World of Warcraft Player Uncovers Potential New Zone in The War Within

A World of Warcraft player may have stumbled upon a new zone in the upcoming The War Within expansion. While exploring the Azj-Kahet region, a fan noticed that attempting to fly beyond a certain point resulted in an unexpected teleportation back to a specific location. This mysterious barrier might just be a leftover from the game's development, but it could also hint at a new area coming soon to World of Warcraft.

Azj-Kahet, the fourth zone in The War Within expansion, is largely dominated by the Nerubian kingdom. However, its borders with Hallowfall are marked by a sprawling network of roots, home to the Haranir.

During a recent exploration, World of Warcraft fan and dataminer Marlamin decided to fly upwards past a Skyriding glyph in the Azj-Kahet zone, venturing into the roots above. This triggered the Drowsy debuff, which caused the screen to fill with a green haze and teleported Marlamin back to the ground near Ruptured Lake. This type of barrier has been seen before in areas like the Dreamgrove in Legion, suggesting a possible connection to the Emerald Dream.

There’s speculation that this new area might be The Rootlands, a zone hinted at in a leaked map of Khaz Algar. It’s likely that the Haranir, the beings guarding these roots, originate from this zone, which is connected to the legendary World Tree, Elune’Ahir. This tree was destroyed by the Titan Aman’thul and is linked to the Emerald Dream, a storyline touched upon during Dragonflight. Considering the Haranir were prominently featured in the cinematic trailer for The War Within, a zone focused on these ancient roots would align well with the ongoing narrative, suggesting that this barrier might be the gateway to The Rootlands.

Alternatively, this barrier could simply be a leftover from the early stages of development. Fans have also found clues pointing to potential raids centered around Goblins and Ethereals, themes that don’t align with The Rootlands. With the recent release of Dragonflight Patch 10.2, which already explored the Emerald Dream, a new nature-themed zone would need to offer something unique to keep players engaged. Nonetheless, this could also be the perfect opportunity to introduce the Haranir as an Allied Race, given the extensive customization options they bring.

Regardless of what this barrier signifies, fans won't have to wait long for more answers. Patch 11.0.5 is expected around World of Warcraft’s 20th anniversary in November, with Patch 11.0.7 likely following early next year. The next major update, 11.1, which could introduce the first new zone of The War Within post-launch, is expected to release in spring 2025. Players should keep a lookout for more hints and teasers leading up to these updates.