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Systems

Rulesets and names

Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and Hardcore instead of a realm list, and the new two-part character names.

State of research: 26 Sept 2026, beta build 1.60.1.70009.

Rulesets instead of realms

There is no realm list. Players choose a ruleset: Normal, PvP, Roleplaying, or Hardcore (after launch). Each ruleset is a large shared environment, not one giant realm. Grouping across rulesets is not possible, and Horde and Alliance cannot group.

Official
2 sources
Normal
Baseline experience; PvP only by mutual consent.
PvP
Open-world PvP in contested territory. Only one faction per account on this ruleset.
Roleplay
For roleplayers.
Hardcore
Permanent death; available after launch; fully separate.
Official
2 sources

The rulesets as the client describes them

Forever client

PvP

This ruleset allows you to focus on player versus player combat; you are almost always at risk of being attacked by opposing players.

Normal

This ruleset allows you to focus on adventuring and fighting monsters while allowing you to fight other players at your own discretion.

Roleplay

This ruleset has strict naming conventions and behavior rules for players interested in immersing themselves as a character in a fantasy-based world.

Hardcore

This challenging ruleset features permanent player character death. Dead characters may transfer to other rulesets to be resurrected.

What to know

  • Moving a character between rulesets is not possible; you create a new character. Exception: a dead Hardcore character can transfer to another ruleset, including PvP.

  • Battlegrounds may mix players from different rulesets, except Hardcore.

  • Collections and Legacy Points are account-wide across rulesets. Hardcore progress flows out to other rulesets, but not back in.

  • On Normal, Roleplaying and Hardcore you can create characters of both factions.

  • PvP faction balance uses tools similar to Season of Discovery, such as temporarily limiting character creation for one faction.

  • Preferred Online Language: Esc → Options → System → Languages and Social. Account-wide, 24-hour cooldown.

Official
2 sources

Regions

Per the community transcript of the developer Q&A, Forever is 'realmless but not regionless'; Oceanic players are hosted in Australian data centres and share the US ruleset.

Community
1 source

Two-part names

Every character has a first and a second name. The full combination must be unique within the region. The second name can be hidden in the world (Esc → Options → Nameplates → "My Secondary Name") but still shows in chat.

Official
2 sources

  • Both parts are checked together, so splitting a restricted word across both names does not make it valid.

  • In the beta Blizzard issued forced renames and removed beta access for names far outside the Code of Conduct.

Community
2 sources

Tips

With any upgrade edition you can reserve up to three characters from 27 October to 3 November. Names are first come, first served, and the full two-part name counts, so prepare alternatives for the second name.

Official
2 sources