WoW: Forever launches November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, worldwide, and is included with any active WoW subscription or Game Time. Before then: keep your sub active, decide whether a Skyborne pack is worth it to you, reserve up to three names between October 27 and November 3 if you own a pack, pick faction, race and class in advance, and plan your first hour so you are not staring at the character screen when the realms open.
The checklist, in order
- Subscription or Game Time active on November 4. There is no separate purchase for Forever; it is a third WoW experience next to Modern and Classic.
- Decide on a pack (optional). Skyborne Heroic Pack is €29.99 on the EU Battle.net shop and unlocks the Skyborne race, the Zephras Isle start, name reservation, the Cerulean Prideclaw ground mount, cosmetics and one invite code. The Epic Pack adds beta access, 30 days of game time from November 4, extra cosmetics and three invite codes. The Warcraft Forever Collection adds Warcraft III: Reforged, the Forsaken Kingdom campaign and housing figurines, and is sold only until January 11, 2027. Without a pack you still get the full game — just no Skyborne race and no early names.
- Beta, if you have Epic or the Collection: September 17 – October 21, capped at level 30. Use it to test your class, not to grind.
- Invite-A-Friend codes: emailed from October 20. A friend can play November 4–11 with no subscription. Heroic = 1 code, Epic and Collection = 3.
- Name reservation and character creation: October 27 – November 3, up to three characters per account, first come first served, any pack qualifies. Have three names ready plus backups.
- Pick faction, race and class now. New options: Forsaken Paladin, Dwarf Shaman, and the Skyborne (Windshaper on Horde, High Order on Alliance). All Skyborne can be Warrior, Hunter, Rogue or Druid; Horde Skyborne also Shaman, Alliance Skyborne also Mage.
- Convert the launch time to your zone. 3:00 p.m. PST is 23:00 UTC on November 4 — midnight in central Europe, 6 p.m. US East. Book the evening.
- Plan the first hour (see below) and settle your addon and UI setup in advance. Blizzard has not published an addon compatibility list, so treat anything you rely on as unconfirmed until you test it.
Key facts at a glance
| Launch | November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST, worldwide |
| Cost | Included with a WoW subscription or Game Time |
| Level cap | 60, permanently; new content ships as patches |
| Launch content | 3 new zones, 1,000+ quests, 9 new dungeons, 2 new raids, Skyborne race |
| Raids open | December 9, 2026: Barrow Deeps (10), Hyjal Summit (20), Onyxia (40) |
| Not in | No flying mounts, no level scaling; transmog is opt-in |
What should I do in the first hour of WoW: Forever?
Log in a few minutes early, create your character (or load the one you reserved) and get out of the starting area before the crowd stacks up on the first quest mobs. Skyborne players begin on Zephras Isle, a floating island covering levels 1–12; everyone else uses the original starts. Pick up every quest in the first hub in one pass, and skip mob-tagging fights for anything you can outrun — early quests on launch night are about throughput, not completion order.
Do not spend the first hour on professions. Blizzard has said professions are updated but has not published details, so learn them once you reach a capital and can see what actually changed.
Is a Skyborne pack required to play?
No. Forever itself comes with your subscription. The Heroic Pack or higher is only required if you want the Skyborne race, the Zephras Isle start, early name reservation, or the invite codes. If you plan to main a classic race, you lose nothing by skipping it — the three new zones, nine dungeons and both raids are open to everyone.
Which dungeons and zones are new at launch?
New leveling routes: Zephras Isle (1–12, Skyborne only), Hall of Thanes (13–18, Alliance-side, Horde can enter), Lordaeron (15–20, Horde-side, Alliance can enter), Dalaran as a city-dungeon (20–35), and the Riverglades in the Eastern Kingdoms (30–45, 150+ quests, new reputations, a neutral goblin port). Higher up: Excavation Site, The Drowned City, Alcaz Island Prison, Blackmaw Hold, and The Shaper's Terrace and Krol'Dok Stronghold at 40–60. Mount Hyjal is the new endgame zone and hosts one of three Barrow Deeps entrances. Boss lists and loot tables have not been published, so ignore anyone quoting them.
How long does 1–60 take at launch?
There is no level scaling and the cap stays at 60, so expect a Classic-style climb rather than a sprint. Boosters working the pre-order queue quote 2–3 weeks for a full 1–60 at launch, which is a fair benchmark for a focused player with evenings free. Riding skill has been updated, so budget for your mount rather than assuming original Classic costs.
If you would rather have a vetted human pro handle the grind or play alongside you, PewPewShop takes Forever pre-orders until launch: Forever Leveling 1–30 from EUR 13, the Skyborne Start on Zephras Isle 1–12 from EUR 15, any Forever dungeon run from EUR 12, and Riding Skill and Mount from EUR 29 — Self-Play coaching and play-together options included, no bots, no cheats.