Sure, there’s a whole new area in WoW Dragonflight patch 10.1, unlocking new quests, new WoW Dragonflight dragon glyphs, and more, but the best thing about the upcoming World of Warcraft content patch is the Niffen. Adorable mole-like creatures that use their noses to navigate Zaralek’s new cavern, I asked lead MMO quest designer Maria Hamilton and production manager Patrick Dawson what to do with these little ones.
“The idea is that they’re like moles,” Hamilton told – Game News. “They dig burrows and their eyesight isn’t very good, so culturally they refer to things by their smell. Their whole society is based on the olfactory traces and the perfume of the house.
She goes on to reveal some of the “fun activities” players can take part in with their new furry friends. “One of them is called ‘Sniffen Seeking,’ which lets you go (go around) with a Niffen buddy to fetch additional caverns that you can’t get to without digging with your Niffen buddy.
“They (find caves) by following your nose, so sometimes you might be interested in finding a particular type of thing, and they associate it with a specific smell, so they’ll take you to certain caves. Then there’s also a puzzle game to reach the treasures that may be in that place or fight the enemies in that place.
“They actually have a whole trail of big names as well,” Dawson adds. “So you’ll be able to interact with them like you would with any of the other major factions.”
Like I told Dawson and Hamilton, I decided all I wanted to do in Embers of Neltharion was befriend the Niffens. My murloc allegiance is over (okay, maybe that’s a lie); the Niffens are my best friends now.
Kidding aside, though, the fact that Niffen’s entire worldview is informed by scent is a truly unique idea. As Hamilton mentions, the sulfur pools of Zaralek Cavern are “very smelly” and the Niffens “love smelly things”, making it the perfect place for their strange little company. We’ve never seen a creature like this in previous WoW expansions, and I can’t wait to interact with them and explore all these mysterious new caverns.
If you’re considering diving into the Dragon Islands, our WoW Dragonflight review will give you a head start on what to expect. We’ve also got an overview of all the WoW Dragonflight professions to help you kill time while we wait for Embers of Neltharion, as well as a list of the best WoW addons if you’ve got your eyes peeled for Aberrus’ new raid.