Dragonflight

Dragonflight was the ninth expansion. Instead of BlizzCon, it was revealed in a pre-recorded stream on 19 April 2022, and it launched on November 28/29, 2022. The dragonflights of Azeroth return to defend the Dragon Isles, their ancestral home, which is waking up again full of elemental magic.

The story eases the tension left by Shadowlands. It was the first expansion since Mists of Pandaria that does not pick up straight from the end of the one before, and it jumps three years forward in the story.

• New level cap of 70.
• The Dracthyr Evoker, a race and class that come together as one choice. The Forbidden Reach is the dracthyr starting zone.
• Dragonriding, the dynamic flying style that later carried on as Skyriding.
• A rebuilt talent system and improved Professions, plus an updated user interface.
• Follower Dungeons were added in a later patch.

Major Factions were a new take on Reputation and Renown, built around outdoor progress: playing across the isles earns reputation that raises Renown ranks, which unlock questlines and cosmetics. The factions were the Dragonscale Expedition, Maruuk Centaur, Iskaara Tuskarr, Valdrakken Accord, Loamm Niffen and Dream Wardens. Unlike the covenants, they are not exclusive, so you can rank up with all of them.

• Patch 10.0.2 opened Rogue, Mage and Priest to every race except the dracthyr; patch 10.1.5 did the same for Warlock.
• Patch 10.0.5 added the Trading Post and Traveler's Log with new cosmetics and activities each month, and opened Transmogrification to Common and Poor items.
• Barbershop changes became free, Timewalking Campaigns allowed leveling to 60, and the Solo Shuffle brawl became a rated mode.

Dungeons: Algeth'ar Academy, The Azure Vault, Brackenhide Hollow, Halls of Infusion, Neltharus, The Nokhud Offensive, Ruby Life Pools and Uldaman: Legacy of Tyr (a rework of the classic Uldaman), with Dawn of the Infinite added in 10.1.

The next expansion, The War Within, followed in August 2024.