World of Warcraft: Shadowlandswill have two pre-patches in order to stagger the implementation of some of the huge changes coming to Azeroth across the next expansion.
With more information being released, it has been unclear to many fans which features will be including in each of the pre-patches. Here’s what fans can expect from patch 9.0.1 and 9.0.2 in the run up toWorld of Warcraft: Shadowlands.
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Patch 9.0.1.
Patch 9.0.1. will implement a lot of the changes that will affect players across the board, rather than just those at a high enough level to experience the newShadowlandscontent.New character customization options inWoWwill be made available, greatly diversifying the customization options across almost all available races to include things like body paint, new skin colors, face shape modifiers, and separate options for beards, mustaches and sideburns to allow players to give their avatar a truly unique look.
The first patch will also see the implementation of thelevel squish, one of the biggest across-the-board changes being made toWoWin the new expansion. Players who are currently at max level, level 120, will be bumped down to level 50. Those at level 110 will be knocked down to level 45, 100 to 40, 90 to 35 and so on.
Leveling will also be streamlined, with players leveling from 1-10 in either their racial starting zone or thenew zone of Exile’s Reach. After that they will be able to choose which expansion to level from 10-50 in, and then travel to theShadowlandsfor the final ten levels. Some players have been able to reach level 50 in just 3 hours, and though this is an extreme case, players can expect the overall leveling experience to be much faster from this patch onward.
Finally, the new patch will come with the Scourge Event. Just as previous expansions likeWrath of the Lich Kingwere launched with zombie plague events in some of the most memorable moments inWoWhistory,Shadowlands’ first pre-patch will see similar world events take place, as well as unique quests involving returning characters like Nathanos Blightcaller and familiar locales like Icecrown Citadel.
The Newcomer Mentor Systemwill also be implemented in patch 9.0.1, which will allow players at level 50 who have completed a set of requirements to become designated mentors. After that, they will be given a special icon and will have access to a new chat channel designed for new players to ask questions that veteranWoWplayers can answer.
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Patch 9.0.2.
The second pre-patch will be used to implement all theShadowlands-specific content. This patch will update the world with the new zones and dungeons that will be available in the coming expansion, as well as new features like the Covenants players will be able to join in Bastion, Revendreth,Ardenweald, and Maldraxxus and the perks they gain from each.
In short, patch 9.0.2. will cover the level 50-60 experience, while patch 9.0.1. will cover theShadowlandsfeatures which will be applied across the game as a whole. According to the developers, this is to allow the features like the new character customization to be tested on the Public Test Realms while some of the 50-60Shadowlandscontent is still in BETA. If done right, this could allowBlizzardto make some of the features that will have the broadest effects available to greater testing earlier, and will hopefully makeShadowlandsready for a smooth launch.
World of Warcraftis available now for PC. At this point,World of Warcraft Shadowlandsreleases on October 26 or 27 (depending on time zone) for PC.
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