Shattrath City

Shattrath City (SC) is a major hub in Outland. Situated in the northwestern portion of Terokkar Forest, it is a capital-sized sanctuary populated by ancient heroes and naaru.

The city is maintained by the Sha'tar, a faction of naaru that are lead by A'dal. They are centered at the Terrace of Light.

A player character can ally with either the Aldor or the Scryers. The Aldor are an ancient draenei priesthood who work with the Sha'tar to battle the Burning Legion. The Scryers are a group of blood elves that broke away from Prince Kael'thas, and offered to assist the naaru of Shattrath. While both factions strive for a common goal, they find themselves at odds with each other for control of the city, as well as the naaru's favor.

Shattrath was the draenei capital on Draenor. Its name, in the Draenei language, means "dwelling of light." The Servants of Khadgar detail the history of Shattrath in a quest from Khadgar when you first arrive there, as such:

When the Burning Legion turned the orcs against the draenei, the fiercest battle was fought [in Shattrath]. The draenei fought tooth and nail, but in the end the city fell. The city was left in ruins and darkness... Until the Sha'tar arrived. The Sha'tar, or "born from light" are the naaru that came to Outland to fight the demons of the Burning Legion. They were drawn to the ruins of Shattrath City where a small remnant of the draenei priesthood conducted its rites inside a ruined temple. The priesthood, known as the Aldor, quickly regained its strength as word spread that the naaru had returned and reconstruction soon began. The ruined temple is now used as an infirmary for injured refugees. It wouldn't be long, however before the city came under attack once again. This time, the attack came from Illidan's armies. A large regiment of blood elves had been sent by Illidan's ally, Kael'thas Sunstrider, to lay waste to the city. As the regiment of blood elves crossed [the] bridge, the Aldor's exarchs and vindicators lined up to defend the Terrace of Light. But then the unexpected happened. As the naaru approached him, Voren'thal kneeled before him and uttered the following words: "I've seen you in a vision, naaru. My race's only hope for survival lies with you. My followers and I are here to serve you." The blood elves laid down their weapons in front of the city's defenders; their leader stormed into the Terrace of Light and demanded to speak to A'dal. The defection of Voren'thal and his followers was the largest loss ever incurred by Kael's forces. And these weren't just any blood elves. Many of the best and brightest among Kael's scholars and magisters had been swayed by Voren'thal's influence. The naaru accepted the defectors, who would be known as the Scryers.

The Aldor and followers of the light and forgiveness and redemption are values they understand. However, they found [it] hard to forget the deeds of the blood elves while under Kael's command. Many of the priesthood had been slain by the same magisters who now vowed to serve the naaru. They were not happy to share the city with former enemies. The attacks against Shattrath continued, but the city did not fall, as you can see. On the contrary, the naaru known as Xi'ri, led a successful incursion into Shadowmoon Valley - Illidan's doorstep. There he continues to wage war on Illidan with the assistance of the Aldor and the Scryers. The two factions have not given up on their old feuds, though. Such is the animosity that they vie for the honor of being sent to assist the naaru there. Each day, that decision is made here by A'dal. The armies gather here to receive A'dal's blessing before heading to Shadowmoon.

The city now serves as the headquarters of the naaru.

The city is divided into four sections.

Terrace of Light

This is where the Sha'tar, A'dal, and Khadgar reside. It contains portals to all the major cities of Azeroth, courtesy of Khadgar, and is heavily defended by the Aldor. One of the naaru NPCs here will turn in your Hard-Mode instance tokens for epics.

Lower City

Also known as the Slum, the Lower City is filled with refugees. Sadly, Draenor is a world torn asunder by war, and as such is full of the refugees of war. The homeless, struggling to survive, congregate here. Orc children play in the dirt with human children. Many NPCs here have knowledge of crafting that is not to be dismissed lightly.

Scryer's Tier

The Scryers are Blood Elves that begin as neutral to the Alliance and Horde. They host an inn, a bank, and various selling NPCs including crafting trainers.

Aldor Rise

The Aldor are Draenei that start as neutral to the Alliance and Horde. They have an inn, bank, and various selling NPCs and crafting trainers.

The two sections each have an innkeeper, a general goods vendor, and a trade goods vendor. Each faction also has a bank and quartermaster on the main terrace, and the flight point is in a neutral section of the city. There is no auction house, nor are there any class trainers.

Archmage Khadgar, who helps the naaru fight the Burning Legion, also resides in the city.

The Aldor faction has a Grand Master Jewelcrafter, and a Grand Master Alchemist, while the Scryers have a Grand Master Skinner, and a Grand Master Leatherworker. Players will not need to be friendly or higher with these factions to have access to any of those Master professions, as Grand Masters can also be found elsewhere. There is even a neutral Grand Master Skinner in the Lower City of Shattrath.

Shattrath is a city of portals. There are portals to each of the eight major hub cities in Azeroth – Thunder Bluff, Orgrimmar, Undercity, Silvermoon City, Stormwind, Ironforge, the Exodar, and Darnassus.

Mages are also able to obtain a self teleport spell to Shattrath at level 60, as well as a group portal (requires level 65) to the hub city of the expansion. There is a portal trainer in the middle of the city, affiliated with the Sha'tar faction.

Both Horde and Alliance players start as Neutral (0/3000) with the Sha'tar, the Aldor, and the Scryers. The Aldor and the Scryers are at odds with each other. Doing quests for one faction will simultaneously lower your reputation with the opposing faction. Khadgar gives you a quest (Allegiance to the X) that will give you a free 3500 rep with the faction of your choice (and -3500 faction with the opposing group) sending you to friendly with the faction you chose and hated by the other. The Aldor have many Fire Resistance patterns on sale for crafters, while the Scryers have many Arcane Resistance patterns.

Faction Rewards