With numerous players concerned with losing their character names, Blizzard has presented a solution: connected realms. By creating new “virtual realms”, players will be able to transfer onto these new servers and hopefully retain their character names. These new virtual realms are all connected, allowing players to group together for all available content.
As a reminder, these free character transfers will be available on Tuesday, September 23rd, after the realms go live.
US Announcement
Realm Changes & Free Moves for Mists of Pandaria Classic
Update! We hear your feedback on character and guild names loud and clear, we knew this would be a very painful point but felt that the overall long term health of the play experience would outweigh it.
But! Late last night we did realize there was more we could do here.
The following realms will now Free Character Transfer to five new destination realms that are pre-connected to Pagle.
Faerlina → Nazgrim
Mankrik → Galakras
Benediction → Ra-den
Atiesh → Lei Shen
Whitemane → Immerseus
Character names and guild names are all unique on each realm, but all realms will be connected together able to join other guilds on other realms in the group and raid, dungeon and PvP together.
We hope that this solution will give everyone as much opportunity to secure the names that they have come to cherish.
These realms will be open and waiting for you with the character moves on Tuesday 23rd after realms go Live after maintenance.
Nazgrim, Galakras, Ra-den & Lei Shen are “virtual” realms running on Pagle, just like connected realms players on these realms will see a “-Nazgrim” appended to their name, all character and guild names will be available on each one of these virtual realms, but all players will be able to join guilds, raids, and dungeons with anyone in the connected realm group.
EU Announcement
Realm Changes & Free Moves for Mists of Pandaria Classic
Update! We hear your feedback on character and guild names loud and clear, we knew this would be a very painful point but felt that the overall long term health of the play experience would outweigh it.
But, late last night we did realize there was more we could do here utilizing some of the Connected Realm process.
The following realms will now Free Character Transfer to five new destination realms that are pre-connected to Mirage Raceway.
EN
Firemaw → Shek’zeer
Gehennas → Garalon
Golemagg → Norushen
Pyrewood Village → Hoptallus
DE
Lakeshire → Everlook or Ook Ook
Venoxis → Everlook or Ook Ook
Razorfen → Everlook or Ook Ook
Patchwerk → Everlook or Ook Ook
Transcendence → Everlook or Ook Ook
All previously closed realms will still direct to Mirage Raceway.
Character names and guild names are all unique on each realm, but all realms will be connected together able to join other guilds on other realms in the group and raid, dungeon and PvP together.
We hope that this solution will give everyone as much opportunity to secure the names that they have come to cherish.
These realms will be open and waiting for you with the character moves on Wednesday 24th when realms go Live after maintenance.
Shek’zeer, Garalon, Norushen & Hoptallus are “virtual” realms running on Mirage Raceway. German realms get Ook Ook, a virtual realm connected to Everlook. Just like connected realms, players on these realms will see a “-Shek’zeer” appended to their name. All character and guild names will be available on each one of these virtual realms, but all players will be able to join guilds, raids, and dungeons with anyone in the connected realm group.
Full List of US Servers Realm Changes for Mists of Pandaria
Below is the full, updated list of all of the available free realm transfers players will be able to make. Players currently on PvP servers will have the option to transfer to either the new PvE or PvP mega server. As a reminder, these new connected realms are a part of Pagle, allowing everyone to group for all in-game activities.
PvE Servers
- Faerlina → Nazgrim (new, connected realm)
- Mankrik → Galakras (new, connected realm)
- Benediction → Ra-den (new, connected realm)
- Atiesh → Lei Shen (new, connected realm)
- Whitemane → Immerseus (new, connected realm)
- Bloodsail Buccaneers → Pagle
- Sulfuras → Pagle
- Windseeker → Pagle
- Azuresong → Pagle
- Westfall → Pagle
- Old Blanchy → Pagle
- Ashkandi → Pagle
PvP Servers
- Faerlina → Grobbulus (RP-PvP)
- Benediction → Grobbulus (RP-PvP)
- Whitemane → Grobbulus (RP-PvP)
Full List of EU Servers Realm Changes for Mists of Pandaria
Below is the full, updated list of all of the available free realm transfers players will be able to make. As a reminder, these new connected realms for EN are a part of Mirage Raceway, allowing everyone to group for all in-game activities. German realms also get an additional new realm, “Ook Ook”, which is connected to Everlook, due to their higher population.
EN
- Firemaw → Shek’zeer (new, connected realm)
- Gehennas → Garalon (new, connected realm)
- Golemagg → Norushen (new, connected realm)
- Pyrewood Village → Hoptallus (new, connected realm)
- Hydraxian Waterlords → Mirage Raceway
- Nethergarde Keep → Mirage Raceway
- Mograine → Mirage Raceway
- Earthshaker → Mirage Raceway
- Giantstalker → Mirage Raceway
- Ashbringer → Mirage Raceway
- Thekal → Mirage Raceway
- Jin’do → Mirage Raceway
DE
- Lakeshire → Everlook or Ook Ook (new, connected realm)
- Venoxis → Everlook or Ook Ook (new, connected realm)
- Razorfen → Everlook or Ook Ook (new, connected realm)
- Patchwerk → Everlook or Ook Ook (new, connected realm)
- Transcendence → Everlook or Ook Ook (new, connected realm)
FR
- Sulfuron → Auberdine
- Amnennar → Auberdine
RU
- Chromie → Flamegor
ES
- Mandokir → Mirage Raceway (EN)
The Fate of The Lower Population Servers
While this change addresses some of the players’ concerns about the mega-server announcement, players on some of the lower-population servers will not be granted a new server to transfer to. Blizzard has stated that it would simply be extremely cost-inefficient to create a new transfer realm for these servers, as most of them have fewer than 100 players actively playing.
The other realms not listed have been closed for some time and have very few players left on them, I unfortunately couldn’t justify creating whole new realms for the handful of players left on them. They have been closed so long that anyone left on them is likely seeking a solo experience and unlikely to move anyway, as they could have done anytime in the last few years. I hope that clears up why they weren’t listed!
The expensive part of Connected Realms is the database work to consolidate everyone’s data, this is the part that we we love to do for you but just do not have the time, it is a very old and expensive process in time and manpower that we just can’t pull off here.
This route creates a connected realm like environment that people can transfer themselves into with each realm having a different destination hopefully ensuring everyone can secure their existing names.
These realms have long since had character creation disabled on them, preventing new players from joining essentially dead realms. The only players remaining on these realms will still be transferred to Pagle with next week’s patch.
Closing Thoughts
While this is a better solution than simply having everyone mashed into one server, with many character names becoming lost in the process, it still has several downsides. Firstly, these new servers will run on a “first-come, first-served” basis, meaning all names are up for grabs in the first moments of the server going live. Secondly, guilds will still need to disband and reform on the new realms, losing all current guild progress and reputation.
Has your guild discussed moving to these new realms, or do they plan on staying on your current realm? Are you looking forward to these server merges? Perhaps you are coming from a low-population server, and this is a saving grace for your guild? Let us know your thoughts on the subject, as we will be monitoring the situation closely over the coming week, when transfers become available!
