Activision Blizzard has recently unveiled a fresh, time-limited event dubbed "Plunderstorm" within the expansive universe of World of Warcraft. This event marks a significant departure from the game's traditional offerings by introducing a battle royale concept, a first in the game's extensive history.
This introduction serves as an intriguing experiment for the World of Warcraft community, yet it also signals a promising stride toward enriching player experiences with additional content. Here's your guide to immersing yourself in the excitement and diving into the new Plunderstorm game mode within World of Warcraft.
What Is Plunderstorm?
Plunderstorm introduces a novel experience within World of Warcraft, offering players a limited-time battle royale event that transcends the boundaries of their familiar characters from the original game, whether they reside in the classic, retail, or Season of Discovery realms. This event pioneers a classless system where players construct their abilities from the ground up.
Upon entering the fray, participants find themselves transported to a rendition of the Arathi Highlands, where they must confront 59 other contenders in a relentless struggle for survival. The battleground is compact, and a looming storm adds urgency by gradually encroaching upon the combatants, dealing damage to all within its reach. As the storm expands, it forces players into tighter confrontations until only one emerges victorious.
The commencement of each match sees every player propelled from cannons to disparate locations across the map. While airborne, individuals retain limited control over their trajectory, offering them slight influence over their initial landing spot.
Once landed, the primary objective becomes fortifying one's character through the defeat of roaming mobs, acquisition of skills and abilities, character leveling, and the plundering of fallen adversaries.
As strength accumulates, strategic decision-making becomes paramount, as players seek to engage in combat from advantageous positions. Survival becomes the ultimate aim, coupled with the accumulation of power necessary to vie for the esteemed title of final champion.
Can You Play Plunderstorm Without Buying Dragonflight?
Thankfully, enjoying the Plunderstorm event in World of Warcraft doesn't require purchasing the latest expansion. However, players do need an active subscription to the World of Warcraft service to participate.
With a subscription, access is granted to World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery, World of Warcraft Classic, and World of Warcraft retail (excluding the current expansion).
Installing the live version of World of Warcraft is all that's necessary to dive into the Plunderstorm experience.
Interestingly, you can install the game without a subscription or purchase. Your account will be designated as a trial account, allowing you to explore World of Warcraft up to level 20. This means you can install the game beforehand if you're considering joining the Plunderstorm event, giving you the opportunity to decide on a subscription later.
Is World Of Warcraft: Plunderstorm Worth The Subscription?
The distinction between enjoying Plunderstorm and other battle royales isn't solely based on a preference for the genre. The primary difference lies in the necessity to engage with NPCs or mobs to obtain loot and level up your character, rather than relying solely on random loot drops scattered across the map.
Encountering rival players who have engaged extensively with mobs means they likely possess superior skills, higher overall damage output, and increased health due to their accumulated levels. Consequently, engaging in combat without regularly confronting mobs puts players at a significant disadvantage.
This mechanic serves both as a positive and a negative aspect of Plunderstorm. On one hand, it fosters an environment where camping is discouraged, compelling all players to remain active throughout the event. Conversely, the scarcity of loot and its reliance on luck can pose challenges for players.
For those intrigued by this dynamic, the event's duration may justify the investment, especially considering it surpasses the length of a typical monthly subscription.
Additionally, for players with friends who are not yet part of the World of Warcraft community, Plunderstorm presents an ideal opportunity to introduce them to the game. Unlike traditional MMORPGs, the simplicity of the battle royale format may entice friends who may not have the time to commit to a more complex gaming experience.
How To Queue For Plunderstorm Matches
The Plunderstorm event operates as a distinct entity within World of Warcraft, requiring no additional downloads apart from the live version of the game. Essentially, it functions as a patch that introduces a separate phase within the existing game environment. To access Plunderstorm, simply launch your World of Warcraft client and proceed to the character selection screen.
In the upper-left corner of the screen, you'll notice two distinct versions of World of Warcraft. Click on the World of Warcraft: Plunderstorm icon, and you'll be swiftly transported to the event, greeted by a different character selection menu.
Regardless of whether you typically play World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery or Classic, participation in Plunderstorm is accessible with your existing subscription. You'll just need to initiate the game from the "Live" version of World of Warcraft, identifiable via the game version drop-down menu in your Battle.net client.
Within WoW: Plunderstorm, you commence with a basic character bearing your current Battle.net username. From there, you have the opportunity to tailor your character using World of Warcraft's original creation tools and settings, including race selection. However, there are no class options available.
Once your character is customized to your liking, you'll encounter the "Join Game" button. Simply press it to enter the matchmaking queue. Additionally, you can opt for Solos or Duos before queuing up, enabling you to play solo, with a friend, or alongside a randomly matched player.
