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There are few places more useful and iconic inWorld of Warcraftthan the capital cities. Hubs of questing, socialization, and economy, these spots contain important gameplay features, and sometimes even powerful leaders that act as raid bosses for members of the opposing faction. Stepping into one’s capital city for the first time is a memorable moment for many players – and from the grand statues of Stormwind and Ironforge to the mystical glades of Darnassus, the heroes of the Alliance have some fantastic sights to behold when first arriving at these locations. However, not all of theseWorld of Warcraftcapital cities were created equally.
In order to make this list, an entry must fit the definition of a conventional capital hub: they must contain at least one bank, inn, mailbox, and flight path, plus either an auction house, faction leader, or trainers for professions or classes – meaningWoWcities like Gnomereganand Gilneas don’t qualify. Neutral hubs, like Dalaran, Valdrakken, and Dornogal, also do not count, even if they have faction-specific districts.
Ambience, layout, background music, relevance to the faction, and uniqueness are all factors that were considered in these rankings.
S-Tier: Immersive Hubs With Great Layouts and Vibes
Among thehubs from VanillaWoW, Darnassus and Ironforge stand at the top of the Alliance capital cities. The former was the first instance of a Kaldorei city fans had ever seen, featuring beautiful and mystic environs and denizens, an intuitive design, and a gripping soundtrack that sold the Night Elf fantasy instantly. Ironforge, on the other hand, wins the award for the least-changed capital inWoWhistory, with its easy-to-navigate circular layout being virtually unchanged in over 20 years.
The newest city on this list, Boralus earns its place by being one of the most realisticcities in all ofWorld of Warcraft. Its districts and amenities are organically organized – and while Boralus might have otherwise lost points from being harder to navigate, its immersive ambience and incredible background music more than win its place at the highest tier.
A-Tier: Iconic Locales With a Few Flaws
As the main hub of the Alliance, Stormwind is one of the most iconic and populous cities, easily making it the most important location on this list. Though the fake Latin used in its epic music is nonsensical when translated, it no doubt helps to instill a sense of heroism in those who first enter here. However, its labyrinthine canal system can make it a pain to navigate without flying mounts, as well as some of the less-popular changes it underwent duringCataclysm– like the destruction of The Park – keep it from reaching S-tier.
The bright colors, vibrant crystals, and otherworldly ambience of the Exodar fromThe Burning Crusademake it stand out as one of the most unique locations in the game. That said, the vertical design of the crashed starship-turned-city can often be challenging to navigate – a problem that is further exacerbated by the inability to fly on Azuremyst Isle,where the Draenei capital is located inWorld of Warcraft.
B-Tier: Fine Spots That Don’t Stand Out
The Shrine of Seven Stars is not technically a city, but it does serve a similar function inWorld of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. A visually striking temple overlooking the gorgeous Vale of Eternal Blossoms set to the stellar soundtrack of the expansion, the Shrine is a feast for the eyes and ears both. Even so, the Shrine of Seven Stars loses points because of its similarity to the Horde’s Shrine of Two Moons, combined with the fact that it has very little to do with the Alliance itself.
Stormshield is the closest thing to a faction capital inWarlords of Draenor. A small, straightforward layout with uprezzed Alliance faction assets, Stormshield serves its purpose well. Unfortunately, the outpost is not particularly memorable and is further marred by many of its functions being overshadowed by the Garrisons feature, as it was implemented as a replacement for Karabor – the original Alliance capital city concept that wascut fromWoW: Warlords of Draenor.
