What is a realm?
A realm is a game world that exists only for the few thousands of players within it. Each realm is a complete version of the game world, but each realm has its own player characters who are tied to that particular realm. You can interact with all the players on your realm but you cannot interact with players on other realms. Characters also cannot normally move between realms.

How many realms are there for World of Warcraft?
Currently, there are over 200 North American realms alone. More realms will continue to be added as necessary.

Is there a limit to the number of players on a realm?
We have established an optimal number of players per realm. This number is in the thousands, but manageable enough to foster a sense of community and to prevent overcrowding.

Can players select what realm they play on?
Yes. However, you must choose a realm that is located within your geographical region. For example, North American players must select a North American realm, and European players must select European realms. Some exceptions will exist. Australian and New Zealand players, for example, connect to realms on the U.S. West Coast. The regionally specific realms are there to improve game performance and provide the best online experience possible.

Are player names unique on each realm?
Yes. In order to promote individuality, character names in World of Warcraft are unique on each realm. Once a particular name has been chosen on a realm, no one else on that realm can use that name.

Are there player-vs.-player (PvP) realms where players can fight other players anywhere in the world?
Yes. In fact, all realms allow some sort of player-vs.-player combat in varying degrees. There are normal realms, where player-vs.-player combat is mostly consensual; you do not have to engage in PvP gameplay if you do not want to, but it does exist for consenting individuals. There are also devoted player-vs.-player realms where the excitement of PvP combat is always possible and players can be plunged into PvP battle without warning. Visit our online guide on realm types for more information.

Are there realms specifically for role-playing?
Yes. We want to ensure that role-players have the best experience possible in World of Warcraft. To that end, we also offer role-playing servers with special rules that promote role-playing and staying in-character. See our realm types page for more details.

Can players have characters on more than one server without paying additional fees?
You are billed by account, not by character. There is one monthly fee to play World of Warcraft and it allows you to create multiple characters on multiple realms.

Where are the realm servers located?
World of Warcraft servers are located around the globe in order to support our worldwide gaming community.

Can I move my character from one realm to another?
Realm transfers are supported in two forms. Free character migrations are sometimes offered from select highly populated realms to specific lower population realms. These migrations generally only affect a few realms at a time, and they are not offered with any regularity. They are performed on a case-by-case basis. Look for announcements on the official World of Warcraft forums for impending free character migrations. Paid character transfers are different; they allow you to move a character to a choice of realms and/or to another account that you own, and they cost a fee. View our Paid Character Transfer FAQ for more details.