Explainer
WoW Forever name reservation: when it opens in your region, the three-character limit, and how two-part names work
WoW Forever's early name reservation runs October 27 to November 3 for pre-purchase owners: start times by region, the limit of three characters across all rulesets, and the new two-part names, unique across a region.
Oct 21, 2026Updated Oct 23, 2026Checked against build 1.60.1.704502 min read
WoW Forever’s early name reservation opens October 27 and runs to November 3, the day before launch, Blizzard said on October 20. It’s for players who pre-purchased an upgrade, and it allows three characters in total across all rulesets. Names go first come, first served.
Name reservation start times by region
| Region | Opens |
|---|---|
| Europe | October 27, 18:00 CET |
| North America | October 27, 1:00 p.m. PDT |
| Korea | October 28, 07:00 KST |
| Taiwan | October 28, 07:00 CST |
Every other date to launch is on what’s new in WoW Forever, and the launch hour in your time zone is on the WoW Forever launch time.
The three-character limit
During reservation you can create up to three characters, counted across every ruleset together. Two on a PvP ruleset leave you one for Normal or Role-Play. The limit is only for the reservation window; it lifts at launch. Choosing a ruleset is covered in can you switch rulesets in WoW Forever? Blizzard is also working to let you reserve on the new Roleplay-PvP ruleset from October 27: RP-PvP in WoW Forever.
Who can reserve
You need the WoW Forever Digital Upgrade or Collector’s Edition: the Skyborne Heroic Pack, the Skyborne Epic Pack or the limited-time Warcraft Forever Collection. It works for the account the upgrade was bought for.
How WoW Forever names work: two parts, unique across a region
WoW Forever has no realm to make a name unique, so every character gets two names, a first name and a second one, like a surname. The full combination has to be unique within your region:
- two characters can share a first name if their second names differ;
- a family or a guild can share a second name, like Asha Brightvale and Thalen Brightvale;
- the name rules look at both parts together, so splitting a banned word across them won’t get it through.
Don’t want the second name over your head? Open Options, Nameplates and untick My Secondary Name. It stops showing in the world, but chat still shows it.
On the day
Install WoW Forever from the Battle.net app first: pick World of Warcraft, then World of Warcraft: Forever in the Game Version menu above the Play button. Then choose your ruleset and create your characters when your region opens. Which race goes with which class, and the new Skyborne, are on WoW Forever races. Once you’re playing, the BoF Guide, Bind on Forever’s free WoW Forever in-game leveling guide, takes every race from level 1 to 30.
Questions
When does WoW Forever name reservation start?
October 27, 2026: at 18:00 CET in Europe and 1:00 p.m. PDT in North America; on October 28 at 07:00 KST in Korea and 07:00 CST in Taiwan. It runs through November 3, the day before launch.
How many names can you reserve in WoW Forever?
Up to three characters in total across all rulesets during early name reservation. Two on a PvP ruleset leave you one for Normal or Role-Play. The limit applies only to early name reservation.
Who can reserve names early in WoW Forever?
Players who bought the WoW Forever Digital Upgrade or Collector's Edition, in the Skyborne Heroic Pack, the Skyborne Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection. It applies to the account the upgrade was bought for.
Are WoW Forever names unique per realm?
No. WoW Forever has no realms in the old sense: every character has a first name and a second name, and the full two-part name must be unique within your region. Two players can share a first name if their second names differ.
Can you hide your second name in WoW Forever?
Yes. Under Options, Nameplates, untick My Secondary Name. It stops showing in the world, but chat still shows it.