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There are few places more important or well-known inWorld of Warcraftthan its many capital cities. Hubs for questing, economy, and socialization, these locations contain important gameplay functions – and sometimes, even powerful raid bosses in the form of faction leaders. A player’s first visit to their capital city is an important moment, and from the imposing gates of Orgrimmar to the infamous lifts of Thunder Bluff and the Undercity, the champions of the Horde have some memorable landmarks to visit. However, not all of these capital cities inWorld of Warcraftwere created equally.
To make this list, a location must fit the definition of a conventionalcapital city inWorld of Warcraft: they must contain at least one inn, bank, flight path, and mailbox, plus either a faction leader, auction house, and/or trainers for classes or classes – meaning Horde cities like Suramar, Thunder Totem, or the Echo Islands 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: Fantastic Zones That Highlight Rich Cultures
Of the originalthree Horde hubs fromClassic WoW, Thunder Bluff stands out. Located on a series of mesas with a stunning view of the plains of Mulgore, Thunder Bluff can easily take one’s breath away, and the short-but-sweet ambient music only enhances this feeling of awe. One must watch their steps carefully when navigating the bridges and lifts of the Tauren capital, and while some might detract points because of this danger, the compact, otherwise-intuitive design easily secures its place at the top.
Dazar’alor,added inWorld of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, is the newest and most spectacular city on this list. The Zandalari city of gold features remarkable architecture that spreads both vertically and horizontally, filling out nearly half of the zone of Zuldazar. Though sometimes frustrating to navigate without flying, any negatives about Dazar’alor are outweighed by its incredible soundtrack alone.
A-Tier: Awesome Cities With a Fatal Flaw
The Undercity is unique in that it is hidden away beneath the ruins of Lordaeron, the original homeland of Arthas, theLich Kingwhom the Forsaken swore enmity against. Many lives have been claimed by the hydraulic lifts that lead to the subterranean city, making it the most deadly city in the game as well. With an easy-to-navigate, circular layout, horror-filled vibes, and storied history, the only reason The Undercity is not S-tier is becauseWorld of Warcraftfilled it with poison gas inBattle for Azeroth, making the deadly city even deadlier – and terribly inconvenient to visit besides.
The Blood Elves’ capital of Silvermoon fromThe Burning Crusadeis also a stunning zone. Its swelling soundtrack, bright colors, and massive statues of Kael’thas make the ostentatious nature of the Sin’dorei evident at first blush – but the fel crystals and captured Naaru one finds if they take a closer look show a darker side of the culture as well. Unfortunately, Silvermoon loses a few points because flying is disabled in the zone – something that will hopefully be remedied in the new version of the city ostensibly coming intheWorld of Warcraft: Midnightrevamp of Eversong.
B-Tier: Decent Locations That Could Be Better
As the primary hub of the Horde,Orgrimmar is the most importantWorld of Warcraftcapital cityon this list. Unfortunately, it went through a significant, unpopular redesign inCataclysmthat added an abundance of metal and spikes all over the place. While new sections of the city inspired by other Horde races do make the hub more diverse, it also transformed the erstwhile-unique city into a mish-mash that lost much of what made the city great in VanillaWoW.
Neither the Shrine of Two Moons nor Warspear are technically cities, but they serve similar functions in their respective expansions. Both areas have their positives: the Shrine of Two Moons offers a breathtaking view of the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, and Warspear is a compact settlement featuring fantastic uprezzed Horde assets. However, the former suffers from being too similar to its Alliance counterpart – the Shrine of Seven Stars – and the latter is a forgettable location that largely serves as a reminder of what Bladespire Citadel could have been as a Horde capital had it not beencut fromWoW: Warlords of Draenor.
