The Complete In‑Game Timeline of World of Warcraft
The history of Azeroth spans over 150,000 years, from the ordering of the cosmos to the modern era of dragons, cosmic forces, and faction conflict. This encyclopedia presents a visual, table‑driven timeline of major events in Warcraft lore, organized by eras and expansions. It focuses on in‑game canon, synthesizing events from quests, chronicles, cinematics, and expansions.
Cosmic and Pre‑Azeroth Era
Summary Table
Approx. Time
Event
Description
Unknown
The First Ones
Create the cosmic forces (Light, Void, Life, Death, Order, Disorder)
Unknown
Titans Awaken
World‑souls begin forming inside planets
Unknown
Pantheon Forms
Titans unite to order the universe
Timeline Summary
The cosmos forms through six primal forces
Titans awaken and begin shaping worlds
The Burning Legion is created after Sargeras rebels
Ordering of Azeroth (150,000 – 65,000 years ago)
Summary Table
Time
Event
Description
150,000 YA
Azeroth’s World‑Soul discovered
Titans recognize Azeroth as the most powerful world‑soul
145,000 YA
Old Gods invade
Void Lords send Old Gods to corrupt Azeroth
140,000 YA
Titanforged created
Keepers and titanforged armies battle the Old Gods
65,000 YA
Black Empire falls
Old Gods defeated and imprisoned
Timeline Summary
Azeroth becomes a battleground between Order and Void
Titanforged reshape continents
The Black Empire collapses
Rise of the Dragon Aspects (65,000 – 10,000 years ago)
Summary Table
Time
Event
Description
65,000 YA
Aspects Empowered
Titans grant five dragons immense power
64,000 YA
Elemental Lords defeated
Ragnaros, Al’Akir, Neptulon, and Therazane banished
15,000 YA
Troll Empires rise
Gurubashi and Amani dominate Azeroth
Timeline Summary
Dragon Aspects become Azeroth’s protectors
Troll empires flourish
Night Elves begin to rise
The Kaldorei Empire & War of the Ancients (15,000 – 10,000 years ago)
Summary Table
Time
Event
Description
15,000 YA
Night Elf Empire forms
Arcane civilization centered on the Well of Eternity
10,000 YA
War of the Ancients
Queen Azshara allies with the Burning Legion
10,000 YA
The Sundering
World shatters into continents
Timeline Summary
Azshara’s pact nearly destroys Azeroth
The Legion is banished
The world is reshaped into Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend, Pandaria
Post‑Sundering Era (10,000 – 2,800 years ago)
Summary Table
Time
Event
Description
10,000 YA
Highborne exiled
Become High Elves in Quel’Thalas
9,000 YA
Druidism spreads
Night Elves embrace nature magic
7,300 YA
Troll Wars
High Elves and Humans defeat Amani
Timeline Summary
Night Elves retreat into isolation
High Elves settle in the north
Humans begin forming kingdoms
Rise of Human Kingdoms (2,800 – 30 years ago)
Summary Table
Time
Event
Description
2,800 YA
Arathor founded
First human empire
2,700 YA
Order of Tirisfal
Guardians created to fight demons
1,200 YA
Seven Kingdoms form
Lordaeron, Stormwind, Gilneas, etc.
Timeline Summary
Humans become dominant in the Eastern Kingdoms
Guardians protect Azeroth from demonic threats
Dwarves, gnomes, and elves form alliances
The Orcish Invasion & First Wars (40 – 20 years ago)
Summary Table
Time
Event
Description
40 YA
Orcs corrupted
Gul’dan manipulates the Horde
35 YA
First War
Stormwind falls to the Horde
30 YA
Second War
Alliance defeats the Horde
20 YA
Third War
Scourge rises; Legion returns
Timeline Summary
Orcs invade Azeroth
Stormwind destroyed, later rebuilt
Arthas becomes the Lich King
Night Elves join the world stage
Modern Era: World of Warcraft (0 – Present)
Below is a visual expansion timeline, one table per expansion.
World of Warcraft (Year 0)
Major Events
Description
Alliance & Horde rebuild
New adventurers rise
Onyxia & Ragnaros
Early threats emerge
Ahn’Qiraj War
Old God forces awaken
The Burning Crusade (Year 2)
Major Events
Description
Outland opens
Dark Portal reopens
Illidan’s reign
Black Temple storyline
Sunwell restored
Kil’jaeden defeated
Wrath of the Lich King (Year 4)
Major Events
Description
Northrend campaign
Alliance & Horde invade
Ulduar crisis
Old God Yogg‑Saron rises
Fall of Arthas
Lich King defeated
Cataclysm (Year 6)
Major Events
Description
Deathwing returns
Azeroth reshaped
Elemental chaos
Twilight’s Hammer rises
Dragon Aspects lose power
Age of Mortals begins
Mists of Pandaria (Year 7)
Major Events
Description
Pandaria discovered
Sha unleashed
Horde civil war
Siege of Orgrimmar
Warlords of Draenor (Year 8)
Major Events
Description
Alternate Draenor
Iron Horde invades
Rise of Gul’dan
Legion threat returns
Legion (Year 10)
Major Events
Description
Broken Isles
Pillars of Creation
Artifact Weapons
Class Orders
Sargeras imprisoned
Argus campaign
Battle for Azeroth (Year 12)
Major Events
Description
Fourth War
Teldrassil burns
Old God N’Zoth
Black Empire rises
Shadowlands (Year 13)
Major Events
Description
Afterlife realms
Covenants
Jailer defeated
Helm of Domination destroyed
Dragonflight (Year 15)
Major Events
Description
Dragon Isles return
Aspects restored
Primalists rise
Titan secrets revealed
The War Within (Year 20)
Major Events
Description
Nerubian empire
Deep underground realms
Xal’atath returns
Void saga begins
Conclusion
This visual‑style timeline captures the full sweep of Warcraft history — from cosmic origins to the modern era of dragons and void‑touched threats. It is designed for clean PDF export, with tables and summaries that make the chronology easy to follow and reference.
