Forever's world expansion opens four regions while also adding quests, profession introductions, and local stories along existing roads. Riverglades supplies a substantial new mid-level route, Zephras Isle introduces the Skyborne, and Hyjal and Shen'dralas open places connected to Warcraft's older history.

Four regions at a glance

RegionLevel guidanceSetting
Mount HyjalNo exact band stated in these recapsA recovering Hyjal after Archimonde's defeat, reached through the announced Darkwhisper Gorge journey.
RivergladesApproximately mid-30s to mid-40sA frontier near Burning Steppes, Redridge, the Swamp of Sorrows, and the Badlands.
Shen'dralasNo exact band stated in these recapsBeyond the Valley of Bones in southern Desolace, tied to Eldre'Thalas and centaur history.
Zephras IsleLevels 1–12The Skyborne's island home, linked to Skywall and elemental wind spirits.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 8 claim records
Mount Hyjal · aftermath

Claim · aftermathThe area explores the aftermath of Archimonde’s defeat and a recovering Hyjal.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Mount Hyjal · route

Claim · routeDarkwhisper Gorge is part of the announced journey.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Riverglades · level band

Claim · levelBandMuch of the mid-30s to mid-40s experience.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Approximate band, not a precise minimum/maximum.

Riverglades · neighbors

Claim · neighborsBurning Steppes, Redridge Mountains, Swamp of Sorrows, Badlands

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Shen'dralas · access

Claim · accessThe announced approach lies beyond the Valley of Bones, south of Desolace.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Shen'dralas · connections

Claim · connectionsEldre’Thalas, Dire Maul, centaur tribes, the Shen’dralar people

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Shen'dralas is the area; Shen’dralar refers to people/faction.

Zephras Isle · starting levels

Claim · startingLevelsLevels 1–12.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Zephras Isle · elemental ties

Claim · elementalTiesThe island’s history is tied to Skywall and elemental wind spirits.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forested slopes and ancient towers beneath a vast tree on Mount Hyjal.
Mount Hyjal’s forested slopes and vast tree canopy in Blizzard’s official preview.Official screenshot© Blizzard Entertainment

Riverglades and new sea routes

Riverglades gives both factions a new stretch of the mid-level journey. Blizzard compares its size to Stranglethorn Vale, with rivers, grassland, settlements, and trade routes linking a frontier to the surrounding Eastern Kingdoms.

Powderfuse Port is the destination of the Steamwheedle sea route from Tanaris. Other new connections link Stormwind Harbor with Auberdine and connect Menethil, Southshore, and Auberdine. The announcements describe the links without publishing sailing timetables or a precise stop order.

The region's conflicts involve gnolls, ogres, Powderfuse goblins, the Twilight's Hammer, and the Brotherhood of the Horse. These groups connect its settlements to neighboring lands and established Warcraft history.

Two official descriptions give different levels of precision for the quest count: the What's Next recap says more than 150 new quests, while Found Photos describes nearly 200. Both indicate a substantial questing route; neither establishes an exact total.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 9 claim records
Riverglades · summary

Claim · summaryA mid-level frontier connected to neighboring regions, with new ship travel through Powderfuse Port.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Riverglades · size comparison

Claim · sizeComparisonBlizzard compares its approximate size to Stranglethorn Vale.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Riverglades · port

Claim · portPowderfuse Port is the destination for the new Steamwheedle route.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Riverglades · story factions

Claim · storyFactionsGnolls and ogres, Powderfuse goblins, Twilight's Hammer, Brotherhood of the Horse

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · ship tanaris riverglades

Claim · shipTanarisRivergladesThe Steamwheedle Cartel route from Tanaris leads toward Riverglades.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · ship stormwind auberdine

Claim · shipStormwindAuberdineA ship route connects Stormwind Harbor and Auberdine.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · ship menethil southshore auberdine

Claim · shipMenethilSouthshoreAuberdineAnother announced ship connection involves Menethil, Southshore, and Auberdine.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: No timetable or exact stop order inferred.

Riverglades · quest count

Claim · questCountmore than 150 new quests

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Official lower-bound wording.

Riverglades · quest count

Claim · questCountnearly 200 quests

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Official approximate wording, not an exact total.

Hyjal and Shen’dralas

Mount Hyjal follows the aftermath of Archimonde's defeat. Players enter a recovering landscape through the announced Darkwhisper Gorge journey, meet emerging factions, and help shape what happens after the battle. The separate Hyjal Summit raid is part of the group-content announcement.

Shen'dralas extends the Desolace journey south through the Valley of Bones. Its stories draw on the Shen'dralar, Eldre'Thalas, Dire Maul, and the centaur tribes. Desolace's existing centaur factions also receive additional quests and faction rewards.

The recaps establish these places and story connections, but do not provide complete quest chains, detailed maps, or exact leveling brackets for either region.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 6 claim records
Mount Hyjal · aftermath

Claim · aftermathThe area explores the aftermath of Archimonde’s defeat and a recovering Hyjal.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Mount Hyjal · route

Claim · routeDarkwhisper Gorge is part of the announced journey.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Shen'dralas · access

Claim · accessThe announced approach lies beyond the Valley of Bones, south of Desolace.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Shen'dralas · connections

Claim · connectionsEldre’Thalas, Dire Maul, centaur tribes, the Shen’dralar people

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Shen'dralas is the area; Shen’dralar refers to people/faction.

Forever · old zone quest additions

Claim · oldZoneQuestAdditionsWetlands receives additional quests and character stories, Desolace's centaur factions gain quests and faction rewards

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Hyjal Summit · name

Claim · nameHyjal Summit

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Ancient stone ruins and overgrown pathways in Shen'dralas.
Ancient stonework and overgrown paths in the named Shen’dralas preview.Official screenshot© Blizzard Entertainment

Zephras Isle and the Skyborne

Zephras Isle introduces the Skyborne, also called the shen'dorei. Their ancestors left Eldre'Thalas after the War of the Ancients and took refuge in Skywall, where wind spirits anchored their island home.

The starting story begins during a crisis: those elemental benefactors have vanished, the anchoring pylons are failing, and sections of the island are falling into ruin. The Windshapers, High Order, and Al'Aketh compete over its future.

Faction choice happens during character creation. Alliance Skyborne can play Mage alongside Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, and Druid; Horde Skyborne have Shaman alongside those four shared classes. Both sides receive Skyborne-specific druid forms and other racial presentation options.

The announced starting experience spans levels 1–12. Skyborne and Zephras Isle are included in the opening beta scope, unlike the full set of later-level world additions.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment[3] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 11 claim records
Zephras Isle · origin

Claim · originThe Skyborne descend from rebels who left Eldre'Thalas after the War of the Ancients and found refuge in Skywall; wind spirits held their island in the elemental plane.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Zephras Isle · crisis

Claim · crisisThe elemental patrons have disappeared, the island's anchoring pylons are failing, and rival groups contest its future.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Zephras Isle · groups

Claim · groupsWindshapers, High Order, Al'Aketh

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Zephras Isle · people

Claim · peopleHome to the Skyborne, also called shen’dorei or the hidden people.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Zephras Isle · starting levels

Claim · startingLevelsLevels 1–12.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Skyborne · faction choice

Claim · factionChoiceAlliance, Horde

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Skyborne · shared classes

Claim · sharedClassesWarrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Skyborne · alliance class

Claim · allianceClassMage is additionally available to Alliance Skyborne.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Skyborne · horde class

Claim · hordeClassShaman is additionally available to Horde Skyborne.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Skyborne · announced features

Claim · announcedFeaturesunique racial abilities, customizations, voices, dances, visual options, Skyborne-specific Druid forms

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: No racial numeric values asserted.

Forever · beta opening scope

Claim · betaOpeningScopeSkyborne and Zephras Isle, Hall of Thanes (levels 13–18), Ruins of Lordaeron (levels 15–20), Zone content through level 20

BetaConfidence: highLast verified:
Skywall-inspired towers rise above the rocky heights of Zephras Isle.
Skywall-inspired architecture rises above Zephras Isle, the new Skyborne starting area.Official screenshot© Blizzard Entertainment

Changes along familiar roads

The new regions sit alongside additions to existing starting areas. Blizzard describes extra NPCs, quests, recipes, and profession introductions in places such as the Valley of Trials and Shadowglen, intended to supplement familiar beginnings.

Wetlands receives more quests and opportunities to revisit existing characters. Together with Desolace's centaur additions and new sea travel, these changes give established zones a part in the wider expansion of Azeroth.

These stories use original Azeroth's early Year 1 setting. The emphasis is on local conflicts and unexplored places within that era, so a later expansion's version of a location should not be used as a walkthrough for its Forever counterpart.

Sources[2] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 3 claim records
Forever · starting zone additions

Claim · startingZoneAdditionsAdditional NPCs and quests, Profession introductions and recipes, New local encounters alongside existing starting experiences

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · old zone quest additions

Claim · oldZoneQuestAdditionsWetlands receives additional quests and character stories, Desolace's centaur factions gain quests and faction rewards

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · world story era

Claim · worldStoryEraThe new stories use original Azeroth's early Year 1 setting, before Kazzak reopens the Dark Portal, within Forever's own continuity.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: