Your first hour in Azeroth
Everything you need before your first fight: get the game, pick a ruleset, make a character, set up your keys, and know what to do when you arrive.
Get the game
WoW Forever comes with a regular World of Warcraft subscription. There's nothing extra to buy.
Make a Battle.net account and subscribe
Blizzard's accounts are called Battle.net. One subscription covers every version of WoW, including Forever.
Install the Battle.net app
Download it from Blizzard's website, then install World of Warcraft from inside the app.
Choose "Forever" as your game version
WoW has several versions. Pick Forever from the version menu above the Play button, then press Play.
Pick a ruleset
Forever has no list of servers to choose from. Instead you pick a ruleset, the kind of world you want to play in, and everyone on it in your region plays together. You can't switch later; you'd need a new character.
Normal
Quest, explore, and team up. You only fight other players when you choose to. The best pick for your first character.
PvP
Players from the other side can attack you while you level. You also have to pick one side (Alliance or Horde) for all your characters there.
Roleplaying
For players who like to act out their character's story with others.
What about Hardcore?
A Hardcore ruleset, where death is permanent, is coming some time after launch. Not recommended for your first character!
Meet players who speak your language
In the game, press Esc, choose Options, then Languages and Social, and set your Preferred Online Language. You can only change it once a day.
Make a character
Only one choice here really matters, and that's your class.
Pick a side: Alliance or Horde
The two sides can't group up or talk to each other. Pick the one your friends are on. Otherwise, pick the one whose races you like.
Pick a race
Race is mostly about looks and where you start. Pick what you like; it won't make or break your character.
Pick a class
This decides how you play. Not sure? Take the quiz or browse the classes. Hunter is the easiest first choice.
Choose a name and press Enter World
Every character has a first name and a second name. Your first name can be one someone else uses, as long as the full name is different. Keep the first name simple: friends will be typing it.
Set up your keys
The game puts your abilities on keys 1 to =, which are hard to reach. We'll move them next to your movement keys, so your left hand never has to leave WASD. It takes about 3 minutes, and every guide on this site uses this layout.
What each key is for
Every class guide on this site puts the same kind of ability on the same key. Learn it once, and it works for every character you make.
| 1 2 3 | Main attacks, the ones you press every fight |
| Q E | Often: your next most-used buttons |
| R | Big cooldown, for tough enemies |
| F | Interrupt or stun: stop an enemy's spell, or stop the enemy |
| 4 5 | Situational: groups of enemies, slows, openers |
| T G | Heal or utility |
| Z | Emergency: your "get me out of here" button. A bit of a stretch, so you won't hit it by accident. |
Buffs you cast between fights (like a Mage's armor or a Warrior's shout) go on a second bar instead. Your class guide lists them.
How to set it up
-
Open Key Bindings
Press Esc, choose Options, then Keybindings.
-
Find "Action Bars"
Scroll to the Action Bars section. You'll see "Action Button 1" through "Action Button 12". These are the 12 slots on the bar at the bottom of your screen.
-
Change Action Buttons 6 to 12
Click the box next to each one, then press the new key. Leave buttons 1–5 as they are.
Action Button 6 Q Action Button 7 E Action Button 8 R Action Button 9 F Action Button 10 T Action Button 11 G Action Button 12 Z -
Make A and D sidestep
Scroll up to Movement Keys. Out of the box, A and D turn your character, which is slow. Set them to sidestep (the game calls it "strafe") instead. You'll turn with the mouse.
Strafe Left A Strafe Right D -
Say yes to "already bound" warnings
The game will say some keys are already used, for example Q and E (sidestep) and A and D (turn). That's expected: A and D now sidestep, and Q and E are free for abilities.
-
Click Okay, and you're done
Your abilities now sit right around your movement keys.
How to move
W A S D
W forward, S back. A and D sidestep left and right.
Hold the right mouse button
While held, moving the mouse turns your character. Keep it held most of the time.
Hold the left mouse button
Moves the camera without turning your character. Scroll the wheel to zoom.
Tab or left-click
Tab picks the nearest enemy in front of you. Right-click to talk, loot, or attack.
Your first hour
You'll arrive in a small starting area full of characters with symbols over their heads. Here's what they mean and what to do.
! Yellow exclamation mark
This person has a quest for you. Right-click them, read (or skim) it, and press Accept.
? Yellow question mark
You've finished their quest. Go back, right-click them, and collect your reward.
Your quest log
Press L to see your quests. Quest areas are marked on your map (M).
Low on health?
Eat food (or drink water for mana) between fights. Sit down and wait a few seconds. You'll recover much faster.
Loot everything
Right-click defeated enemies to take their items. Sell gray items to any shopkeeper for money.
Level 2? Find your trainer
Your class trainer teaches new abilities. Ask any guard for directions. Drag new abilities from your spellbook (P) onto your action bar.
What's next?
- Open your class guide and read the top half.
- Play until level 10. Don't overthink it: just quest and have fun.
- Then read The 10 Rules of Azeroth to level faster.