Over two decades later, World of Warcraft is still a sensation known across the globe. Very few games can claim such enduring influence (and player counts) as WoW, which has proven itself the ultimate MMORPG.
If you’re diving into this epic game for the first time, this WoW guide will help you get your head around. Not only is the game huge, but it has grown ever larger since release. Receiving major update after major update, to not be one of the largest games ever made.
But don’t fret.
This guide will help you orient yourself in the massive world of WoW. Helping you get started, set up your expectations and set out on your road into Azeroth.
What is World of Warcraft, Anyway?
While everyone knows the name, it’s worth getting our heads around what World of Warcraft is. After all, this isn’t the same game that was released way back in 2004—it has changed A LOT since then.
The Ultimate MMO
The most basic way to understand WoW is as an MMORPG—that is, a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Ok… time to move on? Not quite.
WoW is arguably the game that defined what an MMORPG looked like (at least after 2004). This means that the genre is heavily based on what World of Warcraft was (and still is).
That is, an online game with a contiguous world where players can explore, quest, and clash with other players. It tasks you with creating a character who you will level up while you experience a rich story and explore zones tied to different levels. Playing either alone or with friends, all players will meet and interact with many players at every stage of their journey!
Expansions
Since release, WoW has received 10 major expansions to date, averaging one every two years. This WoW guide explores how each expansion has expanded the story, provided new zones to explore, introduced new items, and occasionally brought in new classes, all while making balance changes.
The good news for new players is that when they jump into WoW, they immediately gain free access to all expansions—except the latest one. That means you already have 20 years of content to experience before needing to purchase an expansion.
WoW Classic
It’s worth taking a moment to separate WoW from WoW Classic.
WoW Classic is a version of World of Warcraft that recreates the original experience as it was upon release. This offers nostalgia for veteran players and a taste of yesteryear for newcomers. However, it’s not recommended to jump into WoW Classic before playing the main version of WoW.
WoW Guide: Getting Started
So, you’ve signed up and downloaded WoW. Now it’s time to get started!
Ah, the age-old question—Alliance or Horde? In WoW, your choice is significant, offering unique lore, zones, and characters. However, the overall experience will be roughly equivalent, especially as you level up.
If this is your first time in WoW, don’t overthink it. Just choose a faction with a race and class you like the look of and get started!
Your choice of race will depend on which faction you choose. Each race comes with unique traits that make them better suited to playing specific classes. If you’re looking to optimize, you can check out guides to help you decide.
There are also two neutral races that can join either the Alliance or the Horde: the Pandaren and Dracthyr.
But if you’re simply looking for a good time, pick a combination that appeals to you!
Only certain races can choose certain classes, so it’s best to browse through the race options to get a full picture of what’s available.
WoW features different class types, including:
- DPS: Mage, Hunter, Rogue, Warlock, Demon Hunter
- Tanks: Warrior, Paladin, Death Knight, Monk, Druid
- Healers: Priest, Monk, Druid, Paladin, Shaman
As you can see, some classes overlap in roles, and each has a unique playstyle. If this is your first time playing, just pick the one that interests you the most!
- Customize Your Appearance
Here’s the fun part—making the character your own!
Fortunately, you can change almost everything later on if you feel like you made the wrong choice.
One of the toughest decisions is choosing your character’s name. Keep in mind that you cannot change your name later without paying for a name change service.
How to Play
So, what do you actually do in WoW? If you’ve played an RPG or MMORPG before, you’ll know what to expect. But for total newcomers, let’s break it down.
Basic Actions
Starting from the top, there are a few basic actions you’ll find yourself doing frequently in WoW—or any MMORPG:
- Explore – Traverse the vast, interconnected world, completing quests, gathering loot, and encountering various enemies.
- Combat – Fighting is a major part of WoW, whether you’re battling mobs (NPC enemies) or other players. Mastering your character’s skills and abilities is key. WoW Runes enhance gameplay for certain classes.
- Questing – Finding and completing quests is the backbone of RPGs. Look for NPCs with exclamation marks above their heads. Completing quests rewards you with gold, equipment, and XP.
- Leveling – Gaining XP to level up is a major part of WoW. Each level grants you access to new skills and abilities.
- Trading – Loot is everything in RPGs. You’ll collect items from enemies and quests, which you can use, sell for profit, or trade with other players.
- Socializing – WoW is an MMO, meaning you’ll spend time interacting with other players—whether through guilds, PvP battles, or just encountering people in the world.
Game Modes
While WoW isn’t split into distinct game modes, it does offer different styles of play:
- PvE – Player vs. Environment gameplay includes questing, dungeon runs, and raids, either solo or cooperatively with others.
- PvP – For players looking for competition, PvP (Player vs. Player) involves battles in battlegrounds, arenas, or open-world skirmishes.
- Roleplay – Some players choose to immerse themselves in their character’s story, interacting with others through in-game roleplay.
The joy of WoW is its variety—you don’t have to commit to just one style of play. Try everything and see what you enjoy the most!
Dive into Questing
So, you’ve created your character and got your bearings—now what? It’s time to start questing!
How to Get Quests
Many NPCs throughout the world will have exclamation marks above their heads. These indicate that they have a quest for you. Simply run up to them, talk to them, and accept the quest. Follow the steps in your quest log to complete it.
Most of the time, you’ll return to the quest giver to claim your reward!
Rewards
Rewards
This is what we’re all after—the juicy XP, gold, items, and equipment that quest givers offer you for completing their quests. These rewards are the bread and butter of how you progress in WoW, especially while leveling up.
Some quests even offer rare or unique rewards such as mounts or titles that you will carry with you long into the future!
Picking and Choosing
While you may feel obligated to complete every single quest you pick up, you don’t need to. Leveling up is a long journey, but WoW has far more quests than necessary to reach the maximum level.
If you’re struggling with particular quests or simply not enjoying them, feel free to skip past them. There will always be more quests, rewards, and fun elsewhere!
Progression: What to Expect
So, you’ve been questing for a while and have got the hang of the basic gameplay loops of WoW… What’s next? Now it’s time to think about broader progression.
Skills
As you level up, you’ll be able to unlock new skills and stat points. You can spend these freely to shape your character’s playstyle.
Skills form the backbone of your character’s effectiveness in questing, raiding, and PvP—each of which often requires slightly different builds to be at its best.
Equipment
As you level and complete quests, you’ll obtain more powerful equipment. While leveling gear is useful, positioning yourself to acquire the best gear by the time you reach max level is crucial.
The best way to achieve this is often through crafting, making choosing a suitable crafting profession important. However, great gear can also be obtained from questing, trading, and raiding. As with most things in WoW, there are many paths to success. You can read our in-depth WoW professions guide for more information.
Crafting
Crafting is a huge part of most RPGs, and WoW is no different.
Why Craft?
In WoW, crafting provides several benefits. First, it lets you gather valuable materials that you can use to create powerful items and consumables to upgrade your character and enhance their skills.
Beyond upgrading yourself, crafting can also be a great source of income, as many players are always looking for powerful items.
Primary and Secondary Professions
WoW has two types of crafting professions:
- Primary Professions: Each player is limited to two primary professions, which include gathering (such as Skinning) and crafting (such as Leatherworking). Some professions synergize well together, while others don’t.
- Secondary Professions: Unlike primary professions, you can have all secondary professions on the same character. However, they tend to be less impactful. Examples include Fishing and Cooking.
Choosing Professions
Choosing the right profession depends on your goals.
Some professions are particularly useful for certain classes—such as Blacksmithing for a Paladin or Tailoring for a Mage.
Alternatively, you might prefer to craft high-value goods to sell or give to friends and guildmates. Enchanting, Alchemy, and Jewelcrafting are great examples, as all players find their products useful.
Guilds
As with many MMOs, guilds play a massive role in WoW. Not only do they provide utility in the game, but they also create a sense of community.
Why Join a Guild?
Socially, guilds offer a way to ask questions, get help, and make new friends. Many guilds assist their members in completing their first raids, obtaining high-level gear, and more.
Guilds also offer unique events, adding a new flavor to the WoW experience.
How to Join a Guild
You can find a guild through the in-game guild finder or by chatting with other players. Many guilds actively recruit new members.
Be aware that some guilds have participation policies, while others remain casual and welcoming to all types of players.
Guild Progression and Perks
Like players, guilds have their own progression, unlocking perks and features as they grow. While Blizzard removed the formal guild advancement system, guilds still provide exclusive benefits to members.
PvP: Getting Competitive
If you’re looking for a more competitive way to play WoW, PvP might be for you.
Types of PvP
There are several ways to engage in PvP:
- Battlegrounds: Large-scale team battles with specific objectives.
- Arenas: Small team-based fights, either direct battles or objective-based matches.
- World PvP: Open-world combat in designated zones, allowing Horde and Alliance players to clash in the real world.
Tips for PvP
PvP can be challenging, as it depends on both player skill and equipment.
- Gear up with PvP-specific equipment to maximize effectiveness.
- Practice! PvP gameplay differs significantly from PvE, requiring positioning, awareness, and fast reactions.
Understanding Endgame
MMOs are often about endgame content, and WoW is no exception. Much of the game’s most compelling content is reserved for max-level players.
What is WoW Endgame?
Endgame content refers to activities available once you reach max level. This includes dungeons, raids, world quests, and grinding for reputation or crafting materials.
To get the most out of endgame, working with an active and experienced guild is highly recommended.
Setting Long-Term Goals
Endgame is also about reaching personal goals, such as obtaining a particular piece of gear or completing a challenging raid. Setting these goals gives you something exciting to work toward.
Is WoW Still Worth Playing?
This is a question only you can answer! Ultimately, you’ll be the one playing, so it depends on your interests.
However, WoW remains the largest MMORPG on the market today, with a strong and active community. Blizzard continues to release meaningful updates, keeping player engagement high.
That said, WoW is a long-term commitment, requiring a monthly subscription and many hours to experience fully. If you’re looking for an immersive MMO experience, WoW offers over 20 years of content to explore, making it a rich and rewarding adventure.
World of Warcraft
