WoW Forever is live: what changed and how to start your adventure

What is WoW Forever?

Forever is a separate version of World of Warcraft alongside modern WoW and Classic. Its adventure runs from level 1 to 60 across an expanded and reimagined Azeroth. Blizzard positions it as a continuing home for the original-world journey, with new stories and updates built around that foundation.

Familiar places are part of the appeal, but this is not a promise that every Classic quest, item, class ability or route works exactly as it once did. Approach old knowledge as a starting point and check the Forever client when an exact detail matters.

How to get in and what it costs

1. Sign in to the Battle.net desktop app and select World of Warcraft.
2. In the game-version menu, choose World of Warcraft: Forever, then select the WoW account you intend to use if you have more than one.
3. Install the Forever client, launch it and choose your experience preset and ruleset.

Blizzard says an active World of Warcraft subscription or game time includes access to Forever. Optional upgrade packs add extras; playing the Skyborne race and its starting experience requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher. Check the current offer and account eligibility before purchasing. Blizzard also described a limited launch-week friend-code offer; its eligibility and window are separate from ongoing access.

If you are returning after a long break, confirm the region and WoW account shown in Battle.net before assuming your subscription or characters are missing.

Choose a ruleset with your friends

Forever asks you to select a ruleset rather than a traditional realm. Blizzard lists four launch choices:

• Normal: explore and fight creatures with player-versus-player combat at your discretion.
• PvP: expect substantially greater exposure to attacks from opposing players in the open world.
• Roleplay: a community with roleplaying-oriented naming and behavior rules.
• Roleplay PvP: roleplaying rules combined with an open-world PvP focus.

Blizzard says Hardcore is planned for after launch; its launch article does not give a release date. Confirm your friends’ region, ruleset and faction before character creation. Our earlier ruleset briefing explains the grouping implications.

Where can you go?

Blizzard describes more than 1,000 new quests across the 1–60 journey. Its launch overview highlights Mount Hyjal, Shen’dralas, the Riverglades and Zephras Isle, alongside updates to familiar places.

The Riverglades is presented as a mid-level frontier with rivers, settlements and more than 150 quests, much of it suited to the mid-30s through mid-40s. Zephras Isle is the Skyborne starting experience for levels 1–12. These are Blizzard’s broad descriptions, not a guarantee that every quest is available at a specific level.

If you enjoy discovering places yourself, pick a direction and let the road lead. If you prefer a planned group outing, our Hall of Thanes walkthrough and Ruins of Lordaeron walkthrough offer quest and boss checklists based on our recorded runs; check their scope notes for beta-era details.

New race and class choices

Forever keeps nine classes and adds six combinations among the original races: Human Hunter, Gnome Priest, Dwarf Shaman, Orc Mage, Troll Warlock and Undead Paladin. Skyborne can join either faction: the Alliance High Order has access to Mage, while Horde Windshapers can choose Shaman. Both paths can choose Druid, Hunter, Rogue or Warrior.

Decide what you want to do most often before chasing a launch-day ranking. Our class guide compares all nine classes, and our race guide lists the full faction-specific class matrix.

Presets, camping and Legacy

Choose the presentation you prefer

At first login, the Classic and Enhanced presets provide different starting visual and interface settings. Enhanced starts with features such as one-bag and quest indicators enabled; Classic starts with a more traditional presentation. Blizzard says the preset is a starting point and individual settings can be changed later.

Make camp together

The Camping system expands the Basic Campfire into a shared campsite. Players can contribute profession-crafted features, and spending time at the camp provides their benefits. Some camp buffs are mutually exclusive with corresponding class buffs, so check what your group already has.

Progress through Legacy

Legacy is an account-wide progression system with challenges, perks and rewards. Blizzard says leveling alternate characters is not required to unlock every character advantage. See our Legacy overview for the earlier announced structure, and verify current limits in game.

Dungeons, raids and PvP

Blizzard’s launch overview describes nine new five-player dungeons across levels 13–60. The Darkspear Islands battleground is a 15-versus-15 contest built around strategic locations and a central flag.

For level 60 raiders, Blizzard announced December 9, 2026 for Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair. That is a scheduled opening, not a claim that they were available on launch day; check Blizzard for later schedule changes and entry requirements.

A simple first-session plan

1. Confirm account, region, faction and ruleset with your friends.
2. Pick a class that sounds fun and confirm its race options. Check the Skyborne requirement if relevant.
3. Choose a preset, knowing you can adjust its individual settings later.
4. Work through your starting area, visit trainers, and learn flight paths when you find them.
5. Try a dungeon or explore a new zone at your own pace. Save group plans, talent experiments and gear questions for the character you actually enjoy playing.

Want a head start choosing your character? Continue with the race guide and class guide.