones are altered by the cataclysm, offering new landscapes, new quests, and new stories.
- Goblins and worgen:
These are the two new playable races in the expansion , each with their own appearance, history, and culture. Goblins and worgen offer players a unique and fun experience, as well as greater diversity in character selection.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a minor weakness of the expansion, which suffers from a scattered and uneven narrative. The story is neither engaging nor original, essentially amounting to a struggle against Deathwing and his minions. The expansion's ending is satisfying but unsurprising, culminating in a final battle against Deathwing.
- The content:
This is another minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of novelty and quality in its activities. The game's length is sufficient to maintain player interest in the long term, but it lacks real innovation or challenge.
Rating: 6/10
In our opinion, this is a decent expansion for World of Warcraft . It satisfied players with its overhaul of the original world and its two new playable races, which brought a breath of fresh air and diversity to the game. It didn't disappoint players with its storyline and content, which met expectations but lacked any real surprises or originality.
6. Shadowlands: The Adventure in the Afterlife
Shadowlands is the eighth expansion for World of Warcraft , released in November 2020. It offers players the chance to explore the Shadowlands , the realm of the dead, where the souls of the deceased are judged and directed towards one of the four covenants : the Kyrian, the Necrolords, the Night Fae, or the Venthyr.
The player must confront the threat of the Jailer , the master of the damned, who seeks to seize power over the Shadowlands and destroy the cycle of death. The expansion introduces a lower level cap of 60 , a simplified progression system, and Torghast, the Tower of the Damned, a randomly generated and infinite dungeon.
Strengths
- The congregations:
This is a unique feature that allows the player to choose one of the four factions that rule the Shadowlands. Each covenant has its own appearance, history, and culture.
The player can thus join the Kyrians, the guardian angels of virtuous souls, the Necrolords, the warriors of valiant souls, the Night Fae, the protectors of souls linked to nature, or the Venthyrs, the redeemers of corrupted souls.
- The torment:
This innovative game mode invites players to explore Torghast, the Tower of the Damned, a randomly generated and infinite dungeon located in the heart of the Maw, the Jailer's domain . Torghast offers players a varied and repeatable experience, as well as interesting rewards for their progress.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of complexity and obscurity in its storytelling. The plot is captivating and original, but also difficult to understand and follow, with numerous new characters, locations, and concepts. The expansion's ending is satisfying but unremarkable , culminating in a final battle against the Jailer.
- The content:
This is another minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of originality and quality in its activities. The content is varied and adapted to the player's level, but also uninnovative and unremarkable, limited to classic quests, average dungeons, and unepic raids.
The lifespan is sufficient to maintain the player's interest in the long term, but without real innovation or challenge.
Rating: 7/10
In our opinion, this is a good World of Warcraft expansion . It satisfied players with its covenants and Torghast, which brought a breath of fresh air and diversity to the game. It didn't disappoint players with its storyline and content, which met expectations but lacked real surprises or originality.
5. Mists of Pandaria: The Discovery of an Eastern Culture
Mists of Pandaria is the fourth expansion for World of Warcraft , released in September 2012. It offers the player the opportunity to discover Pandaria , a continent hidden by mist and populated by the pandaren, a race of anthropomorphic bears inspired by Chinese culture .
The player must confront the threat of mogu, trolls, and mantids while exploring the diverse and enchanting landscapes of Pandaria. The expansion introduces the monk , the game's third hybrid class, a master of martial arts, as well as Challenge Mode, a system of timed dungeons with exclusive rewards.
Strengths
- The pandaren:
This is the new playable race of the expansion , which has captivated players with its appearance, history, and culture. The pandaren are peaceful and jovial bears who have developed a rich and harmonious civilization based on Taoist philosophy.
The pandaren offer the player an original and fun experience, as well as greater diversity in character selection.
- Pandaria:
This is the new continent to explore in the expansion , which has captivated players with its landscapes, music, and atmosphere. Pandaria is a continent with Asian influences, offering diverse and unique areas such as the Jade Forest, the Valley of the Four Winds, and Kun-Lai Peak.
Pandaria offers the player an immersive and exotic experience, as well as a better immersion in the game's universe.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of tension and depth in its storytelling. The plot is engaging and original, but also light and humorous, with little real stakes or drama. The main storyline is clear and coherent, but also predictable and unsurprising.
The end of the expansion is satisfying but unremarkable , with a final battle against Garrosh Hellscream, the fallen warlord of the Horde.
- The content:
This is another minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of originality and quality in its activities. The content is varied and adapted to the player's level, but also uninnovative and unremarkable, limited to classic quests, average dungeons, and unepic raids.
The lifespan is sufficient to maintain the player's interest in the long term, but without real innovation or challenge.
Rating: 8/10
In our opinion, this is a very good World of Warcraft expansion . It satisfied players with its pandaren and Pandaria, which brought a breath of fresh air and diversity to the game. It didn't disappoint players with its storyline and content, which met expectations but lacked any real surprises or originality.
4. The Burning Crusade: The First Step into the Unknown
The Burning Crusade is the first expansion for World of Warcraft , released in January 2007. It offers players the chance to discover Outland , a world torn apart by fel magic and populated by strange and dangerous creatures.
The player must confront the threat of the Burning Legion's demons , the army of evil that seeks to destroy all living things. The expansion introduces blood elves and draenei , the two new playable races, as well as flying mounts, a new way to explore the game.
Strengths
- The Underdark:
This is the new continent to explore in the expansion , which has captivated players with its landscapes, music, and atmosphere. Outland is a world with alien influences, offering diverse and unique areas such as Hellfire Peninsula, Zangarmarsh, and Terokkar Forest.
- Flying mounts:
This is the expansion's new feature, which has captivated players with its gameplay, aesthetics, and freedom. Flying mounts allow players to move through the air, soaring over obstacles and discovering hidden secrets.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of tension and narrative depth. The story is captivating and original, but also light and humorous, with little real stakes or drama. The expansion's ending is satisfying but unremarkable , culminating in a final battle against Illidan the Betrayer, the expansion's iconic boss.
- The content:
This is another minor weakness of the expansion, which suffers from a lack of originality and quality in its activities. The content is varied and adapted to the player's level, but also uninnovative and unremarkable, limited to classic quests, average dungeons, and unepic raids.
The lifespan is sufficient to maintain the player's interest in the long term, but without real innovation or challenge.
Rating: 9/10
In our opinion, this is an excellent World of Warcraft expansion . It satisfied players with its Outland and flying mounts, which brought a breath of fresh air and diversity to the game. It didn't disappoint players with its storyline and content, which met expectations but lacked any real surprises or originality.
3. Legion: The Rebirth of the Saga
Legion is the sixth expansion for World of Warcraft , released in August 2016. It invites players to explore the Broken Isles , an archipelago of diverse and enchanting landscapes, where the tomb of Sargeras, the demon lord, is hidden. Players must confront the threat of the Burning Legion, the army of evil that seeks to destroy all living things.
The expansion introduces artifact weapons , legendary items tied to the game's story, as well as the class hall, a customizable location for each class.
Strengths
- The prodigious weapons:
This is the expansion's main feature , allowing players to acquire a unique and powerful weapon that evolves with them throughout the expansion. Artifact weapons are inspired by iconic characters and events from the Warcraft saga, such as Arthas's sword, Thrall's hammer, or Medivh's staff.
- The class domain:
This is a unique feature that allows players to create their own class-specific sanctuary, where they can recruit champions, complete missions, and access exclusive services. Each class's class hall is different, reflecting its identity and culture.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of tension and narrative depth. The story is captivating and original, but also light and humorous, with little real stakes or drama. The expansion's ending is satisfying but unremarkable, culminating in a final battle against Kil'jaeden, Sargeras's right-hand man.
- The content:
This is another minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of originality and quality in its activities. The content is varied and adapted to the player's level, but also uninnovative and unremarkable, limited to classic quests, average dungeons, and unepic raids.
The lifespan is sufficient to maintain the player's interest in the long term, but without real innovation or challenge.
Rating: 9/10
We give Legion a score of 9/10, which we consider an excellent expansion for World of Warcraft . It satisfied players with its artifact weapons and class hall, which brought a breath of fresh air and diversity to the game.
It did not disappoint players with its storyline and content, which met expectations but lacked real surprise or originality.
2. Wrath of the Lich King: the essential reference
Wrath of the Lich King is the second expansion for World of Warcraft , released in November 2008. It allows players to explore the continent of Northrend , a frozen and mysterious land ruled by the Lich King, Warcraft's iconic enemy.
The player must confront the threat of the Scourge, an army of undead, while exploring the magnificent and terrifying landscapes of Northrend. The expansion introduces the Death Knight , the game's first heroic class, as well as Icecrown Citadel, the expansion's ultimate raid.
Strengths
- The Lich King:
He is the main antagonist of the expansion , and his appearance, backstory, and personality have left a lasting impression on players. The Lich King is a complex and charismatic character who was once Prince Arthas Menethil, a human hero corrupted by the cursed sword Frostmourne.
The Lich King is a formidable and relentless enemy, who appears regularly throughout the expansion, and who challenges the player in an epic and scripted final battle.
- Northrend:
This is the new continent to explore in the expansion , which has captivated players with its landscapes, music, and atmosphere. Northrend is a continent with Nordic influences, offering diverse and unique areas such as the Borean Tundra, Grizzly Hills, and Icecrown.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of tension and narrative depth. The story is engaging and original, but also light and humorous, with little real stakes or drama. The expansion's ending is satisfying but unremarkable, culminating in a final battle against the Lich King.
- The content:
This is another minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of originality and quality in its activities. The content is varied and adapted to the player's level, but also uninnovative and unremarkable, limited to classic quests, average dungeons, and unepic raids.
The lifespan is sufficient to maintain the player's interest in the long term, but without real innovation or challenge.
Rating: 10/10
In our opinion, this is the best World of Warcraft expansion . It satisfied players with its Lich King and Northrend, which brought a breath of fresh air and diversity to the game. It didn't disappoint players with its storyline and content, which met expectations but lacked real surprises or originality.
1. Dragonflight: the latest expansion
Dragonflight is the ninth and final expansion for World of Warcraft , released in September 2023. It offers players the chance to explore the ethereal realms , parallel dimensions with varied and original themes, where the time dragon Nozdormu, the final boss of the expansion, is hidden.
The player must confront the threat of chromatic dragons, creatures capable of altering time and space, while exploring the sumptuous and terrifying landscapes of the ethereal realms. The expansion introduces Draconic Artifacts , powerful items linked to the aspects of primordial dragons, as well as the Tower of Eternity, the random and infinite dungeon located at the heart of Time.
Strengths
- The ethereal realms:
This is the expansion's main feature , allowing players to discover new and surprising worlds that change with each visit. These ethereal realms are inspired by the elements, the seasons, dreams, and even nightmares.
The player can thus visit the Realm of Fire, the Realm of Winter, the Realm of Dreams, or the Realm of Chaos. These ethereal realms offer the player an immersive and exotic experience, as well as greater immersion in the game's universe.
- Draconic artifacts:
This is a unique feature that allows players to acquire powerful and unique items that evolve with them throughout the expansion. Draconic artifacts are inspired by the primordial dragons, the ancestors of all dragon species.
The player can thus obtain the claw of Alexstrasza, the queen of the dragons of life, the breath of Malygos, the lord of the dragons of magic, or the gaze of Neltharion, the father of the dragons of earth.
Weak points
- The scenario:
This is a minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of tension and depth in its storytelling. The plot is captivating and original, but also light and humorous, with little real stakes or drama.
The end of the expansion is satisfying but unremarkable, with a final battle against Nozdormu, the time dragon.
- The content:
This is another minor weakness of the expansion , which suffers from a lack of originality and quality in its activities. The content is varied and adapted to the player's level, but also uninnovative and unremarkable, limited to classic quests, average dungeons, and unepic raids.
The lifespan is sufficient to maintain the player's interest in the long term, but without real innovation or challenge.
Rating: 10/10
We give Dragonflight a score of 10/10, which we consider an excellent expansion for World of Warcraft . It has delighted players with its ethereal realms and draconic artifacts, which have brought a breath of fresh air and diversity to the game.
Dragonflight is therefore an essential expansion, which has evolved the game without revolutionizing it.
Thank you for your feedback. Now, I'm going to write a 2000-word FAQ with questions that haven't yet been addressed in my text. The questions must be relevant to the topic, which is: “World of Warcraft: The Best Expansions for the Game?” and must not be off-topic. Here's what I've written:
What is the difference between an extension and an update?
An expansion is a kind of large DLC (downloadable content) that significantly modifies the game, usually introducing a new story, a new continent, new races, new classes, new game modes, etc.
Expansions are paid and require the base game to be installed. Since its release, World of Warcraft has had nine expansions, the latest of which, Dragonflight, was released in September 2023.
An update is a type of small DLC that makes minor changes to the game, usually including bug fixes , performance improvements , class balancing , content additions , etc. Updates are free and install automatically.
