1. Loot everything
Loot and sell to vendors. You can’t trade or use the auction house, which means that every silver counts. Not only are spells expensive, but getting your first mount at level 40 makes a massive difference to your hardcore run’s speed and flow.
2. Turn on NPC nameplates
This is a must for any hardcore run. Normal mob name tags are easy to miss, so to avoid any unwanted surprises, activate nameplates:
- Press Escape
- Go to Interface
- Go to Names
- Check “Always Show Nameplates”
3. Zoom out as much as possible
Having an almost birdseye view of your surroundings is invaluable, and once you get used to it, you can’t play without it. Players can zoom out more than the default settings allow in multiple ways:
- Type in the command “/console cameraDistanceMaxZoomFactor 3.5”
- Download an Addon like Leatrix Plus
4. Use everything at your disposal
WoW has many different items, spells, and racials to offer, and they matter more than ever in Hardcore. Hoard consumables, use your cooldowns when you get under 50%, and pop your scrolls and elixirs for the raw stats. If you’re a priest or a mage, always have some sort of shield active, even when traveling short distances. It’s crazy out there! No shame in being prepared.
5. Don’t worry about professions, have fun
Obviously, you have a better chance at surviving if you max out your alchemy or engineering professions, for example. But, especially when starting out, don’t be so over-engaged in min-maxing, but focus on learning more about the world, the mechanics, and mob types. Have fun!
6. Except for first aid
An exception to the previous rule is first aid. The reason is that you’ll easily find enough cloth throughout your slow leveling process to level the profession up. And you’ll be able to make bandages that will save your life countless times, especially if you have enough CC to use them mid-combat.
7. Understand how to lose mob aggro (leashing)
Mobs in Classic WoW will chase you for a certain time (depending on level) if they are not damaged within that time frame. Every time you hit the mob that is following you, you will reset this timer. It’s critical to keep this in mind when manipulating mobs and when calculating your chances of survival.
8. Leash mobs one by one if they are in a group
Knowing how to leash will allow you to eliminate big groups of mobs if you are willing to take your time. Some quests and paths are locked behind stacks of enemies that most classes cannot AoE down. How to leash a mob out of its group:
- Attack one of the mobs
- Run away
- Keep hitting it every 7-10 seconds until the rest lose aggro
- Strafe-jump to avoid being dazed
9. Don’t underestimate caster mobs
One of the deadliest mobs in the entire game is the Defias Pillager. It sits in the category of casters who hit like a truck, especially in the early game. If you’re fighting against a caster, ensure some form of sustain or silence. Westfall is hell.
10. Overlevel your zones
Most serious HC players choose only to fight green-level mobs. There’s no shame in that. Your chances of survival in a green area are much, much higher. And since you’ll most likely be skipping some impossible-to-solo quests, you’ll find that you often don’t have much choice.
11. Caves are deadly
Closed spaces like caves and dungeon entrances go deeper and deeper. If things go south, there’s virtually nowhere to run. Even experienced players stay clear of caves because if there’s even a 10% chance that it hits the fan, it’s not worth taking.
12. Towers are tricky, too (vertical damage)
Yes, towers are closed spaces too. But what’s specifically nightmarish about towers is that even if you try to run, enemies can hit you from above or below. If a mob is 3 floors above you, they can still damage you if you’re horizontally in front of them. Yikes.
13. Beware of griefers
Griefers are a part of the journey. WoW needs its villains to make the experience even more nerve-racking. Common ways to get griefed are:
A player leashing a high-level mob and “Feign Death” or “Vanish”-ing to pass aggro to the nearest player
Players from opposite factions can stand in front of NPCs (usually in stealth). Unsuspecting HC players may intend to click on the NPC but attack the enemy player, flagging themselves for PvP.
14. Invest in more inventory space
More inventory space means more items for vendors and more consumables to store. If you have the cash, investing in 10-slot bags will help you a ton.
15. Learn how to kite
Different classes have their own equivalents of kiting. Be it using slows as a mage or “Gauge” as a rogue, learning the intricacies of your class and the weaknesses of mob types helps a lot. A pro tip for you is that in Classic WoW, mobs move slower when they are at low HP. Simply knowing this will allow you to plan battles more effectively.
Additionally, when running away, strafing is a useful skill to learn too. It essentially means jumping and turning to face the mob that’s following you in order to be hit without being dazed, without losing momentum.
16. Don’t play when you are really tired
“It’s just a game.” Well, yes, kind of. But your performance in-game will be heavily influenced by your physical and mental state outside of it. Be conscious of these factors, and take care of yourself so that you can take care of your one-life character. AND NEVER AUTORUN.
17. Savour small victories
One of the most beautiful and rewarding feelings of Hardcore WoW is getting even the smallest upgrade. The high stakes incentivize putting in effort for just a few more stamina points. Rare drops can be game-changers, too, and finishing a dungeon alive is an achievement of its own. Celebrate these victories and appreciate being alive!
18. Look out for chests
Chests can be found all across the world and contain valuable loot, especially for Hardcore players. They may include consumables like potions, scrolls, or even uncommon and rare items. You might even find precious crafting materials that you may need to complete certain quests. If it’s safe, always check what’s in a chest. But try not to put yourself in too much danger in doing so.
It’s also considered etiquette to loot everything in the chest, even if you don’t need it, so it can respawn and make another player happy!
19. Water is more dangerous than you’d think
Trust me when I say this because I learned it the hard way: AVOID QUESTS UNDER WATER. If you really insist on doing them, be prepared. Some ways to last longer underwater are to:
- Play an Undead
- Craft Water Breathing potions
- Play a Shaman (Water Breathing spell)
- Play a Warlock (Unending Breath)
- Play a Druid (Water Form)
- Acquire certain quest items that allow you to breathe underwater
20. The Undercity Elevator - a phantom menace
The Undercity elevator has taken many innocent hardcore players’ lives. It’s an automated elevator, most likely coded long before 2004, meaning that it’s not the smoothest means of escalation. Just walk to its center and leave once the door opens. Don’t test your parkour skills.
21. Never duel
As tempting as it may seem to get a taste of PvP with your nice Hardcore gear, it’s advisable never to duel players, even ones from your faction. There is a chance you’ll die, usually due to DOTs like a Hunter’s Serpent Sting. There’s no more embarrassing way to end a Hardcore run than just outside Stormwind.
22. Mob pets don’t usually die with their guardian
You would expect a Voidwalker to die along with its Warlock, but in Classic WoW, this is often not the case. Expect to fight the enemy mob's pet, too, maybe even clearing it first, depending on its abilities. Hence, you’re not fighting one mob but two. Plan your battle accordingly.
23. Care where you log off
If you log off in a hostile area where mobs tend to spawn, you might as well write your will. Even if you’re skilled and geared enough to fight said mobs, you might be taken by surprise when you next log in, resulting in your demise. Cause of death: too lazy to move 20 paces away. In any case, it’s always best to log off in an innkeep for the Rested Experience bonus.
24. Don’t get too attached
You won’t make it to 60 on your first character. You might not make it on your tenth. Your first Hardcore characters will be a part of your learning curve, so don’t invest your heart into them. They are martyrs of a greater cause. Sometimes your death might even be out of your control, so push forward, learn, and have fun.
25. Slow down, and enjoy the game
Hardcore WoW is what many people believe to be the true MMO experience precisely because the stakes are so high. Having just one life is the pinnacle of immersion. To keep that life, you need to strategize, think, and grind. So value this one life you have. Slow down, read your quests, practice your combos, and be mindful of your surroundings. You’ll be rewarded with a challenging but heart-wrenchingly exciting experience you can quote for years.
