As part of its marketing campaign, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is releasing animated shorts that serve as a recap for past events while setting the stage for the upcoming expansion, and the second chapter of this anthology has just been released. The first chapter of Dragonflight Legacies covered the dawn of the Aspects and the course of events that brought about Galakrond's fall and the formation of the five Dragonflights.
It would seem that these animated shorts are primarily told through the perspective of the Dracthyr commander Emberthal, paired with the Dragon Aspect Nozdormu as Emberthal's guide and narrator – who may well end up as Dragonflight's true villain before all is said and done. The way the story is framed lends itself well to bringing the players up to speed, as Nozdormu recalls important events of the past that will likely play a major factor in Dragonflight's overarching plot.
Where the first chapter covered the primordial time before the Dragon Aspects became the dutiful shepherds and protectors of Azeroth, the second chapter of Dragonflight Legacies covers the War of the Ancients, the corruption of Neltharion, the creation of the Dragon Soul, and the final fall of Deathwing. The second chapter sees the Dragon Aspects sacrifice their power and immortality to rid Azeroth of Deathwing's madness, to the surprise and initial skepticism of Emberthal who saw Neltharion as the Dracthyr's unimpeachable general.
The reception to Dragonflight Legacies has largely been positive, with many players seeing them as a breath of fresh air following the Jailer's disjointed story in Shadowlands. The story of Dragonflight overall is considered a return to form for Warcraft lore, focusing on the world of Azeroth and a more grounded tale featuring familiar characters.
Though the ultimate direction of Dragonflight's plot remains a mystery, one of its key storylines is shaping up to be the fate of the Black Dragonflight. The upcoming expansion represents the perfect opportunity for the wayward dragonflight to find redemption and renewal, as World of Warcraft players can support Wrathion or Sabellian to claim the position of its new Dragon Aspect, slowly bringing the black dragons back from the brink of extinction.
The Dragonflight Legacies animated shorts have been coming out on a weekly basis, and World of Warcraft players can expect the final chapter to be released on November 8. The third chapter will likely cover the origin of the Dracthyr, the last major plot thread that players need to know before they set foot on the Dragon Isles.
World of Warcraft is available now for PC. Dragonflight launches on November 28.