To play the newest expansion, The War Within, you'll need to WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Gold purchase it separately. Only the Epic Edition includes 30 days of game time; the other editions do not.

You can also fund your subscription with in-game WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Gold using the WoW Token, which can be bought on the Auction House. This allows you to turn gold into game time or Battle.net balance.

Important note: EU and NA accounts are separate. Pick the region with the best ping for you and stick with it.

Retail vs. Classic: Which to Choose?

The big question new players ask: Retail or Classic?

Retail WoW (the modern version) has 20 years of quality-of-life upgrades, faster leveling, more activities at endgame, and improved visuals. This is where new players should start.

Classic WoW is the game as it was in 2004-slower, more difficult, and missing modern conveniences. Some players love it for the nostalgic, old-school feel.

There are also spin-offs:

Hardcore Classic, with permanent death.

Season of Discovery adds twists like new roles and mechanics.

Progression servers like Cataclysm Classic, where expansions unlock in cycles.

If you're brand new, start with Retail. You can always try Classic later-it's included in your subscription.

Making Your First Character

Race and Faction

You'll choose between Alliance and Horde, but today, factions don't matter as much as they used to. Guilds, dungeons, and raids are cross-faction, so the main difference is starting zones and aesthetics.

Some races called Allied Races unlock later after completing simple quests on a level 40+ character. Each comes with a free mount.

Class and Specialization

WoW has the classic MMO "trinity": tank, healer, DPS. But every class can DPS, so you're never locked out of content. Some classes offer multiple roles-like Druids, who can tank, heal, or deal damage in melee or ranged forms.

Each class has specializations (specs) that feel completely different. For example, Hunters can play as ranged bow users, melee fighters, or pet-focused beastmasters. At level 71 in The War Within, you'll also unlock Hero Talents like Dark Ranger or Rider of the Apocalypse, giving even more variety.

Tip: Don't stress about balance or "the meta." Pick a class that feels fun-WoW's class fantasy is one of its strongest features.

Servers in 2025

Server choice barely matters today. You can:

Join guilds across realms.

Trade WoW Classic Fresh Gold and items through a new Warband account-wide bank.

Use a region-wide Auction House for consumables.

The few things still server-specific are character names, rare crafted gear orders, and certain Auction House categories.

PvP servers no longer exist, but you can toggle War Mode on or off at any time for bonus XP and world PvP.

Starting Zones and Leveling

New players begin in Exile's Reach, a tutorial island that teaches the basics and ends with a dungeon run alongside AI companions. From there, you'll move into WoW Classic Fresh Gold Dragonflight zones, which are fun, rewarding, and unlock Skyriding early.