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WoW Forever Faction Imbalance Explained
Willo
On WoW Forever's PvP ruleset, Blizzard can temporarily stop new characters for one faction when that faction is far ahead, to keep the population balanced. Blizzard hasn't published the numbers or the trigger, and Customer Support can't unlock it for you. If you're blocked, wait and try later, or pick Normal or Roleplaying, where both factions are open.
Updated
Why can't I make a character for my faction?
On the PvP rulesets, WoW Forever has a population balancing system. Blizzard says it works much like Season of Discovery's: new character creation can be temporarily limited for one faction when the balance needs help.
A Blizzard EU forum rep put it simply on October 29: the game may temporarily lock creation for a faction "if one faction is significantly more dominant than the other," and "Customer Support is unable to unlock this manually."
So it isn't a bug and it isn't about you. It's the ruleset protecting the fight.
Which rulesets have the lock?
| Ruleset | Both factions? | Faction lock? |
|---|---|---|
| PvP | No, one faction per account | Yes, can happen |
| Roleplay-PvP | Players report the lock there too | Reported at launch |
| Normal | Yes | Not reported |
| Roleplaying | Yes | Not reported |
| Hardcore (after launch) | Yes | Not announced |
On PvP you can only create characters for one faction. Make an Alliance character there and you can't make a Horde one, and the other way around. Which ruleset should I choose?
What happened at launch?
On launch night, players on the official forums reported Horde creation locked on PvP and Roleplay-PvP, while others made Alliance characters at the same time. Some say the lock came and went, and a few got through after waiting. Those are player reports. Blizzard hasn't said which faction was ahead or by how much.
Fan census sites counted beta characters close to 50/50 on PvP, but those count characters, not players, and they restarted at launch. Treat any percentage you see as unofficial.
What can I do if I'm locked out?
- Wait and try again later. Players report the lock can lift.
- Talk to your group. If you're all locked, consider the other faction on PvP.
- Pick Normal or Roleplaying, where both factions are open.
- Don't open a ticket to bypass it. Blizzard says Support can't.
No faction change service has been announced.
Can Willo help me choose?
Ask me "Horde or Alliance for my class?" or "Which race fits a Warrior?" I'll talk it through out loud while you wait at the character screen. Best race for every class and why the factions fight at all.
FAQ
Why is my faction locked in WoW Forever?
On the PvP rulesets, Blizzard can temporarily limit new characters for a faction that is significantly more dominant, to keep the population balanced.
Can Blizzard support unlock my faction?
No. A Blizzard forum rep said Customer Support is unable to unlock it manually.
Does the faction lock affect Normal realms?
Blizzard describes it for the PvP rulesets. Normal and Roleplaying allow both factions, and no lock was reported there at launch.
Has Blizzard shared WoW Forever population numbers?
No. The numbers floating around come from unofficial fan census sites that count characters, not players.
Sources
- Choose Your Ruleset in World of Warcraft: Forever (Blizzard)
- Can't create a character due to realm imbalance?! (Blizzard EU forums)
- Horde Character Creation Locked on WoW Forever? (Blizzard forums)
- WoW Forever Faction Unavailable: Population Imbalance (timesaver.gg)
- Horde Locked Out of PvP: What Is True Before the WoW Forever Launch (Kami Labs)