‘World Of Warcraft’ Pre-Expansion Patch Arrives July 19 With Burning Legion Invasions Across Azeroth

World of Warcraft is now only two days out from a pre-expansion patch that will herald the arrival of World of Warcraft: Legion on August 30, according to a report from Polygon.

The new pre-Legion patch brings with it a host of features and events, and includes some surprising news: the new Demon Hunter hero class will be available to World of Warcraft players who pre-purchase weeks before the expansion releases.

Blizzard announced the following in an official post on the patch.

“The skies over Azeroth are growing darker….

“The Legion pre-expansion patch is arriving July 19, and we wanted to give you a heads up about what to expect—and when you can expect it.

“This update will include a wide variety of features and content that set the stage for the expansion, including system changes, quality-of-life improvements, and major in-game events. Some of these features will be available immediately, while other content will be unlocked in the weeks leading up to the expansion’s launch.”

First off, as with other previous expansions, Burning Legion invasions will be breaking out across Azeroth, “turning some familiar stomping grounds into demon-infested battlefields,” and while we’re not quite sure what players are in for, it’s reasonable to expect that this will take the path of other pre-patch invasion events like the Naxxramas release, with parties of demons and a few special bosses and rare enemies popping up across the landscape and offering special rewards. Hopefully, there will be some early Demon Hunter gear in those drop tables – or at the very least, a bit of lore.

Ok, so most players probably don’t care all that much about the lore.

Invasions aside, Blizzard is also introducing a very welcome early update to World of Warcraft‘s Transmogrification Collections system as well. The new system promises to make it easier to collect, sort and store the gear you want to use for Transmogrification, and – most importantly – do so without taking up storage space in your inventory, bank, or Void Storage, just in time to clear some room for new gear from Legion. You’ll also be able to sort your collection by class or slot.

Yes, Blizzard’s a little late to the party there – but far better late than never, and thankfully, you’ll have time to sort out all of your transmog gear before the expansion drops.

A lot of the planned World of Warcraft: Legion class changes are also going to hit in the pre-patch. While there isn’t an exhaustive list available yet, Blizzard has confirmed that “the core changes to spells, talents, and more are going into effect as soon as the pre-expansion patch goes live.” Details for each class are available in the class preview blogs, and are sure to provoke a torrent of screaming from regular forum-goers.

Finally. Yes. The Demon Hunter is coming early.

If you’ve preordered World of Warcraft: Legion, then you can expect the new Demon Hunter class to be available for play “around the second or third week of August,” and no later than August 17, two weeks before official release – and speculation is that server-wide participation in the Legion invasions will be a part of unlocking the class (which would account for the vague nature of the Demon Hunter’s release date.)

Demon Hunters will begin at level 98, and much like the other hero class, the Death Knight, will have their own starting area and quests in “the fel-shattered expanse of Mardum.”

The patch data is theoretically already mostly available to players, so not much downloading should be required – so gear up, call in sick and get ready to sort of play World of Warcraft: Legion as of this Tuesday!

[Image via Blizzard Entertainment]