World of Warcraft’s Patch 11.1.7, Legacy of Arathor, releases on June 17 2025 as a mid-season content update. It may be a smaller patch compared to the last major update, but it still packs a punch with new story chapters, features, and events! As WoW often does after a world-ending threat (following the showdown with Xal’atath), the narrative now pivots back to Azeroth’s classic faction conflict. Tensions are rising between the Alliance and Horde in the Arathi Highlands, setting the stage for this patch’s new adventures...
As previously mentioned, Legacy of Arathor officially launches on the week of June 17th, 2025. Much like its predecessor, 11.1.5, this patch follows a staggered rollout model: some features will go live immediately, while others will activate in the weeks that follow to keep the post-patch cycle dynamic and engaging.
Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed release windows:
This phased rollout ensures players have time to enjoy each element without feeling overwhelmed, while also giving Blizzard room to fine-tune systems as feedback rolls in.
Looks like it's going to be a formula for future WoW patches as well?
A new two-chapter quest campaign unfolds in Arathi Highlands, where players join familiar heroes to prevent open war between the factions. Alliance players will fight alongside Faerin Lothar and Danath Trollbane, while Horde players join Geya’rah (the Mag’har Orc leader), each faction experiencing the storyline from its own perspective. This narrative harkens back to old-school Horde vs. Alliance drama while tying into current events, offering a new take on a brewing conflict.
Completing the campaign yields some exclusive rewards. Alliance champions will earn a Stromgarde Tabard representing the historic human kingdom, and Horde players receive a Mag’har Clan Tabard to show their orcish pride. Both factions also obtain a unique shoulder transmog piece inspired by Faerin Lothar’s own pauldrons – a stylish memento of the battle for Arathi.
Arathi Highlands Pauldrons
Stromgarde Tabard (Alliance)
Tabard of the Mag'har Clans (Horde)
If you’re a lore buff or just love a good story, Lorewalker Cho has you covered in this patch. Players level 10 and above can speak with Cho in Stormwind, Orgrimmar, or the new hub of Dornogal to embark on Lorewalking quests that revisit pivotal moments in Azeroth’s history. These are repeatable, story-driven questlines that let you step into the shoes of legendary characters and events from the past. Three different lore scenarios are available, each focusing on an iconic storyline:
Lorewalking lets veterans and new players alike experience Warcraft’s greatest stories first-hand (just don’t expect to do other quests at the same time – you’re fully immersed in the past during a Lorewalk, though you can exit and resume later as needed). It’s a fantastic way to brush up on lore or simply enjoy a bit of nostalgia within the game’s universe.
For the daring adventurers delving into dungeons, Overcharged Delves will turn up the heat. Six existing Delves scattered across The War Within’s zones are getting a special Overcharged affix, introducing new twists like extra traps and empowered enemies to challenge players. Teaming up with Brann Bronzebeard in these dangerous expeditions just got even more interesting. You’ll face rare new foes and environmental hazards, but there’s also a strategic angle: a brand-new trait tree specific to Overcharged Delves allows you to unlock perks that can actually turn some of those traps and affixes to your advantage! Choosing the right traits could mean the difference between a quick demise and triumphant victory as you push your skills to the limit.
Taking on these amped-up Delves is well worth the effort thanks to the loot. Players can unlock a special Titan Disc Belt (which can be used outside of Delves and upgrated to ilvl 694!) at the start of the event. There’s even a high-tech new mount to assemble: the Overcharged Mech Suit, a mechanical marvel earned by mastering the Delves’ challenges. Add in some new gear drops and extra Delve currency rewards, and these Overcharged Delves offer plenty of incentive for PvE enthusiasts to dive back in and power up their characters.
Patch 11.1.7 also introduces (somewhat controversial) innovative tools to help players in combat, making the game more accessible to those who can't play it properly yet. The new Combat Assistant is a built-in UI feature that highlights the recommended next ability in your rotation based on your situation and resources. Think of it as an in-game mentor for your DPS rotation: perfect for newcomers learning a class or veterans trying out a new spec. It’s like having a tutorial that adapts on the fly, showing which button to press next so you don’t need to rely on third-party addons or guesswork.
Even more noteworthy is the Single-Button Assistant, an optional feature that allows you to automate your rotation sequence with one key press (at the cost of a slight 0.3-second global cooldown delay on each spell). In essence, this turns the highlighted recommendations into actions performed sequentially by spamming one button.
It won’t yield optimal DPS compared to manual play, but that’s not the intent – it’s there to lower the skill floor and let players enjoy the game’s content more comfortably. The system is smart enough to detect AoE opportunities and switch to multi-target abilities when needed. Both of these assistants aim to lower the barrier to entry for combat, helping new or returning players ease into their class rotations and focus more on enjoying the story and encounters.
Time to polish your Chrono Crystal – Turbulent Timeways are returning! This fourth edition adds Battle for Azeroth into the mix for the very first time. Beginning the week of June 17, a six-week Timewalking event kicks off, cycling through past expansions dungeons with a new twist. The schedule starts and ends with Battle for Azeroth week, and in between it features weeks themed around Mists of Pandaria, The Burning Crusade, Warlords of Draenor, and Legion in a rotating sequence. During the BfA weeks, six of that expansion’s fan-favorite dungeons, such as Freehold and Atal’Dazar (among others) will be scaled up for Timewalking, giving players a nostalgic challenge at max level.
| Week 1: Battle for Azeroth | Week 4: Warlords of Draenor |
| Week 2: Mists of Pandaria | Week 5: Legion Expansion |
| Week 3: Burning Crusade | Week 6: Battle for Azeroth |
A new Timewalking vendor for BfA will also be stationed in Boralus and Dazar’alor, eager to trade you goods for Timewarped Badges. You can expect some new rewards to spend your badges on, adding to the incentive to run those dungeons. And of course, there’s a special bonus for dedicated time-travelers: master all six weeks of Turbulent Timeways and you can earn the Chrono Corsair skyrider mount, a draconic flying mount sporting a stylish pirate hat as a nod to BfA’s seafaring themes. If you’ve ever wanted to ride a time-dragon with a tricorn hat, now’s your chance! This event is a great opportunity to revisit old content, level alts, or just indulge in some dungeon nostalgia while earning a cool new ride.
Sanctuaries will soon echo with the cackle of Treasure Goblins once more as the Greedy Emissary event is returning around the week of July 1. This is the Diablo crossover event making a comeback, which means mysterious portals and greedy goblins popping up in capital cities and key locations like Dornogal and Undermine in The War Within zones. Slaying these pesky emissaries of greed will reward players with diabolical loot, including at least one brand-new mount themed after Diablo’s dark world, and a chance at cosmetic armor pieces.
In fact, dedicated collectors will be happy to hear that Blizzard is bringing back recolored Tier 2 class armor sets during this event, letting players earn updated looks of those classic sets from WoW’s early days. If you missed the 20th Anniversary event, this is another shot at dressing your character in some old-school style with a new twist!
As an added bonus, the Collector’s Bounty global buff will be active during this event, cranking up drop rates in legacy raids and dungeons all across Azeroth. It’s the perfect time to farm those rare mounts, transmogs, and other legacy loot that may have eluded you. With higher legacy loot chances, you can sweep through older content more efficiently and fill out your collection while the event lasts. Overall, the Greedy Emissary crossover not only offers fun new goodies to chase, but also encourages players to revisit and reap rewards from the game’s rich history.
While Legacy of Arathor isn’t a massive content dump, it brings a thoughtful mix of story, QoL features, and fun diversions to keep Azeroth’s heroes busy. From a lore-rich campaign and nostalgic questlines to challenging delves and time-twisting dungeon runs, patch 11.1.7 has a little something for everyone to enjoy. The return of events like the Treasure Goblin hunt (with shiny new rewards in tow) adds extra excitement and a sense that you don’t want to miss out. It’s the kind of patch that keeps the momentum going as we await the next big chapter.
Most importantly, Legacy of Arathor sets the stage for future adventures while giving players plenty of reasons to log in right now. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran eager for new cosmetic collectibles or a fresh hero learning the ropes with the help of the new Assist features, this update invites everyone to partake in the fun.
And if you’re looking to make the most of all these updates, remember you don’t have to journey alone as ConquestCapped is here to help make your adventures in the new patch smoother and more enjoyable, ensuring you can dive into the War Within and conquer Azeroth’s latest challenges without a tedious grind.
