First of 2 World of Warcraft: Dragonflight pre-patches drops next week

New additional features will be released in stages.

Blizzard has revealed that the typical pre-expansion patch for World of Warcraft will be released in two stages ahead of the game’s ninth expansion, Dragonflight. The pre-patches bring new features and gameplay modifications before to the main expansion.

The first phase of the pre-patch goes live next week, on October 25. This phase focuses on features that will be available to all WoW players for free. The skill system is being revamped, with talent trees returning for the first time since the Mists of Pandaria expansion in 2012. The new user interface will go live, with a more modern style and more personalization capabilities, as well as improved accessibility features. As the rogue, priest, and mage classes are made available to all races for the first time, new class and race combinations will be possible. There will also be a new rated player-versus-player option called Rated Solo Shuffle.

On November 15, players who pre-purchased Dragonflight will have access to the Dracthyr Evoker race and class. Only members of the Dracthyr race may be Evokers, and no other classes are accessible to them. Evokers start at level 58, barely shy of the pre-expansion level ceiling of 60, and can specialize in ranged damage or healing. The Forbidden Reach, their new beginning zone, will also be included.

On November 15, players will also have access to a new dungeon, Uldaman: Legacy of Tyr, while Primal Storm missions and global events will begin laying the groundwork for the Dragonflight storyline.

On November 28, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight will be released, introducing the Dragon Isles continent, a new kind of flight in Dragonriding, a revamp of professions, and more.