Ashran

The island of Ashran, located off the coast of Tanaan Jungle, contains a level 100 instanced, cross-realm world PvP zone accessible by both factions. Entering Ashran will automatically flag a player for PvP, regardless of server type. You will be able to choose whether or not you wish to enter the ongoing battle. If you choose not to join, you will be teleported back to your faction’s stronghold on the island.

As a world PvP zone, Ashran does not function like a regular battleground. There is no end to the battle; it is a persistent tug of war between both sides. Players work to complete various objectives around the island, all while attacking and defending themselves from the opposite faction. Much of Ashran is centered on the idea of collecting Artifact Fragments for your faction, as well as capturing objective points, gathering resources, and completing special time-limited events.

Stormshield and Warspear

Upon arriving in Draenor and establishing your Garrison, you will eventually be directed to ask your Garrison’s flight master to send you to Ashran. There are two faction strongholds located on opposite sides of the island. Alliance players will fly to Stormshield, and Horde players will fly to Warspear. Both Stormshield and Warspear feature all the amenities players might need as they are travelling in Draenor, including portals to all major capital cities on Azeroth. These two faction strongholds are not PvP-designated areas. However, taking the path from either city into the main island will result in a prompt asking if you wish to join the battle.

Gameplay

Battles and objectives in Ashran take place in stages. Once a stage is completed, and a faction chosen as the victor, another stage will shortly begin. Any points on the map that have been captured by either faction are automatically reset for the next stage.

Although Ashran is primarily centered on the idea of PvP combat, there are many PvE objectives to complete that will help turn the tide of battle. In addition to fighting players, you will also find yourself engaging in battle with a variety of different creatures and NPCs that also populate the island. The island also contains rare elites and raid boss-level NPCs to defeat.

Because Ashran features such a wide array of potential activities, you can pick and choose how you want to contribute. There are a variety of objectives, both PvP and PvE based, that players can complete. It’s up to you to decide how to help your faction come out on top!

Objectives

The main objective that most players will be working towards is simply reducing the enemy’s reinforcements. One of the ways to win a battle stage is by simply reducing the opposing faction’s reinforcements to zero. There are plenty of other objectives you can work towards as well, while you’re whittling down reinforcements.

Towers, Bases, and Faction Leaders

You can capture enemy towers to push forward into enemy territory, or invade the enemy’s base to defeat NPCs that are important to the other side. Each faction has a Mage Tower with a powerful guardian that offers a special challenge and bonus loot. In addition, each faction has a Faction Leader who can be killed for more loot, special rewards, and an end to that particular battle stage. If the enemy’s Faction Leader is defeated, a temporary flight master will appear to allow the victor a quick and safe flight back to their base.

Artifact Collecting and Summoning

Players can loot Artifact Fragments from creatures in the zone, as well as other players. These Artifact Fragments can be spent to summon powerful NPC allies, transportation, and other useful contributions to their faction in the zone. In addition to the Fragment collecting, players can kill both Muk’Mark Raz and Gaul Dun Firok, the Ogre King’s bodyguards, to gain the aid of the Ogre King Kor’lok for their respective faction’s side.

Exploration, Rares, and Vignettes

Scattered throughout the zone are plenty of rare creatures to rescue or defeat, as well as various vignettes with bonus objectives. Many creatures on the island drop powerful items that can be turned in for additional bonuses. Some even drop items that can give players temporary new powers, or unique class abilities!

Quests

Both Alliance and Horde have a variety of quests that offer rewards for completing various objectives around Ashran. Before you dive into the middle of battle, make sure you check around your base and pick up any quests offered that can be completed while you’re out there in the thick of the fighting.

Reputation

Reputation in Ashran can be earned by participating in battle and completing quests. Alliance players will earn reputation towards Wrynn’s Vanguard, and Horde players will earn reputation towards Vol’jin’s Spear. Gaining exalted reputation with either faction will grant you a special title. Both factions also offer rewards designed to help you in future battles on Ashran.

Vol’jin’s Spear Reputation Rewards

Wrynn’s Vanguard Reputation Rewards

Achievements

Ashran has its own set of Achievements to complete that all involve participation on the island. Some Achievements will have you collecting Artifact Fragments or looting player corpses, others involve rescuing prisoners of the opposing faction, or killing specific NPCs and creatures.