wow Purported Stormwind Harbor Screenshot Hints at the Shadowlands

[Stan 5,239]

An alleged screenshot of Stormwind Harbor hints at the Shadowlands and what is to come in Patch 8.3 and beyond.

In July, we looked at the Shadowlands leak in more detail. What we had back then was a work-in-progress map of Shadowlands from a developer meeting, which showed the new 9.0 zones and Ny'alotha as a "pocket realm."

On August 28, someone on 4chan posted a high-resolution screenshot of Stormwind Harbor, which builds upon the Shadowlands leak. This is currently discussed on both the official forums and MMO-Champion.

The person also talked about Patch 8.3 and a rumored Stormwind raid. You can read the full version here. We highlighted all the relevant information below, but it's 4chan, so take everything with a grain of salt:

Patch 8.3

• We'll be fighting Azshara and N'Zoth in the next expansion.
• The final boss of BfA is more metaphorical than people realize, it's us, the Alliance and the Horde, as indicated by the last shot of Jaina and Lor'themar in the Azshara Defeat Trailer.
• After both factions freed Baine, Sylvanas prepares a strike against Thunder Bluff, tricking both factions into defending it. During the distraction, she will conquer Stormwind.
• It was always the plan to end the expansion with a raid on the capital city of Humans. The raid takes place in Elwynn and the city itself.
  • It makes sense for Sylvanas to conquer Stormwind. It has been her plan all along.
• A new 40-player battleground is allegedly coming in Patch 8.3.

Stormwind Raid

• The raid is about defeating Sylvanas and reclaiming Stormwind.
• The first boss is a caravan-escort scenario. Players will escort an azerite-fueled battling ram starting at Goldshire that will travel slowly towards the gates of the city.
• The second boss is related to an Old God who has enslaved city guards and famous NPCs like Topper McNabb.
• Anduin is also a boss in the raid. He will succumb to N'Zoth's whispers, and we must fight him until he returns to his former self. Wrathion makes an appearance during this fight.
• N'Zoth is trying hard to keep us from reaching Sylvanas.
• The eighth boss is Nathanos. The encounter takes place in Cathedral Square. Tyrande decapitates him at the end of the fight.
• The penultimate boss is Sylvanas, and she awaits us at Stormwind Harbor (see leaked screenshot above).
• Sylvanas is the first of two encounters. Alliance and Horde will fight side by side against Sylvanas until Nolvar appears and starts killing Horde leaders. First to go is Lor'themar. Bolvar will then side with Taelia and the Alliance. Sylvanas will shoot Genn in response, prompting an intermission.
• During the intermission, Horde leaders will rejoin Sylvanas. Genn dies, Anduin and Jaina declare war on the Horde.
• The final fight begins, and the final boss is "The Alliance" or "The Horde." The encounter is cosmetically unique to each faction. The Alliance will win once Sylvanas is dead. Horde will win when Anduin is dead.
• The encounter has been designed to have your faction's leaders die one by one as the opposing faction's health goes down. Anduin and Sylvanas are the last ones standing.
• A cinematic will play when the fight is over. Anduin ends up killing Sylvanas and vice versa, only to die of his/her wounds.
• In the end, everyone will be dead, and Stormwind Harbor is silent. Characters will wake up in the Shadowlands, and a ghostly fleet of Helya's ships awaits us in the death version of Stormwind Harbor.
• Sylvanas declares that we're now strong enough to face the real Battle for Azeroth.

[Grumar 188]

Fake if not for this one line alone 

Quote

The eighth boss is Nathanos. The encounter takes place in Cathedral Square. Tyrande decapitates him at the end of the fight.

There is no way Blizzard would risk an M rating to show that, we've never seen anything as gorey in Warcraft games as a live decapitation. the worst we've ever got is grom being vaguely...burned? by manaroth and a shadow of arthas stabbing his dad, even if it's just in-game models we're not going to see anyone lose their head in this game besides the HH during hallows end. Not only that but this story leads to the whole baine/saurfang/zappy boi plot being meaningless.

Edited September 9, 2019 by Grumar

[Arcling 898]

1 hour ago, Grumar said:

There is no way Blizzard would risk an M rating to show that, we've never seen anything as gorey in Warcraft games as a live decapitation. the worst we've ever got is grom being vaguely...burned? by manaroth and a shadow of arthas stabbing his dad, even if it's just in-game models we're not going to see anyone lose their head in this game besides the HH during hallows end. Not only that but this story leads to the whole baine/saurfang/zappy boi plot being meaningless.

Probably not shown directly, but rather as shadow. As for the rest... Wouldn't be the first time some story parts ended up being meaningless.

I've seen this leak several days ago, hopefully it's not real. It sounds dumb enough to be probable. Again, most important characters aren't really dead (Old Gods/Void Lords not feeling like the biggest remaining threat), as everyone who "dies" there wakes up in Shadowlands, so by the end of expansion they could get out. Sylvanas' plan doesn't even make sense, as her goal has been to defeat Alliance, even book confirmed that, so she would have to lie in her own thoughts.

[Varrick 15]

"Sylvanas declares that we're now strong enough to face the real Battle for Azeroth" ......... ?

[dartbodman 64]

Ok so the final raid ending with everyone dead stuck in the shadowlands awaiting the next expansion seems pretty unlikely. Sylvannas being killed and mocking from beyond the grave to find her in the shadowlands could be possible.

[durdyenglish 298]

There's way too much going on for this to be accurate. There's like 3 potential plots all mashed together here.

 

[SidonisAntares 290]

Those ghost ships don't look anything like the Forsaken galleons used to date, they're far too primitive and remind me more of the vrykul than they do the Forsaken. I would say this has more to do with Syvlanas tipping the balance that was mentioned by Bwonsamdi et. al, and we get a Ghostbusters II Titanic style event.

I also see some discrepancies, the Sanctum of Elune is in a zone called Darkfront, but the Elunian Meadows is in a zone called Xiros? Would think that the Sanctum of Elune would be smack dab in the middle of the Elunian Meadows?

p.s. I bank more on Alleria Windrunner being the reason behind a ghost invasion in Stormwind than I do Sylvanas.

Edited September 10, 2019 by SidonisAntares

[lChronosl 182]

1 hour ago, durdyenglish said:

There's way too much going on for this to be accurate. There's like 3 potential plots all mashed together here.

 

Too much plot is actually what makes me think this is possible, even if not 100% accurate.

[Migol 433]

It's in the "it's so bad it might be the actual plot" range

 

But seriously no.    They've screamed that Sylvannas won't be Garrosh 2.0 for over a year, and have already failed on several aspects (the failed assassination of dissidents leading to rebellion, leader falls to a dark power's corruption, etc etc).     But making it literally Siege of Stormwind with Sylvannas as the boss?    That'd be so beyond stupid

Edited September 10, 2019 by Migol

[krapmyself 60]

8 hours ago, Grumar said:

Fake if not for this one line alone 

There is no way Blizzard would risk an M rating to show that, we've never seen anything as gorey in Warcraft games as a live decapitation. the worst we've ever got is grom being vaguely...burned? by manaroth and a shadow of arthas stabbing his dad, even if it's just in-game models we're not going to see anyone lose their head in this game besides the HH during hallows end. Not only that but this story leads to the whole baine/saurfang/zappy boi plot being meaningless.

She literally threw a decapitated orc head into a Moonwell during one of the Darkshore related cinematics when she became the night warrior.

There's also Wrathgate. during that cinematic, we saw orcs and humans alike flesh melt off their bodies.

But, it's fake anyway. It's from 4chan.

[Borgoff33 101]

funny how many of you think this is not real. blizz needs hype they will "leak" what ever they need to to get people back

[Migol 433]

5 minutes ago, Borgoff33 said:

funny how many of you think this is not real. blizz needs hype they will "leak" what ever they need to to get people back

Except this is a bad leak, if it was one.

There's no "Hype" in Blizzard showing that they lied and Sylvannas TOTALLY is Garrosh 2.0, right down to "Siege of Stormwind".    There's no hype to already paper thin (with holes!) plot being even more ridiculous, throwing out all the work on Baine/Thrall/Saurfang's horde rebellion as if it didn't matter.    And the idea that Sylvannas is really trying to save us after all we've seen is just laughable as hell

[Borgoff33 101]

14 minutes ago, Migol said:

Except this is a bad leak, if it was one.

There's no "Hype" in Blizzard showing that they lied and Sylvannas TOTALLY is Garrosh 2.0, right down to "Siege of Stormwind".    There's no hype to already paper thin (with holes!) plot being even more ridiculous, throwing out all the work on Baine/Thrall/Saurfang's horde rebellion as if it didn't matter.    And the idea that Sylvannas is really trying to save us after all we've seen is just laughable as hell

1. yes plenty of Hype for Blizz atm

2. at no point has Sylv ever become Garrosh

3. Sylv has never tried to help anyone but herself so if killing all the "Heroes" will save the planet she will do it

[Hoods 40]

This seems cool and all but I dont rly know the consequences of killing off the faction leaders like that, will they return? Will they stay dead? I just think about the comic where Anduin is old and talking to Velen about fightning the last battle, This seems to go in a different direction then that. Blizzard can obviously change the story in whatever direction they want. But seems kinda wierd we all have to die. How awkward it must be for the civilians left alive in stormwind going to the harbor and everyone is dead.

What about the faction rebellion within the Horde? Saurfang, Thrall, Sappyboii and now Lor´themar and Bain ofc. That seems like something that got thrown out the window since it says all the faction leaders join Sylvanas. And if this was her plan all along, couldnt she have used the plague in the Undercity siege to kill all the leaders and soliders of both factions at once? I see plot holes.

I like the idéa about the Raid though, we start in Thunder Bluff defending it from a small army of Undead / Horde Soldiers and then learning about the Stormwind occupation and we going there to liberate it. Throwing N´zoth in there seems random, sure he has recently been freed and is trying to exert control of those he can but it seems almost abit random to me. Nathanos getting decapitated also seems abit to gory for what WoW is these days.

 

 

Edited September 10, 2019 by Hoods

[Xaethron 36]

6 hours ago, durdyenglish said:

There's way too much going on for this to be accurate. There's like 3 potential plots all mashed together here.

 

Well there have been like 3 plots going on the whole expansion. Alliance Vs Horde war, the sylvanas actions and unknown motives, and most recently the horde leaders splitting off. They all have to come to a conclusion by the end of 8.3. The problem with this "leak" is it ignores the latter 2 conflicts.

[Faive 0]

Where is Chris Metzen to make this announcements? Like he have done with Mop and WoD... It was awesome, no one had any idea about next xpac  or things like this. So I am one who doesn't like leaks. 

[CaperfinWoW 21]

Im calling it right now... Shadow Hunter the new class.

[Baharok 234]

22 minutes ago, CaperfinWoW said:

Im calling it right now... Shadow Hunter the new class.

Im calling it right now ... icecream is on sale till the 1st of November.

 

edit.:

No harassement, i could also write "Lets wait till Blizzcon and drink some tea meanwhile"

Edited September 10, 2019 by Baharok

[Valhalen 1,484]

19 hours ago, Stan said:

Sylvanas is the first of two encounters. Alliance and Horde will fight side by side against Sylvanas until Nolvar appears and starts killing Horde leaders. First to go is Lor'themar. Bolvar will then side with Taelia and the Alliance. Sylvanas will shoot Genn in response, prompting an intermission.

You mean Bolvar?

And what about Thrall in this whole story? They made a cinematic just to bring him back from Farmville.

Edited September 10, 2019 by Valhalen

[Migol 433]

10 hours ago, Borgoff33 said:

2. at no point has Sylv ever become Garrosh

Previously, on World of Warcraft:

The previous Warchief promotes a very questionable person to be his successor.    That person already has a very checkered past and obvious character flaws.    They ascend to Warchief, but make no bones about being aggressive and paranoid to the extreme...only placing some value in their own racial faction and subtly mocking others and their notable characters.     Blizzard tells fans that the story is meant to convey that they're new and learning, not evil just morally grey.   Despite this reassurance, this Warchief commits some very morally sketchy  moves against the alliance, including the massacre of an entire city including all the civilians in one action caused by magic weaponry.   

Some of the Horde leaders object to this honorless (and somewhat strategically questionable) course of action.    The warchief tries to get them killed.    They defy the odds and escape into hiding.   Rebellion begins to form against the Warchief.    Former warchief is also going around now and is not happy with his successor.    Shocking to everyone, it is revealed that the new warchief is being tempted by a dark, ancient power that they're trying to use to their own advantage.     The Alliance and Horde band together and attack this threat in a raid on the capital city.

So tell me, am I talking about Garrosh or Sylvannas (positing the leaks are true about her being the boss of a Stormwind Raid)?

 

[Valhalen 1,484]

25 minutes ago, Migol said:

Previously, on World of Warcraft:

The previous Warchief promotes a very questionable person to be his successor.    That person already has a very checkered past and obvious character flaws.    They ascend to Warchief, but make no bones about being aggressive and paranoid to the extreme...only placing some value in their own racial faction and subtly mocking others and their notable characters.     Blizzard tells fans that the story is meant to convey that they're new and learning, not evil just morally grey.   Despite this reassurance, this Warchief commits some very morally sketchy  moves against the alliance, including the massacre of an entire city including all the civilians in one action caused by magic weaponry.   

Some of the Horde leaders object to this honorless (and somewhat strategically questionable) course of action.    The warchief tries to get them killed.    They defy the odds and escape into hiding.   Rebellion begins to form against the Warchief.    Former warchief is also going around now and is not happy with his successor.    Shocking to everyone, it is revealed that the new warchief is being tempted by a dark, ancient power that they're trying to use to their own advantage.     The Alliance and Horde band together and attack this threat in a raid on the capital city.

So tell me, am I talking about Garrosh or Sylvannas (positing the leaks are true about her being the boss of a Stormwind Raid)?

 

Well, I guess history repeats itself. /shrug

Also, why do you add three spaces after ending each sentence? Not nitpicking, just curious.

[Migol 433]

Think that's a formatting thing, I add two, maybe it adds one by default as well to compensate for people who don't?  (shrug)

[lChronosl 182]

Okay, okay, the details may be all over the place, specially concerning Sylvannas. But I would still like to see the next expansion somehow based on this "shadowlands" concept. The overall theme is pretty interesting and innovative, if we are talking about WoW, shrug _{(I guess this is a thing now?).}

[Borgoff33 101]

10 hours ago, Migol said:

Previously, on World of Warcraft:

The previous Warchief promotes a very questionable person to be his successor.    That person already has a very checkered past and obvious character flaws.    They ascend to Warchief, but make no bones about being aggressive and paranoid to the extreme...only placing some value in their own racial faction and subtly mocking others and their notable characters.     Blizzard tells fans that the story is meant to convey that they're new and learning, not evil just morally grey.   Despite this reassurance, this Warchief commits some very morally sketchy  moves against the alliance, including the massacre of an entire city including all the civilians in one action caused by magic weaponry.   

Some of the Horde leaders object to this honorless (and somewhat strategically questionable) course of action.    The warchief tries to get them killed.    They defy the odds and escape into hiding.   Rebellion begins to form against the Warchief.    Former warchief is also going around now and is not happy with his successor.    Shocking to everyone, it is revealed that the new warchief is being tempted by a dark, ancient power that they're trying to use to their own advantage.     The Alliance and Horde band together and attack this threat in a raid on the capital city.

So tell me, am I talking about Garrosh or Sylvannas (positing the leaks are true about her being the boss of a Stormwind Raid)?

 

1. what magic weaponry did they both use to "massacre an entire city"?

2. who are the Horde leaders they tried to kill?

3. "The Alliance and Horde band together and attack this threat in a raid on the capital city" tell me when this happens in BFA ( cause it wont)

4. Anduin is also a final boss in the last raid is he also a Garrosh?

[RageMonkey 1]

I'm just saying y'all, if it is indeed fake, someone spent a hell of a lot of time recreating Blizz's in game cinematic style