Reserve Your Name Before Launch — First Come, First Served, Friend!

At a glance

• When: October 27 through November 3, 2026. Each region opens at its own time (see above). No closing time has been announced. Announced by Blizzard
• Who: anyone who bought an upgrade pack: Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection. It only works on the WoW account the pack was bought for. Compare them on WoW Forever editions. Announced by Blizzard
• How many: up to 3 characters in total, across all rulesets. Two PvP characters leave room for one on Normal, Roleplaying or Roleplay-PvP. Announced by Blizzard
• Which rulesets: Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and Roleplay-PvP. Not sure yet? Pick your ruleset first.
• No guarantee: names are first come, first served.

Steps

1. Update your graphics drivers.
2. Install the Battle.net app and let it update.
3. Select World of Warcraft in your game list.
4. In the Game Version menu, choose World of Warcraft: Forever, then click Install.
5. Once installed, click Play and choose your ruleset.
6. Create up to three characters with the names you want.

Blizzard has not said whether you can play these characters before launch. Plan on creating them, not playing them, until November 4.

Naming rules

• Your name has two parts: a first name and a second name. The full name must be unique in your region (there are no realms). Two characters can share a first name.
• Names follow the code of conduct. Some words, spellings and repeated letters are refused.
• Both parts are checked together: splitting a word across them does not get it through.
• No idea? The character screen has a random name generator.
• You can hide your second name over your head: Esc > Options > Nameplates > "My Secondary Name". It still shows in chat.
• On Roleplaying, names must be believable: no puns, no jokes.

Before you click "Create"

• Ruleset and region: agree with your friends or guild first. Groups only work on the same ruleset.
• PvP: one faction per account on this ruleset. Pick your side before your first PvP character. Which side? See races and class combos.
• Roleplay-PvP: Blizzard has not detailed its rules yet.
• Guild names: no reservation has been announced.
• Old characters: beta and Stress Test characters, names and guilds were wiped. Nothing carries over.

After November 3

The reservation window closes and normal character creation opens with the launch on November 4. Launch time in every time zone: WoW Forever release date. Servers up? Server status. Once in: your first hour in WoW Forever.

"Three names locked before the crowd shows up, zero gold spent. That's what I call a bargain, friend."