Which World Of Warcraft expansion is best? War

Bringing us to Azeroth in 2004, World of Warcraft has always won the hearts of players with new giant expansions. From meeting the Lich King Arthas to visiting the mysterious lands of Pandaria, each expansion brought new adventures and mechanics to this timeless MMO.

While the arrival of The War Within and Dragonflight brought new content, unique zones, and brilliant gameplay mechanics, which one really dominates? Dragonflight focuses on providing a new sense of wonder and freedom, while The War Within delves deeper into internal conflicts and darker, more mature themes. After comparing both expansions, here's a breakdown of what makes each of these latest entries into the Warcraft universe compelling.

9 Best Visual Design: Dragonflight

If you love taking screenshots of your WoW adventures and bragging to your friends, Dragonflight offers the perfect way to unleash your inner photographer. Expansion zones are gorgeous. With majestic towering peaks, lush forests and sparkling coastlines, Dragonflight has all the benefits of a WoW travel brochure with the verticality of a fun dragon.

Meanwhile, The War Within focuses more on the underground environment. The underground areas are certainly atmospheric, but they don't have the same “wow” factor as soaring through the heavens on the back of a dragon.

8 Best Plot: The War Within

While Dragonflight was an epic return to the dragon mythos, it felt like it was playing a bit on the safe side. With classic high fantasy tropes like dragons, islands, and ancient magic that fit comfortably into the adventures we've come to expect from the Warcraft universe.

The War Within ups the intensity with a darker and more complex storyline. As you venture deep underground to unravel the ancient, hidden history of Azeroth, you'll explore a difficult, earth-shaking conflict involving dwarves, titans, and mysterious forces.

So while Dragonflight makes us nostalgic for a good dragon game, The War Within wins this round by offering a more intense and refreshingly different narrative.

7 Best Research: Dragonflight

When it comes to exploration, it's hard to beat Dragonflight. Dragonriding is a feature that completely redefines the way you travel the world. Flying at ridiculous speeds and flying through the rings is exciting. Dragon Isles was clearly designed with this mechanic in mind, and there's a constant sense of discovery as you zoom across the landscape and see the world through a dragon's eye.

On the other hand, The War Within literally keeps you grounded. While the Isle of Dorne has the open skies, you spend a lot of time in the expansion confined to an underground environment, which doesn't compare to the thrill of soaring through the skies.

6 Best Raid Experience: The War Within

Raids are where The War Within really digs into its heels. The add-on's underground setting allows for some truly unique and chaotic raids. With huge landslides, elemental earth titans and crumbling ruins, every run feels like a fight for survival. The bosses here are brutal as well, and the environmental hazards only add to the intensity.

Of course, Dragonflight also offers solid raiding with a fair share of dragon bosses and elemental battles. But while Dragonflight's raids are flashy, their familiarity makes them fall short of The War Within as much as its story. Civil War won for the sheer excitement and challenge of the raids.

5 Best Dungeons: The War Within

Both expansions have solid dungeon content, but The War Within stands out for its clever mix of underground settings and dungeon design. This includes collapsing tunnels, environmental hazards and intense action. It's a more claustrophobic dungeon crawling experience, but what better epitomizes exactly what a dungeon should be.

In comparison, Dragonflight's dungeons are well designed, but follow the usual formula. They're a lot of fun to play, but they don't bring the same level of intensity or creativity as The War Within. So while Dragonflight has its moments, The War Within brings a fresh twist that makes dungeons feel like a whole new experience.

Best mount: Dragonflight

This is likely less debatable and probably already on your mind. Dragonflight introduced Dragonriding, and if you haven't spent hours zooming through the skies, you're missing out on one of the best features in this add-on. Collecting and customizing your own dragon along with its own abilities made these jumpers incredibly exciting. There's nothing quite like jumping off a cliff, diving down, and soaring up toward the horizon.

Undeniably, The War Within has some cool jumpers like giant grates, bugs, and Titan-influenced structures. However, you can't beat riding a dragon that can be upgraded and perform tricks. This is where Dragonflight becomes the clear winner.

4 Best Endgame Progression: Dragonflight

Passing the endgame in Dragonflight was intuitive. With a focus on improving your dragon riding skills and customizing your dragon rider, it offered a grind that remained satisfying. Most importantly, it's all wrapped up in a user-friendly package that keeps you engaged without leaving new players feeling overwhelmed.

Civil War shifts the focus to the forces of Earth and the Titan Relics, and while the progression system offers nuance, it takes a more traditional and solid approach. Players who enjoy a meatier grind might prefer this one, but Dragonflight's smooth and vibrant progression wins out in the fun part.

3 Best Soundtrack: The War Within

While Dragonflight has some nice orchestral tracks, The War Within takes the soundtrack up a notch. The music in The War Within is haunting, mysterious and perfectly emphasizes the underground adventure. It's not about soaring melodies, but more about deep, resonant tones that represent the dark themes of the expansion. The sound of distant drums, eerie echoes and the hum of the chorus create an atmosphere that pulls you right into the heart of Azeroth's hidden history.

Dragonflight's music is grand and heroic, but it lacks the moody atmosphere that The War Within captures so perfectly.

2 Best Atmosphere: The War Within

When it comes to atmosphere, The War Within is packed with it. From the warm light of Halofall to the foreboding darkness of Azj Kakhet, the environments are intense and immersive. If you're looking to add a little suspense and mystery to your WoW experience, this expansion is up to the task.

Dragonflight, while stunning, is lighter in tone. Its fantasy feel is great, but its atmosphere doesn't have the weight of The War Within.

1 The verdict: the war within

When all is said and done, The War Within manages to surpass Dragonflight as the best expansion. While Dragonflight gave us dragon rides, gorgeous vistas and the thrill of the sky, The War Within's darker and more exciting storyline offers a refreshing break from typical fantasy. This departure in tone and storytelling adds a new level of tension and atmosphere that the open skies of Dragonflight can't match.

Add that to the fun raid design, innovative dungeons, and an immersive soundtrack that perfectly complements the world beneath Azeroth, and The War Within comes out on top. For those looking to turn a new page in the decades-spanning World of Warcrafts series, The War Within will not leave you disappointed, even if you are a WoW veteran.