A new feature in the World of Warcraft expansion, ‘The Battle for Azeroth’, expeditions to the island pit three players against three realistic AI players in a race to collect Azerite. Treasure is also scattered around the islands, giving more rewards than crystals. Each island is randomly generated with varying amounts of creatures, nodes, NPCs, and more populating it. Even if you have been to the island before, the experience is different because of this. There are no party restrictions for Island Expeditions. That means you and your friends can come in as three healers or three tanks if you want.

The AI ​​is new to the expansion and has three difficulties, Normal, Heroic, and Mythic. As such, it will mimic player behavior more, avoiding the usual stupidity of the AI ​​and curbing its Leeroy Jenkins tendencies. Expect more of a challenge on the higher difficulties. A PvP option is also available for those who want to play against real players.

More details

Island Expeditions features a race between the Horde and the Alliance to collect 6,000 pieces of Azerite. Many actions can reward the resource, such as killing enemies or finding scattered chunks. Chunks take some time to recover, giving enemies half the chance to swoop in and steal what you’re trying to protect from mobs.

There are also rare elite NPCs. They are more powerful than the usual creatures that populate the island, however they reward with more Azerite over time. Just like those, enemy players are also worth more the longer they are alive.

Elemental storms will sometimes appear, increasing the number of coveted crystals you can collect. However, it can also spawn many powerful creatures. Other times, an elemental portal may appear that opens an air of an Elemental Boss that rewards the precious resource upon defeat. Airborne chests also contain more of the same, so don’t pass up the opportunity.

Lastly, players can find various unique items that can be used for other things within the island. There could be a shovel to dig up dirt piles or keys to unlock cages to free friendly NPCs. These actions can reward you with more than just the crystals you are supposed to collect.

Additional Information

There are six NPC Expedition Teams that can be found from the faction opposite your character. They usually have a racial theme, but there are some that have multiple races. Alliance characters may even encounter a Horde team that includes ‘Sneaky Pete’, a Horde champion. Similarly, Horde characters can find themselves teaming up with ‘”Stabby” Lottie’.

At the docks where you start your expedition, there are a few vendors that sell consumables intended to help you gather Azerite faster or hinder your enemies. However, they require the use of Seafarer’s Dubloon, a currency obtained during expeditions, instead of the usual WoW gold.

Please note that expansion (and, through transitivity, this feature) is still in alpha at the time of this writing, so not all of the information here may be accurate later on. Follow the official channels for more information on this feature, such as more potential rewards. Wait for the expansion!

Keep enjoying World of Warcraft!