World of Warcraft Disables Level 70 Experience Lock

World of Warcraft Disables Experience Lock for Level 70 Characters

With the launch of the War Within expansion, World of Warcraft players can now explore the mysterious lands of Khaz Algar. However, Blizzard has removed the option for players to halt their character progression at level 70. This change coincides with the new expansion raising the character level cap from 70 to 80.

The War Within marks the tenth expansion for World of Warcraft, introducing a wealth of new content to the beloved MMORPG. Officially released on August 26, players who bought the Epic Edition gained early access on August 22. The expansion plunges players deep into the subterranean world of Khaz Algar, offering fresh hero talents across all classes and specializations, the addition of a new allied race called the Earthen, an account-wide progression system, and a new endgame PvE challenge known as Delves. Players can also explore four new zones in this expansive update.

With the increased level cap, Blizzard has disabled the option for level 70 characters to freeze their experience gains. However, characters below level 69 can still stop their progression at their current level by speaking to Behsten in Stormwind or Slahtz in Orgrimmar. Blizzard also confirmed that in World of Warcraft Classic, players are unable to disable experience gains, while in Cataclysm Classic, this option is available only to characters at level 59 or lower.

Why Blizzard Disabled Experience Lock for Level 70 Characters

Blizzard has not provided a specific reason for this change, but many players believe it is to address a scaling issue. Over-geared level 70 characters have been found to be more powerful than under-geared level 80 characters due to current game scaling mechanics. By preventing level 70 players from locking their experience, Blizzard aims to avoid players exploiting this imbalance in new dungeons and boss fights introduced in The War Within. It's a common challenge in World of Warcraft; new expansions often face scaling problems when they launch, as content is designed to be accessible for all players reaching the minimum required level, not just those with top-tier gear from previous expansions.

With the release of The War Within, World of Warcraft is expanding its endgame content options. Players who prefer solo play now have more opportunities to engage with endgame content without needing to join groups. The new story mode allows players to face bosses without teaming up, and the Delves provide challenging, solo-friendly PvE content that scales in difficulty and offers valuable gear rewards.