Burning Legion invasion starts after patch 7.0, includes transmogs, toys

We knew the Burning Legion was going to invade Azeroth before Legion arrived on August 30. Ho-hum. More demons to fight. Whatever. But when we fight the Legion we’ll also have the chance to get transmog items, potential gear upgrades, achievements, a battle pet, and a toy. Now we’re invested.

But fun stuff aside, we now have a clearer picture of when the invasion will start. Many had assumed it would arrive with patch 7.0, but Blizzard says it will launch after the patch. The Legion will be holding off its attack until “after you’ve had time to play around with the patch,” so the invasion will begin during the second or third week of August. That means we won’t have much time to collect these rewards before Legion launches, so get ready to get to it.

So what rewards are heading our way? And how can you get them? Let’s take a look.

Each invasion event has four stages that require you to complete different objectives — like killing demons or defeating a boss — in an area until a progress meter is filled. None of these are soloable, but we expect large crowds of players will be jumping on them so you won’t have a problem if you don’t have a group of friends available. After each stage, you’ll earn Nethershards which you can use to purchase rewards, including:

• Transmog sets for plate, mail, leather, and cloth armor
• Gear for neck, finger, back, and trinket slots
• Felbat Pup battle pet

At the end of each invasion, you’ll get a chest which may contain one of 16 unique, event-only weapons. You’ll definitely want these for transmog, but at ilvl 700 they may well be an upgrade. Plus you can boost them to ilvl 725 with Coalesced Fel, which can drop from bosses or be purchased with shards. Since they’ll be replaced by your Artifact, we wouldn’t say Coalesced Fel is a great use of your shards, but they could certainly help you through your Artifact quest and be good for off-specs before you can power up a second (and third and fourth) Artifact.

There’s also the new (and somewhat mysterious) Pocket Fel Spreader toy, which will “spread the taint of the Legion.”  Though this doesn’t sound like a particularly good thing (aren’t we supposed to be fighting the Legion?), toy collectors will want to watch out. We don’t yet know how to get it, though it’s implied it won’t come from shards or chests.

Two achievements, Stand Against The Legion (for completing one invasion) and Defender of Azeroth: Legion Invasions (for completing invasions in Aszhara, Dun Morogh, Hillsbrad Foothills, Northern Barrens, Tanaris, and Westfall), will also be available. There’s also a new Feat of Strength, It All Makes Sense Now, for collecting all 12 pamphlets from your local doomsayers. Though there’s no word on rewards for these yet, we wouldn’t be surprised to if they granted some Legion-appropriate titles.

So get ready, everyone! The Burning Legion is coming.