How do you unlock Zephras Isle?
Forever itself comes with an active sub or Game Time. Skyborne and their island don't: you need an upgrade on top. The Skyborne Heroic Pack is the cheapest way in, and the Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection both include everything in Heroic.
| Upgrade | US | EU |
|---|---|---|
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | $29.99 | €29.99 |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | $59.99 | €59.99 |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | $79.99 | €79.99 |
Invite-A-Friend launch codes won't get a friend onto the island. They cover Forever from November 4 to 11, 2026, but not the Skyborne race or its starting zone. If you're torn between the three upgrades, see Heroic vs Epic vs Collection.
Zephras Isle is where Skyborne level from 1 to 12, and it's been playable since week one of the beta that opened September 17. You need the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher; a sub or Game Time alone won't unlock it.
Can you play Zephras Isle in the beta?
Yes. Blizzard's September 17 beta post lists week-one content as Skyborne and Zephras Isle, the Hall of Thanes (13–18), Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20) and all zone content up to level 20. The cap started at 20 and went up to 30 on October 1, so the full 1–12 island is in there.
Guaranteed access comes with the Skyborne Epic Pack, the Warcraft Forever Collection or the physical Collector's Edition. Heroic alone doesn't include beta. The beta runs until October 21; the free sign-up route is covered in how to get into the beta.
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What the devs said about Skyborne in the live Q&A
- Skyborne and the first name/last name system stay in Forever. Neither is coming to modern WoW's Worldsoul Saga (Midnight, The Last Titan). 50:58
- The team said they'll return to Quel'Thalas at some point, and the Skyborne story will tie into Thunderfury later on. 59:44
- Last names are mandatory and names are unique across the whole region. Take a name on the RP ruleset and it's gone on PvP too, so grab your Skyborne's name during reservation week. 1:13:40
Before you roll a Skyborne
- Upgrade: Heroic Pack or higher. A sub or Game Time on its own doesn't unlock the race.
- Class: want Shaman? Go Windshapers (Horde). Want Mage? High Order (Alliance). Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid work on either side.
- Ruleset: Normal, PvP or RP. There's no free switching later; playing on another ruleset means rolling a new character there.
- PvP ruleset is one faction per account. If you already have Alliance characters there, your Skyborne can't go Horde.
- Name: first and last name, unique region-wide. Upgrade owners can reserve up to three names from October 27 to November 3, 2026 (PST).
What's the story on Zephras Isle?
The Skyborne call themselves the shen'dorei, the "hidden people." They descend from rebels who fled Eldre'Thalas after the War of the Ancients and found refuge in Skywall.
Now their island is failing. Its elemental patrons have vanished and the pylons holding things together are breaking down. That collapse is the backdrop Blizzard uses for the whole zone.
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Windshapers, High Order and Al'Aketh
Three factions are named on the island. Picking a side when you create a Skyborne decides one of your class options:
| Side | Aligned with | Exclusive class | Available on both sides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horde-aligned | Windshapers, elemental traditions | Shaman | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid |
| Alliance-aligned | High Order, arcane legacy | Mage | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid |
Blizzard hasn't said yet where the Al'Aketh fit in. Skyborne also get new racials, customization, voices and dances, and Skyborne Druids get their own new forms.
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Zephras Isle timeline so far
- September 12: the What's Next panel reveals Zephras Isle as the Skyborne starting zone, levels 1–12.
- September 13: the Found Photos recap covers the island's story, its three factions and the first screenshots.
- September 17: live developer Q&A; the beta goes live the same day with Zephras Isle in week one.
- October 27 to November 3, 2026 (PST): Early Name Reservation.
- November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST (23:00 UTC): Forever launches.
Where do you go after level 12?
The island takes you to 12. Where Skyborne head next isn't covered in any official post yet. The level cap is 60, same as every other race.
Do Skyborne Druids have different forms?
For racials and the full class list, see the Skyborne race guide.
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