At the time of World of Warcraft Classic, Azeroth is emerging from the devastation of the Third War. Although the Burning Legion’s immediate invasion has been repelled, the world remains fractured, politically unstable, and threatened by numerous ancient and resurgent dangers. The Classic era represents a transitional period in which large-scale global wars have ended, but unresolved conflicts and long-dormant forces rise to prominence.
By this period, Azeroth is broadly divided between two major political and military coalitions: the Alliance and the Horde. While open warfare between them is intermittent rather than constant, tensions remain high, and regional conflicts are common.
The Alliance is primarily led by the human Kingdom of Stormwind, which has been rebuilt following its destruction during the First War. It is allied with the dwarves of Ironforge, the gnomes of Gnomeregan (largely displaced by a trogg invasion), and the night elves of Kalimdor, who have joined the Alliance following the Third War. The Alliance’s territories are concentrated in the Eastern Kingdoms and northern Kalimdor, but its internal cohesion is weakened by the fall of Lordaeron and the loss of many northern human lands to the undead Scourge.
The Horde, re-founded by Thrall, is centered in Kalimdor. It includes the orcs of Durotar, the tauren of Mulgore, the Darkspear trolls, and the Forsaken—undead former humans who have broken free from the Lich King’s control. Although united under the banner of the Horde, these factions possess divergent goals, particularly the Forsaken, whose long-term intentions are often viewed with suspicion by both allies and enemies.
Neutral powers such as the goblin cartels, the Argent Dawn, and the Cenarion Circle operate independently, often responding to threats that transcend factional boundaries.
Although the Burning Legion has withdrawn, Azeroth faces a convergence of existential dangers during the Classic era, many of which are tied to ancient forces or unresolved consequences of earlier wars.
The Black Dragonflight, descendants of Deathwing, represents a major covert threat. The dragon Onyxia manipulates Stormwind politics by masquerading as the noblewoman Lady Katrana Prestor, exacerbating internal unrest and weakening human leadership. Her machinations destabilize the Alliance from within, while her lair beneath Dustwallow Marsh serves as a center of black dragon activity.
Onyxia’s brother Nefarian operates from Blackrock Mountain, where he conducts experiments to create chromatic dragons by combining the powers of multiple dragonflights. These efforts threaten the balance of draconic power and reflect the Black Dragonflight’s continued ambition to dominate Azeroth through subterfuge and brute force.
The weakening of ancient Titan wards and mortal interference in elemental domains allow Ragnaros the Firelord, ruler of the Firelands, to exert influence once more. Summoned during the War of the Three Hammers, Ragnaros remains bound beneath Blackrock Mountain in the Molten Core, where his elemental servants wage war against dark iron dwarves and other inhabitants of the region.
The Firelord’s presence symbolizes the instability of Azeroth’s elemental balance and the enduring consequences of Titan-era conflicts. His defeat is considered a critical step in preventing a full elemental incursion into the surface world.
Despite the defeat of Archimonde, the Scourge remains active, particularly in the Eastern Kingdoms. The necropolis Naxxramas, under the command of the lich Kel’Thuzad, floats above the plague-ravaged lands of the north. From there, the Scourge continues to spread undeath, conduct necromantic experiments, and threaten any attempts to reclaim former human territories.
The Argent Dawn and allied forces regard Naxxramas as one of the most severe threats of the era, representing the lingering shadow of the Third War and the continuing influence of the Lich King from Northrend.
In southern Kalimdor, the desert region of Silithus becomes the focal point of a crisis rooted in ancient history. The insectoid Qiraji, once servants of the Old God C’Thun, begin to stir behind the Scarab Wall. Their awakening threatens to unleash a renewed war comparable in scale to the ancient conflicts between the night elves and the Old Gods’ forces.
The event known as the War of the Shifting Sands is partially reenacted during this period, as mortal factions cooperate to breach Ahn’Qiraj and confront C’Thun. This conflict underscores the enduring danger posed by the Old Gods, even while they remain imprisoned beneath Azeroth.
Numerous additional threats define the Classic era, including:
Residual demonic activity, particularly in corrupted zones such as Felwood and the Blasted Lands.
Internal conflicts, such as the Defias Brotherhood in Westfall, reflecting social instability following years of war.
Emerging cult activity, including early manifestations of Twilight’s Hammer influence, foreshadowing later global crises.
These dangers, while smaller in scale than the Legion invasion, collectively contribute to an atmosphere of constant instability.
The Classic period represents a post-cataclysmic equilibrium: a world no longer facing immediate annihilation, yet deeply scarred and vulnerable. It is characterized by exploration, reconstruction, and confrontation with threats rooted in Azeroth’s ancient past rather than new interplanetary invasions. This era establishes the political and narrative foundation upon which later expansions build, while preserving a fragmented, perilous world defined by unresolved history.