World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Necrolords Guide — Gear, abilities and powers, and more

Head to Maldraxxus and wage war with plague and corpses.

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World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, the eighth expansion of the MMORPG, launches this fall and gives players newfound agency when it comes to what to do after they finish leveling up. At level 60, the new max level thanks to a condensing system that will scale the game back from its previous 120 levels, each character can enlist in one of fourCovenantsin charge of the realms of the dead.

This is a big decision that will impact your powers, quest lines, and endgame activities so you’ll want to choose wisely. We’re making it easier by putting together guides to each faction. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering joining the Necrolords, the necromancers tasked with assembling undead armies to defend the Shadowlands.

Who are the Necrolords?

The Necrolords are the inventors of necromancy, which they use to turn ambitious souls into an army capable of defending the Shadowlands. Unfortunately, the faction is in crisis following the disappearance of the Primus, a brilliant warlord who kept the five houses of Maldraxxus united.

You’ll first encounter the Necrolords as enemies when you’re working with theKyrian. Agents of Maldraxxus have infiltrated the angelic realm of Bastion and joined the fallen Kyrian known as the Forsworn. You’ll be sent to investigate who’s responsible for this treachery and find a Covenant at war with itself.

Two of the five houses have already been destroyed and the rest are ruthlessly fighting to claim the Seat of the Primus and the power to command all of the armies of Maldraxxus. To restore order, you’ll need to understand the cryptic prophecies left behind by the Primus, who believes a hero could save the realm by drawing upon all of its strength.

The denizens of Maldraxxus

Maldraxxus is filled with undead and other horrors that you’ll need to fight or befriend. Liches rule the House of Rituals and use anima, the resource that empowers most of the Shadowlands, to fuel their dark magic. The world’s most powerful fighters find new purpose in death through the House of the Chosen, where they train to become tacticians and gladiators wielding runeforged weapons that will be familiar to Death Knights.

Abominations have been a staple in WoW raids and dungeons since Naxxramas, and there are plenty to be found among the Necrolords, who build them from corpses at the House of Constructs. Even more terrible are Soul-Rotted Flesh, hulking monstrosities made from numerous dead warriors used to patrol Maldraxxus.

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While two of the houses have fallen, some of their members and creations remain. The spider-like Aranakk have lost the necropolis where they served as assassins and spies but they will still sell secrets as they search for new purpose. You should try to steer clear of Plague House Remnants, mindless products of horrible experiments that were meant to devise new ways to fight the enemies of the Shadowlands.

Covenant powers

If you choose to join the Necrolords, you’ll receive the power Fleshcraft, which lets you create a shield made of flesh and bone that protects you from an amount of damage based on a percent of your health. The shield will be more powerful if you use the spell while standing next to the corpse of an enemy you’ve killed. Players will also gain an additional combat power based on their class and specialization:

Soulbind characters and powers

Once you pledge your loyalty to a Covenant and start completing their quests, you’ll gain the ability toSoulbindwith some members of the group. These allies will share their power with you, providing additional abilities as you increase your Renown with the faction. These are the three Necrolord Soulbinds and the boons they’ll bestow on your character:

Choose wisely

Keep checking back for more information on the Necrolords and other Covenants and let us know who you plan on joining in Shadowlands!

Get back in the game

The story of Battle for Azeroth is now complete and you can try to experience as much of it as possible before Shadowlands releases. Having extra gold will also make it easier to get into the expansion.