wow Chains of Domination (Patch 9.1) and Burning Crusade Classic Leaked Ahead of BlizzConline 2021

[Staff 1,488]

Update: the patch cinematic has been revealed!
MMO-Champion reports that Blizzard posted BlizzConline 2021 PR kits a little earlier than expected, leaking two major WoW announcements. This post contains spoilers.

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Article assets and content are a courtesy of MMO-Champion. You can read their full post here.

Patch 9.1 Information

(Source)

The traitorous Sire Denathrius has been defeated . . . but the power of the Maw still grows. In Chains of Domination™, the upcoming first major content update for World of Warcraft®: Shadowlands, players will delve into new depths of the Jailer’s hopeless domain, seeking to understand the true nature of his malignant plans. Backed by the renewed might of the four Covenants, the champions of the Horde and the Alliance will take the fight for the Shadowlands to the seat of the Jailer’s power. But the Banished One has a terrible new champion in his service—a cruel instrument of despair conscripted by Sylvanas Windrunner, capable of instilling dread into the hearts of Azeroth’s heroes like no creature of the Shadowlands.

• Discover the Mysteries of Korthia - The Jailer is searching for the key to fulfill his twisted designs—and he has pulled a fragment of a long-lost domain into the Maw itself to find it. Seek answers in ancient Korthia, the City of Secrets, and engage in new quests and outdoor activities.
• The Covenants Strike Back - With the strength of the kyrian, night fae, necrolords, and venthyr restored, embark on a campaign to unite the four covenants—and together, launch an assault against the Jailer in his home territory.
• Raid the Sanctum of Domination - Brave treacherous, unexplored reaches of Torghast in a new 10-boss raid: the Sanctum of Domination. Encounter the true Eye of the Jailer, turn the tide against the Tarragrue, and come face-to-face with the Banshee Queen herself in a fateful confrontation.
• New Mega-dungeon - Tazavesh, the Veiled Market—Gather your party and discover exotic wares and strange creatures in an eight-boss Mythic mega-dungeon set in a bazaar of the mysterious Brokers, and culminating in a high-stakes heist to steal powerful artifacts from Azeroth.
• And More - Gear up for Shadowlands Raid, Dungeon, and PvP Season 2, with a seasonal Mythic Keystone dungeon affix themed around the Jailer’s power; don new Covenant cosmetic armor sets that any class can wear; expand the powers of your Soulbinds and Conduits; add new mounts and pets to your menagerie; Unlock flying in the Covenants’ four domains; and much more.

Burning Crusade Classic Information

(Source)

Journey through the Dark Portal once again in World of Warcraft®: Burning Crusade Classic™! Originally released in January 2007, The Burning Crusade summoned the heroes of Azeroth to the shattered and fel-scarred realm of Outland to stop an invasion of the demonic Burning Legion. In 2021, Blizzard Entertainment’s recreation of the first World of Warcraft expansion will give players from around the world a chance to return to Outland as it once was to relive an era of timeless adventure—or experience what awaits beyond the Dark Portal for the first time.

• Rediscover the Broken World of Outland – Flee the fel reavers who roam Hellfire Peninsula, dive deep beneath the swamps of Zangarmarsh to confront what lurks below, and clash with the demonic agents of the Burning Legion in the shadow of the Black Temple.
• Join the Fight as a Blood Elf or Draenei – The ranks of the Horde and the Alliance grow! Fight for the Horde as the blood elves, seeking a new source of the arcane power that once sustained them, or join the Alliance as the draenei, exiles from Outland in search of a new home.
• The Saga Unfolds Over Time – Content from the original game will roll out in phases, at a cadence paced for the WoW Classic community. Prepare for the opening of the Black Temple, gear up to confront the gods of Zul’Aman, and gather your allies to face the fury of the Sunwell.
• Burning Crusade Features Reborn – Prove your prowess in the Arena PvP system, enhance your gear with the Jewelcrafting profession, take to the skies over Outland on flying mounts, choose whether to seek the aid of the Aldor or the Scryers of Shattrath, and much more.
• Choose Your Era – Prior to Burning Crusade Classic’s release, WoW Classic players can decide whether to advance each of their characters to the Burning Crusade era with the rest of their realm, or to continue playing the original WoW Classic content on new Classic Era servers.
• Included With Existing World of Warcraft Subscriptions – As with WoW Classic, anyone who subscribes to World of Warcraft can also play Burning Crusade Classic at no additional cost, giving players the freedom to enjoy multiple eras of Azeroth at their own pace.

Artwork

The first piece of artwork contains major leaks, which is why we're hiding it.

Spoiler

Anduin has been transformed into a servant of the Jailer in Patch 9.1.

[Vince 14]

Quote

Unlock flying in the Covenants’ four domains;

Is this the real thing, flying everywhere except Maw, or is it just in the cov area?

[Dejo93 1,023]

>Broker dungeon

Oh boy, I can't wait to meet Sseth's friend from the Merchant's guild

[Dejo93 1,023]

Just now, Vince said:

Is this the real thing, flying everywhere except Maw, or is it just in the cov area?

Except the Maw

[Nyfaria 4]

1 minute ago, Vince said:

Is this the real thing, flying everywhere except Maw, or is it just in the cov area?

You think flying would be allowed in the Maw if Ground Mounts aren't?(with the exception of the tough to get Maw specific mount)

[Vince 14]

You guys should read more carefully.

[Arcling 898]

Just now, Vince said:

Is this the real thing, flying everywhere except Maw, or is it just in the cov area?

I think covenant areas means these 4 zones, so no Maw, not sure about Oribos. Likely all mounts will stay unusable there, except for Corridor Creeper.

Anyway, it's pretty much what was expectws. I'm still of an opinion that having people divided between current/classic/bc classic might be a bit too much, classic might probably suffer the most. Not thrilled to hear more about Torghast and another Torghast-like dungeon, if this is what it seems like. Maybe at least new zone will be a bit better than the Maw.

[Vince 14]

1 minute ago, Arcling said:

Not thrilled to hear more about Torghast and another Torghast-like dungeon, if this is what it seems...

It reads like it is possible that its a static raid, whithoit dynamic creation.

[Hypersonic 119]

Imagine that eight-boss mega-dungeon like 1 hour to clear and 1 loot drops. Bumm.

 

That Torghast-like raid mehh... I don't even like the tower itself, grey and dark. 

 

Anyway nice to hear about flying, but I really would like to use other mounts (ground) in the Maw because that dog is fking ugly and I will never ever use it.

[Thalarg 0]

Jailer raid in the Maw is super predictable. Still unknown whether Sanctum is it or not yet but it's close.

[Pandabuffel 184]

2 hours ago, Arcling said:

I think covenant areas means these 4 zones, so no Maw, not sure about Oribos.

I don't see the point in being able to fly in Oribos. Everyone flying inside would look a bit silly/dumb and flying outside has no use at all (since everything is inside anyway).

They state pretty specifically that it's flying in the 4 covenant zones, so it's exactly just that: flying in the 4 covenant zones.

[Arcling 898]

5 hours ago, Pandabuffel said:

I don't see the point in being able to fly in Oribos. Everyone flying inside would look a bit silly/dumb and flying outside has no use at all (since everything is inside anyway).

Never liked how mounts weren't allowed in outer ring, maybe they didn't want crowds covering vendors, but in this case invisible barriers would have been enough. So with flying they could remove this limitation, but it's not going to happen.

Edited February 18, 2021 by Arcling

[Bobbis 208]

15 hours ago, Pandabuffel said:

I don't see the point in being able to fly in Oribos. Everyone flying inside would look a bit silly/dumb and flying outside has no use at all (since everything is inside anyway).

They state pretty specifically that it's flying in the 4 covenant zones, so it's exactly just that: flying in the 4 covenant zones.

Except that, as others have shown, SL is one big map, so you can fly/glide between them seamlessly. It'll likely be that you can fly in the outside areas of Oribos.

[Pandabuffel 184]

4 hours ago, Bobbis said:

Except that, as others have shown, SL is one big map, so you can fly/glide between them seamlessly. It'll likely be that you can fly in the outside areas of Oribos.

They won't do that. SL being one big map is just a technical thing and clearly not intended as a way to travel to those areas by gliding/flying. The wyrms going through the portals, the in-between visual area to reach those areas and the big skybox swirlies that mark those lands FAR out in the distance all make it clear that it's supposed to look like a whole new dimension/map, not an area you just fly to through the clouds on your flying mount from Oribos. If they did, they wouldn't have had wyrms going through speed-portals in the first place.

[Bobbis 208]

2 hours ago, Pandabuffel said:

They won't do that. SL being one big map is just a technical thing and clearly not intended as a way to travel to those areas by gliding/flying. The wyrms going through the portals, the in-between visual area to reach those areas and the big skybox swirlies that mark those lands FAR out in the distance all make it clear that it's supposed to look like a whole new dimension/map, not an area you just fly to through the clouds on your flying mount from Oribos. If they did, they wouldn't have had wyrms going through speed-portals in the first place.

Or it's just a visual cue to make the place seem larger than it is?