Database / world-of-warcraft
World of Warcraft
aka WOW · Blizzard Entertainment · Released 2004-11-23
Gauntlet56A composite score reflecting how strongly a mode enforces high-stakes difficulty systems, such as permadeath, Ironman rules, restricted saving, limited recovery, and other hardcore mechanics.
Available at — 1 store
Enter Azeroth, a living fantasy world where heroes of the Horde and Alliance shape the fate of their realms through war, exploration, and discovery.
Difficulty Modes
2 modesSeparate modes, each with its own mechanics, save rules and death consequence.
NormalsoftcoreStandard progression with recoverable deaths, checkpoints and unlimited reloads.BaseDefault developer-built difficulty.
difficulty 1/10
This covers the normal mode and World of Warcraft has native support for permadeath or hardcore mechanics.
Death type
Respawn
Scope
Session
Persistence
Temporary
On death, become a ghost and return to the corpse or use a Spirit Healer to resurrect. Death does not end the character.
Mode rulesRules that apply across every difficulty tier within the mode.
Locked DifficultyDifficulty is chosen when starting a game and cannot be changed afterwards.
Save rules
Save methodServer SideCharacter progress is maintained by the realm. There are no manual save slots.
Death typeRespawnYou come back in the same session, usually at a checkpoint or a fixed spawn point.
PersistenceTemporaryThe loss lasts until you reload. Nothing on disk changes, so loading a save undoes it completely.
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Permadeath
Built inThe game ships this mode itself; nothing has to be added for a death to be permanent.
Companion
No profileThe companion has no profile for this game, so it cannot enforce anything here.
Scoring
Negligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.Negligible ChallengeOffers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.4
HardcorehardcoreStrict progression with higher stakes and semi-permanent consequences.RulesetPlayer-defined or community-curated rules applied on top of an existing mode.is_hardcore: true
difficulty 5/10
This covers the hardcore mode and World of Warcraft has native support for permadeath or hardcore mechanics.
Death type
Reset
Scope
Character
Persistence
Permanent
On death, the character cannot resurrect on that Hardcore realm. Remain as a ghost or transfer to a non-Hardcore Classic Era realm and resurrect there; the character cannot return to Hardcore.
Mode rulesRules that apply across every difficulty tier within the mode.
PvP SafeguardsPvP flagging requires
/pvp; enemy faction NPCs can still flag the character. Battlegrounds and Battlemasters are disabled.Dungeon RestrictionsCharacters below level 60 have at least a 24-hour lockout for every dungeon. Level 60 characters cannot enter lower-level dungeons with characters below level 60, and large level gaps reduce group experience.
Paladin HearthstonePaladins cannot use a Hearthstone while Blessing of Protection, Divine Protection, or Divine Shield is active.
Duel to the DeathBoth players must acknowledge the warning before a Duel to the Death.
Save rules
Save methodServer SideCharacter progress and the permanent death state are maintained by the realm.
Death typeResetThe current attempt ends and starts over from the beginning. What carries between attempts is a separate question.
PersistencePermanentWhatever the scope names is gone for good. There is no route back to it.
MechanicsDefines gameplay-changing rules that meaningfully affect player decisions and how a mode is approached.
PermadeathMechanic · PermanenceenabledOn death the character or save is destroyed for good. A run reset that keeps your unlocks is not this.enableddisabledOpen in DefinitionsMechanicGame-agnostic rules that change how a mode is played rather than numerically adjusting its difficulty.
AwardsAwards earned anywhere in this mode.
String of EarsCosmeticWin a Duel to the Death at level 10 or above against another player. String of Ears is a buff that shows the amount of wins a player has triumphed from the Duel to the Death feature and how many players they have slain to their death and collected their ear.
OptionalAn optional rule or setting that can be enabled or selected independently of the chosen difficulty mode.
Self-FoundThe character must earn equipment and supplies without player-to-player commerce.
Derived genre:PermadeathDerived by The Gauntlet from this mode's own mechanics; it is not a store genre tag.permadeath=enabled
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Permadeath
Built inThe game ships this mode itself; nothing has to be added for a death to be permanent.
Companion
No profileThe companion has no profile for this game, so it cannot enforce anything here.
Scoring
Negligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.Considerable ChallengeDemands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.56
Games with RuleForge
Games which have been patched to enable Permadeath enforcement, Ironman, Savescum protection or other features to enhance the difficulty.
Arx FatalisNegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.61
DishonoredNegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.53
OverlordNegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.46
Overlord IINegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.34
Games with Hardcore Modes
Includes a mode or difficulty setting that substantially increases consequence and systemic burden by introducing or strengthening requirements for survival
RuleForgeArx Fatalis
Arx FatalisNegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.61
RuleForgeDishonored
DishonoredNegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.53
RuleForgeOverlord
OverlordNegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.46
RuleForgeOverlord II
Overlord IINegligible Challenge1–9Offers virtually no resistance or meaningful consequences for failure.Minimal Challenge10–19Provides limited resistance and remains highly forgiving.Light Challenge20–29Requires occasional attention but allows frequent mistakes.Modest Challenge30–39Presents noticeable resistance without demanding consistent precision.Moderate Challenge40–49Requires reliable execution and a reasonable understanding of the game’s systems.Considerable Challenge50–59Demands sustained focus and punishes repeated mistakes.High Challenge60–69Requires strong execution, preparation and effective use of available mechanics.Severe Challenge70–79Allows little room for error and imposes substantial penalties for failure.Extreme Challenge80–89Combines demanding mechanics with harsh consequences and limited recovery.Relentless Challenge90–100Maintains exceptional difficulty throughout, with severe penalties and almost no margin for error.34
Quick facts
DeveloperBlizzard Entertainment
PublisherBlizzard Entertainment
Released2004-11-23
PlatformsWindows
Languages
English
French
German
Spanish
Italian
Polish
Russian
Korean
EnglishFrenchGermanSpanishItalianPolishRussianKoreanRequires
Always OnlineCondition
This game requires an always-online internet connection to be played.
Battle.net
Blizzard's central account system, required to purchase, launch, and play Battle.net-distributed titles like Diablo, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.
SecurityMinor breaches in the past; generally high security standards and two-factor authentication support.
Features
ControllerNo
Always onlineYes
MicrotransactionsYes
Split screenNo
LANNo
VRNo
HDRNo
SubscriptionNo
Contact