WoW Forever Guide Launch November 4
The official strategy guide, read against WoW Forever

2004 guide, 2026 game

In 2004 a strategy guide was printed for a game that hadn't launched yet: 434 pages of advice, promises and a few confident mistakes. World of Warcraft: Forever goes back to that world, so we're reading the old book against the new game, one page at a time.

Start with the guideSee every then and nowChoose for launch

15then-and-now entries 15chapters in the book 34claims with a source
Rambleon, a night elf hunter, your guide through the guide

Start here

The guide was wrong
An orc warrior in plate armor, a character the 2004 guide says cannot exist
Chapter II · Learning Your Place in the World

The guide says orcs can't be warriors

2004 said

Every Horde race has warriors except the orcs, whose ranks were "depleted" by war.

Forever says

Orc warriors are playable, as they were on the first day of the original game.

Read the entry

Choosing for launch

Looking ahead rather than back: the two factions and the nine classes as they stand in Forever, from what Blizzard has confirmed.

What each class wears and wields

The verdicts so far

Each one opens its entry, with sources

Six combinations 2004 never offered

Confirmed  Blizzard: Deep Dive panel recap
Human HunterNew in ForeverHuman HunterUndead PaladinNew in ForeverUndead PaladinDwarf ShamanNew in ForeverDwarf ShamanOrc MageNew in ForeverOrc Mage
New in ForeverGnome Priest
New in ForeverTroll Warlock

Road to launch

Last checked October 5, 2026. Dates can change; Blizzard's posts are linked.
  1. Sep 12
    Announced at BlizzCon

    A new, permanent version of World of Warcraft alongside the modern game and Classic.

    ReportedPress coverage of BlizzCon
  2. Sep 17
    Beta opens

    The level cap starts at 20.

    ConfirmedBlizzard: the beta is now live
  3. Oct 1
    Beta level cap rises to 30
    ConfirmedBlizzard forums: beta development notes, October 1
  4. Oct 21
    Last full day of beta

    After this there is a gap of about two weeks with no beta and no live game.

    ConfirmedBlizzard: the beta is now live
  5. Oct 27 to Nov 3
    Early name reservation

    For eligible upgrade purchases. Blizzard's post does not say which purchases are eligible.

    ConfirmedBlizzard: Create a Name of Your Own in WoW Forever
  6. Nov 4, 3:00 p.m. PST
    Launch

    Included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time.

    ConfirmedBlizzard: What's Next panel recap
  7. Dec 9
    First raids open

    Barrow Deeps for 10 players and Hyjal Summit for 20.

    ConfirmedBlizzard: What's Next panel recap
  8. No date yet
    Hardcore ruleset, more raids and dungeons

    Announced without dates.

    ConfirmedBlizzard: What's Next panel recap

The guide, chapter by chapter

We follow the book's own order. Chapters fill in as we read them.