It is finally here! World of Warcraft Classic gets its Hardcore mode and with it, death is no longer a minor inconvenience. Here's what you need to know before going into WoW Classic Hardcore.

Content Releases

  • Everything is available on day 1. No phases!

Resurrecting

  • If you die, you cannot resurrect under any circumstances.
  • Upon death, you can still login to your character as a ghost to chat or hand over guild leadership.
  • You can move your dead character to a non-hardcore realm to continue playing them via a Free Character Move.

Player vs Player

  • You will not be flagged for PvP when attacking another player - you can't unless you...
  • You must type /pvp to flag yourself for pvp.
  • Battlegrounds are disabled, as are the Battlemasters.
  • You can participate in premade Wargames, but you cannot gain Honor or Reputation from them.
  • Quests that would cause you to become PvP-flagged no longer do so.
  • "Duel to the Death" allows players to fight each other until someone dies.
    • You can right click a player's portrait to issue this challenge, or target them and type /makgora
    • Both players will have to acknowledge a warning message about the challenge.
  • There is a new buff called String of Ears that players obtain each time they kill someone in a Duel to the Death.
    • You cannot earn the buff below level 10.
    • If you are too far away in levels from your opponent, it won't count towards the buff.

Quests

  • If a quest requires you to die to complete it, this restriction has been removed.
  • Escort-related NPCs can no longer be attacked by players of the opposite faction.
    • Too many possibilities for gameplay disruption by higher level characters.

Creatures

  • The ability to kite strong and boss level creatures to other areas will no longer be possible as they will now leash.

Dungeons

  • If you are below level 60, each dungeon can only be completed once per 24 hours.
  • Level 60 characters cannot enter dungeons with players below level 60.
  • Season of Mastery's trivial experience modifier when people are much high level that monsters in a dungeon exists here too.
  • Dungeon leveling is not what Hardcore WoW is about. Blizzard wants players in the world, not being carried by max level characters.

Buffs & Debuffs

  • There is no longer a 16 debuff and 32 buff limit.
  • Paladins can no longer "Bubble Hearth" to escape combat.

Quote From Blizzard

Face Azeroth’s dangers in WoW Classic’s Hardcore realms and see just how far you can go. You only have one life to live, and the Spirit Healers won’t be there to send you back out into the world of the living when you die. Death is permanent, and once you’ve been bested by the environment (or even other players), you’ll need to dust yourself off and create a new character to try again. 

Get In and Get Going: Classic Hardcore

Whether new to World of Warcraft or returning, we'll help you prepare to take on the challenges ahead, but surviving them all depends on you. Learn more in our previously published article.

Adventures in Classic Hardcore: What’s Playing

Classic Hardcore is upon us. Get a quick refresher on the content available, the special considerations for Hardcore and be ready for your ticket into a new adventure! Learn more in our previously published article.

Facing Mortality – What Lies Beyond Death in Classic Hardcore

Death isn't necessarily the end for Classic Hardcore characters. Learn about your choices and how to make the most of your Hardcore experience. Visit our previously published article for more information.

Check out the Rules of Engagement and our official patch notes to learn more about the gameplay on Classic Hardcore realms.

Lok’tar ogar, friends!