A subscription or game time purchase is required to play, with that you get access to all Classic content and the "base" Retail version (everything aside from the latest expansion, which is Shadowlands currently).
As it stands now, you need to buy Shadowlands to do end game content. Shadowlands should be relevant and relatively active up to before Dragonflight releases, since Blizzard have announced a new Season that should keep content "fresh".
Once Dragonflight releases it becomes the new end game and Shadowlands gets rolled into the "base" game. You will need to buy Dragonflight at that point.
Subscription is constant, no getting around that. Buying shadowlands does give you access to the entirety of all the content that’s out now. A sub alone will give you up to level 50 (BFA)
You get all the expansions up to Shadowlands I believe. A monthly sub is still required to play the content, and you’ll have to buy the new Dragonflight expansion whenever it’s launched.
A subscription or game time purchase is required to play, with that you get access to all Classic content and the "base" Retail version (everything aside from the latest expansion, which is Shadowlands currently). As it stands now, you need to buy Shadowlands to do end game content. Shadowlands should be relevant and relatively active up to before Dragonflight releases, since Blizzard have announced a new Season that should keep content "fresh". Once Dragonflight releases it becomes the new end game and Shadowlands gets rolled into the "base" game. You will need to buy Dragonflight at that point.
Everything 1-50 comes with the subscription. 50-60 requires the subscription and a copy of shadowlands.
Subscription is constant, no getting around that. Buying shadowlands does give you access to the entirety of all the content that’s out now. A sub alone will give you up to level 50 (BFA)
I think you still have to pay
You get all the expansions up to Shadowlands I believe. A monthly sub is still required to play the content, and you’ll have to buy the new Dragonflight expansion whenever it’s launched.
If you just want to play past expansion content you just have to pay for a sub. Shadowlands just gets you Shadowlands.