Lore · October 24, 2026

WoW Forever Lore FAQ: Timeline, Leaders and the Questions New Players Ask

World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) is set in the first year of World of Warcraft, year 25 after the Dark Portal, after the Third War and the Warcraft III campaign Forsaken Kingdom, and before Molten Core and The Burning Crusade. It is centered on the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, and it launches on November 4, 2026 with a permanent level 60 cap.

Quick answer: Think of WoW Forever as the original game's world, frozen at its first year and then expanded with new zones, dungeons and a new race. The Alliance and Horde are in a cold war, and developers say, as relayed by Blizzard Watch, that new stories are added only where they fit.

Timeline from the Third War to Forsaken Kingdom, WoW Forever in year 25 after the Dark Portal, then Molten Core and The Burning Crusade later — Where WoW Forever sits in the Warcraft timeline. Source: Warcraft Wiki, Power Up Gaming and Blizzard Watch.

Key facts

Setting: the first year of World of Warcraft, year 25 after the Dark Portal (Warcraft Wiki, Power Up Gaming)
Comes after: the Third War and the Forsaken Kingdom campaign (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch, Noob to Boss)
Comes before: Molten Core and The Burning Crusade (Noob to Boss, Warcraft Wiki)
Map: Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, with no Outland or Draenor (Inven, Noob to Boss)
New content: four new zones (Mount Hyjal, Zephras Isle, Riverglades and Shen'dralas, spelled Shen'dralar by Inven; Game Informer lists the first three), nine new dungeons and about 1,000 new quests (Game Informer, Inven)
New race: the Skyborne, playable by both factions (Warcraft Wiki, Gfinity)
Launch and cap: November 4, 2026 (Warcraft Wiki, Game Informer) and a permanent level 60 cap (Warcraft Wiki, Inven)

When is WoW Forever set in the story?

WoW Forever is set in the first year of World of Warcraft. Warcraft Wiki says it is set "indefinitely" in that year, 25 after the Dark Portal, after the Forsaken Kingdom campaign and before The Burning Crusade, and that it does not share continuity with modern WoW. Power Up Gaming puts Forever at Year 25, one year before The Burning Crusade. Noob to Boss, which relays comments from executive producer Holly Longdale, says Forever begins after the Third War ends and the Forsaken establish themselves in Lordaeron. For the events leading up to that point, read Warcraft Lore Recap.

How does Forever differ from original lore?

Forever follows the original world but adds new stories. Blizzard Watch relays developer comments that Forever will not overturn the lore, adds content cautiously where it makes sense, and tells stories that happened between the first game's events. It names two deliberate divergences: a Forsaken Paladin from Forsaken Kingdom, and the Skyborne. Noob to Boss says some stories from the known vanilla narrative will not happen the same way. For the product differences, see WoW Forever vs WoW Classic.

Who leads the Alliance and Horde?

The sources reviewed do not name Forever's leaders, so this answer describes the original game's era. Warcraft Wiki says Thrall is Warchief of the Horde, and that the Forsaken under Sylvanas Windrunner joined it through an alliance of convenience. In Stormwind, the child king Anduin Wrynn rules with Highlord Bolvar Fordragon as regent while King Varian Wrynn is missing; Warcraft Wiki and the Vanilla WoW fan wiki agree on this. For the full picture, read The History of Stormwind.

What is not confirmed yet

Leaders in Forever: no source reviewed names Forever's rulers, so leader answers describe the original game's era.
Skyborne origin: Gfinity, Blizzard Watch and Noob to Boss describe the Skyborne's origin differently, and Power Up Gaming places them in Skyvale in northern Lordaeron, which no other source supports.
Launch date headline: a related-article headline on Inven says November 5, while its article body, Game Informer, Power Up Gaming and Warcraft Wiki say November 4.
Single-source leaders: Magni Bronzebeard and Tyrande Whisperwind come from Warcraft Wiki only.
Beta limits: the beta was capped at level 30, according to Inven, and plans for later content may change.

The free Lore Forever add-on adds readable background about the places you visit, and the optional Willo Windows companion lets you ask lore questions by voice. Both are fan-made.

Frequently asked questions

What year is WoW Forever set in?

WoW Forever is set in the first year of World of Warcraft, year 25 after the Dark Portal, according to Warcraft Wiki and Power Up Gaming. It sits before The Burning Crusade.

What happens right before WoW Forever?

The Third War and the fall of Lordaeron come right before it. Blizzard Watch says Forever follows the Warcraft III campaign Forsaken Kingdom, which covers the fall of Lordaeron and the founding of the Undercity.

Is WoW Forever canon, and does it follow modern WoW lore?

WoW Forever does not exist in the same continuity as modern WoW, according to Warcraft Wiki. Blizzard Watch says Forever should not be forced to fit modern lore: it starts like vanilla WoW and then diverges.

Who is the Warchief of the Horde in WoW Forever?

Thrall is Warchief of the Horde in the original game's first year, according to Warcraft Wiki. The sources reviewed do not describe any change for Forever.

Who rules Stormwind in the first year of WoW?

The child king Anduin Wrynn rules, with Highlord Bolvar Fordragon as regent, according to Warcraft Wiki and the Vanilla WoW fan wiki. King Varian Wrynn is missing.

Who leads Ironforge, Darnassus and the Forsaken?

Warcraft Wiki names King Magni Bronzebeard for the Ironforge dwarves, Tyrande Whisperwind as sole leader of the night elves of Darnassus, and Sylvanas Windrunner for the Forsaken. These come from Warcraft Wiki's pages and are not confirmed for Forever.

Why are the Alliance and Horde enemies?

They are enemies because of the First and Second Wars, the internment camps and land disputes after the Third War, leaving a cold war. The full story is in Alliance vs Horde Lore.

What are the Skyborne?

The Skyborne are a new playable race that Game Informer calls elven and that either faction can play, as Alliance High Order Skyborne or Horde Windshaper Skyborne. Gfinity describes them as descendants of Highborne rebels, with Zephras Isle as their starting zone in Skywall, while Blizzard Watch describes high elves who made a deal with the elemental lords of Air. Sources differ on the origin, so see the Skyborne guide.

Are blood elves in WoW Forever?

No source reviewed lists them: Blizzard's Horde race list for Forever, as summarized by Icy Veins, has orcs, undead, tauren, trolls and Windshaper Skyborne. Warcraft Wiki says the blood elves join the Horde during The Burning Crusade, which comes after Forever's setting.

Do I need to play Warcraft III Forsaken Kingdom first?

No. Noob to Boss says playing Forsaken Kingdom first is optional, though it covers the fall of Lordaeron that Forever follows.

What happened at Mount Hyjal?

Mount Hyjal is where Archimonde was defeated in the Third War by orc, human and night elf forces, according to Engadget. In Forever it is a new zone with two raids, Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit, according to Warcraft Wiki. See WoW Forever Mount Hyjal.

Will WoW Forever include Outland or Draenor?

Inven reports that Forever will not add Outland or Draenor storylines and centers on Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, and Noob to Boss sees no sign of that content. The sources reviewed do not address Northrend.

Who are the Defias Brotherhood and the Scarlet Crusade?

The Defias Brotherhood is a band of unpaid Stormwind stonemasons led by Edwin VanCleef, and the Scarlet Crusade is a zealous order that hunts the undead. Read The Defias Brotherhood Explained and Scarlet Crusade Lore.

When does WoW Forever launch, and what is the level cap?

WoW Forever launches on November 4, 2026, according to Warcraft Wiki and Game Informer. Inven reports a permanent level 60 cap, and the beta capped at level 30.

Sources

Reviewed October 24, 2026. Combines Warcraft Wiki with news coverage of Blizzard's announcement; Forever's own story is still being revealed. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.