Watch The Battle For Azeroth Cinematic above and read my thoughts and impressions below.
Blizzcon 2017 was this past weekend and with it came all manner of teasers and announcements for upcoming Blizzard properties. Among them the announcement for the latest expansion for Blizzard’s flagship title, World of Warcraft.
The Battle For Azeroth Begins Again
As it happens, that’s where they are going so to speak. With their greatest common foe defeated the tenuous peace between the Alliance and Horde is at an end and open war rages across Azeroth once again. Blizzard’s cinematic team chose to introduce this new story in one of the most epic ways possible, a massive siege of the former Capital of Lorderon, now known as The Undercity.
Banshee Queen and Warchief of the Horde, Sylvanas Windrunner begins the cinematic with a narration, highlighting the follies of peace between the two factions and the inevitability of the conflict between them. From her point of view, we see the combined armies of the Alliance arrayed before the ruined city in tens of thousands and dotted with towering siege engines the likes of which we’ve never seen before.
High King Anduin leads the Siege with Ghen Greymane at his side. Anduin stands tall and imposing in ornate armor, clearly inspired by King Liane’s armor from the Warcraft Movie, and wielding his late father’s sword. The Alliance troops advance with disciplined precision, Human footmen stand shield to shield with Dwarven gunners firing between them. Night Elf archers fire volley after volley into the tired and battle weary Horde defenders. Alliance victory seems certain.
The Banshee Queen

Sylvanas’s appointment as Warchief was a surprise at the beginning of Legion and her presence and impact in the position have been sorely lacking. To see her in action like this is a gleeful relief. This is Sylvanas as Warchief, stirring her people into action by leading the way in battle. The Horde is in sore need of good leadership in Thrall’s absence. Garrosh’s rule was a disaster and, sadly, Vol’jin’s tenure was eclipsed by the events of Warlords of Draenor.
Sylvanas’s piercing cry rallies the Horde into a charge through the Alliance lines. Hulking Tauren and Savage Orc warriors press and break the shield wall as Troll and Forsaken provide support. They press deep into the Alliance army, coming straight for Anduin and Greymane.
Conspicuously absent from this battle are the Blood Elves.Their Home City of Silvermoon would be next if The Undercity falls. But though the battle there is no sign of them. Also absent are the Goblins but really, who cares about them?
The Boy King

This scene finally highlights Anduin coming into his own. Anduin is not a warrior like his father Varian. He is a Priest, he communes with the Holy Light and wields it to give comfort to his friends, restore his allies, and deter his foes. His expression in this moment is heartbreaking. Anduin is a man of peace, a diplomat, an optimist. He sees the best in everyone, From a Black Dragon whelp to Former Warchief Garrosh. He wants a world at peace but for now, he must wage war and it saddens his soul.
Anduin sets his doubts aside and lifts his Father’s sword again calling to his men in a commanding tenor. “Stand as One, For the Alliance!” Sylvanas smiles across the Battlefield, relishing the conflict to come and charges, Horde at her back.
My Thoughts

On the other side, the Horde has almost always been a conquering power. From the original game, the Orcs and the Horde have fought to take land and territory for their own. Even the sympathetic Orcs of Warcraft 3 had to fight to colonize Durotar. Garrosh’s Horde brought all of Kalimdor to heel and claimed the continent for the Horde. He even sought to bring Panderia and the Sha under his domain. Rarely does the horde sit on its laurels.
The Alliance became a powerhouse at the end of Mists of Panderia. Its Kingdoms are united like never before and despite the losses on Alternate Draenor and The Broken Shore, its Military is unmatched. By comparison, the horde was broken and wounded at the end of Mists of Panderia. Garrosh’s rule was disastrous and resulted in a civil war that pit his hardline Orcs against the rest of the Horde. Zul’jin did his best to heal those wounds but the process was left unfinished when he perished at The Broken Shore. The horde vanguard was shattered causing them to retreat and resulted in King Varian’s sacrifice. The animosity from this failure still lingers.
Cycle of Hatred
There are scores of grievances, old and new, that would spur an invasion like this and I can hardly wait to see what they may be. This is the first of many blogs about the reveals at Blizzcon. I’ll be writing more in the coming day so I hope you come back as I write more.
What were your thoughts on the cinematic and the implications for the future of Warcraft? Let me know and we’ll start a conversation.
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