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WoW Forever Timeline: When and Where the Story Takes Place

World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) takes place in the first year of World of Warcraft, year 25 after the opening of the Dark Portal, about four years after the Battle of Mount Hyjal ended the Third War. Its world is the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, and its story comes after the Warcraft III: Reforged campaign Forsaken Kingdom and before The Burning Crusade.

Quick answer: Count the years from the Dark Portal: the First War begins at year 0, the Third War runs from year 20 to 21, and Forever stands at year 25. Outland and Draenor are not part of it.

The road of years from the Dark Portal to WoW Forever
A timeline from the Dark Portal in year 0 and the Third War in years 20 to 21 to WoW Forever in year 25.

Every road in Azeroth runs back through its wars. Forever sets you down at the road's end.

Key facts

  • Setting year: 25 after the Dark Portal, the first year of WoW (Warcraft Wiki; the Official Strategy Guide also starts WoW in year 25)
  • Third War: years 20 to 21 (Warcraft Wiki)
  • Comes after: the Third War and Forsaken Kingdom (Warcraft Wiki, Blizzard Watch, Noob to Boss)
  • Comes before: Molten Core (Noob to Boss) and The Burning Crusade, year 26 (Ultimate Visual Guide)
  • Map: Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor (Inven, Noob to Boss)

When does WoW Forever take place?

Azeroth keeps its calendar from the day the portal opened. Warcraft Wiki calls Forever "indefinitely set in the first year of World of Warcraft (25 ADP)," and says it does not share continuity with modern WoW. The Official Strategy Guide timeline also starts World of Warcraft in year 25, though it counts from the first Warcraft game. Noob to Boss places Forever "after the events of Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom and before Molten Core."

What is the WoW Forever timeline, in order?

Walk the road from the first portal to the last war.

  1. Years 0 to 5: the Dark Portal opens and the First War ends with the fall of Stormwind.
  2. Years 5 to 6: the Second War. The Alliance of Lordaeron wins and the Dark Portal is destroyed.
  3. Year 18: Thrall rallies the orcs and becomes Warchief, per two timeline guides. See Thrall's story.
  4. Years 20 to 21: the Third War. A plague of undeath, the Scourge, the fall of Lordaeron, then the Burning Legion. See the Warcraft lore recap and what happened to Lordaeron.
  5. Year 21: the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Humans, orcs and night elves unite, Archimonde is destroyed and the night elves lose their immortality. Durotar is founded afterwards.
  6. After the Frozen Throne: the Forsaken claim Lordaeron's ruins. Blizzard says Forsaken Kingdom covers the Undercity and the first Forsaken Paladin. See the Forsaken.
  7. Year 25: WoW Forever, the first year of World of Warcraft, a few years after Mount Hyjal.

Where does WoW Forever take place?

The map is the old one, with new corners. Blizzard calls Forever a "reimagined original Azeroth." Inven and Noob to Boss say the story stays on the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, with no Outland or Draenor storylines. The new places:

  • Mount Hyjal: Kalimdor, reached through Darkwhisper Gorge (Blizzard, Warcraft Wiki).
  • Shen'dralas: central Kalimdor, between Mulgore and Desolace (Blizzard, Warcraft Wiki).
  • Riverglades: the Eastern Kingdoms, in south-eastern Khaz Modan (Warcraft Wiki).
  • Zephras Isle: a flying island in Skywall, the Elemental Plane of Air, and the Skyborne start (Warcraft Wiki).

The free Lore Forever add-on shows zone background, and the optional Willo voice companion answers lore questions. Both are fan-made.

What happens in WoW Forever, and what does not happen yet?

A road's end is where adventure begins. Blizzard says players help the Forsaken reclaim the Ruins of Lordaeron and restore Mount Hyjal after Archimonde's defeat. Noob to Boss relays that executive producer Holly Longdale said some known vanilla stories will not happen the same way. See what Forever changes.

Not yet: Molten Core, which Noob to Boss places further ahead. Later, outside WoW Forever, The Burning Crusade begins in year 26.

What is not confirmed yet

  • Mount Hyjal's year: older sources gave year 20; Warcraft Wiki says the World of Warcraft cinematic changed it to 21.
  • Frozen Throne events: one timeline guide has them in year 21, another puts Arthas becoming Lich King in year 22.
  • Onyxia's Lair: Warcraft Wiki lists it as a Forever raid, and Blizzard's Legacy post counts Onyxia among its raid challenges; Noob to Boss calls it further ahead.
  • Year numbering: the Ultimate Visual Guide counts from the First War and the Official Strategy Guide from the first Warcraft game, with the Dark Portal at year -1. This guide uses Warcraft Wiki's count from the Dark Portal.
  • First War length: Warcraft Wiki gives years 0 to 5 but lists other lengths in its own notes.

Frequently asked questions

When does WoW Forever take place?

Azeroth keeps its calendar from the day the portal opened. WoW Forever takes place in the first year of World of Warcraft, year 25 after the Dark Portal, according to Warcraft Wiki.

Where does WoW Forever take place?

The map is the old one, with new corners. WoW Forever takes place on the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.

Does WoW Forever come after Warcraft III?

Yes. It comes after the Third War and the Forsaken Kingdom campaign for Warcraft III: Reforged.

Is WoW Forever before The Burning Crusade?

Yes. Warcraft Wiki places Forever before The Burning Crusade, and a timeline guide puts that expansion in year 26.

Does WoW Forever follow modern WoW lore?

No. Warcraft Wiki says Forever does not share continuity with modern WoW. See the lore FAQ.

Sources

Reviewed October 24, 2026. Years count from the Dark Portal; later events are not treated as Forever canon. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.

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