World of Warcraft: Midnight early access is finally here, complete with patch notes explaining all the new content and changes in the expansion. From new zones and endgame activities to profession and UI features, players who own the Epic Edition of World of Warcraft: Midnight can now dig into most of the expansion.
Midnight is the second entry in The Worldsoul Saga, a three-expansion storyline World of Warcraft began in The War Within. Xal’atath’s gambit has paid off. The ancient wielder of the Void in World of Warcraft has absorbed the power of Dimensius, the All-Devouring, and now leads her army to Silvermoon to claim the Sunwell. It is up to the champions of the Light to defeat them, but without losing themselves to the holy, burning zeal this power provides.
World of Warcraft March 2026 Trading Post Rewards Are Perfect For Midnight
World of Warcraft reveals a new Trading Post catalog for March, and it is full of cosmetics that are thematically perfect for Midnight.
World of Warcraft: Midnight Early Access Is Now Live
Now, early access for Midnight is finally here, meaning fans who own the Epic Edition of the World of Warcraft expansion can access the lion’s share of included features. The accompanying patch notes consist primarily of explaining the content that is now available in early access and what will arrive starting on March 3 (NA) with the weekly reset after the full release of the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion.
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Available during early access
- New level cap of 90 (including WoW‘s new Apex Talents)
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New and Reimagined Zones
- Eversong Woods
- Zul’Aman
- Harandar
- Voidstorm
- World Quests
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Renown Tracks
- Silvermoon Court
- Amani Tribe
- Hara’ti
- The Singularity
- Housing and Endeavors
- Delve Tiers 1-7
- Dungeons: Normal and Heroic difficulty
- Prey: Normal difficulty
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Available March 3
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Haranir Allied Race
- Unlocked by completing Haranir zone level-up campaign
- Profession Weekly Quests
- Arcantina Visitor quests
- Prey: Hard Difficulty
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Mythic 0 Dungeons: Preseason (weekly lockout)
- Magister’s Terrace
- Maisara Caverns
- Nexus-Point Xenas
- Windrunner Spire
- Algeth’ar Academy
- Seat of the Triumvirate
- Skyreach
- Pit of Saron
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Haranir Allied Race
The Mage Tower has also been transformed into a max-level experience to ensure its challenge is appropriately preserved.
There are some changes to Mythic+ dungeons that will help players dip their toes into an otherwise daunting system. A new low-level affix, Lindormi’s Guidance, will highlight certain enemies, reducing their health and damage. Defeating all of these enemies guarantees 100% of the Enemy Forces count and a basic route through the dungeon. Found in keystones between +2 and +5, this affix will help fans get the hang of this challenging system, as will a new Mythic+ section of the Adventure Guide Dungeon Journal that provides an overview of these endgame World of Warcraft instances.
The Adventurer’s Guide also has a new section called Journeys, which overhauls how players can track their progress, including Renown reputations across each expansion.
Gearing up works differently in Midnight as well. Class sets and raid weapons now change appearance upon being fully upgraded in their tier, as part of the gear progression adjustments caused by the removal of Valorstones in WoW: Midnight. Additionally, unlocking the four-piece class set bonus on a character earns a Feat of Strength that enables Catalyst charges drop from raid bosses, Mythic+ dungeons, Bountiful delves, and Rated PvP for the rest of the season.
With the new zones available, hundreds of Profession recipes have been added to the game. What’s more, there are now only two qualities of reagents – normal and high quality – instead of the three-tiered system introduced during Dragonflight.
Of note, the wild pets characters encounter in the Midnight expansion zones do not need to be fought in order to be obtained; simply right-clicking on them captures the pet. Additionally, most of these pets also cannot be used in Pet Battles. This is being done as a part of World of Warcraft’s pivot away from the Pet Battle system, which is seemingly not getting much new content in the future.
WoW: Midnight Early Access Patch Notes (February 26, 2026)
Arriving over the glittering elven kingdom of Quel’thalas, the looming Voidstorm threatens to extinguish all light and cover the world in darkness. Players will level up to 90 and explore four new and reimagined zones to uncover the heart of Xal’atath’s machinations while seeking out new allies among the light and shadows alike.
ADVENTURE THROUGH A NEW CAMPAIGN
Experience the next chapter in the Worldsoul Saga as things become more dire for the world of Azeroth. Xal’atath, the Harbinger, poses our greatest threat as she unleashes chaos in her wake with the ensuing invasion striking into the heart of the blood elf homelands in Eversong Woods.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
You’ll first begin your journey in Eversong Woods, but it’s up to you how your story progresses beyond this first zone. There are three available paths you can tackle in any order: brave the ancient troll kingdom of Zul’Aman, investigate the gnarled hidden roots of Harandar, or accompany Arator on his journey to better understand his relationships with both his family and the Light.
EXPLORE NEW AND REIMAGINED ZONES
SILVERMOON CITY
With the press of the Void’s incursion and assault on the Sunwell, the forces of the Horde and Alliance fortify within the streets of Silvermoon City. Serving as a hub for both factions, approximately one-third of the city is designated exclusively for the Horde, while the remaining two-thirds are accessible to both faction members as they work together to push back Xal’atath’s forces. The city has been rebuilt from the ground up and the path of destruction the Scourge left behind is mostly a memory.
EVERSONG WOODS
Immerse yourself in a revitalized Eversong Woods. With the Voidstorm looming overhead and renewed with the power of the Sunwell, Eversong Woods is familiar, but changed—filled with wonder and beauty, and a sense that something bigger is unfolding.
ZUL’AMAN
The volatile neighbors to the blood elves, the Amani trolls, reside in their capital of Zul’Aman. They are a proud people who have fought hard for their land and overcome significant hardships and challenges. Comprised of old forests and tall mountains with periodic rainfall, you’ll take a journey deeper into their culture and history as you explore all this zone has to offer.
HARANDAR
The home of the haranir is a fungal jungle where the roots of all the world trees converge. The haranir travel through the rootways to move around the world, observing Azeroth in secret but never intervening openly in the world’s affairs. In the zone lies the Rift of Aln, a primordial wound where the barrier between dreams and reality grow thin.
VOIDSTORM
This hostile land is host to Void creatures of all varieties. Everything here is hungry and ready to devour and consume weaker creatures for their power. Xal’atath and her Devouring Host rule over this world of cosmic predation. Chief among her followers are the domanaar: some of the most powerful void creatures the world has ever known. Safety here is not guaranteed and you’ll need to work with your allies to carve your way through this vast and all-devouring wasteland.
UNLOCK THE HARANIR, A NEW ALLIED RACE
Earn the trust of the Haranir through a series of quests to unlock this new allied race. Haranir will be able to join either the Horde or the Alliance and play as a Druid, Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, or Warrior.
An unfamiliar people from a forgotten time, Haranir will arrive with a variety of customizations available to them. They can be adorned with bioluminescent paint on their face and bodies in a variety of patterns that can be selected when customizing your character.
UNLEASH YOUR SKILLS IN MIDNIGHT’S NEW DELVES
Take on new challenges through ten new Delves and one new seasonal Nemesis Delve alongside a new NPC companion—legendary blood elf rogue Valeera Sanguinar. You’ll experience more of the story of Midnight interwoven through new quests and even experience the great outdoors—taking the adventure outside for the first time.
BATTLE THROUGH THREE NEW RAIDS
Season 1 of Midnight begins the week of March 17, and with it, players will take their first steps into the Voidspire and Dreamrift raids with the March on Quel’Danas raid released shortly after. Face off against nine bosses split across three raids over the course of Midnight Season 1.
CHALLENGE EIGHT NEW DUNGEONS
Experience eight new dungeons, each with unique environments and storylines as you level up through the campaign. Face new challenges, defeat new enemies, and claim your rewards!
- Windrunner Spire
- Magister’s Terrace
- Murder Row
- Den of Nalorakk
- Maisara Caverns
- Blinding Vale
- Nexus-Point Xenas
- Voidscar Arena
We’ll also have a mix of four new and four fan-favorite dungeons as part of Midnight Season 1. All eight of these new dungeons will also be available in Mythic0 during the pre-season period at launch.
Season 1 Dungeons:
- Magister’s Terrace (Midnight)
- Maisara Caverns (Midnight)
- Nexus-Point Xenas (Midnight)
- Windrunner Spire (Midnight)
- Algeth’ar Academy (Dragonflight)
- Pit of Saron (Wrath of the Lich King)
- Seat of the Triumvirate (Legion)
- Skyreach (Warlords of Draenor)
FOUR NEW WORLD BOSSES
Face four new world bosses that rotate weekly when Midnight Season 1 begins: Lu’ashal, Cragpine, Thorm’belan, and Predaxas.
SYSTEMS AND ACTIVITIES
POWER UP WITH NEW APEX TALENTS
In Midnight, players can expand their specializations further with new Apex Talents, taking you deeper into the fantasy of your class. Available beginning at level 81, you’ll unlock the first of these and provide your character with an extra boost of power as you take on new challenges.
Apex Talents are intended to be the pinnacle of specialization trees going a little beyond the average talent. These new talents are focused on the core fantasy of each specialization and hone into core gameplay mechanics in new, powerful ways.
PULL UP A CHAIR IN THE ARCANTINA
A refuge to the road-weary and those seeking a respite from the trials and travails of the life of an adventurer, the Arcantina serves as a crossway for all kinds. It is a magical tavern at the crossroads of nowhere and everywhere catering to travelers and heroes from all walks of life. It’s here you’ll meet up with some familiar faces for stories and quests sending you back out into Azeroth once more.
GO ON THE HUNT WITH THE PREY SYSTEM
Track powerful targets throughout the zones of Midnight in three difficulties: Normal, Hard, and Nightmare. Successfully find and defeat your quarry to earn valuable new rewards as you progress through the system.
TAKE ARMS IN A NEW BATTLEGROUND: SLAYER’S RISE
Set in the Voidstorm, Slayer’s Rise is a 40 vs 40 epic battleground will pit the Horde and Alliance against each other in a race for control and conquest. Players with War Mode turned on will also be able to engage in World PvP in the outdoor area.
COME HOME TO AZEROTH WITH HOUSING
Build, decorate, and personalize your home in Azeroth with the new Housing feature. Join a Neighborhood, take on Endeavors, and make yourself at home.
DEMON HUNTER DEVOURER SPECIALIZATION AND VOID ELF DEMON HUNTERS
Introducing the Devourer Demon Hunter, a third specialization that utilizes the power of the Void instead of Fel, like other Demon Hunters. This glaive-wielding, soul-harvesting, and planet crushing spellcaster operates from mid-range with the full suite of mobility you’d expect from Demon Hunters. Use specialization and Hero Talents to augment your playstyle, enabling you to dive into melee and unleash devastating combo attacks.
With the introduction of a new specialization, Demon Hunters also gain a new Hero Talent tree—Annihilator. This new tree is shared between Devourer and Vengeance Demon Hunters. Devourer Demon Hunters will also gain access to the Scarred Hero Talent tree (formerly called Fel Scarred).
Players will also gain access to the new Void Elf Demon Hunter combination through a short quest line as a part of the Midnight pre-expansion content update, along with the Devourer specialization.
USER INTERFACE UPDATES
The User Interface is introducing powerful new features, improved customization options, cleaner raid frames, expanding display-scaling controls and more. You’ll be able to configure how information and damage meters appear within the base UI and customize them to fit your personal play style without the need to download additional add-ons.Learn more about some of the changes and updates to Nameplates, Damage Meters, Boss Alerts, and more in our previously published article.
TRANSMOGRIFICATION UPDATES
Take your transmog game further with the ability to unlock and save full outfit sets across characters for any occasion. The updated transmog system also provides an additional opportunity for adding more customization and self-expression. You’ll be able to unlock and save dozens of outfits. Unlocking outfit slots will cost gold, but once they are unlocked, switching between saved outfits is free.
Each outfit can be added to your action bar, allowing you to manually update your look any time you want without having to visit a transmog vendor. Whether you’re fighting in a dungeon, exploring a new area, or taking a rest in your house, you’ll be able to dress for the moment.
PLAYER VS. PLAYER TRAINING GROUNDS
For players new to Player vs. Player (PvP) combat, you can learn the PvP ropes in the Training Grounds. Players will join a battle against smart game-controlled opponents in Arathi Basin, Silvershard Mines, and Battle for Gilneas. You’ll become more comfortable with how these battlegrounds work and how classes can work within them, gaining confidence and opening the door to more PvP experiences in the game. While you can expect more victories than losses, the game-controlled opponents will not be pushovers. Skill and coordination will be required to achieve those victories.
UPDATED LEVELING EXPERIENCE
New Player Experience Updates
Bring your friends and family into Azeroth with an updated New Player Experience in Exile’s Reach. They’ll learn more about World of Warcraft while honing their character’s skills and diving into the story of Dragonflight along the way.
Returning Player Experience
Return to Azeroth with confidence as you undertake a new focused experience. You’ll get your feet wet without the weight of trying to discern where you left off last and get back into action as you reacquaint yourself with your character.
CLASS COMBAT DESIGN UPDATES
Every class in World of Warcraft receives major combat design updates. This means new rotations, stronger class identities, and fresh talent choices.
Across all of the classes, talent trees have been rebuilt with fewer mandatory filler points and more paths that support specific playstyles, letting you tailor your character to the gameplay that you enjoy the most.
DUNGEONS
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MYTHIC+
- Learn the basics of the Mythic+ keystone and affix system in the Adventure Guide Dungeon Journal, found under the Current Season tab.
- New Mythic+ Affix: Lindormi’s Guidance – Available in keystone levels 2-5. While Lindormi’s Guidance is active, certain non-boss enemies will be afflicted with Temporal Sands, visually highlighting them and reducing their health and damage done by 5%. Defeating these marked enemies will fulfill 100% of the Enemy Forces count, providing a basic route through the dungeon. Additionally, the affix also prevents player deaths from reducing the timer.
- Xal’atath’s Bargain affixes have moved one level deeper into the system, from Mythic+ level 4 to Mythic+ level 5.
- Dungeon titles are available for players who complete the highest keystone level dungeons each week.
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The Mage Tower challenges are now a maximum level only experience.
- Developers’ notes: To help preserve the intended difficulty and pacing of the encounters, the Mage Tower is now a maximum level only experience. In addition, each encounter has been rebalanced to provide a more consistent experience across all specializations.
ITEMS
- Wild pets in Midnight zones do not require battling to capture.
- Class set and raid weapon appearances will now change after an item has been fully upgraded to 6/6 on its upgrade track.
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Acquiring a class set 4-piece bonus now unlocks a character-specific Feat of Strength that will enable Catalyst charges to drop from raid bosses, Mythic+, Bountiful Delves, and Rated PvP on that character for the remainder of the season.
- Developers’ notes: The decision to spend Catalyst charges can be difficult early in a season as players anticipate looting more powerful armor in the same slot in the near future. For example, catalyzing a Veteran or Champion helm may feel like a mistake knowing that a Hero helm could be around the corner in your next Mythic+ dungeon. If a player decides to spend that charge and then receives that Hero helm, it may have to sit in their bags for up to two weeks before it can effectively be equipped. This change should empower players to chase their seasonal class set bonuses early on without reservation with the knowledge that additional Catalyst charges will likely be farmable for them just several weeks into the season. In addition, armor pieces with desirable secondary stats in non-set slots such as belts and boots should feel like more viable options earlier in the season.
- Claim any unclaimed Great Vault rewards before Midnight Season 1 begins as they will no longer be available.
PROFESSIONS
- New Midnight recipes have been added.
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Lowered the number of qualities for stackable reagents and consumables to 2 (was 3).
- Developers’ notes: One goal of having qualities is so that players who invest time and effort into their professions can produce more valuable goods. We believe that, as far as reagents and consumables are concerned, this goal is better accomplished by having 2 qualities, normal quality and high quality, with the added benefit of simplifying the system a little.
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Secondary stats from Professions Tools and Accessories will now apply to previous expansions, but will not apply to a higher expansion Profession.
- Example: Sunforged Needle Set is a Tailoring accessory that can be crafted in Midnight. When equipped, the secondary stat bonus will apply to Dragonflight, The War Within, and Midnight Tailoring, but will not apply to The Last Titan Tailoring.
- Fractured Sparks no longer need to be combined into whole Sparks before they can be used in crafting. Whole Sparks drop instead of Fractured Sparks and Spark costs have doubled.
USER INTERFACE AND ACCESSIBILITY
- Engage with World of Warcraft content in a meaningful way thanks to a brand-new feature tab in their Adventure Guide—Journeys—with a significant update to how you track your in-game progress.
- Added a setting that allows the player to automatically reset data when entering an instance.
- Released
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2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
