World of Warcraft: Dragonflight’s next update adds an ancient realm players have wanted to explore for years

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight 10.2 update art: Guardians of the Dream
(Image credit: Blizzard)

Guardians of the Dream, the next major content update for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, will go live on November 7, one week ahead of the launch of Dragonflight season 3.

Also known as patch 10.2, Guardians of the Dream will add a new zone called The Emerald Dream—an ancient dimension of Azeroth that has been in the lore for decades—with new quests, creatures, objectives, and other content, and a new public event called The Superbloom, a multi-tiered adventure with new rewards that will have players assisting the ancient Sprucecrown as he tends to the Emerald Dream's world tree. Players will be able to unlock new activities and earn reputation rewards along the new Dream Wardens renown track, and dragonriders will have access to new race courses, glyphs, abilities, customization options, and a brand-new ride: The Faerie Dragon.

(Image credit: Blizzard (Twitter))

Naturally, the update will also make a range of balance changes and tweaks, and deliver "loads of new gear, mounts, and pets to earn." Details are a bit light at this point, but I expect we'll learn more about what's coming at BlizzCon 2023, which after a few years as a virtual party is returning for in-person festivities at the Anaheim Convention Center on November 13.

On November 14, one week after the launch of Guardians of the Dream, Dragonflight season 3 will get underway: "Fyrakk now stands as the sole Primal Incarnate and has allied with the Druids of the Flame to gain access to the once serene and unchanging Emerald Dream." And in case there was any doubt, he's not just checking in to make sure it's being properly watered.

Here's what players can look forward to in season 3:

NEW RAID: Amirdrassil, The Dream’s Hope

  • Players will face nine bosses composed of defenders of the Emerald Dream, Fyrakk’s top lieutenants and allies, and lastly, the fiery Primal Incarnate himself. 
  • As with previous seasons, Looking for Raid (LFR) Wing 1, Normal, Heroic, and Mythic difficulties will be released simultaneously.

NEW MYTHIC+ ROTATION

  • The two wings of the mega-dungeon, Dawn of the Infinite, will make their M+ debut: Galakrond’s Fall and Murozond’s Rise
  • Four dungeons returning from past Mythic+ seasons will provide new challenges to keep the M+ rotation fresh:
  • Waycrest Manor, Battle for Azeroth
  • Atal’Dazar, Battle for Azeroth
  • Darkheart Thicket, Legion
  • Blackrook Hold, Legion
  • And two previous dungeons will get the Mythic+ treatment:
  • Throne of the Tides, Cataclysm
  • The Everbloom, Warlords of Draenor
Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.