Live to 60: Hardcore WoW Classic Tips and Tricks

If you're like me you've been keeping up with Only Fangs, the clan of Twitch streamers currently playing Hardcore Classic World of Warcraft, and now you're installing WoW Classic to kick off your first hardcore run. Before you embark on one of the most frustrating ways to experience the original World of Warcraft content it's important to know exactly what you're getting into.

While yes, it is fun to watch streamers rage and scream at each other to play better it really isn't as fun when it's your character on the line. No matter which way you slice it, the grind to level 60 in Hardcore WoW Classic is not easy and you should probably expect to die at least once. That being said, you don't have to go into this challenge completely blind, here are some tips and tricks that will make your run just a tiny bit easier.

Before you even create your character or boot the game up for the time it is important to decide whether or not you want to use add-ons. Add-ons are like lightweight mods that add quality-of-life changes to the game. World of Warcraft Classic is over 20 years old — if you didn't play it back in 2003 or if this is your first MMO it might come off a bit clunky. That's where add-ons come in.

The best add-on we can recommend is easily Zygor or RestedXPGuides. Both of these add-ons do the same thing for the most part with a few key differences. Zygor is a bit more comprehensive and detailed whereas RestedXP is best if all you care about is an optimized leveling route. It even maximizes World of Warcraft's rested experience mechanic. Hence the name. Unfortunately, these add-ons are both paid with Zygor being a subscription of its own. Not everybody is going to be okay with adding an extra charge on top of their World of Warcraft subscription but in all honesty, it's worth it.

If you'd rather use only free add-ons then there are plenty to choose from and they're all very useful:

• LeatrixPlus & LeatrixMaps — Convenient quality-of-life changes that are pretty much a must-have.
• ClassicAuraDurations, OmniCC, and ModernTargetFrame — provide the player with more information and it's great for tracking remaining time on your spells.
• Questie — Perfect for those who are interested in Zygor/RestedXP but don't want all of the features.
• GTFO — Lets you know when you're standing in fire because the base game doesn't for some reason. One moment you're fighting a boss, focused on your rotations, and then suddenly you're dead because you were standing in a lava puddle.
• WeaponSwingTimer — Mostly for the melee classes but shows how long it takes for you to swing your weapon.

Once you have the add-ons that you plan to use it's time to start playing the game. The first thing you'll come across is the character creation screen and you're met with the most important decision you'll make — your class and your character's race. When playing World of Warcraft you can get away with any combination of classes and races but in Hardcore this decision can decide the pace of your run. Some classes are just way better than others. At max level, every classic is on par with each other for the most part but the point is getting to max level.

When leveling, Hunter and Mage are by far the best classes. Hunter unlike many of the other classes can deal damage while moving. A skilled player can use these kiting mechanics to defeat enemies way stronger than you. On top of that, you have access to pets that help take out enemies. These pets also scale with levels instead of gear which means you'll feel the strength more consistently throughout the leveling process.

As for Mages what makes them so incredibly strong is how quickly they kill a group of monsters. On top of that, they are still one of, if not the safest class, to play in the game. As someone who has leveled multiple mages through the early game, the downside is that they are incredibly mana-hungry in the first 15 or so levels so there is a lot of downtime where you're just sitting and drinking. If you can make it through its slow early game, Mages are incredibly useful and great for new players.

Once you have your character created, you will spawn into the starting zone for that specific character. This starting zone will take you through the first fourth of your leveling journey but before you head out into the big and scary world of World of Warcraft Classic Hardcore it isn't a bad idea to head to another race's starting area and clear out some quests there. Being over-leveled is a good thing when it comes to Hardcore WoW. If you don't mind extending an already grindy game then better safe than sorry.

A small tip that makes a big difference is just zooming out your camera. By using the scroll wheel you're able to zoom out allowing you to take in more information when it comes to your direct surroundings. It doesn't stop there either, by using a simple console command in your in-game chat box you can max out your camera settings even further.

Typing "/console cameraDistanceMaxZoomFactor 3.9" without quotation marks will help you during dungeons or raids. When you're just leveling, this command might be a bit overkill but it doesn't hurt to try and see what works for you. It's very easy to die because you forgot to check if monsters have respawned behind you. Zoom out your camera, and you'll thank me later.

Throughout your playthrough, you will run into many different types of enemies but one of those are mages or casters. These enemies have the capacity to deal way too much damage in comparison to other early-game monsters. This isn't an opinion either, statistically, Defias Pillagers an early game caster enemy, have the most kills on any player in not only Hardcore WoW but Classic WoW too. Stay vigilant, make use of line of sight, and do not underestimate these enemies. As you level they become easier to deal with but they can end runs very quickly.

It's very easy to die in caves because of how quickly some enemies respawn. The zoom-out tip isn't as useful in caves so all you can do as a player is watch your back. Preparation is key when it comes to caves. If you've been following the other tips on this guide then you should be more than ready to deal with most caves you run into. Try to be over-leveled, have plenty of food and potions and you'll be fine. Try to have an escape route planned but when it comes to caves no matter what, you're going to have to backtrack through enemies. Another option is to just take it slow on your way back out but it's easy to slip up and rush your escape.

In the earliest levels and starting zones there are going to be plenty of other players. Many of them are either starting their journey, scouting for guilds, or starting over for the fiftieth time. This is the most important tip of all. You are playing a Massively Multiplayer Online game. Do not be afraid to ask for help. There will be many people willing to help you and don't be afraid to join a guild. There are plenty of guilds built just around helping you get to level 60. People aren't nearly as mean on WoW Classic when compared to more competitive titles. We all want to make it to level 60. Just like in real life, the goal is easier when you work together.