Vashj ' ir Vashj ' ir ( ) was a new zone featured in " " , located to the south east of the Maelstrom , off the western coast of Dun Morogh . The city was the home of Lady Vashj before the Sundering . Players are able to swim throughout the zone by jumping but when on the ground movement will act similarly to the terrestrial zones ; players can also use special underwater mounts to move around the zone . In the Abyssal Depths is the Abyssal Breach to the Abyssal Maw , which will contain two 5 - man dungeons . Players are called to explore the depths of the Great Sea and stop the naga from seizing immeasurable power from the realm of Neptulon the Tidehunter . The zone features an unprecedented fight for survival against the naga overwhelming the area , several new quest hubs - - including Alliance and Horde naval ships and submarines - - all - new underwater travel and combat mechanics , several pocketed undersea caves free from water ' s grip , a new five - player dungeon ( Throne of the Tides ) , and the first - ever opportunity to explore the remains of the once - majestic city of Vashj ' ir ! History . Once a great Highborne city housing some of the most revered night elves of Kalimdor , Vashj ' ir was swallowed by the Great Sea in the Sundering and thought to be lost forever . Queen Azshara , formerly a beloved leader of the Highborne , escaped death in the depths of the sea when the Well of Eternity imploded . Such salvation came at a great cost , as the queen and many of her fellow Highborne were forever transformed into the monstrous naga , doomed to wander the seas for thousands of years . Their existence mostly remains a mystery to the peoples of modern Azeroth , though the Earthen Ring has learned of Azshara ' s naga seizing Vashj ' ir for an unknown purpose as the cries of the elements echo across Azeroth from the Abyss . " Need your help . Time is short . I ' m held captive in what I hope to be a nightmare . " " Enjoying the ocean air just days ago . We were determined to control key trade routes through victory at sea over the Horde . Their fleet came into our scopes . Our world became the deafening sound of battle , the smell of gunpowder , and the feeling of fear . Looking back now , though , that wasn ' t real fear . " " We weren ' t alone in those waters . Our naval warfare attracted attention and rendered us prey . With our vessel already torn apart and taking on water , we saw a tremendous creature rise from the depths and shatter the hull , sucking us down to the sea floor . It all happened so fast . I was quick to tread the waters , hoping to regroup with any survivors I could find through a dense garden of kelp , constantly gasping for a chance breath . That ' s when the onslaught began . From all directions swarms of brutal naga swept through and captured a great many of us . Beaten near to death , I awoke in agony , bound in chains . " " And here I still sit . I can only describe our prison as very big and somehow very much alive . We ' re in the hands of the naga now . Surviving crewmates in better condition than me are driven into slave labor . " " One escaped . Thomas . He didn ' t make it far before I saw him dragged back . Before being forced into labor , he spoke in a panic about some large shell protecting this living prison , expansive night elf ruins in the distance , strange naga rituals underway , and sea vrykul battling our captors . He made little sense . Could be mad . Or I could be mad to hope vrykul are fighting to free us . " " Prison patrols out again . Send word to Stormwind . Sunken city far from extinct . Naga plotting something horrific . Please help . " Vashj ' ir is an recently discovered piece of land mass , which has been lost to the depths of the Great Sea for thousands of years . However with Deathwing ' s return , and with him , the Cataclysm , a massive earthquake which resulted in the partial destruction of Booty Bay and several other shoreline locations ( Auberdine , all of Stranglethorn Vale , and Durotar ) caused a piece of the sea bed to raise exponentially , allowing for access to a location in Azeroth that hasn ' t been visited by non - Nagas for thousands of years . It is possibly a part of the ancient Night Elf capital , Zin - Azshari . As soon as the location was discovered to be accessible , both the Horde and the Alliance rushed ahead to gain control of this new land mass . Mostly for defensive reasons for the Alliance , and offensive for the Horde . If the Horde gains full control of Vashj ' ir , the Horde will gain a direct attack base against the Alliance , considering that there ' s only a short , fly - able distance between it and Ironforge or Stormwind City . Geography . The landscape of Vashj ' ir differs greatly the further into the zone one presses . First there are well - lit depths coupled with waving strands of seaweed and kelp and sandy beaches . This gives way to the first of many naga ruins , the zone becoming more choked with strewn columns and shattered buildings as adventurers plunge deeper into the depths . There are many caves , most of which contain air pockets that intrepid explorers of both factions have utilized to their advantage . Deep trenches are frigid and dark , and some even contain monsters beyond belief . Travel . Getting there . Both Alliance and Horde players are given an introductory quest ( / ) to the zone that will transport them there aboard a ship . Once the introductory quests are complete , they may then use portals located within Stormwind City and Orgrimmar to return . You can get there other ways , but you will miss the intro / story lore . There are also flight paths available . It is possible to fly straight from Stormwind City to Vashj ' ir with a 280 % flight speed mount , making it an ideal choice for a PvP raid group to originate from . You can also fly easily from Ironforge with even less Fatigue loss , but since you have to travel over half of Dun Morogh , it isn ' t a great way start a PvP raid undetected . Reportedly , a land mount run across the fatigue zone is possible , using a water walking potion and leaving from the closest point off the Dun Morogh coast . It ' s even possible for a Level 18 Druid to swim there using Wild Charge and Swim Speed Potion s from the closest point off the Dun Morogh coast . Getting around . The quest will gift you with permanent underwater breathing and faster sea - floor movement while in Vashj ' ir . A swimming seahorse mount can be obtained from the quest . ( Note that you must first complete the introductory for the quest - giver to phase in . ) Resources . " Though there are no fishing pools , you can fish in Vashj ' ir ; 575 fishing is required to fish without catching junk . " Quests . Players are tasked with a variety of jobs . Initial quests focus on survival , as both the Alliance and Horde have been taken unawares by the marauding naga . Players will begin by meeting simple requests , such as gathering stolen or lost supplies and replenishing stores . Further into the zone will begin the fight with the naga , which will culminate over several long and phased quest lines . Several giant , powerful creatures have also been enslaved to serve the Twilight ' s Hammer clan , and players will undermine their plans by setting these creatures free and exacting revenge .