Battle for Azeroth Island Expeditions Guide
Battle for Azeroth brings a new Island Expeditions feature. Taking what the team liked from Mists of Pandaria's scenarios and stepping it up, these expeditions take a team of three players to uncharted islands across the Great Sea in search of Azerite against advanced AI opponents.
- The first team to collect a certain amount of Azerite wins.
- Each island is randomly generated and so there is always something unique and new to find.
- The enemy AI does not behave like normal scripted creature AI. They will fight in a much more unpredictable way.
- Island Expeditions are role agnostic, meaning that they do not require a Tank, Healer and DPS in order to succeed.
- Difficulties include Normal, Heroic and Mythic.
- There is also a PvP mode where the enemy AI is replaced with 3 players of the opposite faction.
Island Expeditions Loading Screen
How to Unlock Island Expeditions
You will unlock the ability to queue for Island Expeditions by progressing your War Campaign. At one point you will receive a quest that places you in a solo scenario on a small island and has you go through the ropes of what a basic Island Expedition entails. Completing this will unlock the ability to queue for Island Expeditions on all characters on your account provided they are 110 or above.
Where to Queue for Unlock Island Expeditions
Once you unlock Island expeditions you can queue for them at the Expedition Map in the following locations:
- Alliance - Boralus Harbor
- Horde - Port of Zandalar
Island Expedition Difficulty Modes
Island Expeditions have 4 difficulty modes:
- Normal - Collect 6,000 Azerite.
- Heroic - Collect 9,000 Azerite. Requires item level 295.
- Mythic - Collect 12,000 Azerite. Requires item level 315.
- PvP - Requires item level 295 and a group of three to queue.
Replayability of Island Expeditions
Islands are a unique experience every time you queue up for one. There are countless different themes, enemies and environments you can come across and it's random each time you start one. There will also be different puzzles and obstacles to face every time you visit.
Island Content that is randomly generated:
- Creatures
- Capture points
- Chests and Azerite Nodes
- Questgivers
- Consumables and Shrines
- Start Locations
- Weather
- Environmental hazards
- Caves, Ships...and more!
Island Locales
Three different island locales will be active at any given week with a total of 7 locales at release.
- Dread Chain
- Molten Cay
- Rotting Mire
- Skittering Hollow
- Whispering Reef
- Ungol Ruins
- Verdant Wilds
Island Expeditions UI
When you click on the map you will see your weekly Azerite quest progress as well as the three active Islands for the week. A drawing next to the island maps will showcase what type of enemy is found on that island. You can also select the difficulty before queuing up. Mousing over the difficulty will show you the reward for completion.
Map
The Island map behaves like most other games with Fog of War. Things that are close enough to see for one of your group members are updated on the map. It displays various objectives on the island including Azerite node locations, events, quests and the location of the enemy team. There is also an Azerite Detector timer that counts down and when it runs out, all sources of Azerite will be displayed on the map.
- Blue diamond shapes mark an Azerite source.
- Skulls mark a mini-boss that rewards Azerite.
- X symbols mark an Azerite source in an area that hasn't been explored yet.
- Faction symbols mark the enemy faction players on the map.
- Both factions have a ship icon that mark the initial spawn point.
Enemy AI
Battle for Azeroth will feature new NPC AI for Island Expeditions. This AI is not scripted and will not behave in the way a normal creature usually does. This new AI will behave more like actual players taking part in PvP would. Examples include polymorphing or sapping your healer while you are engaged in a boss fight. This AI also is well aware of important map objectives and will constantly be giving you a run for your money as you race to complete objectives. This AI can make strategic decisions as well. They may stop what they are doing to come disrupt the objective you are working on or to steal your Azerite. Different opponents will also have distinct personalities and unique behaviors. An example would be Sneaky Pete, a rogue who likes to disrupt healers.
Island Buffs
There are several buffs that can be found on islands:
- Azerite Energy - These globes come from more powerful enemies on the island and are needed for Give Me The Energy
- Shrines - Similar to the shrines on Timeless Isle, you can find these across the islands, allowing for a single player to utilize the buff.
- Other Items - You can find other buff items around the island that give you a one time use ability or food that heals you.
Island Consumables
A seafaring vendor shows up at the docks each day to provide unique buffs and consumables to use on the island at the cost of Seafarer's Dubloons earned from expeditions. These power ups tend to fill in role gaps. Examples include buffs to make an Arms Warrior more tanky or another consumable that allows a Mage to heal.
Island Expedition Rewards
Island Expeditions are going to be the most lucrative form of gaining Azerite power. While the Azerite you gain during the match goes towards your faction, you receive some for yourself in many different ways.
- Once a week you may complete Azerite for the Horde or Azerite for the Alliance for a hefty chunk of Azerite.
- A winning bonus that is more lucrative based on the difficulty.
- Rare quest item rewards from drops such as Unscarred Black Scale during an expedition.
- PvP mode also rewards 50 conquest points in addition to Azerite.
Mounts - Island Expedition Rewards
There are some mounts that are rewarded from Island Expeditions!
Pets - Island Expedition Rewards
There are some pets that are rewarded from Island Expeditions!
- Poro
- Barnaby
- Inky
- Bloodstone Tunneler
- Captain Nibs
- Coldlight Surfrunner
- Craghoof Kid
- Deathsting Scorpid
- False Knucklebump
- Giggling Flame
- Juvenile Brineshell
- Kindleweb Spiderling
- Kunchong Hatchling
- Laughing Stonekin
- Littlehoof
- Mischievous Zephyr
- Muskflank Calfling
- Octopode Fry
- Playful Frostkin
- Sandshell Chitterer
- Scuttle
- Snapper
- Snort
- Sparkleshell Sandcrawler
- Sunscale Hatchling
- Thistlebrush Bud
- Voru'kar Leecher
Weapons and Armor - Island Expedition Rewards
There are some new models and color variations of existing models in the weapons rewarded from Island Expeditions.
Level | Type | Slot | Name | Model Viewer |
---|---|---|---|---|
325 | Off Hand | Off Hand | Plundered Sapling Seed | Modelviewer |
325 | Off Hand | Off Hand | Plundered Ambershaper's Egg | Modelviewer |
325 | Off Hand | Off Hand | Plundered Sand-Scoured Fetish | Modelviewer |
325 | Off Hand | Off Hand | Plundered Codex of Otherworldly Vision | Modelviewer |
200 | Cloth | Shoulders | Plundered Runecaster's Mantle | Modelviewer |
200 | Leather | Shoulders | Plundered Shoveltusk-Hide Shoulders | Modelviewer |
200 | Shoulders | Plundered Dragonrider Spaulders | Modelviewer | |
200 | Plate | Shoulders | Plundered Gjalerbron Pauldrons | Modelviewer |
325 | Shield | Off Hand | Plundered Torga Blessed Bulwark | Modelviewer |
325 | Shield | Off Hand | Plundered Totem Barrier | Modelviewer |
325 | Shield | Off Hand | Plundered Jadefury Shield | Modelviewer |
325 | Shield | Off Hand | Plundered Beacon-Light Bulwark | Modelviewer |
1 | Cosmetic | Head | Plundered Blue Captain's Hat | Modelviewer |
1 | Cosmetic | Head | Plundered Crimson Captain's Hat | Modelviewer |
1 | Cosmetic | Head | Plundered Pirate Admiral's Bicorne | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Axe | One Hand | Plundered Heart Hacker | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Axe | One Hand | Plundered Ice-Etched Axe | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Axe | One Hand | Plundered Skullsplitter | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Axe | One Hand | Plundered Iceshard Bite | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Axe | Two Hand | Plundered Fury-Fin Axe | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Axe | Two Hand | Plundered Molten Reaper | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Axe | Two Hand | Plundered Wingblade Axe | Modelviewer |
325 | Bow | Ranged | Plundered Biting Shot Longbow | Modelviewer |
325 | Bow | Ranged | Plundered Longhunt Bow | Modelviewer |
325 | Bow | Ranged | Plundered Bow of the Chosen | Modelviewer |
325 | Gun | Ranged | Plundered Amber Slinger | Modelviewer |
325 | Gun | Ranged | Plundered Windblaster | Modelviewer |
325 | Gun | Ranged | Plundered Dragon Roar-Barrel | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Horn Pummeler | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Obsidian Scale Smasher | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Stump Mace | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Mrggll Masher | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Paragon's Mace | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Geode Gavel | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Frost Scepter | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Coilpoint Scepter | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Mogu Scepter | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Essence Font Scepter | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Mace | One Hand | Plundered Sandstone Gavel | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Mace | Two Hand | Plundered Troll Ceremonial Basher | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Mace | Two Hand | Plundered Petrified Tree | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Mace | Two Hand | Plundered Tenderizing Crusher | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Mace | Two Hand | Plundered Fireheart Pummeler | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Mace | Two Hand | Plundered Crag Basher | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Mace | Two Hand | Plundered Twilight Pummeler | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Mace | Two Hand | Plundered Firegeode Mace | Modelviewer |
325 | Polearm | Two Hand | Plundered Poleaxe of Intimidation | Modelviewer |
325 | Polearm | Two Hand | Plundered Vanguard Trident | Modelviewer |
325 | Polearm | Two Hand | Plundered Jinyu Spear | Modelviewer |
325 | Polearm | Two Hand | Plundered Berserker's Poleaxe | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Splitblade Slicer | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Sand-Dweller's Scimitar | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Carapace Linked Longsword | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Sandfury Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Celestial Finblade | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Jinyu Longsword | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Swarmer's Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | One-handed Sword | One Hand | Plundered Seacrystal Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Sword | Two Hand | Plundered Jadestar Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Sword | Two Hand | Plundered Blade of Northern Kings | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Sword | Two Hand | Plundered Scalebane Claymore | Modelviewer |
325 | Two-handed Sword | Two Hand | Plundered Farakki Hacker | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Voodoo Dancer Stave | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Sea-Sinew Stave | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Hozen Chieftain's Stave | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Silverpaw Staff | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Thorncrowned Stave | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Keeper's Stave | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Oracle Fin Staff | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Squidcaster | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Embercrystal Staff | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Tainted Scarab Stave | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Flamecaster Stave | Modelviewer |
325 | Staff | Two Hand | Plundered Waterbearer's Staff | Modelviewer |
325 | Fist Weapon | One Hand | Plundered Bear-Carved Fists | Modelviewer |
325 | Fist Weapon | One Hand | Plundered Coral-Scale Claw | Modelviewer |
325 | Fist Weapon | One Hand | Plundered Drillbore Fists | Modelviewer |
325 | Fist Weapon | One Hand | Plundered Twinscale Handblade | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Junglestalker's Talon | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Tiki-Bound Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Seatusk Shiv | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Barb-Edged Dagger | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Twinbarb Shanker | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Trident Barb | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Darkscale Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Twinblade of the Tol'vir | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Darkblade of the Old Gods | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Petrified Kelp Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Waterspeaker's Spellblade | Modelviewer |
325 | Dagger | One Hand | Plundered Shadow-Infused Blade | Modelviewer |
325 | Wand | Ranged | Plundered Death Chatter Wand | Modelviewer |
325 | Wand | Ranged | Plundered Desert Hexxer | Modelviewer |
325 | Wand | Ranged | Plundered Light-Binding Wand | Modelviewer |
325 | Wand | Ranged | Plundered Dragonfist Wand | Modelviewer |
325 | Wand | Ranged | Plundered Wand of Tentacle Horrors | Modelviewer |
Island Expedition Achievements
The Expedition Leader is the Island Expedition meta achievement, rewarding the Expedition Leader title.
Name | Points | ||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
https://www.mmo-champion.com/content/7852-Island-Expeditions-Guide-Battle-for-Azeroth