WoW Expansions in Order: All Release Dates & Level Caps

World of Warcraft has received 11 expansions since the original game launched in 2004, with Midnight the latest. The original 2004 World of Warcraft is the base game, so expansion numbering begins with The Burning Crusade.

WoW expansions in order

The Burning Crusade raised the level cap from 60 to 70. Wrath of the Lich King raised it to 80. Cataclysm raised it to 85. Mists of Pandaria raised it to 90. Warlords of Draenor raised it to 100. Legion raised it to 110. Battle for Azeroth raised it to 120. Shadowlands brought the game's first major level squish, reducing characters who had reached level 120 to level 50 before progressing toward the new cap of 60. Dragonflight raised the cap to 70. The War Within raised it to 80. Midnight raised it to 90.

What each expansion added

The Burning Crusade opened Outland as WoW's first expansion world, with Blood Elves joining the Horde and Draenei joining the Alliance, plus Jewelcrafting, flying in Outland, and the Arena system for competitive PvP.

Wrath of the Lich King took players to Northrend against Arthas and the Scourge, added Death Knights as WoW's first Hero Class, and introduced Inscription.

Cataclysm rebuilt large parts of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms after Deathwing's return, made Goblins playable for the Horde and Worgen for the Alliance, and added Archaeology as a new secondary profession.

Mists of Pandaria added the continent of Pandaria, the Pandaren playable race, and the Monk class, along with Pet Battles, Scenarios, and Challenge Mode dungeons.

Warlords of Draenor sent players to an alternate Draenor, added Garrisons as a customizable base with buildings, followers and missions, and updated much of the playable cast's character models.

Legion opened the Broken Isles and added Demon Hunters as WoW's second Hero Class, with an Artifact Weapon for each specialization, class Order Halls, World Quests, and Mythic+ dungeons.

Battle for Azeroth sent Alliance players to Kul Tiras and Horde players to Zandalar, expanded the playable roster with Allied Races, and added the Heart of Azeroth and Azerite Armor as its main progression systems.

Shadowlands took players into the realms of death, where they joined the Kyrian, Necrolord, Night Fae, or Venthyr Covenants, ran repeatable Torghast tower runs, and crafted Legendaries.

Dragonflight brought players to the Dragon Isles and introduced the Dracthyr Evoker race-class combination, with Dragonriding replacing normal flying for much of the new continent and class talent trees receiving their largest redesign in years.

The War Within opened Khaz Algar with the Isle of Dorn, Ringing Deeps, Hallowfall, and Azj-Kahet, added Earthen as a playable Allied Race, introduced Delves as short solo or small-group instances with NPC companions, and added Warbands and Hero Talents.

Midnight continued the Worldsoul Saga with Xal'atath's assault on Quel'Thalas, adding new or rebuilt areas across Eversong Woods, Zul'Aman, Harandar, and the Voidstorm, with Silvermoon as the main city. Haranir joined as an Allied Race, Demon Hunters gained the ranged Devourer specialization and became available to Void Elves, and the expansion added player housing with customizable homes and Neighborhoods plus the Prey system for repeatable hunts. Apex Talents expanded class progression from level 81, and the launch endgame included 10 Delves, 8 dungeons, and 3 raids with 9 bosses in total. Midnight's level cap increase to 90 also grants 10 additional talent points.

The Worldsoul Saga and what comes next

Blizzard announced the Worldsoul Saga at BlizzCon 2023 as a three-expansion story spanning The War Within, Midnight, and The Last Titan. The War Within began the story beneath Azeroth in 2024, Midnight continued it with Xal'atath's attack on Quel'Thalas in March 2026, and The Last Titan will finish the trilogy with a return to Northrend. The Last Titan is the next expansion after Midnight and will be the 12th World of Warcraft expansion in order. It returns to Northrend, with Ulduar and the Titans playing a major role, and Blizzard has said the Titans will return to Azeroth and that players will uncover a conspiracy connected to their history and intentions. The Last Titan does not have a release date yet.