Choose how dangerous the world is.

PvE Mode, War Mode or High-Risk. Switch in an inn or a city.

HOW IT WORKS

Pick a ruleset in five steps.

  1. Start in PvE Mode.

    Every new character does. Other players cannot attack you in the open world.

  2. Open the panel at level 15.

    Your ruleset panel is in the portrait menu and the spellbook. You can switch in an inn or a city, not in combat, and not inside a dungeon, raid, battleground or arena.

  3. Pick War Mode for +10% XP in the open world.

    You stay PvP-flagged, you are hostile to the other faction's War Mode and High-Risk players, and friendly to PvE players.

  4. Or pick High-Risk for +15% XP in the open world.

    It is free-for-all against other High-Risk players, your own faction included. Dying in the open world costs gear (below).

  5. Enter an instance.

    In dungeons and raids everyone is on PvE rules, and your choice is waiting when you leave.

HIGH-RISK

High-Risk: what a death costs

DROPS
One random equipped piece (two at level 60) and every unbound bag item, into a chest where you died.
NEVER DROPS
Soulbound, account-bound, quest, conjured, timed and gift-wrapped items; heirlooms; vanity items; your banks and key ring.
THE CHEST
The chest lasts 10 minutes. Your killer and their party get 30 seconds first, then any High-Risk player can open it. You can open your own once you are alive and still High-Risk.
INSURANCE
Fel Commutation portals (gear insurance) turn the gear half of the loss into gold. They stand in the capitals, Booty Bay, Gadgetzan, Ratchet, Everlook, Cenarion Hold and Light's Hope.
NOTHING DROPS
Inside an instance, in a battleground or arena, on a boat or zeppelin, during a restart countdown, or if a game master killed you.
WHAT YOU GAIN
+15% XP in the open world, Bloodforged gear (gear earned in High-Risk) and hourly events in seven zones.

CROSS-FACTION

Cross-faction play

  • Guild, group, mail, chat, friends and /who work across factions.
  • One auction house and one Dungeon Finder for both sides.
  • Battlegrounds mix the factions; mixed parties and arena teams can queue.
  • Grouped players are always friendly. Duels work across factions.
  • Capitals stay faction-locked, and NPCs still follow race faction.

Live since 17 September.

AT A GLANCE

Practical facts

LEVEL
15 for War Mode and High-Risk. PvE Mode: any level.
LEVEL SCALING
Level scaling stays on in War Mode. In High-Risk it is suspended in the open world only.
WINTERGRASP
Wintergrasp is off.

GOOD TO KNOW

Good to know

  • Switching to PvE starts the normal five-minute PvP-flag drop.
  • High-Risk characters get a rules reminder at every login.

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