Era ranking changes accompany the Hardcore launch.
PvP
- Weekly rank progress no longer depends on other players’ standings; Ranking Points and inactivity de-ranking are removed. 500,000 weekly Honor gives the maximum possible progress, with no advantage above the cap.
- Hardcore requires explicit /pvp flagging, disables battlegrounds, and grants no Honor/reputation from Wargames. /makgora starts a mutually confirmed permanent-death duel; eligible level-19+ victories award String of Ears trophies.
General
- Hardcore realms open August 24 at 3 p.m. PDT, with permanent death and Duel to the Death.
- Hardcore deaths cannot be reversed by resurrection; ghosts can communicate and transfer to non-Hardcore Era realms, where normal resurrection becomes possible. All original content phases are available at launch.
- Hardcore removes the 16-debuff/32-buff caps; Paladins cannot Hearthstone during Blessing of Protection, Divine Protection, or Divine Shield.
Show more · 2 changesShow less
Dungeons & Raids
- Hardcore dungeons have at least 24-hour lockouts below level 60; level-60 characters cannot enter lower-level dungeons with sub-60 players, and overleveled group members cause trivial creature experience.
Bug Fixes
- Season of Mastery Naxxramas raid-buff items cannot be used on Era realms; Summon Incubus now costs the same Mana as Summon Succubus, with fixes to unintended Vanish/Feign Death PvP flagging and underwater pathing/disconnects.
Patch date: August 22. Hardcore realm opening: August 24. Hardcore-only rules do not apply to normal Era realms.