WoW Forever: beta bowed out with Thunderfury and a plague

The WoW Forever beta did not end quietly. In its final hours the starting zones filled with world bosses and rewards that normally take months of raiding, according to one report from players who were there. The beta closed at 18:00 in London on 23 October, and this was the farewell event Blizzard had announced a day earlier.

A new vendor stood outside the capital cities selling one-off consumables: fireworks, a scroll that speeds up you and the players around you, and a potion that raises experience gained by 200%. Out in the starting zones, players ran into Azuregos, Lord Kazzak, Thunderaan, Voracious and a 'Super' Hogger.

Beating those bosses dropped two of the most famous legendaries in the game, Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros and Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker. Ordinary mobs in every starting zone dropped full Tier 1 sets with their set bonuses, and Molten Core weapons as well.

To finish, Blizzard brought back the contaminated crates from the Scourge invasion event of 2008, from the days of Wrath of the Lich King, and the plague spread across Azeroth. None of this is expected to carry over, as Blizzard had said the celebration would include things that will not be part of the live game. These details come from a single report, and Blizzard has not published its own list.

WoW Forever launches on 4 November, which is midnight on 5 November in Central Europe. Blizzard has still not said what happens to beta characters.