The Most Popular WoW Expansion, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the expansion you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 25, 2024 06:53
In the sprawling universe of online gaming, players often debate which chapter of their favorite games stood out the most. World of Warcraft, a cornerstone of the MMORPG genre, has seen numerous expansions, each introducing new adventures and challenges. By ranking these expansions, players can highlight which experiences resonated most, guiding new and returning players on where they might want to start or revisit.
Such rankings are not just nostalgic trips; they are pivotal in understanding the evolution of the game and its community. They serve as comprehensive guides that combine historical insight with current preferences. Your votes help paint a clearer picture of the community's collective memory and preferences, ensuring that every voice is heard in shaping this ongoing narrative.
What Is the Most Popular WoW Expansion?
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174votes
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion is considered by many to be the best and most popular due to its engaging storyline, new gameplay mechanics, and the introduction of the Death Knight class.World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King is the second expansion pack for the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft. Released in November 2008, it introduced new content, areas, and features to the game.- Level cap increase: Raised the level cap from 70 to 80
- New continent: Introduced the icy continent of Northrend
- New playable class: Added the Death Knight as a new hero class
- New dungeons and raids: Introduced various challenging dungeons and raid instances
- Improved PvP: Included new battlegrounds and the introduction of the Arena system
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238votes
World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion introduced the Outlands, a new continent, and new races such as the Blood Elves and Draenei. It also added flying mounts and a new PvP system.World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade is the first expansion pack for the popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft. It was released on January 16, 2007, and introduced several major features and enhancements to the game.- New Playable Races:: Blood Elves for the Horde, and Draenei for the Alliance.
- Outland Expansion:: Introduced a new Outland continent with seven distinct zones.
- Level Cap Increase:: Raised the level cap from 60 to 70.
- Flying Mounts:: Players gained the ability to obtain and ride flying mounts in Outland.
- New Professions:: Introduced the Jewelcrafting and the Socketing systems.
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322votes
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion brought significant changes to the game world, including the destruction of major cities and the revamp of many zones. It also introduced new races and class combinations.World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is the third expansion pack for the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft. It was released on December 7, 2010. The expansion completely redesigned the game's original continents, Azeroth, and introduced new zones, dungeons, and raids. The storyline of Cataclysm revolves around Deathwing, the destructive dragon Aspect, who causes a massive cataclysmic event reshaping the world.- Release Date: December 7, 2010
- Level Cap: Increased to 85
- Redesigned Zones: Azeroth continents completely revamped
- New Zones: Mount Hyjal, Uldum, Vashj'ir, and more
- Dungeons: New dungeons like Blackrock Caverns and Throne of the Tides
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421votes
World of Warcraft: Legion
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion introduced the Demon Hunter class and the Broken Isles, a new continent with a rich storyline. It also added new artifacts and legendary items.World of Warcraft: Legion is the sixth expansion for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft. It was developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment.- New Continent: The Broken Isles
- New Hero Class: Demon Hunter
- Artifact Weapons: Unique weapons with customizable traits
- Class Order Halls: Player hubs specific to each class
- Level Cap: Raised to 110
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514votes
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion introduced the Pandaren race and a new continent, Pandaria, with a new storyline and gameplay mechanics. It also introduced the Monk class.World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is the fourth expansion for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft. It was released by Blizzard Entertainment on September 25, 2012. The expansion introduces the continent of Pandaria, a previously hidden land filled with lush landscapes, vibrant cultures, and a new playable race called the Pandaren. The story revolves around the conflict between the Alliance and Horde factions and their exploration of Pandaria's mysteries, including the influence of the Sha, ancient evil entities. With Mists of Pandaria, players can reach a new maximum level of 90 and enjoy new quests, dungeons, raids, and player vs. player content.- Release Date: September 25, 2012
- Playable Race: Pandaren
- Level Cap: 90
- Continents: Pandaria
- New Zones: The Jade Forest, Valley of the Four Winds, Kun-Lai Summit, Townlong Steppes, Krasarang Wilds, Dread Wastes
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614votes
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion introduced the Draenor continent and the Garrison system, which allowed players to build their own base and recruit followers. It also added new character models and improved graphics.World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor is the fifth expansion pack for the epic MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) World of Warcraft. It was released on November 13, 2014, and is set in the fantasy world of Azeroth. The expansion takes players to the eponymous realm of Draenor, a savage alternate version of the familiar Outland, to confront the formidable orc warlord, Grommash Hellscream. In Warlords of Draenor, players can explore new zones, complete challenging quests, engage in fierce battles, and unlock powerful gear.- Level cap increase:: Raised the level cap from 90 to 100.
- Garrisons:: Introduced player-controlled personal fortresses with followers and missions.
- New continent:: Explored the savage land of Draenor with seven new zones.
- Updated character models:: Revamped the graphics and animations of many playable races.
- New dungeons and raids:: Added new challenging group content for players.
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73votes
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion introduced new zones and allied races, as well as the Warfronts and Island Expeditions gameplay modes. It also added a new level cap and improved the graphics.World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is the seventh expansion for the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft. It takes place in the world of Azeroth, where the Alliance and the Horde, two opposing factions, are engaged in a heated conflict. Players embark on a journey to the new continents of Kul Tiras and Zandalar, where they battle rival faction forces, explore uncharted territories, and undertake challenging quests.- Release Date: August 14, 2018
- Level Cap: 120
- Allied Races: 6 playable allied races introduced
- Warfronts: Large-scale PvE battles inspired by classic Warcraft RTS games
- Island Expeditions: Dynamic 3-player scenarios with randomized objectives
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86votes
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion introduced the Shadowlands, the afterlife in the Warcraft universe, and new gameplay mechanics such as the Covenant system and Torghast, Tower of the Damned. It also introduced new character customization options.World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is the eighth expansion for the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft. It was developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. In this expansion, players explore the realms of the afterlife, known as the Shadowlands, after the defeat of the Lich King. The expansion introduces new zones, dungeons, raids, and features a new leveling system, known as the level squish. Additionally, players can choose one of four Covenants, which offer unique abilities and storylines. Shadowlands also introduces an infinite dungeon called Torghast, Tower of the Damned, providing players with endless replayability. PvP enthusiasts can engage in the new feature called The Great Vault, where they can earn powerful rewards based on their achievements in various PvP activities. Other notable features include the customizable Legendary items, a new player hub known as Oribos, and the addition of new character customization options.- Release Date: November 23, 2020
- Level Cap: 60
- New Zones: The Maw, Bastion, Maldraxxus, Ardenweald, Revendreth
- New Dungeons: Torghast, Tower of the Damned, Theater of Pain, Plaguefall, Sanguine Depths, and more
- Covenants: Kyrian, Venthyr, Necrolord, Night Fae
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97votes
World of Warcraft: Classic
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion brought back the original version of the game, with no expansions or updates, for players to experience the game as it was in 2004.World of Warcraft: Classic is a re-release of the original World of Warcraft, offering players a chance to relive the game as it was during its early days. It brings back the authentic vanilla experience, before any expansions or major updates were introduced.- Release Date: August 26, 2019
- Game Version: 1.12.1 (Patch 1.12: Drums of War)
- Level Cap: 60
- Original Content: Molten Core, Onyxia's Lair, Blackwing Lair, etc.
- PvP Honor System: Introduced
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109votes
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Classic
Blizzard EntertainmentThis expansion brought back the original Burning Crusade expansion, with updated graphics and some quality of life improvements, for players to experience the content again.World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Classic is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game expansion for World of Warcraft. It takes players to the shattered realm of Outland, where they can explore new zones, fight formidable raid bosses, and engage in challenging player versus player battles. The expansion was developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment.- Release Date: January 16, 2007
- Level Cap: 70
- New Races: Blood Elves (Horde), Draenei (Alliance)
- New Zones: Outland
- Raids: Karazhan, Serpentshrine Cavern, The Eye, and more
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular expansion
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ContentThe amount and quality of content in an expansion can be a major factor in its popularity. This includes new areas to explore, quests to complete, and dungeons and raids to conquer.
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LoreThe story and lore of an expansion can impact how invested players are in the game. An expansion with a captivating narrative can draw players in and keep them engaged.
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Gameplay ChangesMajor changes to gameplay mechanics can also impact an expansion's popularity. This includes changes to character classes, introduction of new races, and changes to combat mechanics.
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Player FeedbackThe feedback of the player base can be a valuable indicator of an expansion's popularity. This includes player satisfaction with new content, changes to gameplay, and the overall state of the game.
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LongevityThe lifespan of an expansion can also be a measure of its popularity. A successful expansion will keep players engaged and active in the game for an extended period of time.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular WoW expansion. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or expansion is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 3011 views
- 193 votes
- 10 ranked items
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Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each expansion once every 24 hours. The rank of each expansion is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular wow expansion
World of Warcraft (WoW) is an immensely popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Since its release in 2004, WoW has undergone several expansions, with each one bringing in new content, features, and gameplay mechanics. These expansions have been highly anticipated by WoW players and have helped keep the game fresh and exciting over the years. In this article, we will explore the most popular WoW expansion as voted by the community on StrawPoll, and delve into what made it so successful.
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