World of Warcraft: Forever beta

Where the beta stands, what every build changed, how to get in, and what Blizzard lists as broken.

Launch is on 4 November 2026 at 3 pm Pacific time.30 level cap
  1. Beta opensTesters logged in with a level 20 cap.
  2. Level cap 30Blizzard raised the beta's level cap from 20 to 30 and opened more dungeons.
  3. Stress TestOpen to everyone for a limited time, no beta access needed. The beta goes offline while it runs, and its characters are wiped after.
  4. Friend codesInvite-A-Friend Launch Codes are emailed to buyers of an upgrade edition.
  5. Beta ends21 October is the last full day of testing, Pacific time.
  6. Name reservationReserve names for up to 3 characters with any upgrade purchase.
  7. LaunchWorldwide at 3 pm Pacific time.
  8. Friends play freeA friend with your Invite-A-Friend code plays without a subscription.
  9. New raids unlockBlizzard names Hyjal Summit (20 players, 13 bosses) and the Barrow Deeps (10 players, 8 bosses) as the new raids.
  10. Collection sale endsLast day to buy the limited Warcraft Forever Collection.

Level cap 30. The cap rose from 20 to 30 during the beta.

Beta builds

  1. Build 1.60.1.70450No gameplay changes
  2. Build 1.60.1.70425Game changes143 talents and abilities12 items added4 quests added
  3. Build 1.60.1.70338No gameplay changes
  4. Build 1.60.1.70291Game changes52 talents and abilities21 items added1 quest added
  5. Build 1.60.1.70245No gameplay changes
  6. Build 1.60.1.70235No gameplay changes
  7. Build 1.60.1.70205Game changes2 items added
  8. Build 1.60.1.70170Game changes105 talents and abilities3 items added4 quests added
  9. Build 1.60.1.70124No gameplay changes
  10. Build 1.60.1.70058No gameplay changes
  11. Build 1.60.1.70009Game changes59 talents and abilities143 items added5 quests added
  12. Build 1.60.1.69977No gameplay changes
  13. Build 1.60.1.69913Starting pointEvery later build is compared with this one.
  14. Build 1.60.1.69893Not compared
  15. Build 1.60.1.69876Not compared

What you can play

Level 30 cap since the 1 October update. 15 dungeons are open to test; no raid is open yet.

  • Legacy points for testersEvery tester has 16 Legacy points to spend since the 8 October update, and resetting them costs 1 silver at the cheapest. Plan them on the Legacy page's trees.
  • Cheap respecsIn the beta a respec costs 1 silver when you have not changed talents recently; the next one costs more, back to 1 silver after an hour.
The beta's first week, 17 September 2026, at level 20

More zones, dungeons and the new battleground open as the test goes on. At launch: level cap 60, 9 new dungeons, zones such as Zephras Isle and the Riverglades, the new Skyborne race, and 6 new race and class pairs. Everything new in Forever, counted

How to get in

  • Buy an editionThe Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include the beta, within 30 minutes of buying.
  • Opt in and waitPlayers who opt in can be picked. Blizzard sends invites regularly and also invites community veterans, press, fansites and friends and family.
  • Collector's Edition codeNeeds a World of Warcraft game account, works once per account, and not on an account that already has the beta.
  • Friend codes are not beta keysInvite-A-Friend Launch Codes let a friend play from 4 November to 11 November 2026, not the beta.
  • Stress Test, 19 October 2026Open to everyone, no subscription or beta access needed: in the Battle.net app pick World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development. It starts at 2 pm PDT in North America, 19:00 CEST in Europe, 06:00 KST on 20 October in Korea and 05:00 CST on 20 October in Taiwan, and its characters, names and guilds are wiped when it ends.
  • Server SlamBlizzard said a Server Slam will open the servers to everyone for several hours. It has not given it a date or said whether the Stress Test is that event.

Editions

Forever comes with a subscription or Game Time. The editions are optional, each holds everything in the one before it, and the Skyborne need the Heroic Pack or higher.

Skyborne Heroic PackNo beta access1 friend code
What is inside
  • Skyborne race and the Zephras Isle starting experience
  • Early Name Reservation
  • Cerulean Prideclaw ground mount (riding skill bought in game)
  • Shen'dorei Skyseer's Garb
  • Veteran Adventurer's Rucksack
  • Shen'dorei Windwell toy
  • Skyborne Housing decor for modern WoW
  • 1 Invite-A-Friend Launch Code
Skyborne Epic PackBeta access included3 friend codes
What is inside
  • Everything in the Skyborne Heroic Pack
  • Beta access from 17 September
  • 30 days of Game Time added from 4 November
  • More Veteran Adventurer cosmetics
  • Tabards
  • Pets for the Forever collection
  • 2 more Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes (3 in total)
Warcraft Forever CollectionBeta access included3 friend codes
What is inside
  • Everything in the Skyborne Epic Pack
  • Warcraft III: Reforged
  • Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom campaign
  • Forsaken and Human Figurine decor for Housing in modern WoW
  • Game TimeThe Epic Pack and the Collection add 30 days of Game Time from launch.
  • Collector's EditionHolds Warcraft Forever Collection digital code, 13-inch Dwarf and Bear statue, Zephras Isle mousepad, art prints, collectible pins and companion journal. The English restock from 24 September 2026 ships in February 2027, one per household.

Names

  • Two namesEvery character has 2 names and the pair must be unique in your region. Hide the second name under Options, Nameplates, "My Secondary Name"; it still shows in chat. The name filter checks both parts together.
  • Early Name Reservation27 October to 3 November 2026, with any upgrade purchase, for up to 3 characters. First come, first served.
  • Renames in the betaSince 24 September 2026 Blizzard forces renames of names that break the policy, and an automatic check is coming.

Quality of life

Looks and Classic Mode

Opt-in transmogModern and Classic visual presetsHD and SD character modelsClassic animations for HD modelsOfficial gamepad supportNo flying mounts and no level scaling

Transmog

Opt-in at transmogrifiers in some cities; Classic Mode turns it off. Looks from high-level gear unlock for low-level characters at level 60. Bind on pickup dungeon drops give their look to the whole group; epic raid drops only to the winner.

Cooldown Manager

Off by default: Options, Gameplay Enhancement. In the 1 October 2026 build these classes can test it:

DruidMagePriestWarriorWarlockRogue

Racial abilities are supported. Each spell now shows once, not once per rank.

Gamepad

Official gamepad support, with class flyouts since the 24 September 2026 build, and these options:

Use Compact Action BarFixed Party TargetingSwap Target Modifier SidesSwap Friendly Target Action SidesSwap Hostile Target Action Sides

Changed in the 15 October build:

  • A swing timer on the center reticle
  • Bindings to turn Voice Channel Transcription on and off in the Chat Channels menu
  • Your own fishing bobber can always be targeted
  • Ground-targeted items confirm the placement on a second use
  • The gamepad action bar no longer disappears after relogging with a custom Edit Mode layout
  • The cast bar can be customized with Edit Mode
  • Class-specific flyouts are easier to use
  • Quest reward selection no longer blocks completing certain quests
  • Quests from interactive objects and other non-character quest givers can be turned in
  • Press and Hold Casting works with a gamepad
  • The Trade confirmation, Guild & Communities, Chat Channels and Transmog windows work with a gamepad

Interface, 15 October build

  • A new tutorial for new players
  • An Auto Attack/Auto Shot setting that makes Hunters switch between auto attack and Auto Shot by themselves
  • Lighting Bloom Intensity is a slider, under Advanced graphics
  • The Unit Frames display is updated
  • The Minimap header display is updated
  • Spells with different ranks are a single entry in the Cooldown Manager
  • The Auction House has a column for equippable level
  • The Auction House shows equipment stats from items with suffixes such as of the Monkey
  • Detailed Scrolling Combat Text options are under Options > Gameplay > Combat
  • Searching for Threat finds the Aggro Display option
  • Enemy and NPC nameplates above and below you show from a different distance; your target's nameplate is not affected
  • Level-up messages show stat increases and talent points gained again
  • In-game tutorials are updated
  • The Looking For Group list updates dungeon eligibility when party members are different levels
  • The Group Finder Show All Level Ranges checkbox updates the dungeon list
  • Art assets no longer run amok on the Professions panel
  • Who List search supports subzones
  • You can no longer accept the refresh world prompt in combat

Known issues

On 5 October the realms restarted for a few minutes to apply fixes, with no new build. On 6 October another restart brought fixes, one for quest items missing from a chest that should restock them. Since the 15 October build Auto Shot and wands need you to stand still for half a second before they shoot; European players with connection trouble in the first days got routing fixes.

Fixed on 15 October5 fixed
  • Extra bright fog at lower shadow settings is fixed
  • Horde players could gain Kirin Tor reputation; fixed
  • Creatures did not regenerate health when out of combat; fixed
  • Various Horde characters held the Night Watchman's Torch; fixed
  • Various drink tooltips did not show the correct amount of total Mana regeneration; fixed
New with the 8 October build3 listed
  • The new looks of the Skyborne druid's Cat Form, of various creatures on Zephras Isle and of some mounts, pets and other creatures arrive in a later build (Bear Form and Travel Form already have theirs)
  • Hunters who took the Ferocity talent do not see their pet's higher critical strike chance on the character sheet; this is a display bug only
  • Some icons in the Professions window appear broken
Fixed on 6 October2 fixed
  • A bug that could occasionally disconnect you when riding an elevator or transport
  • An error that could occur when joining or leaving a guild
Fixed on 3 October2 fixed
  • Bosses in Gnomeregan dropped no loot, quest items included (reported by testers); Blizzard says it was fixed that afternoon
  • After the 1 October build, Australian testers saw a login dialog saying their social features were locked down; Blizzard says the bug is fixed
New with the 1 October build13 listed
  • Chained spells do not play the next cast's precast effects and sounds until the first cast ends (cast Fireball twice in a row and the second Fireball's hand glow and crackle wait for the first to finish)
  • Enemies can parry and block from behind when a player stands close to them; staying away from targets avoids it
  • The full WoW: Forever install is larger than intended; Blizzard plans to shrink it in a later beta update
  • Switching into or out of Gamepad UI mode resets the active edit mode layout to the default preset
  • The Scroll of Liminal Passage does not work correctly
  • Dwarf characters do not have the updated water splash sounds yet (fixed in a later build)
  • Eureka! does not affect every damaging or healing spell for some classes (fixed in a later build)
  • Debuffs such as Faerie Fire and Demoralizing Shout do not generate threat (Demoralizing Shout and Demoralizing Roar fixed in a later build, Faerie Fire in Bear Form and Dire Bear Form in a later one)
  • Mages who learn Research can be blocked from using it
  • Warrior Dual Wield Specialization gives the hit chance bonus to both hands, and should give it to the off-hand only (the 1 Oct class notes take its hit chance away altogether)
  • Retribution Aura uses the target's spell power instead of the Paladin's (fixed in a later build)
  • The Taillasher Eggs for Break A Few Eggs respawn more slowly than intended (fixed in a later build)
  • Anduin Wrynn and many other children wear hats by mistake; Blizzard is working on it
Marked fixed on 1 October1 fixed
  • Forming or changing a party moved players to another world instance; party leaders are no longer transferred when a party is made or changed
New with the 24 September build3 listed
  • Cooldown Manager misses re-acquired Banes and Curses, Healthstone, Arcane Blast, pet cooldowns and weapon enhancements; Priest tracks everything by default; Mana Gem needs an extra cast
  • Stormwind minimap display issues
  • Personal Resource Display shows no combo points
Marked fixed on 24 September2 fixed
  • Escaping Ban'ethil escort runs too fast
  • Snowbound (Loch Modan) gave too much XP
Listed when the beta opened10 listed
  • Barber chairs cause a UI error
  • Friends list disabled in the beta
  • Minimap may sit partly off screen
  • Character pane lacks level, class and titles
  • Warlock and Hunter pet stats on the character sheet are incomplete
  • Caster glancing blow chance and penalty are wrong; melee glancing penalty against higher-level targets is wrong
  • The Legacy window can be opened with Y before level 25 and throws errors
  • Guild charters temporarily accept zero signatures
  • Coldridge Valley does not reveal on the map (fixed next build)
  • Several fixed-next-build items: Waylaid Crates, Escaping Ban'ethil, Starshards with Twilight Focus, Vengeance on periodic crits, Holy Strike rank value, Create Firestone tooltips
Added in the first days5 listed
  • Cooldown Manager is a work in progress
  • Armour from consumables and buffs is multiplied by Bear Form
  • Queuing an on-next-attack ability disables the spell queue window
  • Damage while channeling Arcane Missiles fires a full-damage bolt
  • Resurrection sickness duration is wrong at low levels

Questions

How do I get into the World of Warcraft: Forever beta?

Beta access comes with the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection; buyers get in within 30 minutes. Players who opt in on Battle.net can also be picked, and Blizzard sends those invites regularly.

When does the Forever beta end?

The beta runs from 17 September 2026 to 21 October 2026, Pacific time, and 21 October is the last full day of testing.

What is the level cap in the beta?

The beta started with a level 20 cap, and the cap is now 30. At launch the cap is 60.

What can I play in the beta at level 30?

15 dungeons are open: Hall of Thanes, Ragefire Chasm, Ruins of Lordaeron, Wailing Caverns, The Deadmines, Shadowfang Keep, The Stockade, Blackfathom Deeps, Excavation Site, Scarlet Monastery, City of Dalaran, Gnomeregan, Razorfen Kraul, Razorfen Downs and Uldaman. No raid is open in the beta.

When does World of Warcraft: Forever launch?

Worldwide on 4 November 2026 at 3 pm Pacific time.

Do I have to buy an edition to play Forever?

No. Forever is part of a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time; the 3 upgrade editions are optional. Playing a Skyborne needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition.

Do Invite-A-Friend codes give beta access?

No. Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes let a friend play from 4 November to 11 November 2026 without a subscription, and do not include the beta. The Heroic Pack comes with 1 code, the Epic Pack and the Collection with 3.

Can I join the Stress Test?

Yes. The Stress Test on 19 October 2026 is open to everyone, with no subscription, Game Time or beta access needed: choose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development in the Battle.net app. It starts at 2 pm PDT in North America, 19:00 CEST in Europe, 06:00 KST on 20 October in Korea and 05:00 CST on 20 October in Taiwan, the beta is offline while it runs, and everything made on its servers is wiped when it ends.

When is the Server Slam?

Blizzard has said a Server Slam will open the beta servers to everyone for several hours, but it has not given it a date or said whether the Stress Test on 19 October 2026 is that event.

Can I reserve my character name?

Yes, with any upgrade purchase: Early Name Reservation runs from 27 October to 3 November 2026 for up to 3 characters. Names are first come, first served.

How do character names work in Forever?

Every character has 2 names, and the pair must be unique in your region. You can hide the second name in the world, but it still shows in chat.

Is there transmog, and can I turn it off?

Transmog is opt-in: you set it at transmogrifiers in some cities, and Classic Mode turns it off. Looks from high-level gear unlock for low-level characters only at level 60.

Does Forever support a controller?

Yes, Forever has official gamepad support, and the 24 September 2026 build added class flyouts and new gamepad options.

When do the raids open?

New raids unlock on 9 December 2026. Blizzard names Hyjal Summit, for 20 players, and the Barrow Deeps, for 10, as the new raids.

Is Hardcore available at launch?

No. There is no realm list: you pick one of 4 rulesets (Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and Hardcore), and Hardcore arrives some time after launch. You group only with players on the same ruleset.

Will my graphics card run Forever?

From launch Forever needs a graphics card built on one of these designs or newer: AMD Graphics Core Next 1 (2012), NVIDIA Maxwell (2014) and Intel Skylake (2015).

What changed in the latest beta build?

Build 1.60.1.70450 (16 October 2026) brought no gameplay changes: talents, abilities, items and quests are the same as in the build before it. The last build that changed the game is 1.60.1.70425 (15 October 2026): 143 talents and abilities changed across 9 classes; 12 items added and 459 items changed; 4 quests added. The beta builds section of this page lists every build.

Every beta buildWhat's new in ForeverTalent calculatorWorld map