World of Warcraft Patch 11.1.7 Brings Story-Driven Leveling, UI Tools, and Goblin Loot Galore

World of Warcraft’s next patch, 11.1.7, is shaping up to be a crowd-pleaser. From a brand-new, story-focused way to level characters to upgraded loot and returning events, there’s a bit of everything here—even some long-overdue UI upgrades.

Blizzard dropped the news and confirmed that the patch will explore rising tensions between the Horde and Alliance in the Arathi Highlands, complete with branching storyline, cause we just love deviations. While players can expect new campaign quests, the real surprises are tucked into the new leveling options and cosmetic rewards.

Lorewalker Cho Has Some Stories to Tell

A standout feature in 11.1.7 is a fresh way to level alts—or get lore refresher courses—via Lorewalker Cho. Speak to him in Stormwind, Orgrimmar, or Dornogal to start a set of three repeatable quest chains that span multiple expansions, blending old and new quests under a shared narrative arc.

One chain dives into the history of Arthas, letting players fight through the Culling of Stratholme, then step into the Wrath of the Lich King era—possibly even role-playing as Arthas himself. (Transmigration storyline vibes, anyone?)

Another chain focuses on Xal’atath, the current big bad of The War Within, charting her origins in Legion, her rebirth during Battle for Azeroth, and her history with the ever-scheming Old Gods (because of course).

Blizzard hasn’t spilled all the details yet, but these story-driven chains look like a solid on-ramp for new players and a nostalgic ride for veterans. They’re expected to be available to max-level characters, too—though rewards haven’t been fully revealed.

Overcharged Delves and Timewalking Additions

If you’re feeling brave, 11.1.7 will also introduce Overcharged Delves—deadlier versions of six current solo dungeons. Expect extra traps, beefed-up enemies, and a new trait tree unique to these turbo-dungeons.

And for fans of Timewalking, Battle for Azeroth dungeons are officially joining the lineup as part of the Turbulent Timeways event. There’s even a new vendor tied to this event, which means more goodies to grind for.

Treasure Goblins Are Back (and Shinier)

Remember the Diablo-themed Greedy Emissary event? It’s making a comeback—possibly a little after the patch goes live. This time, the treasure goblins are packing more desirable loot, including new mounts and recolors of World of Warcraft’s remastered Tier 2 armor sets. So yeah, it’s time to activate goblin-collector mode.

Blizzard Adds More UI Training Wheels

In what might be the most divisive feature of the patch, Blizzard is adding Combat Assistance—a built-in tool that mimics popular add-ons like rotation helpers. It displays what ability you should hit next for optimal DPS. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a single-button rotation option that automates your attacks entirely.

It’s probably Blizzard’s way of folding popular third-party add-ons directly into World of Warcraft, like the Cooldown Manager from the last patch (RIP to half the WeakAura setups out there).

Final Thoughts

Patch 11.1.7 doesn’t have a firm release date yet, but it’s already live on the Battlenet Public Test Realm (PTR). Between the lore-driven leveling, dangerous delves, shiny loot, and UI upgrades, there’s a lot to unpack—and plenty to test if you’re itching for new content before World of Warcraft: The War Within fully drops.