The newest expansion to the popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, releases soon. In recent weeks, Blizzard has shown off more footage of its upcoming WoW expansion, as well as several pre-patch updates to prepare players for all the new content. World of Warcraft: Shadowlands features several different afterlives for players to explore, including an especially strange area called Maldraxxus.

One of the big draws to the new Shadowlands expansion is getting to see multiple afterlives. Much like the various races in World of Warcraft, these afterlives vary greatly. One of these areas, Maldraxxus, was recently given a preview that shed light on the zone's history, characters, and relationship to Warcraft lore.

Related: When World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Release Date Is

Maldraxxus serves as a militaristic zone for Undead who glorify battle. Maldraxxus is home to the Necrolords Covenant, meaning players will join forces with the Necrolords at various times. With an emphasis on proving oneself through battle and continuing to gain strength at all costs, Maldraxxus is one of the darker, grittier zones in World of Warcraft. The designs for characters are clearly inspired by the Scourge and Undead enemies of Warcraft III, as Maldraxxus is the birthplace of necromantic magic.

How Maldraxxus Works In World Of Warcraft: Shadowlands

maldraxxus shadowlands temple

For those who want to brush up on their World of Warcraft lore before Shadowlands releases, the ruler of Maldraxxus is a mysterious figure called Primus. The leader is described by developers at Blizzard as being one of the most tactical thinkers of the Eternal Ones. Although there's not a whole lot known about him just yet, Primus is a part of the Pantheon of Death that rules over the Shadowlands, and he's currently missing. This has essentially led to the five houses of Mardraxxus turning on one another, as they fight for supremacy.

Because of the Necrolords Covenant and the emphasis on glorified battle in Maldraxxus, those who enter this afterlife don't lose their memories. They can also choose a new physical appearance, but this appears to only be a piece of lore and likely won't affect players' characters. In the Afterlives animated short shown in early September, fan-favorite orc warrior Draka is featured joining the House of Eyes, one of the five houses of Maldraxxus.

The various new lore and mechanics introduced in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands may seem overwhelming. However, Blizzard is continuing to provide pre-patch updates to help prepare players for the newest expansion. From the previews shown so far, Maldraxxus looks like one of the more strange, but interesting, afterlives in the game.

Next: World Of Warcraft: Who Arthas Is & How He Became The Lich King

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands releases on October 27, 2020.