The WoW Forever beta is in its last week. On Tuesday, October 21 it ends, and that same day Blizzard runs a stress test open to any WoW account, on the servers it will use at launch. After that come the name reservation (October 27) and the launch (November 4). Here is what happens on each date, at what time, and what to do in the meantime.
In short
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Until October 21 | Last week of beta (level cap 30) | Anyone with beta access |
| October 21, 2:00 p.m. PDT (19:00 in Spain) | Stress test lasting a few hours; everything is wiped afterwards | Any WoW account, no subscription |
| October 27 to November 3 | Name reservation, up to three characters | Anyone who has bought the game |
| November 4, 3:00 p.m. PST | Launch: midnight on the 5th in Spain | With a subscription or game time |
The October 21 stress test
Blizzard explained it on the official forum on October 15. It is a load test: they want to see a lot of people on the launch servers at the same time. To do it, they turn the beta off for a while, open WoW Forever on those servers for a few hours and, when it ends, turn the beta back on.
Who can join: anyone with a WoW account. No subscription, game time, beta key or invite is needed. In the Battle.net launcher it shows up as "WoW: Forever - Stress Test".
What time it starts:
| Region | Start time |
|---|---|
| Europe | 19:00 CEST (Spain) · 18:00 in the UK, Portugal and the Canary Islands |
| Americas and Oceania | 2:00 p.m. PDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) |
| Taiwan and Korea | October 22 at 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time |
How long it lasts: "a few hours". Blizzard has not given a closing time and warns that it may end early or run long.
What you can play: Blizzard has not set a level cap or specific content. What it asks for is what anyone does on day one: create a character, do quests, trade, chat and group up.
Everything is wiped at the end: characters, names, guilds and anything you earned. It is a full wipe; nothing carries over to launch. So don't worry about grabbing the name you want here: that is what the October 27 reservation is for.
What it's good for if you're not in the beta: trying the game for free for a few hours, seeing whether you like a class before buying, checking how your PC runs it (see the requirements and settings guide) and setting up your interface and addons.
What happens to my beta characters?
They don't carry over. Blizzard's team has said everyone starts at level 1 on launch day, and no transfer of characters, gold or items has been announced. The beta is available until October 21 according to the fine print of the pre-purchase (the BlizzCon roadmap image says the 22nd); after that, don't count on it.
What you do take with you is what you learned: your leveling route, your build, your macros and your interface. Macros and Edit Mode layouts can be copied as text; save them before the beta closes.
What to do until November 4
- Pick a class and race. If you're unsure, read Which class should you pick?, take the quiz or spin the randomizer.
- Prepare your name. The name reservation runs from October 27 to November 3, first come, first served. Have two or three ready in case your first choice is taken; the name generator can help.
- Plan your leveling. The leveling route tells you what to do zone by zone for your race, and What should I do at my level? sums it up for your current level.
- Get your build and macros ready. In the talent calculator you can save your talent spread, and your class's macros are in its guide and in the macro builder.
- Set up addons and interface. See the addons that work and the community interfaces.
- Go in on day one with a plan. You have one in Your first day in WoW Forever.
And if you want to know what changes each day, we keep it updated in Today in Forever.
What we don't know yet
- The exact time the beta closes and whether it is the 21st or the 22nd.
- How long the stress test will last and whether there will be more before launch.
- Whether there will be queues on November 4. That is what the October 21 test is for; we'll say so when Blizzard tells us how it went.
Frequently asked questions
When does the WoW Forever beta end?
On October 21, 2026 according to the pre-purchase fine print (the BlizzCon roadmap says the 22nd). That day, Blizzard also turns the beta off for a few hours to run the stress test and then reopens it.
Can I play WoW Forever for free in the stress test?
Yes. The October 21 test is open to any WoW account, with no subscription or beta key. It starts at 2:00 p.m. PDT (19:00 in Spain) and lasts a few hours.
Are stress test characters saved?
No. When it ends, all characters, names and guilds are deleted. To keep a name, use the reservation from October 27 to November 3.
Does my beta character carry over to the game?
No. Everyone starts at level 1 on launch day, and Blizzard has not announced any transfer from the beta.
When does WoW Forever come out?
November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST (6:00 p.m. EST; 11:00 p.m. UK; midnight on the 5th in Central Europe). The time for your country is on the launch page.
