Quick Links
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S-Tier: Immersive Hubs That Are Gorgeous and Useful
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A-Tier: Awesome Spots With a Fatal Flaw
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B-Tier: Decent Hubs That Are All Missing Something
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C-Tier: Sterile Hub Built for Gameplay, Not Immersion
Capital cities in
World of Warcraft
Are consistently significant spots. Whether it’s the Valley ofHeroes inStormwind or the robust bulwarks ofOrgrimmar, the plethora of facilities within major hubs makes them among the most oft-frequented locales in the game. Even so, although certain sites are exclusive to either theAllianceorHorde, others permit every character unrestricted access, serving as initial meeting grounds for players from opposing sides who can now mingle without conflict. With this in mind, not all impartial main cities are created equal.
World of Warcraft
were created equally.
To qualify for this list, an entry must fit the definition of a hub city in
World of Warcraft
It needs to include a bank, inn, mailbox, and flight path, along with either an auction house or trainers for classes or professions.
World of Warcraft
cities like Undermine
, Azj’Kahet, and Loamm don’t count, as they are missing one or more of these features, even if they are otherwise popular or well-designed. Likewise, characters from both the Alliance and Horde must be able to freely traverse them without being attacked.
Atmosphere, design, ambient sound, balanced importance for each party involved, and distinctiveness were among the criteria used in determining these rankings.
S-Tier: Stunningly Immersive Cities That Are Both Beautiful and Functional
- Booty Bay
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Dalaran (
Legion
) - Valdrakken
- Dornogal
In many ways, Booty Bay was the OG neutral capital city. Located on the southern tip of the Eastern Kingdoms, this Goblin-run pirate town has almost everything players could need. Booty Bay’s boat to Ratchet in the Barrens is slightly more useful for Horde heroes, but the hub’s proximity to Stormwind and more abundant Alliance flight paths more than makes up for it. Booty Bay would lose a few points for having no class trainers, but these
Non-playable characters no longer serve a purpose in contemporary games.
WoW
, rendering it a pardonable transgression.
Dalaran, the city of magicians that
meets a grim fate in
WoW: The War Within
, appears twice on this list, but the Legion iteration ends up being the better of the two. Improved assets give it a leg up on its predecessor, but its most important feature is the Dalaran Hearthstone. One of the few independent transportation items in the game, this toy is easy to unlock, and creates a quick way for characters to return to their faction’s capital, revolutionizing fast travel.
Valdrakken and Dornogal, the two latest
neutral expansion cities in
World of Warcraft
Additionally, they excel in providing an immersive experience with exceptional layouts and outstanding soundtracks. The expansive aqueducts of Valdrakken capture the magnificence of the Dragonflights and their Titan allies, alongside the visually appealing city crafted by the Earthen.
The War Within
It is as beautiful as it is practical, with key attractions easily accessible in each location. Both cities teem with energy, even when players aren’t present, and they hide secret gems tucked away in corners that add vibrancy to these settlements refreshingly.
A-Tier: Great Locations With an Obvious Imperfection
- Ratchet
- Shattrath
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Dalaran (
Rage of the Lich King
)
The second neutral Goblin town in Vanilla is Ratchet.
WoW
, and as the simplest instance, this is typically the first location many gamers reach. Situated within the Barrens of Kalimdor, Ratchet offers a bank, an auction house, a boat to Booty Bay, and multiple
special Rune quests in
WoW Classic
Season of Discovery
This offers players numerous incentives to explore the picturesque harbor town. However, Ratchet sits right in the heart of Horde lands, with many quests exclusive to the Horde faction, which makes it considerably less beneficial for Alliance characters—unless those characters aim to plan an assault on Orgrimmar or Thunder Bluff.
Shattrath, located in Terokkar Forest, is built upon the broken ruins of the Draenei capital. The circular arrangement of the city is easy to memorize, as it all spirals out from a central location where the Naaru A’dal holds court. Portals to and from Stormwind, Orgrimmar, and the
Isle of Quel’danas from
WoW: The Burning Crusade
Make it an excellent location for both the Alliance and Horde to reach Outland, yet the city endures a distinct faction conflict—the Aldor versus the Scryers. Choosing sides with either group restricts your ability to utilize certain features offered by the opposing side, penalizing players who actively participate in what was intended as one of the central choices introduced in the expansion.
In numerous aspects, the initial Dalaran from
Wrath of the Lich King
is even superior to the one that followed it. Numerous fans favor the design of the initial version over later iterations, showing a preference for the Sunreaver’s Sanctuary and Silver Enclave instead of their counterparts associated with Sylvanas.
Gilneas-inspired alternatives appeared subsequently.
World of Warcraft
. However,
Wrath
Dalaran scores lower for not having a transmogrification station and being situated in Crystalsong Forest—a visually stunning but quest-deficient area despite its central position in Northrend.
B-Level: Reasonable Centers That Lack Something Essential
- Gadgetzan
- Everlook
- Area 52
Regrettably, the other impartial Goblin centers—Gadgetzan, Everlook, and Area 52—are flawed for two reasons: they all appear identical, and each one omits an essential feature. While Gadgetzan shares several characteristics with Booty Bay, this central location fails to offer any ships or airships connecting to it, even though it effectively transforms into a seaport town.
Cataclysm
. The city is also relatively uninteresting, especially when compared to the
city’s appearance in
Hearthstone
‘s
Mean Streets of Gadgetzan
expansion.
Everlook is similarly a less-useful Ratchet, as it lacks any fast travel options, and is located in Winterspring, a beautiful region that is quite far off the beaten path. Lastly, Area 52, while visually striking with its rocket ship amidst the
Netherstorm of
WoW: The Burning Crusade
Lacks essential features found in other Goblin settlements, such as an auction house, repair station, and most professional trainers, thus hardly meeting the criteria outlined in his description.
C-Tier: Sterile Hubs Built for Gameplay, Not Immersion
- Oribos
Oribos, the afterlives hub in
Shadowlands
, is in a tier of its own. Basic and symmetrical, any utility granted by its easily-navigated circular layout is countered by its sterile, emotionless design. Though fitting for what it represents in the lore, it is also emblematic of the
major criticisms of
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
as a whole. Were that not enough, wide open spaces with nothing in them, poorly-defined indoor regions that dismount characters, lack of flying, and a single mailbox in the entire city lose the city even more favor among fans. In this way, Oribos is not only the worst neutral hub, but the worst capital city in all of
World of Warcraft
.
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