World of Warcraft Classic Survival Guide & Giveaway

Posted 2019/08/26 at 3:26 PM by Neryssa

World of Warcraft: Classic Survival GuideAugust 27th(August 26th for the Americas)Molten CoreOnyxia's Lairin this news articleAn Authentic Recreation

Leveling: Classic zones do not scale according to your level. There are no heirlooms that you can purchase to increase your experience gains/survivability. Speaking of survivability, there are many Elite quests that are tough! The difficulty between zones vary, and you will often find yourself bouncing between multiple zones completing quests suitable for your level.
You can read more about leveling changes in our Biggest Changes to Leveling if you've played BFA article.

Dungeons:

You can read more about dungeon changes in our Biggest Changes to Dungeons if you've played BFA article.

Professions:

You can read more about profession changes in our Biggest Changes to Professions if you've played BFA article.

Classes:PaladinShamanDPS:

You can read more about DPS changes in our Biggest Changes to the DPS role if you've played BFA article.

Tanks:

You can read more about Tank changes in our Biggest Changes to the Tanking role if you've played BFA article.

Healers:

You can read more about Healing changes in our Biggest Changes to the Healing role if you've played BFA article.

Getting Started with Classic WoWclick here

Open your Battle.net desktop client and select World of Warcraft in the left-side menu.
On the version dropdown menu, select World of Warcraft Classic.
If you have more than one World of Warcraft account, you will see a second dropdown showing all accounts linked to your Battle.net. Select the account you wish to play Classic WoW with. Remember that, once again, you must have an active World of Warcraft subscription to play Classic WoW.

Click the Install button. After selecting an installation folder, your Classic WoW client will start downloading, and the Battle.net Client will show you once the game is available to play.
Once Classic WoW is fully downloaded and installed, simply press Play and prepare for your new adventure in Azeroth!

If you're playing with friends, make sure you pick the same realm as your friends - In Classic WoW, you can only group with people on the same realm as you!USEUWowhead's Discord server

Normal: The best realm type for new players, this type is best for players who do not wish to engage in open-world PvP. All zones, with the exception of capital cities and starting zones, are considered Contested. Players are unable to attack each other in Contested zones, unless they choose to flag themselves for World PvP (by using the command /PvP while in-game).
PvP (Player vs. Player): This realm type allows for open-world PvP to happen at any moment in all areas, except areas that are considered safe (such as the starting zones, the first areas where players begin their adventure).
RP (Role-Play): These realms are ideal for players who wish to take part in role-playing their character with others! Rules are more strict on RP realms, such as having to choose a name that would fit within the Warcraft universe, and maintaining a positive atmosphere for those who are roleplaying their characters.
RPPvP (Role-Play, Player vs. Player): These realms follow the same ruleset as the RP realms, but with the added rules of PvP servers. Except mighty combat against the opposite faction in contested areas!

After you've selected your desired realm, you'll be brought to the Character Selection screen, where you will be able to create a new character to begin your journey with. You're able to choose your faction, class and race, as well as customize many options in your character (such as skin color, facial features and hairstyles) and give them their very own name. To start the process, simply click on Create New Character to begin creating your character.

Create your character very carefully to make sure you like its appearance, as you will not be able to change it after your character is created! You can use Wowhead's Classic Dressing Room to get started with customizing your character.

Druids are the keepers of the world. Locked in slumber for generation and awaken to help fight the threat of the Burning Legion, Druids commune with the powers of nature to help heal the world.
Unique feature: Shapeshifting into many forms, being masters of all trades.

Hunters

Unique feature: Tame and raise pets as your combat companions.

Mages

Unique feature: Ease of transportation via portals and teleports, can conjure their own food.

Paladins

Unique feature: Can help themselves or their groups in multiple ways via Blessings.

Priests

Unique feature: Very diverse healing tooltip, can mind control enemies.

Rogues

Unique feature: Heavy usage of stealth mechanics, has unique mechanics such as poisons and lockpicking.

Shaman

Unique feature: Can help their groups via Totems with a wide reach of abilities.

Warlocks

Unique feature: Can enslave demons to carry on their will and are able to summon group members to their location.

Warriors

Unique features: Wide variety of weapons to choose from, builds Rage as a resource.

Class and Talent Overview

Race

Race

Starting Area

Capital City

Human

Northshire Valley (Elwynn Forest)

Stormwind City

Dwarf

Coldridge Valley (Dun Morogh)

Ironforge

Gnome

Coldridge Valley (Dun Morogh)

Ironforge

Night Elf

Shadowglen (Teldrassil)

Darnassus

Race

Starting Area

Capital City

Orc

Valley of Trials (Durotar)

Orgrimmar

Troll

Valley of Trials (Durotar)

Orgrimmar

Tauren

Red Cloud Mesa (Mulgore)

Thunder Bluff

Undead

Deathknell (Tirisfal Glades)

Undercity

First Log In on Classic

For more addon recommendations, please check our Best Addons for WoW Classic article.

Advanced Interface Options - Exposes all interface options hidden by Blizzard. Also includes a useful cvar explorer, perfect for players that like to tweak their WoW Client.

AtlasLootClassic - Addon to check all loot tables from the game. Useful as Classic does not have a Dungeon Journal like retail.

Vendor Price - This addon shows the selling price of an item on the game's tooltip for that item.

Wowhead Client - Application and addon used to help build our database!

WeakAuras2 Classic - Robust interface addon that allows the player to create auras to track different aspects of the game. Players can also import auras created by other players by visiting repositories like Wago.io.

OmniCC - This is a simple, yet remarkably useful addon to have, regardless of what you're doing in the game. This adds a simple timer over your cooldown abilities. That lets you know precisely when they're going to come back up, so you know when you can use them again, or line up major abilities with cooldowns as necessary.

Questie - Powerful quest helper. Adds many different Quest QoL improvements to the interface, making questing similar to retail.

ClassicCodex - Another Powerful quest helper, an alternative to Questie.

WoWInterface

C:\World of Warcraft\_classic_\Interface\AddOns

Twitch Desktop AppMods > World of Warcraftgraphic and sound settingscamera following styleauto-lootkey bindingsThe Art of Effective Keybindinggolden exclamation markquestsilver exclamation pointInnRestspeech bubble with a zzz iconnormally purpleblue hueSpells, Abilities and Things To Do While Leveling

Alliance and Horde characters follow incredibly different leveling routes. We've compiled the best routes for each faction! These include important quests for each zone, and routes to level more efficiently.

Classic WoW General Alliance Leveling Guide | Classic WoW General Horde Leveling Guide

Characters in World of Warcraft are able to learn new, more powerful abilities as they level up. You will not learn these abilities automatically, though; You will need to find a Class trainer in any capital cities to learn new abilities. Each ability costs a certain amount of gold, and you might not want to purchase spells that you won't see a lot of use while leveling.

Looking for tips on how to level a certain class? Then check our Leveling Guides!

Classic WoW Druid Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Hunter Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Mage Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Paladin Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Priest Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Rogue Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Shaman Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Warlock Leveling Guide
Classic WoW Warrior Leveling Guide

Starting at level 10, you will gain access to class talents, a tree of abilities that allow you to further customize your character. Starting at level 10, you will earn a talent point every time you level up, to a maximum of 51 talent points available at the level cap of 60. Every class has 3 different talent trees, and you can spread your points among them as you wish, to best suit your playstyle!
Wanna plan your talents and see their effects? Our Talent Calculator is exactly what you're looking for!

Transportation GuideClass Quests

Looking to know when you will receive Class Quests, or what you need to do for them? Check our Class Quest guides!

Classic WoW Druid Class Quests
Classic WoW Hunter Class Quests
Classic WoW Mage Class Quests
Classic WoW Paladin Class Quests
Classic WoW Priest Class Quests
Classic WoW Rogue Class Quests
Classic WoW Shaman Class Quests
Classic WoW Warlock Class Quests
Classic WoW Warrior Class Quests

Professions in Classic WoW

Alchemy: Create powerful augmenting potions that can be used from tasks like healing your health and mana to making you smaller.
Profession Guide: Alchemy Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Blacksmithing:

Profession Guide: Blacksmithing Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Enchanting:

Profession Guide: Enchanting Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Engineering:

Profession Guide: Engineering Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Herbalism:

Profession Guide: Herbalism Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Leatherworking:

Profession Guide: Leatherworking Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Mining:

Profession Guide: Mining Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Skinning:

Profession Guide: Skinning Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Tailoring:

Profession Guide: Tailoring Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Cooking: Learn how to cook many reagents into restorative and stat-enhancing foods.
Profession Guide: Cooking Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

First Aid:

Profession Guide: First Aid Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300

Fishing:Fishing Profession Guide and Leveling 1-300Leveling with Dungeonsdungeons

Each dungeon is best suited for a specific level range. To check for a quick overview of each dungeon, check our Classic Dungeons Overview!

Looking for specific dungeon guides while you level? We have them as well! These guides include the location for the entrance of the dungeon, bosses and their abilities, and a loot list for the entire dungeon.

Ragefire Chasm (13-18)	Wailing Caverns (15-25)	Deadmines (18-23)	Shadowfang Keep (22-30)
Blackfathom Deeps (20-30)	The Stockades (22-30)	Gnomeregan (24-34)	Razorfen Kraul (30-40)
Scarlet Monastery (26-45)	Razorfen Downs (40-50)	Uldaman (35-45)	Zul'farrak (44-54)
Maraudon (46-55)	Sunken Temple (55-60)	Blackrock Depths (52-60)	Lower Blackrock Spire (55-60)
Upper Blackrock Spire (55-60)	Scholomance (55-60)	Stratholme (Living) (55-60)	Stratholme (Undead) (55-60)

Another good reason to do dungeons is to complete dungeon quests, which usually award good gear. Some of these quests can be pretty well out of the way.

To find out all about Dungeon quests, then check our List of Classic Dungeon Quests!

The Future of Classic WoWMolten CoreOnyxia's LairStaggered Classic Content UpdateClassic PvP Content Plan Explanation

Phase 1 (Launch TODAY!): Molten Core, Onyxia's Lair, Maraudon, PvP enabled but no formal rewards

Phase 2: Dire Maul, Azuregos, Lord Kazzak, PvP Honor System, PvP Rank Rewards

Phase 3: Blackwing Lair, Darkmoon Faire (and Darkmoon Card Decks), Alterac Valley, Warsong Gulch

Phase 4: Zul'Gurub, Dragons of Nightmare, Arathi Basin

Phase 5: Ahn'Qiraj War Effort, Ahn'Qiraj Raids Open, Tier 0.5 Questline, Dungeon Gear Drop Changes, Relics

Phase 6: Scourge Invasion, Naxxramas, PvP Objectives in Silithus/Eastern Plaguelands

To enter this giveaway, complete any one or more of the actions provided via the below Gleam widget. If you have issues with the widget, visit this page instead!

Having issues viewing this widget? Try this page!

September 8thcheck out our Winners' Gallery for images

Comment by KnuteOleGood guide for new players! I think I'll dust-off my old Brady Games guide for old time's sake. :)Comment by CheeseitWe're going home, friends!Comment by KnuteOleWe're going home, friends!Comment by SnakeslickWe're so close!

Good guide for new players! I think I'll dust-off my old Brady Games guide for old time's sake. :)Comment by RaciidVery diverse healing tooltip, can mind control enemies.Comment by FleckerManAugust 26th 23:00 in the UKComment by 1811332This post was from a user who has deleted their account.Comment by AlverionHUNWe're going home, friends!Comment by BethofHeartsRemovedComment by ninioArgWhat's the plan after the last mentioned phase? Is this going to be Vanilla for ever or is it going to progress to Burning Crusade?Comment by KnuteOleWhat's the plan after the last mentioned phase? Is this going to be Vanilla for ever or is it going to progress to Burning Crusade?Comment by BeornwulfSaxonfirst link to the giveaway page is wrong, takes to the Season 3 one.Comment by ShirubiaNot a bad guide and it covers the important points... But again you insist on using Gleam, were the comment giveaways that bad?Comment by OswaldovzkiThousand Needles, here I go!Comment by NinaevaThousand Needles, here I go!Comment by KnuteOleThousand Needles, here I go!Comment by MetalMinxI don't get why I have to follow Perculia's personal Twitter to join the giveaway. Following Wowhead makes sense, but Perculia also posts personal stuff on her Twitter (which is understandable), and I'm not interested in seeing it. I know that I could skip doing it, but I miss out on entries that way.Comment by soneilI'm loving this.
After expansion after expansion of gameplay being dumbed down, this brought me back to wow.
Back to where questing is actually fun and challenging rather than a mindless race to endgame as it's become in modern wow. When you can't simply carve your path through huge groups of mobs without breaking a sweat. When dungeons were actually fun to explore and took some strategy rather than a 15 minute LFG faceroll. I logged in to regular wow a couple of times after re-subbing but it doesn't hold my interest. This is real wow.