The Wheel Of Time Is Officially Replacing Its Main Character In War Of The Dragon

Published Sep 24, 2026, 9:04 AM EDT

Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond. 

The Wheel of Time's Rand al'Thor has been the central protagonist of the series since The Eye of the World, enduring a relentless series of trials that steadily reshape him from an unassuming farm boy into one of the world's most powerful figures and eventually growing into the Dragon Reborn. Robert Jordan's saga follows Rand as he struggles with the enormous burden of prophecy, the threat of madness, and the knowledge that his destiny will ultimately bring him face-to-face with the Dark One at Tarmon Gai'don.

Prime Video's The Wheel of Time has taken a somewhat more ensemble-focused approach to Rand's story, giving characters like Egwene, Nynaeve, Perrin, and Mat considerably more room alongside him. Even so, Rand remains the key player around whom the larger conflict ultimately revolves, particularly as the series moved closer to the Last Battle. Unfortunately, we'll never know how that comes to life on screen, seeing as the series was famously cancelled after just three seasons.

However, in The Wheel of Time's official return next year, Rand may still be the Dragon Reborn, but when Tarmon Gai'don arrives, he will no longer be the main character determining the fate of the world.

Wheel Of Time Is Changing The Dragon Reborn's Role In Next Release

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While the upcoming War of the Dragon: The Wheel Of Time tabletop game isn't removing Rand al'Thor from the equation, it is effectively replacing the Dragon Reborn as the player's singular protagonist. In Epic Mode, Dire Wolf Digital describes the Light's central narrative as the development of five core heroes: Rand, Nynaeve, Egwene, Perrin, and Mat.

Each hero begins at Level 1 and grows stronger as players advance through the campaign and progress along the game's various tracks. New character cards equate to character progression, transforming the familiar faces from Emond's Field into formidable heroes ahead of Tarmon Gai'don.

That said, Rand hasn't suddenly become unimportant or irrelevant. Dire Wolf still wants to keep him as "the star of the story," and investing heavily in his progression will give you major advantages during the Last Battle. However, winning War of the Dragon will take more than preparing the Dragon Reborn for his confrontation with the Shadow. Players are responsible for developing the entire ensemble, recruiting and maneuvering armies, completing pivotal story events, and deciding where each character can have the greatest impact.

It's an interesting reinterpretation of The Wheel of Time, where Rand remains the Dragon Reborn, just with a less central role in the final battle. War of the Dragon effectively turns the larger cast into a collective protagonist, making the fate of the world dependent on the entire group instead of Rand himself.

War Of The Dragon: The Wheel Of Time Arrives In 2027

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War of the Dragon is expected to arrive at retail sometime in 2027, following the beginning of Kickstarter fulfillment earlier in the year. Fans who backed War of the Dragon through Kickstarter will also have access to considerably more than the eventual retail release. Dire Wolf currently expects U.S. fulfillment to begin during the first half of 2027, with international shipments potentially arriving several months later. The publisher expects fulfillment to be completed worldwide by the end of 2027.

Backers were able to choose between three major packages when the crowdfund was live, some offering unique bonuses. The $90 Dragon Reborn Edition is the standard version, featuring cardboard standees for its characters and armies. The $123 One Power Edition upgrades those pieces with 40 PVC miniatures, while the $289 Last Battle Bundle combines the One Power Edition with a component upgrade pack, card sleeves, a roughly 36-by-24-inch neoprene playmat, and a Map of the Westlands art print.

In terms of retail, however, Dire Wolf has confirmed that the Dragon Reborn Edition will be the one reaching local game stores and international localization partners sometime in 2027, although an exact retail date hasn't been announced. The One Power Edition and several accessories are expected to remain available directly through Dire Wolf, while items including the Westlands art print and certain promotional cards are specifically tied to the crowdfunding campaign.

Overall, War of the Dragon is one of the most highly anticipated Wheel of Time releases in ages, and could very well be the definitive tabletop experience that finally puts players in the heart of it all during the Last Battle.

The Wheel of Time