n Strand of the Ancients, the Horde and Alliance must race against the clock – and each other – to capture a relic protected in an island fortress. In alternating turns, up to 15 players on each side use siege engines and explosive charges to fight their way from a beach landing and through a series of gates, until they reach the relic. The side that can capture the relic in the shortest amount of time is declared the victor!
  • Style
    Base capture and defense played in alternating turns
  • Location
    Dragonblight
  • Level Brackets
    71-79, 80
  • Maximum players per team
    15 Horde/15 Alliance
  • Win Conditions
    Break through the defenses and capture the relic faster than the opposing faction

Battleground Overview
    The faction starting on attack/defense is randomized at the start of each match. A timer at the top of the screen displays the time remaining for the attacking side to capture the relic.

    The attacking team disembarks from two boats onto a beach, where they have access to siege engine vehicles and portable explosive charges which they can use in their assault. The gates that stand between the attackers and the relic can be brought down much more easily with the aid of these tools of destruction.

    From the beach, they must make their way south, blasting their way through the defenses, until they reach the fortress where the relic is located. There are two pairs of gates standing in their way, followed by a single gate guarding the fortress containing the relic. A pair of graveyards is located past the first set of gates that, once captured, spawn additional siege engines and charges - and allow attackers to rejoin the battle closer to the relic.

    While the attackers mount their assault, the defending team’s objective is to slow their advance as much as possible. Player-controlled turrets are stationed near each gate, and are highly effective against siege engines. Destroying the siege engines, whether with turret fire or simply attacking them on foot, will considerably slow the attackers’ progress.

Siege Warfare
    Like their counterparts in Wintergrasp, each siege engine has a ranged attack and several point-blank siege attacks, all of which do considerable damage to gates. Also as in Wintergrasp, two passengers can ride along in each siege engine while continuing to use their spells and abilities as if they were on foot, with the extra bonus of being protected from damage while the siege engine is operational.

    The personal explosive charges are carried by players and planted at gates, where they explode after a short time. They can be defused by defending players in the interim.

Winning Conditions
    Once the door guarding the relic is destroyed, an attacking player simply needs to right-click on the relic (a large, glowing sphere) in order to capture it.

    The first team has a maximum of ten minutes to capture the relic. If they capture it before the time expires, the second team will have to capture the relic during their turn faster than the time posted by the first team.

    In the event that the first team is unable to capture the relic, the second team will have the maximum ten minutes available to them during their turn. If the second team is also prevented from capturing the relic, then the match is declared a draw.
 
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