This Azeroth Survivors beginner guide covers the controls, how to start your first run and what happens in the 15 minutes that follow. Azeroth Survivors is a free, fan-made roguelike set in the World of Warcraft 1.12 world: you pick a race, a class and a zone, your spells cast themselves, and you survive until the clock reaches 15:00. Everything below is read from the game's open-source code, so the numbers are the game's own.
Azeroth Survivors controls
The game is played with keyboard and mouse. These are the controls listed in the game's own documentation.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| W A S D or arrow keys | Move your hero. |
| Space | Jump. |
| F | Cast your class movement spell toward the cursor. It unlocks at level 5. |
| 1, 2, 3 or click | Pick one of the three cards when you level up. |
| Esc | Pause and resume. |
| C | Unlock or lock the camera. While it is unlocked, dragging swings and tilts the view. |
| Mouse wheel | Zoom, out to 70 yd. |
| G | Toggle the picture polish pass. |
| Enter | Start the run from the menu, and play again after a game over. |
You never aim your spells. Each one casts on its own when its cooldown is ready, so the whole skill of the game is where you stand and which way you walk.
How to start your first Azeroth Survivors run
- Click a race and a gender. Alliance has Human, Dwarf, Night Elf and Gnome; Horde has Orc, Undead, Tauren and Troll.
- Click a class. Each race offers only the classes it can be in World of Warcraft; the class list shows which races fit which class.
- Click a zone under "Choose a Zone". The list runs from the lowest creature levels to the highest, and there is a Randomize button. The zones page lists all 16.
- Press Enter or click Enter World. Your race, gender, class and zone are remembered when you reload the page.
For a first run, take a class from the top of the tier list and a starter zone: Elwynn Forest, Durotar, Teldrassil, Dun Morogh, Mulgore or Tirisfal Glades. Their creatures are the lowest level in the game. The best class guide explains the pick in more detail.
What happens during a run
- Enemies swarm. The game keeps more of them alive as the clock runs: about 14 at the start, up to a cap of 220.
- You collect experience. Dead enemies leave gems. Walk over them and they fly to you once you are close enough; levels bank as they land.
- You level up and pick a card. Time stops and three cards are dealt: a new spell, a rank for a spell you own, or a passive. The passives and upgrades guide shows how the offers are drawn.
- A boss arrives every 135 seconds. There are six, the last at 13:30. See the bosses and run clock guide for the timings.
- You win at 15:00. Surviving to the end of the clock is the victory condition. If your health reaches zero first, the run ends and the results screen shows.
Azeroth Survivors beginner guide: tips for your first run
- Keep walking. Spells fire without you, so standing still only lets the crowd close in. Walking is also how you pick up the experience gems that kills leave behind.
- Take the boss kill. A boss always drops a heal worth 1000 health, which fills your health bar. Ordinary kills have only a small chance to drop a 30 health heal.
- Fill your spell slots first. You can hold six spells and six passives. New spells and ranks both come from the same cards, so more spells early means more damage sooner; see the builds guide for what to chase per class.
- Learn your F spell at level 5. Each class has a different one (Blink, Charge, Sprint, Dash, Fade, Ghost Wolf, Aspect of the Cheetah, Blessing of Freedom or Howl of Terror). It is the way out of a crowd.
- Browse the spell table before a run if you want to know what a class can roll.
- Ask other players. The official links page has the Discord invite, and the about page explains where the numbers on this wiki come from.
Azeroth Survivors beginner guide FAQ
How long is one Azeroth Survivors run?
A run lasts 15 minutes. If you survive until the clock reaches 15:00 you win, and the six bosses come every 135 seconds before that.
Do I aim my spells in Azeroth Survivors?
No. Spells cast on their own when their cooldown is ready. You only aim your class movement spell on F, which unlocks at level 5, toward the cursor.
Which class should I pick first in Azeroth Survivors?
By our estimate from the game's numbers, Warlock and Warrior sit at the top of the tier list. Warrior and Paladin also start with the most health, 160. We have not play-tested this, so treat it as a starting point.
Is Azeroth Survivors free?
Yes. The game is free and fan-made; the download and play guide explains where it runs and what your browser needs.