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WoW Forever vs. WoW Classic: What Is Different?
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Both take you to level 60 in original Azeroth, but WoW Classic preserves the old game while WoW Forever keeps adding to it. Forever brings a new race (the Skyborne), more than a thousand new quests, new zones, nine new dungeons, new raids, reworked classes, new race and class combinations, rulesets instead of realms, and the account-wide Legacy system. Same subscription covers both.
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What's the short version?
WoW Classic lets you revisit the original game as it was. WoW Forever starts from that same world and builds new adventures on top of it, for good. In Blizzard's words, Forever is "not a mode, a season, or a new version of Classic." It's a permanent home alongside modern and Classic WoW, not a replacement.
The comparison table
| WoW Classic (Classic Era) | WoW Forever | |
|---|---|---|
| Idea | Preserve the original game | Grow original Azeroth permanently |
| Level cap | 60 | 60 |
| World | The original zones | The original zones plus new ones: Zephras Isle, the Riverglades, Shen'dralas, Mount Hyjal |
| Quests | The original ones | More than 1,000 new quests across levels 1 to 60 |
| Races | The original eight | Adds the Skyborne (needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher) |
| Classes | Nine, original talents | The same nine, with reworked talents and abilities |
| Race and class combos | Original restrictions | New ones like Human Hunter, Orc Mage and Undead Paladin |
| Dungeons | The original ones | The original ones plus nine new |
| Raids | Original raids | New raids on Mount Hyjal, arriving December 9 |
| Battlegrounds | Classic battlegrounds | Adds Darkspear Islands, 15 vs 15 |
| Where you play | Realms | Rulesets: Normal, PvP, Roleplaying, Roleplay-PvP, Hardcore later |
| Account progress | Per character | Legacy, account-wide rewards |
| Extras | Classic presentation | Campsites, opt-in transmog, Classic or modern visual presets, gamepad support |
| Cost | Subscription or Game Time | Subscription or Game Time |
What stays the same?
The feel. Blizzard's design rules for Forever: leveling matters as much as endgame, no flying mounts and no level scaling. The roads are long, the zones are dangerous, and a level 30 ogre still wants to flatten your level 22 face. Deeper look: What is WoW Forever?
What's the biggest difference for a new player?
Probably the rulesets. Instead of choosing a realm, you choose how you want to play, and you can't group across rulesets or factions. Decide with your friends first. Which ruleset should I choose?
Second is your class. Talents were reworked for every class, so even Classic veterans should reread their class. Talents explained
Which one should I play?
- Classic if you want the original game, preserved, and your friends already play there.
- Forever if you want that world's scale and danger, plus new stories, places and systems that keep growing.
Both are in the same subscription, so you can try each. Lore Forever's long WoW Forever vs. Classic guide goes through twelve differences in detail.
Played Classic for years? Ask me "What changed for Paladins?" and I'll answer out loud while you look at your new talent tree. On Legend, I can check the web for the latest. All of Forever's changes
FAQ
Is WoW Forever the same as WoW Classic?
No. Both are set in original Azeroth with a level cap of 60, but Forever adds a new race, zones, quests, dungeons, raids, reworked classes and account-wide Legacy progression.
Is WoW Forever replacing WoW Classic?
No. Blizzard calls Forever a permanent home alongside modern and Classic WoW.
Do I need to pay extra for WoW Forever if I play Classic?
No. A World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time includes Forever. Only the Skyborne race needs a pack.
Does WoW Forever have flying mounts?
No. Blizzard has said Forever has no flying mounts and no level scaling.