Is WoW Forever Free? What It Costs and What You Need to Buy

Blizzard sells WoW Forever in an odd way. The game is not a box you buy, but the new race sits behind a paid pack. This guide sorts out what you must pay for, what you can skip, and which pack makes sense.

At a Glance

DetailInfo
Base game priceNo separate price
What you needAn active WoW subscription or Game Time
Cheapest way in1 month of subscription, $14.99 (US)
Skyborne raceNeeds the Heroic Pack ($29.99) or higher
Midnight expansion neededNo
WoW Token or boostsBlizzard says none planned
PlatformsPC and Mac
LaunchNovember 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST

What You Need to Play

ItemNeeded?Notes
WoW subscription or Game TimeYesForever starts for you on launch day
Separate purchase of ForeverNoIncluded with paid time
Midnight expansionNoMidnight is sold separately and is not part of Forever
Any packNoPacks are optional
Battle.net account and appYesFree to make

Subscription and Game Time Prices

These are US prices before tax. Your shop may show different numbers.

OptionTotalPer Month
1 month$14.99$14.99
3 months$41.97$13.99
6 months$77.94$12.99
12 months$155.88$12.99
60-day Game Time card$29.99About $15

Tip: Only plan to try Forever? Start with one month. You can switch to a longer plan once you know you will stay.

Tip: Longer plans come with in-game rewards, and the 12-month rewards include some items for Forever.

The Three Packs Side by Side

What You GetHeroic PackEpic PackCollection
Price (US)$29.99$59.99$79.99
Skyborne race and Zephras Isle startYesYesYes
Early name reservationYesYesYes
Skyborne ground mountYes (needs riding skill)Yes, plus a bear mountYes, plus a bear mount
30 days of Game TimeNoYesYes
Extra pets, tabards and cosmeticsNoYesYes
Invite-A-Friend codes133
Warcraft III: Reforged and Forsaken KingdomNoNoYes
Beta accessNoYes (beta is over)Yes (beta is over)

In euros, the packs cost 29.99, 59.99 and 79.99.

Tip: The Heroic Pack ground mount only works once you learn the riding skill in the game.

Tip: Some extras, like the housing decor, are for modern WoW, not for Forever. Do not buy a pack for those.

What Each Step Up Really Costs

StepExtra CostWhat the Money Buys
Heroic to Epic$30.0030 days of Game Time, a bear mount, pets, tabards, 2 more friend codes
Epic to Collection$20.00Warcraft III: Reforged, Forsaken Kingdom, two housing figurines

Here is the math that matters. The 30 days of Game Time in the Epic Pack is worth $14.99 if you were going to pay for a month anyway. That leaves about $15 for the mount, pets, tabards and extra codes.

Tip: Epic’s beta access has no value now. The beta ended in October.

Which Option Should You Pick?

You AreBuyWhy
Already subscribed and just want to playNothingForever is included
New or coming back, want to try it1 month, $14.99Cheapest start
Want to play the SkyborneHeroic Pack plus timeCheapest way to unlock the race
Want Skyborne and need a month anywayEpic PackTime is bundled in
Want Warcraft III tooCollectionAdds the old game and new campaign
Want a statue and art printsCollector’s EditionPhysical box with a Collection code

Cost for a new player who wants Skyborne: one month ($14.99) plus the Heroic Pack ($29.99) is $44.98 to start.

Invite-A-Friend Codes: Free Access for a Friend

  • The Heroic Pack comes with 1 code. Epic and Collection come with 3.
  • A friend who gets a code can play Forever without a subscription or Game Time during launch week.
  • The codes do not include beta access.
  • Having the code gives you access from November 4 to 11 according to Blizzard’s blue post.

Is There a Free Way to Play?

  • Blizzard’s free trial for modern WoW stops at level 20. That trial is for modern WoW.
  • We found no free trial for Forever itself.
  • An Invite-A-Friend code is the only free route we found, and it lasts only for launch week.

The Collection Is Limited

The Warcraft Forever Collection is on sale only until January 11, 2027. Blizzard calls it a limited-time bundle. If you want it, do not wait until the last week.

The Physical Collector’s Edition

  • It is a boxed edition with a 13-inch Dwarf and Bear statue, a Zephras Isle mousepad and art prints.
  • It also comes with a Warcraft Forever Collection digital code.
  • Check the Blizzard Gear Store for the current price and stock.

Buy Smart: Mistakes to Avoid

  • Wrong account. Pack benefits apply only to the WoW account that bought the pack. Check the account before you pay.
  • Expecting Classic perks. The in-game items are not available in WoW Classic games.
  • Buying Epic for the beta. The beta is over, so that reason is gone.
  • Thinking you need Midnight. You do not. Forever is covered by paid time alone.
  • Waiting on the Collection. It ends January 11, 2027.

Key Dates

DateWhat Happens
September 12, 2026Packs go on sale
November 4, 2026Launch. Epic and Collection Game Time starts
January 11, 2027Warcraft Forever Collection leaves the shop

FAQ

Is WoW Forever free to play? No. It needs an active WoW subscription or Game Time. There is no extra price for the game itself.

Do I need to buy the Skyborne Heroic Pack? Only if you want to play the Skyborne race or its Zephras Isle start. Everything else is in the base game.

Do I need the Midnight expansion? No. Midnight is separate and not required for Forever.

Is there a WoW Token or paid boost in Forever? Blizzard says it has no plans for either.

Does the Epic Pack include Game Time? Yes. It includes 30 days of Game Time, starting November 4.

Can I play Forever with the free trial? We found no free trial for Forever. The modern WoW trial stops at level 20.

What does the Collection add? Warcraft III: Reforged, the Forsaken Kingdom campaign and two housing figurines, on top of the Epic Pack.

Can a friend play for free? Yes, with an Invite-A-Friend code during launch week. You could also try getting one from the giveaway thread on WoW forever’s reddit.