Shadowlands: Maw Updates in Chains of Domination
With the nefarious traitor Sire Denathrius dealt with and his stolen anima returned to its rightful owners, the covenants and you are now ready to take on the Jailer himself in the upcoming content update, Chains of Domination.
A HIDDEN WONDER
As part of his ongoing schemes, the Jailer has located a long-lost domain of the Shadowlands—Korthia, the City of Secrets—and dragged it from the hidden byways of the In-Between into the Maw. In this new area, you’ll team up with the covenants under a unified banner to fight against the endless forces of the Jailer, and work to uncover what obscurities he seeks in this forgotten realm.
The prophecies of Korthia foretold of the day when one who walked the Maw would save the Shadowlands from disaster. Perhaps this is that day.
Korthia's Inhabitants
Fearsome wildlife roams Korthia, hardened from eons of adaptation. Be on your guard as you explore this primordial land.
Ravenous Scavenger
Insatiable hunger drives these creatures to relentlessly pursue their next quarry, either by stealing scraps from other creatures or devouring hapless prey that cross their paths.
Shardhide Mauler
Enveloped in calloused hides and armed with vicious claws, these lumbering beasts ferociously fight any who encroach on their territory.
Korthian Attendants
Related to the attendants who preside in Oribos, this long-hidden group to protect the Shadowlands' most ancient secrets.
Frenzied Razorwing
Solitary predators, razorwings are feared for their grisly hunting tactics: they swoop down on a target and savagely eviscerate unsuspecting prey.
Hungering Mite
Riddling the skies of Korthia, these aberrations swarm targets and drain them of their life-essence.
Korthian Gromit
These docile creatures gracefully hop through the ruins of Korthia, avoiding predators as they forage for food. When threatened, they lash out with whip-like tongues.
COVENANT ASSAULTS
Return to the Maw with the restored strength of the kyrian, necrolords, night fae, and venthyr and together strike back at the Jailer in Covenant Assaults. Twice a week, you can help the covenants’ forces fight the Maw’s monstrosities. Each Assault is led by one covenant and assisted in part by a second covenant, both of which need your help to complete four quests on the battlefront to take over key locations within the Maw. Successfully completing the onslaught will reward you with reputation for the leading covenant, the assisting faction, and the new covenant coalition, Death’s Advance. You’ll also receive a War Chest filled with Stygia and Soul Cinders, a currency used to further upgrade your legendary items. It may also contain mounts, legendary crafting materials, or equipment.
DEATH’S ADVANCE
At the forefront of the fight for the Shadowlands are the covenants’ champions you met along the way while leveling and questing. Visitors from the covenants change daily, and each will offer you repeatable quests. Turning in dailies will reward you with reputation for the new Death’s Advance faction. You’ll also earn reputation from the quest giver’s associated covenant (e.g. venthyr visitors will grant Court of Harvesters rep).
For your contributions to the Death’s Advance’s cause, you’ll gain their favor and will be able to purchase several cosmetic rewards, including covenant armor appearance sets.
THE ARCHIVIST’S CODEX
Korthian attendants have committed their existence to researching relics from across the Shadowlands. Led by their Archivist, they are dedicated to recovering the relics scattered across Korthia in the wake of the mawsworn invasion. Aid their cause by returning any Relic Fragments you find to Archivist Roh-Suir in return for The Archivist’s Codex faction reputation and a new currency, Catalogued Research. You can exchange Catalogued Research for a variety of rewards including Conduit and equipment upgrades, a flying mount, and a cosmetic appearance for your cloak.
MOUNT UP IN THE MAW
Disrupting the Jailer will weaken his hold in the Maw and bolster the confidence of your mounts to let you ride them into battle. To saddle up on your trusty steed in this ominous realm, you’ll first need to complete the introductory storyline to Korthia. Once you complete the quest, you’ll receive The True Maw Walker reward, which allows you to summon and ride all ground mounts in The Maw and Korthia on the character who earned it.
BLIND THE JAILER’S EYE
During your journey through the Chains of Domination storyline, you’ll be able to diminish the dangers of this desolate realm during the “Focusing the Eye” quest, which permanently removes the Eye of the Jailer effect. With the eye no longer tracking your every move, you can freely roam the Maw without penalty and stay in this forbidden place for as long as you please.
DELVE INTO DESMOTAERON
Along with exploring Korthia, you can now traverse the previously inaccessible terrain in the Maw, Desmotaeron. This land withers under the shadowy palm of Helya herself, where she tortures souls as her contribution to the Jailer’s schemes. It is here that you’ll also find the entrance of the new 10-boss raid, Sanctum of Domination.
NEW EVENT: TORMENTORS OF TORGHAST
While eradicating the Maw of the Jailer’s forces, his conniving lieutenant Kel’Thuzad will occasionally dispatch Tormentors to maintain their icy grip over the Maw. Slay Mawsworn minions to draw out these powerful adversaries that will stop at nothing to pulverize you into a pile stygia. Defeating a Tormentor will reward you with a Tormentor’s Cache brimming with Soul Cinders and can also contain powerful equipment as well as a Bahmethra Chain Link. Binding enough of these chain links will allow you to summon an eerie mount, the Hand of Bahmethra.
We look forward to sharing more information as development continues, and we hope this preview prepares you for the Maw and all it has to offer.
Rewards and mechanics are still in development and subject to change, so be sure to check back for periodic updates on worldofwarcraft.com as we approach the release of Chains of Domination.