Blizzard ran a Year of World of Warcraft promotion tied to longer subscriptions, and the rewards span modern WoW, WoW Classic, and WoW: Forever. The subscription bonuses article was published on October 15 and updated on November 6, and it is the official source for what is on offer and, importantly, when you have to claim it.
What Counts as a Qualifying Subscription
The offer applies to purchasers of a special six-month or twelve-month subscription. Both tiers unlock bonus items, but they do not unlock the same set, and the twelve-month tier carries the additional bundle of upcoming Lunar New Year rewards.
A twelve-month subscription includes progress access to modern World of Warcraft, WoW: Forever, and WoW Classic, where Classic was Mists of Pandaria Classic at the time of the announcement. The article also states that WoW: Forever is available with a subscription from November 4.
The WoW: Forever Rewards
For WoW: Forever specifically, the rewards include the Tabard of Eternal Exploration transmog, the Eternal Explorer’s Backpack transmog, and the Azurky pet. There is also an upcoming six-month bonus item referenced in the article, which Blizzard has not yet detailed.
That is three confirmed Forever items, plus one more to come. The two transmog items are cosmetic appearances rather than functional gear, which is worth noting if you were hoping for something that changes your rotation.
Treasures Across the Whole Warcraft
The broader treasure list reaches across all three games. For modern World of Warcraft it includes the Ashen Dreadglider sky riding mount and the Giant Grrloc ground mount. For WoW Classic it includes the Cerulean Drake flight mount.
For players who have never played Classic, the Cerulean Drake is one of the most recognisable flying mounts in the game’s history, which makes the twelve-month subscription the most interesting option for anyone who wants a single purchase to cover every version.
Deadlines That Actually Matter
The reward items must be delivered by October 31, 2026 and redeemed by April 30, 2027. Those are the two dates that matter, and they are not the same thing. Delivery is Blizzard’s obligation; redemption is yours.
Miss the redemption deadline and the items are gone, whatever the delivery date was. If you buy a twelve-month subscription, set a reminder for early 2027.
The Lunar New Year Refresh
A twelve-month subscription also includes the following Lunar New Year six-month subscription rewards. Blizzard states that the reward will be announced and delivered no later than January 31, 2027.
There is a condition attached to the refresh. Players who already hold a twelve-month subscription need to keep auto-renewal active, with a renewal date in the future, to receive both rounds of the reward refresh. Blizzard notes this can be obtained free through the Battle.net desktop app.
This is the part that catches people out. If you let auto-renew lapse, you keep the original benefits but lose the refresh rounds, which are effectively free items.
How This Differs From the Upgrade Packs
It is worth separating the two, because they are frequently confused. Subscription bonuses are tied to time and, in the case of the twelve-month tier, to renewal behaviour. Upgrade packs are permanent purchases tied to an account. Our upgrade packs guide covers the permanent side, including the race unlock and the invite codes, and the name reservation guide covers the benefit that shipped with one of those purchases.
If you are still working out what you want to buy, the returning player guide covers the baseline access requirements, which are simpler than they used to be.
Editorial Advice on Choosing a Subscription Length
Some suggestions, offered as editorial advice rather than as Blizzard rules. If you play more than one version of the game, the twelve-month tier is the one that pays, because the Lunar New Year refresh is free money as long as auto-renew stays on. Buy it now rather than waiting for the Lunar New Year announcement, since the announcement lands by January 31 and you want the original delivery secured before then. Set a calendar reminder for the April 30, 2027 redemption deadline the moment your items land. And check the Battle.net desktop app for the renewal refresh rather than assuming your subscription platform handles it.
What do I get with a six-month WoW subscription?
The six-month tier unlocks bonus items including the WoW: Forever transmog tabard, the Eternal Explorer’s Backpack transmog, and the Azurky pet, along with an upcoming six-month bonus item that Blizzard had not detailed at the time of the article.
What do I get with twelve months?
Everything the six-month tier includes, plus the following Lunar New Year six-month rewards, subject to keeping auto-renewal active with a future renewal date.
When do the rewards expire?
They must be delivered by October 31, 2026 and redeemed by April 30, 2027. Redemption is your responsibility.
Do subscription bonuses include the Skyborne race?
No. The race is tied to the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher digital upgrade, which is a separate purchase covered in our upgrade packs guide.
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