Patch 4.0.3a (world changes)

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Azeroth before...

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Azeroth after

The list of world changes in Patch 4.0.3a, "The Shattering", is extensive — when the patch goes live, the old world will change drastically as a result of the Cataclysm. This article lists changes present in the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm beta. When the patch is released for Wrath of the Lich King, changes specific to the Cataclysm expansion will be removed.

Documented changes

Main article: Patch 4.0.3a

PvP

• Tol Barad is now available for testing. Players can reach the zone by speaking to NPCs in the capital cities.

Zones

• Mount Hyjal and Vashj'ir are available for testing.
• Deepholm is available for testing.
• Uldum is partially available for testing.
• Twilight Highlands is partially available for testing.
• The level ranges of Gilneas and the Lost Isles are in the process of being adjusted slightly. Creature, quest, and quest reward levels are all being altered so that players finish questing in these zones roughly by level 12. Further fine tuning will continue in future content updates.
• Several zones have had quest maps integrated.
• Eastern Kingdoms
  • Arathi Highlands, Badlands, Blasted Lands, Burning Steppes, The Cape of Stranglethorn, Dun Morogh, Duskwood, Eastern Plaguelands, Elwynn Forest, Hillsbrad Foothills, Hinterlands, Loch Modan, Northern Stranglethorn, Northshire, Redridge Mountains, Searing Gorge, Silverpine Forest, Swamp of Sorrows, Tirisfal Glades, Western Plaguelands and Westfall are ready for testing.
• Kalimdor
  • Most zones in Kalimdor are available for testing, though work continues on polishing the quest experience and flow, as well as zone aesthetics.

General

Main article: Patch 4.0.3a (undocumented changes)

• Most unimplemented terrain between zones has been filled for a seamless flying experience, with new mountains, lakes inaccessible by foot, and other filler terrain introduced. Rough jarring shifts in textures in areas not supposed to be accessible by foot have been smoothed over.
• Hero's Call Boards and Warchief's Command Boards have appeared in capital cities.

Flight Paths

Alliance

New flight paths

• Blackfathom Camp, Ashenvale
• Darnassus (near the portal to Rut'theran Village)
• Dolanaar, Teldrassil
• Goldshire, Elwynn Forest
• Grove of the Ancients, Darkshore
• The Harborage, Swamp of Sorrows
• Ironforge Airfield, Dun Morogh
• Kharanos, Dun Morogh
• Lor'danel, Darkshore
• Moonbrook, Westfall
• Raven Hill Cemetery, Duskwood
• Stormfeather Outpost, Hinterlands

Removed flight paths

• Auberdine, Darkshore (moved to Lor'danel, Darkshore)
• Southshore, Hillsbrad Foothills
• Talrendis Point, Azshara

Starting flight paths

• Dwarf and Gnome: Kharanos, Ironforge.
• Human: Goldshire, Stormwind.
• Night elf: Dolanaar, Rut'theran Village, Darnassus, Lor'danel.
• Worgen: Rut'theran Village, Lor'danel.

Horde

New flight paths

• Bilgewater Harbor, Azshara
• Bloodhoof Village, Mulgore
• Brill, Tirisfal Glades
• Dawnrise Expedition, Tanaris
• Eastpoint Tower, Hillsbrad Foothills
• Falconwing Square, Eversong Woods
• Forsaken High Command, Silverpine Forest
• Hiri'watha Research Station, Hinterlands
• New Kargath, Badlands
• Northern Rocketway Terminus, Azshara
• Razor Hill, Durotar
• Ruins of Southshore, Hillsbrad Foothills
• Sen'jin Village, Durotar
• Strahnbrad, Hillsbrad Foothills
• Southern Rocketway Terminus, Azshara
• Southpoint Gate, Hillsbrad Foothills

Removed flight paths

• Kargath, Badlands (moved to New Kargath)

Starting flight paths

• Orc: Razor Hill, Orgrimmar.
• Troll: Sen'jin Village, Razor Hill, Orgrimmar.
• Tauren: Bloodhoof Village, Thunder Bluff.
• Undead: Brill, Undercity.
• Blood elf: Falconwing Square, Silvermoon City.
• Goblin: Bilgewater Harbor, Orgrimmar.

Neutral

New flight paths

• Acherus: The Ebon Hold, Eastern Plaguelands (accessable to all classes, formerly just death knights)
• Crown Guard Tower, Eastern Plaguelands
• Ethel Rethor, Desolace
• Fuselight, Badlands
• Karnum's Glade, Desolace
• Light's Shield Tower, Eastern Plaguelands
• Northpass Tower, Eastern Plaguelands
• Plaguewood Tower, Eastern Plaguelands
• Thondroril River, Eastern Plaguelands
• Thunk's Abode, Desolace

Removed flight paths

• Thondroril River, Western Plaguelands (moved to Eastern Plaguelands)

Kalimdor

General

• The old, inaccessible Mount Hyjal zone has been replaced with the new level 80-82 zone. As such, the [No Man's Land] debuff has been lifted.

Ahn'Qiraj: The Fallen Kingdom

• Unimplemented terrain south of Ahn'Qiraj has been removed, and the new coast goes directly around the cliffs surrounding Ahn'Qiraj. The coastal cave still remains.

Ashenvale

• Silverwind Refuge has been claimed by the Horde.
• More of eastern Ashenvale has been deforested.
• A volcano has erupted and created a lava slide just north of Silverwind Refuge, destroying Iris Lake (now Remains of Iris Lake).
• Hellscream's Watch has been built north of Astranaar.
• Astranaar has been updated with new high-resolution textures.
  • There are now glaive throwers positioned around the town. As an Alliance phased event, it is under attack by Horde wind riders until the Alliance player continues introductory quests.
  • Vindicator Palanaar now has an elekk and offers it as a free ride to Forest Song.
• The Talondeep Path has been excavated away by the Horde, creating a new passage between Ashenvale and Stonetalon Mountains: the Talondeep Pass. To the northwest is a new night elf outpost: Stardust Spire.
• The previously unnamed and empty night elf house near the Felwood border is now named Orendil's Retreat. It is now a quest hub.
• Tree models have been updated with a higher quality ones.
• Maestra's Post is now under attack by Horde demolishers. Feero Ironhand and Delgren the Purifier have been killed.
  • A nightsaber rider route has been established between Astranaar and Maestra's Post.
• The Howling Vale is taken over by hostile ancients.
• The Ruins of Ordil'Aran have been taken over by hostile Thistlefur furbolgs.
• Lake Falathim has become a dreary place assaulted by tendrils and Harbinger Aphotic. The murlocs are gone.
• Greenpaw Village has been partially destroyed by Horde; a furbolg is taken prisoner.
• Zoram'Gar Outpost has been expanded and fortified.
• West of Orendil's Retreat is a new Alliance quest hub, Blackfathom Camp. Shindrell Swiftfire has moved here from Astranaar.
• New orc raiders have been added outside Warsong Lumber Camp. The camp itself is now partially taken over by the Alliance.
• The naga at the Zoram Strand have updated models.
• Forest Moths now fly throughout Ashenvale. They are untamable critters.

Azshara

• With the arrival of the goblins, the entire zone has been terraformed and carved into a giant Horde symbol. The Bilgewater Cartel has built:
  • Bilgewater Harbor, on a newly raised island in the Bay of Storms;
  • Gallywix Pleasure Palace;
  • Mountainfoot Strip Mine;
  • The Rocketway, consisting of five stations going around the Bay of Storms.
  • The Secret Lab.
• The Orgrimmar Rear Gate has been opened, connecting Azshara to Orgrimmar.
• The Forlorn Ridge has been excavated away for mining operations.
• Talrendis Point is now a full-fledged night elf defense outpost protecting the bridge to Ashenvale. However, it no longer contains an Alliance flight path. The Horde forces at Valormok are assaulting it.
• Rethress Sanctum, Scalebeard's Cave, Shadowsong Shrine and the Temple of Arkkoran have been destroyed.
• Lake Mennar is now inhabited by Highborne spirits rather than dragonkin.
• The Bitter Reaches have been partially converted to a charred vale full of dragons.
• The Bilgewater Battalion is now fighting the naga on the Ruined Reaches, including the Ruins of Eldarath.
• The Blackmaw tribe has split off the Timbermaw tribe. The closed gate at Blackmaw Hold has been replaced by a cave system.
• The Thalassian Base Camp has been taken over by night elves, and is now known as the Darnassian Base Camp.
• The Twilight's Hammer and black dragonflight have taken over and charred a part of the northeastern peninsula, now known as Sable Ridge.

Azuremyst Isle

• The boat from Valaar's Berth now goes to Rut'theran Village instead of Auberdine.
• Azure Watch now has a flight path.

Barrens

• The Barrens have now been split into two new zones with the names: the Northern Barrens and the Southern Barrens.

Darkshore

• This zone seems to have been more badly damaged by the Cataclysm than the surrounding ones. Many cracks in the ground have appeared along the coast.
• Auberdine has been wrecked and abandoned, and is now known as the Ruins of Auberdine.
• The Auberdine Refugee Camp has been opened southeast of Auberdine.
• A new night elf town, Lor'danel, has been built northeast of Auberdine.
• Shatterspear Vale is now accessible by foot through the Shatterspear Pass.
• The Grove of the Ancients is now vibrant green and has a flight path.

Darnassus

• Malfurion Stormrage now stands in the Temple of the Moon next to Tyrande Whisperwind, and is involved in quests. Some other NPCs have been moved around in the Temple.
• Fandral Staghelm is absent from his former location at the top of the Cenarion Enclave.
• Now contains a flight path.
• Tree models have been updated.
• The Howling Oak has been added as the new worgen home.

Desolace

• A new expanse of grassland and forest, the Cenarion Wildlands, has come to life in the middle of the zone.

Durotar

• Echo Isles have been reclaimed.
• Southfury River has eroded its eastern bank, turning it into the Southfury Watershed.
• Razor Hill and Sen'jin Village now contain flight paths.

Dustwallow Marsh

• A new road has been built connecting Theramore Keep directly to the Southern Barrens.

Feralas

• The Isle of Dread has sunk.
• The old Feathermoon Stronghold has been devastated and abandoned, and is now called the Ruins of Feathermoon.
• A new Feathermoon Stronghold has been constructed on the Forgotten Coast.
• Thalanaar has been destroyed, and New Thalanaar has been built west of it.
• A new tauren settlement, Camp Ataya, has opened on the north.

Mulgore

• The entrance to the zone has been reinforced with the Great Gate.
• The Stonetalon Pass now connects the zone to Stonetalon Mountains.
• The middle part of the Red Cloud Mesa has been burned and overgrown with thorny vines.

Northern Barrens

• The Mor'shan Rampart is under constant attack by night elves from Ashenvale.

Orgrimmar

• The buildings have been reinforced with metal.
• A third gate has been opened at the north, leading to Azshara.
• Grommash Hold has been moved to the Valley of Strength. Garrosh Hellscream has replaced Thrall on the throne.
• The Goblin Slums have been added.

Silithus

• Non-instanced Ahn'Qiraj has been split into a separate zone, Ahn'Qiraj: The Fallen Kingdom.

Southern Barrens

• Camp Taurajo has been ruined, and is now called the Ruins of Taurajo.
• The Alliance has advanced into the zone, building Fort Triumph.

Stonetalon Mountains

• The zone has been heavily rearranged, making it much more open to travel.
• Stonetalon Peak has been abandoned. The night elves have relocated to Thal'darah Grove and Thal'darah Overlook to the southwest.
• A new night elf base, Windshear Hold, has been added on the cliffs above Windshear Crag.
• A new orc base, Krom'gar Fortress, has appeared on the opposite side of Windshear Crag.
• A new passage from Windshear Crag north has opened.
• The Charred Vale has been completely burned with lava.
• Other new subzones added:
  • Cliffwalker Post
  • Farwatcher's Glen
  • The Fold
  • Sludgewerks

Tanaris

• Steamwheedle Port has sunk under the sea, along with a large chunk of the land at the northeast until Gadgetzan, which has been converted into a port.
• The Uldum gate in the Valley of the Watchers has changed in appearance significantly, and now leads to a dungeon area. There is now also a second, overland entrance to the partially-implemented Uldum zone.

Teldrassil

• The old Rut'theran Village has been destroyed, but a new one has opened slightly farther into the sea. It now has three docks.
• Dolanaar now has a flight path.
• Mage trainers have been added to Dolanaar and Shadowglen.
• Tree models have been updated with higher quality ones.

Thousand Needles

• The entire zone has been flooded, with the former mesas now sticking as islands amid the new sea.

Winterspring

• Darkwhisper Gorge is no longer counted as part of Winterspring, but is included in the new Mount Hyjal zone.
• The bridge to Darkwhisper Gorge across Frostwhisper Gorge has disappeared, rendering it inaccessible by foot.

Eastern Kingdoms

General

• The inaccessible land west of Burning Steppes has been replaced by water. Intentionally or not, it means that it now matches the Deeprun Tram, which passes underwater between Stormwind and Ironforge. The split continues further west as a rift in the crust between Dun Morogh and Searing Gorge, and then between Badlands and Loch Modan.
• The inaccessible land east of Burning Steppes has similarly been replaced by water.
• The Ruins of Gilneas zone has been added to the main world.

Alterac Mountains

• Removed as a separate zone. It is now a subzone of Hillsbrad Foothills.

Arathi Highlands

• A new Forsaken encampment named Galen's Fall has been built near the Thoradin's Wall.
• A new dwarven passage now links the zone with the Hinterlands.

Badlands

• The passage to Loch Modan has been blocked by the new rift.
• A new goblin port has been built.

Blasted Lands

• The ground architecture is now more high-resolution.
• With the coast opened, the zone is no longer landlocked.
• The Tainted Forest has partially replaced the Tainted Scar.
• A new Gilneas-architecture settlement, Surwich, has appeared at the southwest.
• Dreadmaul Hold has been taken over by the Horde and reinforced in Northrend style.

Burning Steppes

• The zone has been (partially) updated with new high-resolution textures.

The Cape of Stranglethorn

• The goblin statue at Janeiro's Point has been damaged.

Dun Morogh

• The north path leading to Gnomeregan has been buried by an avalanche.
• The Ironforge Airfield now shows its subzone name when flying over it.
• Charred mountains have extended farther into the sea just south of Newman's Landing.
• The inaccessible valley west of the Gnomeregan gate has been fleshed out and filled with trees. It still has no gameplay purpose.

Duskwood

• Raven Hill is now a worgen settlement with a flight master and Gilnean tents.

Eastern Plaguelands

• The plague has partially regressed, roughly to the level of pre-Cataclysm Western Plaguelands. Water has appeared again in formerly dried basins.
• The patch of land around Light's Hope Chapel is now green and plague-free, and has been reinforced with walls.
• Argent Crusade banners are seen prominently through the zone, including the four PvP towers and the new Light's Hope Chapel.

Elwynn Forest

• Goldshire has been updated with new high-resolution textures.
• The Northshire Vineyards have been burned by Blackrock orcs.

Hillsbrad Foothills

• The Forsaken New Plague has destroyed Southshore, as well as Hillsbrad Fields (now Sludge Fields).
• Alterac Mountains is now a subzone of Hillsbrad Foothills, not its own zone.

Hinterlands

• The zone has been updated with new high-resolution textures.

Ironforge

• Magni Bronzebeard has been replaced by the Council of Three Hammers in the High Seat.

Loch Modan

• The Stonewrought Dam has been damaged. As such, water level in The Loch has receded, exposing most of the former lakebed.
• The path to the Badlands has been blocked by a fissure.

Northern Stranglethorn

• Tree models have been updated.
• A whirlpool now separates this zone from The Cape of Stranglethorn.
• Zul'Gurub has been removed as a raid instance. It is now a non-instanced quest hub.

Redridge Mountains

• The Lakeshire bridge has been repaired.
• A new Northrend-style tower has been added to Three Corners.
• A new road (Redridge Highway) connecting Burning Steppes and Swamp of Sorrows has been added.

Silverpine Forest

• The zone has been updated with new high-resolution textures.
• Pyrewood Village and the Greymane Wall have been updated to use Gilnean architecture. Pyrewood Village is now connected by a bridge to the shattered gate of the Greymane Wall.
• The Forsaken buildings have been updated to the new Northrend-style Forsaken architecture.

Stormwind City

• The entire city has received a graphic update with new high-resolution textures. Areas formerly clipped have been implemented with the advent of flying in Azeroth.
• The Park has been destroyed.
• A new park-like green area around the new Stormwind Lake, along with a cemetery, has opened behind the Cathedral of Light. There is now a statue of Uther the Lightbringer in front of the Cathedral.
• Fountains in the city now actually contain water.
• The Command Center and SI:7 no longer have narrow corridors leading to them, and are now located on a green meadow outside the Old Town. Oddly enough, the locations of the two buildings have been swapped. The Command Center now also has hunter trainers and Justice/Valor Point vendors inside it; Master Wood has been moved outside.
• The entrance to Stormwind Keep has been revamped, and now features a statue of Varian Wrynn and overlooking balconies.
• Dragon claw marks are visible on the two towers at the end of the Valley of Heroes. Danath Trollbane's statue has been damaged by Deathwing's attack; its upper portion has been pulled out of the water and is now lying on the dock, surrounded by construction workers.
• The boat that previously connected Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine now goes to Rut'theran Village.
• Genn Greymane now stands next to Varian Wrynn in the throne room.
• The old empty tavern in the Dwarven District has been replaced with water. There is now a new functional inn with an innkeeper and a sign saying The Golden Keg. There is also a new auction house here, and the formerly empty stone building with columns has been turned into a new bank.
• The back of the Dwarven District now leads into a new outdoors farm area, the Stormwind City Outskirts.
• The left portion of the Cathedral of Light interior, which formerly contained paladin trainers, has been removed.
• The Mage Quarter has a straighter path through it.
• The original bank and auction house in the Trade District have been revamped.
• There is now a riding trainer next to Dungar Longdrink, the flight master.
• The Eastern Earthshrine, a new small island with portals surrounded by a lake, has been added to the north of Stormwind Keep. It functions as the portal hub for the Cataclysm zones, and is only accessible by flying.

Swamp of Sorrows

• A new goblin town with a dock, with no subzone name, has been added to northern Misty Reed Strand.
• A new pirate camp has appeared south along the coast.
• A new human settlement without a subzone name has been added to the north of the Temple of Atal'Hakkar.
• The lake surrounding the Temple of Atal'Hakkar has turned into a sea gulf.
• The Harborage has been reinforced with draenei fortifications, and now has a flight master.
• The Redridge Highway now connects the zone to Redridge Mountains.

Tirisfal Glades

• The inaccessible valley west of Deathknell has been replaced with a lake and trees, although the zone map displays that area as mountains.
• The Ruins of Lordaeron have been redesigned with the advent of flying mounts in Azeroth.
• Brill has been updated for the new, Northrend-style Forsaken architecture.
• The Bulwark gate has been reinforced, and also uses the new Forsaken architecture.

Wetlands

• The river formerly flowing down from Stonewrought Dam has dried.
• Menethil Harbor has partially sunk, but the dock remains operational.
• Most of Grim Batol is now counted as part of the Twilight Highlands.
• The tunnel to nowhere in the Wetlands farm area has been blocked with a closed gate.

Western Plaguelands

• Parts of the zone have been reclaimed from the plague, and are now blooming with green again.
• Andorhal has been partially rebuilt, but split into two sections, a human one and a Forsaken one.
• Hearthglen has been claimed by the Argent Crusade.

Westfall

• Sentinel Hill has been partialy reinforced by stone walls that are under construction.
• The Raging Chasm has appeared near the Alexston Farmstead.

Outland

Shattrath City

• Portals to old-world capitals have been removed and replaced with new class trainers.

Northrend

Dalaran

• Portals to old-world capitals have been removed and replaced with new class trainers.