World of Warcraft: Forever Launch Guide

World of Warcraft: Forever launches on November 4. It revisits the original version of Azeroth while adding new zones, classes, systems, visual options and endgame content. This guide covers the essentials for returning players and complete newcomers.

The game is an MMORPG set in Azeroth, combining the original-era experience with new adventures such as Riverglades, new dungeons, campfires and the Legacy Point system. After roughly 15 hours with the game, it is clear that Forever is designed to welcome both veterans and first-time players.

What you need to play

An active World of Warcraft subscription is the basic requirement. Existing subscribers who play either the current game or WoW: Classic do not need to purchase anything else to access Forever.

The Skyborne race and its starting zone are the exception. They require the $30 Skyborne Heroic Pack. At launch, this is the only gameplay content behind the additional purchase, although further paid content could be added later. More expensive bundles include the Skyborne and other items for Forever and other WoW games, but players who simply want to create a standard character and play do not need them.

Returning players: familiar foundations, new discoveries

Players who remember early WoW will recognise much of Forever. It remains an MMORPG in Azeroth, using the original forms of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms from before Cataclysm changed them. Most original quests, characters, classes, activities and mechanics return substantially intact.

The result may initially feel almost unchanged if you recreate an old character concept. New quests are woven through familiar zones, however, and several locations provide a much more distinctive experience.

Where to find the new content

Create a Skyborne Elf to experience its entirely new starting zone and story. This requires at least the $30 Heroic Pack.
Try an Undead paladin or Dwarf shaman, classes that were restricted to the opposing faction in the original game.
At level 35, travel to Riverglades in the Eastern Kingdoms, a completely new questing zone.
Near the endgame, explore Mount Hyjal in Kalimdor. The area was often discussed during original WoW but did not arrive until Cataclysm, and its Forever version appears substantially different.
Shen’Dralas sits between Mulgore and Desolace. Its intended level range and purpose were unclear in the beta, where it appeared too high-level and incomplete, but it is worth visiting if a quest sends you there.

Nine new dungeons at launch

Alongside the existing dungeon roster, Forever launches with nine additional instances:

Hall of Thanes — levels 13–18
Ruins of Lordaeron — levels 16–22
Excavation Site — levels 26–32
City of Dalaran — levels 28–34
The Drowned City — levels 35–40
Krol’Dok Stronghold — levels 40–45
Alcaz Island Prison — levels 48–53
Blackmaw Hold — levels 55–60
Shaper’s Terrace — levels 58–60

Use campfires while questing

An early tutorial introduces campfires, which can be built in the wilderness and provide buffs to players who gather around them. The effects depend on items placed by you and other nearby players, with professions determining which items you can contribute.

Campfires are useful when the nearest town is distant, but they also encourage small social encounters. You can join another player’s fire when you spot smoke in the distance, gaining both the buffs and the opportunity to meet fellow adventurers.

Spend Legacy Points

The new Legacy Point system takes the place of modern WoW achievements. Points come from activities including levelling characters, building reputations, completing dungeons and raids, and exploring the world.

They can be spent on bonuses and perks connected with professions, exploration and other activities. Legacy Points do not provide combat bonuses, but the right choices can make progression more convenient and enjoyable.

Choose between old and new presentation

Options let you switch between older and newer versions of selected visual features. You can use old or new character models, and you can turn transmogrification appearances on or off. Character-model options are found in the game settings, while the transmog option is available from transmogrification NPCs in faction capitals.

Raids arrive on December 9

Two new raids are scheduled to unlock on December 9, giving players a month after launch to prepare. The Barrow Deeps supports 10 players, while Hyjal Summit supports 20. Onyxia’s Lair also returns at that time, although its final changes from the original format were not known.

Expect some old-school rough edges

The original-style experience can be inconvenient. Travelling across continents is slow, equipment may have awkward stat combinations, money is scarce and quests can send you long distances without much explanation. Abilities can also feel limited or oddly designed, particularly at lower levels.

That friction is part of the experience. Players who enjoy solving problems creatively and working around unusual limitations may find that the rough edges are also part of Forever’s appeal.

New players: where to begin

If you have never played World of Warcraft, the game is approachable, but it does not explain every important system. These choices and habits will make the opening hours easier.

Pick the right realm

Forever replaces the regular game’s server choice with realm types:

Normal: the standard option. Players cannot fight one another unless both opt in. It is the recommended choice for most newcomers.
PvP: members of opposing factions can attack each other freely. Alliance and Horde players are generally protected from one another for roughly the first 10 levels unless a high-level player enters the starting area or you travel elsewhere. This is best for players who specifically want open-world PvP.
RP: a roleplaying realm where players may speak in character and favour activities that support shared storytelling.
RP-PvP: combines roleplaying with unrestricted conflict between opposing factions.

A Hardcore realm is planned for later. Death there is permanent, so it is not recommended for new players.

Choose a race with your group in mind

Your race affects racial abilities, starting zone, faction and available classes. If you intend to play with friends, choose races belonging to the same faction, or you will not be able to play together. Alliance races are shown on the blue side and Horde races on the red side.

Otherwise, choose a race you like that offers the class you want. Racial abilities and starting zones matter, but neither should overwhelm a first character decision.

A quick class guide

Druid: nature-based shapeshifters who can tank, heal, deal ranged damage or fight in melee. A flexible choice if you are unsure which role you prefer.
Hunter: ranged fighters using bows, arrows and/or guns, supported by an animal companion. Forever also includes a melee variation.
Mage: fragile ranged damage dealers specialising in arcane, frost or fire magic, with strong utility.
Paladin: sturdy holy warriors who can tank, heal or deal melee damage. Horde players must use an Undead to play one.
Priest: fragile spellcasters who heal or deal ranged damage, with shadow abilities for damage-focused builds.
Rogue: stealthy melee attackers who use combo points, poisons and lockpicking to access otherwise inaccessible treasures.
Shaman: elemental users who can heal or deal melee or ranged damage, while placing totems that support the group.
Warlock: vulnerable ranged damage dealers who summon demons and use Fel and dark magic.
Warrior: durable weapon fighters who can tank or deal melee damage.

Finding your next quest

After the opening cinematic, speak to the nearby character with a yellow exclamation mark. That symbol identifies a quest giver.

Forever sits between the original game and the modern interface. Yellow arrows on the minimap show the destination for your selected quest, but undiscovered quests are not automatically displayed. If your quest log dries up, return to a major city such as Orgrimmar or Stormwind and look for breadcrumb quests that lead to new settlements.

You can also follow roads and signs to nearby towns. Exploring is often the best answer when the map does not point you towards another objective.

Train skills and replace spell ranks

New abilities are not granted automatically when you level. Visit your class trainer and pay to learn them. Trainers appear in major cities, and an early quest introduces yours.

Many spells have ranks. When you learn a higher rank, drag it from your spell list onto the action bar so you are using the improved version rather than the old one.

Choose complementary professions

An early Forever-specific quest introduces professions. These gathering and crafting skills can provide useful items and income. A common approach is to combine one gathering profession with one crafting profession:

Mining with Blacksmithing or Engineering
Herbalism with Alchemy or Enchanting
Skinning with Leatherworking

Gathering choices are Mining, Herbalism and Skinning. Crafting choices include Blacksmithing, Alchemy, Leatherworking, Tailoring, Enchanting and Engineering. Cooking, Fishing and First Aid can be learned alongside the other two professions without restriction.

Useful early habits

Alliance characters speak Common and Horde characters speak Orcish, so opposing-faction dialogue appears as gibberish. Races also have native languages, generally understood only by members of the same race.
Skyborne Elves speak Darnassian, allowing them to communicate with other Skyborne and with Night Elves. Language controls are available in the chat box, although most players will rarely need them.
Plan starting areas with friends. Dwarves, Gnomes and Humans begin relatively close together. Orcs and Trolls are near each other, with Tauren next door. Skyborne Elves begin together regardless of faction, then move around level 15 towards the Tauren area for Horde or Dalaran for Alliance; Dalaran connects to Stormwind by portal. Night Elves and Forsaken begin farther from their faction’s main groups.
Speak to each innkeeper and set your Hearthstone to the inn in the area you are exploring. It can teleport you there once per hour.
Log out while your character is in an inn to earn rested experience, which doubles experience gained for a period after you return.
Open the settings menu and enable Autoloot.

Ask other players

When you are lost, ask for help in chat. Ordinary chat reaches nearby players, while typing /1 sends your message to everyone in the zone. Although unhelpful players exist, many experienced adventurers are willing to assist newcomers, often making in-game advice more useful than sorting through guides covering multiple versions and expansions.

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