Azeroth

Azeroth is the primary setting of Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft franchise. It is a planet inhabited by numerous races, including humans, orcs, night elves, dwarves, trolls, tauren, undead, gnomes, goblins, draenei, blood elves, and pandaren. In the games and related media, Azeroth serves as the stage for conflicts between the Alliance and the Horde, and for campaigns against larger threats such as the Burning Legion and the Old Gods. The planet's histories and geographies are expanded across games and media.

Geography and major regions: Azeroth features multiple continents and zones. Early installments centered on Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms; later regions include Northrend, Pandaria, and numerous islands such as Kul Tiras and Zandalar. The surface hosts forests, deserts, oceans, and ancient ruins. The Well of Eternity, a vast source of magical energy in ancient Kalimdor, was destroyed during the War of the Ancients, triggering the Sundering that reshaped the world. The World Tree Nordrassil stood in the night elf homeland and fell during later conflicts.

History and major threats: Azeroth's deeper past involves the Titans shaping the world and the awakening of the Old Gods beneath its crust. The Burning Legion invaded repeatedly, testing the planet's defenses. In the modern era, Arthas Menethil's rise as the Lich King, the Dark Portal openings, and the Cataclysm caused by Deathwing have driven major upheavals. The discovery of Azerite and other artifacts has continued to influence power dynamics among factions.

Present-day storytelling: Azeroth remains the focal point of the Warcraft franchise, including World of Warcraft and its expansions, as well as novels, comics, and animated features. Its ongoing lore emphasizes factional politics, exploration, and the balance between magic and mortality.