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WoW: Forever new player guide
Starting your first WoW character? This walks you through the choices, controls and early quests in Blizzard's starter guide, in the order you'll need them.
Your first three choices
- Start with the Enhanced preset if you'd like quest markers and modern controls. You can change it later.
- Normal is a welcoming ruleset for learning the game. Choose carefully, though: you can't freely move your character to another ruleset later.
- Have a look through the races and classes before you pick. If your first class doesn't click, it's fine to try another; that's Blizzard's advice, too.
From Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide
The keys to learn first
| Key | Opens |
|---|---|
| L | Quest log |
| M | World map |
| P | Spellbook |
| C | Character panel |
| K | Professions |
| Y | Legacy (reported by community sources) |
| Escape | Game menu and options |
From Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide
Your first hour
- Look for quest givers with an exclamation point above them. If your quest log fills up, you can abandon a quest to make room.
- Check an enemy's level before you fight it, especially when you leave the road. Pulling one enemy at a time gives you room to learn your abilities.
- Visit your class trainer as you level to buy new abilities.
- Innkeepers sell food and drink, and can bind your Hearthstone.
- Learn flight paths from flight masters as you find them.
From Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide
When you die
- Release your spirit, then run back and resurrect at your corpse.
- The Spirit Healer can bring you back on the spot, but there's a trade-off: your gear loses durability, and you may get Resurrection Sickness.
From Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide
Gear and money
- Right-click an item to equip it, or to sell it when you're at a vendor. Gray items are safe to sell.
- Sold something by mistake? Check the vendor's Buyback tab.
- Vendors with an anvil icon repair your gear for a fee.
- Keep some coin aside for training, bags and travel. Store materials you want to keep in the bank.
From Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide
Professions
- You can learn two primary professions on each character. You can also learn all three secondary professions: Cooking, Fishing and First Aid.
- For gathering, choose Herbalism, Mining or Skinning. Your crafting options are Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Enchanting, Engineering, Leatherworking and Tailoring.
- Look for trainers in starting areas and major cities. If you change your mind, you can unlearn a profession from the professions window.
- Professions also give your campsite a buff.
From Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide · Campfires and Camping
Playing with others
- Most dungeon groups have five players: a tank, a healer and damage dealers.
- You can only group with players on your ruleset and faction.
- Campsites let players rest, trade and share profession-made benefits.
- If you're looking for other players, Blizzard links its official Discord, the WoW Portal Room, in the starter guide.
From Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide · Choose Your Ruleset