In the recently released Patch 11.2 of World of Warcraft, titled “Ghosts of K’aresh,” players explore the homeworld of the Ethereals. These enigmatic energy beings, first introduced in The Burning Crusade, have players uncovering K’aresh’s history and facing their ancient enemy, Dimensius, the All-Devouring.
However, a surprising observation from fans is the noticeable lack of friendly Ethereals in the new zone. Despite the patch being branded as the “Ethereal Patch,” the majority of allied NPCs in K’aresh are actually Brokers.
Notable community members, such as Ian “The Red Shirt Guy” Bates and Saphras, pointed out that during their exploration on the Public Test Realm, the area was predominantly populated by Brokers. The K’aresh Trust, the Renown faction in this patch, comprises almost solely Brokers, as do many of the settlements.
Even the Eco-Domes, including the new Eco-Dome Al’dani dungeon, are operated by Brokers, a surprising shift from their association with Ethereals in past expansions. While there are some Ethereals present, such as Locus-Walker and a few new Wastelanders who have remained on K’aresh, they are outnumbered by the Brokers.
Moreover, many of the Ethereals we encounter are allied with the Shadowguard, a villainous faction led by Nexus-King Salhadaar, who aims to resurrect Dimensius. This imbalance makes sense within the game’s lore.
Brokers are natives of K’aresh, and previous factions of Ethereals, such as the Protectorate and the Consortium, have left the planet. Nevertheless, fans are left wondering why more Ethereals aren’t represented in a patch that centers around their culture.
Patch 11.2 will officially launch on August 5, with the Manaforge Omega raid opening a week later. Players will soon have the opportunity to explore K’aresh and evaluate the distribution of Ethereals versus Brokers for themselves.