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Steps

How to start playing

Make the account, add a subscription or Game Time, install the Forever version, then pick a preset and a ruleset before you create a character.

Official zone art for Zephras Isle, Riverglades, and Mount Hyjal — How to start playing
Race and class matrix published with the Forever character announcement — How to start playing

Seven steps

Create a Battle.net account if you need one. Add a subscription or Game Time. Install the desktop app. Choose World of Warcraft: Forever and install it. Press Play only after the version is actually installed.

The first login asks for the Classic or Enhanced preset, then for a ruleset: Normal, PvP, Roleplay, or Roleplay-PvP. Character creation is faction, race, class, appearance, then the two names. Skyborne is a race option only if the account owns Heroic or higher, and you choose the Horde Windshaper branch or the Alliance High Order branch at creation. Talents open at level 10. A second specialization opens at 40.

Questions

Can I pick Skyborne on a free weekend?

Invite-a-friend access, while it lasts, does not include Skyborne. The race needs a pack.

Which preset should a new player take?

Enhanced if you want markers and a modern layout. Classic if you want the older defaults. You can change either later.

Related

Sources

Checked 2026-11-06. Each row below is a page I opened.