!Alliance vs Horde clashing in a fantasy battleground arena
WoW Forever Beta PvP Battlegrounds Guide: WSG and AB Tips
Battlegrounds (BGs) unlock at level 10 in WoW Forever, but the real PvP starts at level 19 when Warsong Gulch and Arathi Basin open in the BG rotation. This guide covers both BGs, the best classes for PvP at level 20, and the best races for each faction.
For broader PvP coverage, see our Class Tier List and Undead Paladin PvP Combo articles.
Quick summary: Best PvP classes at level 20: Undead Paladin (Horde, broken in BGs), Priest (best healer), Warlock (best caster DPS), Rogue (best melee DPS). Best races: Undead (Horde), Night Elf (Alliance).
Battlegrounds unlocked at level 19
When you hit level 19, the following BGs become available:
Warsong Gulch (WSG)
Format: 10v10 capture-the-flag Map: Elfgate forest Goal: Capture enemy flag 3 times to win
Arathi Basin (AB)
Format: 15v15 base control Map: Arathi Highlands Goal: Hold 5 nodes (Blacksmith, Mine, Farm, Stables, Lumber Mill) to 2000 resources
Warsong Gulch strategy
Roles
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Flag carrier (FC) | Grab and hold enemy flag |
| Offense | Support FC, kill defenders |
| Defense | Stay near own flag, kill attackers |
| Roamer | Move between offense and defense |
WSG tips
- Stay with your FC — solo offense gets roamed
- Use Line of Sight (LoS) — break enemy heals
- Save CDs for FC — cooldowns wasted on offense don’t win games
- Communication wins — call incomings, call FC position
Best classes for WSG
- Paladin — Blessing of Freedom + Bubble on FC is unkillable
- Warlock — Fear + DoTs on defense
- Priest — Dispel + Mass Dispel on offense
- Rogue — Stealth + cheap shot on FC
Arathi Basin strategy
Node priorities
| Priority | Node | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blacksmith | Central location, easy to defend |
| 2 | Mine | Contested but high reward |
| 3 | Stables | Defensive position |
| 4 | Farm | Mid-tier |
| 5 | Lumber Mill | Lowest priority, hard to hold |
AB tips
- 3-2-1 formation — 3 offense, 2 defense, 1 roamer
- Defend with class advantage — healers and tanks on defense
- Switch nodes strategically — don’t commit to losing fights
- Final push at 1500+ — go all-in for last 500 resources
Best classes for AB
- Paladin — Aura + Blessing spam
- Warlock — AoE DoTs on nodes
- Druid — Travel Form for fast node capping
- Hunter — Pet tank at nodes
Class tier list for PvP at level 20
S tier (must-pick)
| Class | Why |
|---|---|
| Undead Paladin | Will of the Forsaken + Bubble + Blessings = broken |
| Priest (Holy) | Best healer, Dispel Magic, Psychic Scream |
| Warlock (Affliction) | Fear + DoT pressure, soulstone |
A tier (strong)
| Class | Why |
|---|---|
| Rogue (Subtlety) | Stealth + cheap shot, best ganker |
| Hunter (BM) | Pet tank + ranged damage |
| Mage (Frost) | Polymorph + Ice Block |
| Druid (Feral) | Travel Form, stealth capper |
B tier (solid)
| Class | Why |
|---|---|
| Warrior (Fury) | Burst damage, no immunities |
| Shaman (Enhancement) | Hybrid, off-heals |
| Skyborne (any) | Wind Blessed is universal |
C tier (situational)
| Class | Why |
|---|---|
| Paladin (Alliance) | Strong but missing Will of the Forsaken |
| Warlock (Destruction) | Burst but mana-limited |
Best races for PvP
Horde
| Race | Best for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Undead | Paladin, Warlock, Priest | Will of the Forsaken + Touch of the Grave |
| Troll | Shaman, Priest, Mage | Berserking + Beast Slaying |
| Tauren | Warrior, Hunter | War Stomp + Endurance |
Alliance
| Race | Best for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Night Elf | Hunter, Druid, Rogue | Shadowmeld + Quickness |
| Human | Priest, Paladin, Warrior | The Human Spirit + Perception |
| Gnome | Mage, Warlock | Expansive Mind + Escape Artist |
| Dwarf | Warrior, Paladin | Stoneform + Mace Spec |
Common PvP mistakes
| Mistake | Cost | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Standing in melee range | Death in 1-2 hits | Kite + LoS |
| Forgetting to use defensives | Free kills | Bubble, Ice Block, CloS |
| Pushing without team | Solo deaths | Group up |
| Not calling incomings | Lost bases | Voice chat |
PvP addons
Best addons for PvP:
- Gladius — arena unit frames
- OmniCC — cooldown tracking
- Weakaura — custom notifications
- TellMeWhen — proc tracking
See our Best Addons Guide for full addon recommendations.
PvP rewards
For levels 10-20, BG rewards include:
- Honor (slow earner at low level)
- Reputation with WSG / AB factions
- Pre-bis PvP gear at level 20 (Honor rank 4)
- Fun (yes, this is real currency)
At level 20, the Honor system opens up fully. Start grinding Honor rank 4 for free gear.
Common questions
When can I PvP at level 20?
Now! BGs unlock at level 19. Full Honor system opens at level 20.
Which class is best for solo PvP?
Rogue — Stealth + cheap shot lets you pick fights.
Which faction has better PvP racials?
Horde — Undead’s Will of the Forsaken is unmatched.
How long does a WSG match take?
15-25 minutes typically.
Final verdict
Top PvP picks at level 20:
- Horde: Undead Paladin (broken), Troll Warlock (PvE DPS), Troll Priest (healer)
- Alliance: Night Elf Hunter (PvP mobility), Human Priest (healer), Dwarf Paladin (defensive)
Top BGs to focus on:
- WSG for fun + learning
- AB for longer matches and strategy
Whatever your role, save cooldowns for the FC in WSG or the node control in AB — wasted cooldowns lose games.
For more PvP coverage, see our Class Tier List, Best Races Guide, and Skyborne Faction Choice articles.
