Before you log in
Day-one checklist
Decisions that are permanent or time-sensitive — work through this with your group before launch.
Day-one Checklist
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Decisions that are permanent or time-sensitive — work through it before Nov 4.
- Pick your rulesetPermanent
Normal, PvP or Roleplaying — chosen per character (there is no realm list), with Hardcore planned after launch. PvP locks an account to one faction, and friends need the same ruleset and faction to group.
- Sort accessBefore Nov 4
The base game runs on an active WoW subscription or game time. The Skyborne Heroic Pack unlocks the Skyborne race; the Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection add beta access (live until Oct 21) — the Heroic Pack does not.
- Name reservationOct 27 – Nov 3
Upgrade owners can reserve names early — it is not early gameplay access, but it locks the name you want for launch morning.
- Choose race & classNew combos
Human Hunter, Gnome Priest, Dwarf Shaman, Orc Mage, Troll Warlock and Undead Paladin join the roster, so Paladins and Shamans exist on both factions. Skyborne Elves (paid upgrade) pick a side at creation — High Order or Windshapers — and play Warrior, Hunter, Rogue or Druid, plus Mage (Alliance) or Shaman (Horde).
- Pick professions with camping in mindCamping
Campsites feed on profession-crafted objects — a Cook upgrades the campfire, others contribute utility. Matching camp buffs and class buffs do not stack, so coordinate rather than double up.
- Plan your Legacy points16-point cap
Legacy points are account-wide, but each character spends up to 16 at launch (Blizzard plans to raise the cap later) across Professions, Adventure and Resourcefulness. Decide your priority tree before launch night.
- Set expectations: no flying, no scalingClassic rules
Original continents, level 60 cap, ground mounts only. Leveling routes and travel time matter — check the class build paths for the dungeon level bands.
- Book raid nightsDec 9
Barrow Deeps (10), Hyjal Summit (20) and Onyxia's Lair (40) are on the roadmap for December 9 — Blizzard notes timing can shift. The launch window is your dungeon-gearing and consumable runway.
December 9
The raid unlock
The BlizzCon roadmap lists all three for December 9 (timing can shift), then two new raids (10- and 20-player) in spring 2027 and a new raid plus a revamped classic raid in summer 2027. Use the gap to gear through the new dungeons.
Barrow Deeps
The entry tier — where guilds forming at launch cut their teeth.
Hyjal Summit
The mid tier in the new Mount Hyjal region — tight compositions matter.
Onyxia's Lair
The classic 40 — attunement questline, coordinated buffs and the famous loot table.
Level 13–60
Nine new dungeons & new zones
Nine new instances, three new zones and 1,000+ new quests — the gearing funnel between launch and raids. Levels are the announced recommended levels.
New dungeons
- Hall of ThanesLevel ~13
- Ruins of LordaeronLevel 15
- Excavation Site: WetlandsLevel 26
- City of DalaranLevel 28
- The Drowned CityLevel 35
- Krol'dok StrongholdLevel 40
- Alcaz PrisonLevel 48
- Blackmaw HoldLevel 55
- Shaper's TerraceLevel 58
New regions
- Mount HyjalLevel 60 zone — home of Hyjal Summit
- The RivergladesEastern Kingdoms · levels ~35–45 · 150+ quests
- Zephras IsleSkyborne starting zone · levels 1–12
- Shen'dralasSouth of Desolace — some outlets count it as a fourth region
Classic+ briefing
Systems that change your build
The Forever deltas every build page is written against — re-check them before spending your first talent point.
Unified hit & crit
Melee, ranged and spells share one hit system — gear hit once, everything benefits. Old hit-cap tables are dead; use the linked calculator.
Baseline raid buffs
Talent-locked buffs such as Blessing of Kings, Divine Spirit and the improved Might and Mark of the Wild ranks cost no points — reports differ on the exact list.
16-point capstones
Every tree gains a new one-point ability at 16 points, alongside the classic 11/21/31 milestones. Exact values are still tuning in beta.
Reworked itemization
Every boss loot table redone, dungeon drops rare or better, world-drop epics added; caster and healer gear carry spell damage. Old BiS lists are not Forever gearing plans.
Camping
Campfires become campsites with rest, vendors, repairs and one-hour buffs — up to three nearby players each add one profession object.
Transmog & visuals
Opt-in transmog (off in Classic Mode), modern/Classic visual presets, HD or SD character models, official gamepad support.