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he forces of the Lich King gather across the frozen continent of Northrend -- and at midnight on November 13, 2008, his fury will be unleashed upon Azeroth as World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King hits store shelves across Europe!
At six special midnight launch events across Europe, Blizzard Entertainment developers and executives will be on hand to celebrate the arrival of the expansion with players and sign copies of the game. In Berlin, Germany, the Media Markt will open their doors at midnight (all times are local).
In London, UK, the HMV on Oxford Street will do the same. If you’re in Madrid, Spain you can attend the midnight opening festivities at the GAME store at Principe Pio Commercial Centre. For those in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Media Markt will be opening its doors at midnight.
In Stockholm, Sweden, Webhallen will be welcoming players and in Paris, France, you can choose to support the Alliance and head to FNAC or the Horde by attending the midnight opening at Virgin.
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City
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Store
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Address
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Time Line-Up Begins
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Berlin, Germany
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Media Markt
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Grunerstraße 20, 10179 Berlin
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November 12th
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London, UK
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HMV
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150 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1DJ
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November 12th
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Madrid, Spain
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GAME
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Principe Pio Commercial Centre, Puerta Del Ángel, Madrid
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November 12th
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Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Media Markt
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Binnenwegplein 50-52 3012 KA Rotterdam
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November 12th
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Stockholm, Sweden
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Webhallen
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Sveav. 39 SE-11134 Stockholm
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November 12th
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Paris, France
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FNAC (Alliance) Virgin (Horde)
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74 ave des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris
52/60 ave des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris
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November 12th
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 Lines begin forming early on November 12 at each location. Quantities are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to arrive early!
For more details on these events, please visit http://media.wow-europe.com/wrath/midnight-opening/.
If you can't make it to one of these six events, don't worry -- retailers throughout Europe will also be hosting midnight launches on November 13. For a full list of participating stores, check out the website:
In addition to the European locations, similar events will be held internationally in the US, Mexico City, Taipei, and Seoul.
See you in Northrend!
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ith the launch of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the winds of change will blow from the frozen north and sweep across the face of Azeroth, altering it forever. For the first time in the history of the land, death knights will ride side-by-side with heroes of the noble Alliance and the mighty Horde. Spellcasters and melee combatants will unlock the power of glyphs and scrolls from the all-new inscription profession. And player-vs.-player battlefields will ignite with the exploding payloads of siege catapults, goblin shredders, and gnomish flying machines.
Azeroth will never be the same again.
To help you prepare for the epic changes coming with the second World of Warcraft expansion, the Blizzard Insider has crafted this special Wrath of the Lich King primer. We’ve gathered and distilled all of the essential information you need to know for day one of the expansion into one handy compendium.
So read on, for the air grows cold, and soon you will ride into the jaws of Northrend!
Getting Started in Northrend
Once the expansion launches, expect general chat to bubble with questions about how to get to and from the continent of Northrend. Ignore the fallacious rumors of the flight path from Shattrath City. Do not attempt the swim from Azshara. Here’s how to embark upon your epic journey to the roof of the world:
Horde
Take the Undercity zeppelin tower to Howling Fjord
Take the Orgrimmar zeppelin tower to Borean Tundra
Alliance
Take the Menethil Harbor warship to Howling Fjord
Take the Stormwind Harbor steamship to Borean Tundra
You'll notice that you have a choice of beachheads in Northrend: Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord, which lie on opposite ends of the continent. Borean Tundra is a frozen landscape marked by coastal barrens, glaciers, and mineral-encrusted hot springs. Howling Fjord is a temperate forest perched atop some of the sheerest seaward cliffs in all of Azeroth. Whichever starting point you choose, arrive with your blades sharpened and your mana replenished. Battle will find you soon enough.
If you ever need to travel back and forth between Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord to group with comrades on the other side of the continent, you can hitch a ride on the turtle boat that is run by a tribe of neutral tuskarr. Note that you will not be able to ride a flying mount in Northrend until you have mastered the cold-weather flying skill at level 77, nor is it advisable to attempt the dash across Dragonblight until you have honed your skills in less dangerous areas.
To get an overview of the harsh new terrain opening up in Wrath of the Lich King, visit the interactive map of Northrend on the official World of Warcraft site.
Dungeons
Many are the dark and guarded tunnels, ruins, and towers of Northrend. Still, reliable scouting reports of the continent are scarce, and so this primer will cover only the first two dungeons that you are likely to encounter in the course of your adventures.
Utgarde Keep
– Situated in Howling Fjord, the vast fortress of Utgarde Keep looms over Daggercap Bay. Here, vrykul loyal to the Scourge gather their armies to attack nearby Horde and Alliance settlements. A full description of the lore and background of Utgarde Keep can be found in the Wrath of the Lich King Utgarde Keep preview.
The Nexus
– Magically infused rings of gigantic size loom over Coldarra in the Borean Tundra. Here, the Dragon Aspect Malygos has begun his efforts to siphon the magical energies from Azeroth and ultimately deny arcane power to all mortal spellcasters. Opposed by the Kirin Tor of Dalaran, Malygos and his blue dragonflight guard the gates of this mysterious tower. Further details on this dungeon are available in the Wrath of the Lich King Nexus preview.
Death Knights
Descending from Ebon Hold in the Eastern Plaguelands, the death knight is an all-new playable class that wields the necromantic powers of blood, frost, and unholy runes. With a predilection for two-handed weapons and heavy plate armor, the death knight is best suited to fill tanking and DPS roles within a group.
As World of Warcraft's first hero class, the death knight stands apart from other classes, and special circumstances and rules surround its creation, progression, and management. Players can only create a death knight on a realm on which they have at least one level-55 or higher character, and they can only create one death knight at a time on any given realm. All races are able to start as death knights, who begin play at level 55 with basic gear and no mount. At first, death knights are bound to the service of the Lich King -- and before they are able to group with members of the Horde or Alliance, they must find a way to break free from Arthas' control.
For those seeking a more detailed look at the creation and management of death knights, visit the full death knight creation FAQ on the official forums.
There are many more facets to World of Warcraft's first hero class -- such as how death knights will augment tactics in PvP battlegrounds or what role they will ultimately play in the inevitable showdown with the Lich King -- but you'll have to discover them for yourself as you make your way through Northrend. In the meantime, check out the death knight gameplay preview to get a better idea of the skills and powers wielded by this formidable new class.
Glyphs and the Inscription Profession
Players with the inscription profession can ply their trade to create scrolls and glyphs. The scrolls scribed via the inscription profession are similar to scrolls commonly found throughout Azeroth -- meaning they offer a one-time, limited-duration boost to a character's abilities.
Glyphs, on the other hand, are permanent and offer an entirely new way to customize characters. These magical runes are infused with energies that permanently augment a character's existing abilities and powers. Common examples include glyphs that decrease the amount of mana required for a specific spell, increase the damage done by a particular ability, or add a bonus buff or other effect to a skill.
There are several things you should keep in mind when dealing with glyphs:
A new tab has been added to the spellbook to attach glyphs and show you which glyphs are currently in use. If you want to use a glyph to augment a spell, simply navigate to this tab and use a glyph from your inventory on any available glyph slot.
All level-80 characters will be able to use up to six glyphs at any given time -- three minor glyphs and three major glyphs. These slots gradually become available as a character progresses through levels, so be sure to check the glyph tab regularly to see what you've unlocked.
Most -- but not all -- glyphs can be traded or bought and sold on the auction house. In addition, practitioners of the inscription profession can create special vellums that enchanters can use to trade and sell certain enchantments.
Similar to jewelcrafting gems, glyphs cannot be removed once they have been applied. They can only be overwritten and replaced by other glyphs.
For players just getting started in the inscription profession, herbalism would make an ideal supplement, as most of the components needed to create scrolls and glyphs are derived from the flora of Azeroth and Outland. For further details on inscription, be sure to check out the inscription guide on the official World of Warcraft site.
Alliance and Horde Factions
The Alliance and Horde have each mobilized their forces to fight the mounting threat of the Scourge. Although these two valiant armies share a common enemy, they still vie against each other for control of Northrend's territories and resources -- particularly around the zone of Wintergrasp, where all-out war has erupted between the longtime rivals. The heroes of Azeroth must contend not only with the Lich King, but also with one another.
Here is a list of the Alliance and Horde factions and sub-factions that have joined the front line in Northrend:
Alliance Vanguard
– Recognizing the threat posed by Arthas' latest aggressive actions, the Alliance Vanguard represents a larger campaign dedicated to halting the Scourge in Northrend before the undead menace can spread further southward.
Valiance Expedition
– The Valiance Expedition is the Alliance Vanguard's main military presence in Northrend. Dedicated to the destruction of the Lich King, the Valiance Expedition contains several of the Alliance's greatest heroes, including King Varian Wrynn himself.
Explorers' League
– The Explorers' League is a predominantly dwarven faction committed to uncovering new territory, discovering ancient ruins, and compiling the history of Azeroth. The league has joined forces with the Alliance Vanguard in the hopes of recovering lost artifacts from the forgotten reaches of Northrend.
The Silver Covenant
– This group of high elves represents the Alliance in Dalaran, the floating city hovering above Crystalsong Forest in Northrend. The Silver Covenant opposes the entry of the blood elves into the Kirin Tor, the council of elite magi that rules Dalaran.
The Frostborn
– These frost dwarves, native to the Storm Peaks, have welcomed their southern cousins and agreed to join the Alliance Vanguard in its stand against the Lich King.
Horde Expedition
– After the Scourge's latest attack on Orgrimmar, the Horde has organized a counteroffensive against the Lich King. The following sub-factions have joined the Horde Expedition:
The Warsong Offensive
– Led by Garrosh Hellscream, the Horde's main military force has mobilized in Northrend to end the reign of the Lich King forever.
The Hand of Vengeance
– Led by Sylvanas Windrunner, the Hand of Vengeance is comprised of elite Forsaken loyalists dedicated to the utter destruction of the Scourge.
The Sunreavers
– This group of blood elves has agreed to represent the Horde in Dalaran. The Sunreavers campaign to bring their kind into the fold of the Kirin Tor.
The Taunka
– Ancient relatives of the tauren, the taunka have aligned with the Horde Expedition in the hopes of driving the Lich King from their homeland.
Other Factions
In addition to the factions loyal to the Horde and the Alliance, many other groups both native and foreign can be found throughout Northrend.
When advancing your standing with these outlying factions, remember to take advantage of the new championing system. Don the tabard of specific non-Horde and non-Alliance factions in Wrath of the Lich King, and you will be able to improve your reputation with that faction by defeating a wide range of enemies in their name. Be sure to ask around to find the tabard of any faction with which you wish to gain standing.
Good Luck!
The information in this primer should serve as a solid foundation for your journey into Northrend. But be warned: Many twists and turns wait along the path to the inevitable showdown with the Lich King, and the way will be dark and treacherous.
We leave you now with these words of warning, spoken by the Lich King Arthas Menethil himself:
"Young heroes, I was once like you. You have come to this place seeking to bring judgment upon the damned. You will venture deep into forgotten lands. You will see wonders beyond imagining. But be warned. The land itself will rise up against you. Long-forgotten terrors will smother your courage. Sacrifice everything as the final darkness falls. In the end, all that awaits you is death. Only then will you understand you've been following in my footsteps all along.
So come then, you heroes! Come in all your power and glory! For in the final hour, all must serve the one... true... king."
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ith the release of Wrath of the Lich King right around the corner, now is an excellent time to check out our recent expansion-related website updates. We hope you'll find them informative and helpful.
- Welcome to Wintergrasp: Northrend may be the continent of ice and snow, but things are sure to heat up once the Alliance and Horde clash among the ancient titan ruins of Wintergrasp. Learn more about this unique open-world PvP zone in our detailed look.
- Calendar: The new player calendar lets you create and manage your own player-run events, such as weekly raids, and keep track of the many in-game activities in World of Warcraft. Check out our calendar information page to learn more about how to get the most out of this new tool.
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he world of Sanctuary holds many mysteries even for the most seasoned adventurer. But fret not: We present to you the writings of one of Sanctuary's most accomplished scholars, Abd al-Hazir, whose treasure trove of knowledge will be an invaluable asset during your own journey.
- New Wizard Class: "It seems that even the title of a civilized magic wielder is too restrictive for this young upstart. Through my contacts at the Yshari Sanctum of the mage clans, I am one of the few who actually know
the truth behind the rumors now sweeping our streets regarding this hellion who flaunts her magic irresponsibly."
- Dune Threshers: "Long ago driven away from settled locales to the deep desert wastes of the Borderlands,
the dune thresher is rarely seen by city dwellers. Every so often, however, whether due to injury or old age, one of these unholy beasts ventures to the edge of civilization to feast on the frail human animal."
- Scavengers: "I had indeed seen
scavengers: small, burrowing creatures that feed upon carrion. Unlike most animals of this type, however, they are extremely aggressive and will not hesitate to attack those unfortunate enough to encounter them. Scavengers have powerful legs which they use for swift springing attacks, striking at vulnerable faces and throats."
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hough the convention might be over, memories of the show live on at BlizzCon.com. Check out our extensive online coverage:
- Photo Galleries: We snapped tons of pictures from the convention floor, developer panels, and contests at BlizzCon 2008. Check out our
photo galleries to see them for yourself.
- Video Archive: We have streaming video replays from the exciting StarCraft, Warcraft III, and World of Warcraft tournament matches that took place at this year's show. Head over to the
BlizzCon video archive to check them out now!
- Day One and Day Two Recaps: Even if you weren't in Anaheim this year for the convention, you can still get a taste of the many developer panels and other live events in our detailed recap articles from
day one and
day two of the show.
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World of Warcraft Miniatures Game – The new World of Warcraft Miniatures Game from Upper Deck debuted at this year's BlizzCon. Featuring strategic dice-based combat, beautifully painted figurines, and unique scenarios, the World of Warcraft Miniatures Game will bring the glory of the battlefield to your gaming table. It's scheduled to arrive in stores on November 11. Visit wowminis.com for more information.
Talking Murloc Plush Toy – Being both a gentleman and a scholar, the talking murloc plush toy is conversant in a wide range of subjects. He will talk about whatever you want, as long as you want to talk about "Rwlrwlrwlrwl!" – Soon available in the European Blizzard Store.
World of Warcraft Comic – Know your lore! For years, World of Warcraft players have been waiting to learn the origin and fate of the missing king of Stormwind, Varian Wrynn. The story of his incredible journey has been chronicled in Titan's fast-paced World of Warcraft ongoing monthly comic series.
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