Stable branch Core · 3.3.5a Patch 3.3.0

Wrath of the Lich King

3.0.2 — 3.3.5

The reference branch. The 3.3.5a tree carries the largest module set we maintain, which makes it the usual starting point for a new realm.

Fan-favorite patch · Patch 3.3.0

Fall of the Lich King

Icecrown Citadel, cross-realm dungeon queueing, and the single most re-implemented raid script in emulation history.

Read build notes

Server core

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Codebase

WF Core · Northrend branch

C++20 · protocol build 12340

Database schema

Complete + modular

Base DB plus 200+ community modules applied as SQL overlays.

Custom C++ scripting

Module API (hot-swappable)

Scripts live outside the core tree and link at build time.

Anti-cheat compatibility

Warden + anticheat module

Movement, teleport, and speed detection with per-realm thresholds.

Build stability

5 / 5

The most battle-tested build target available.

Test realm telemetry

Test realm · refreshes every 3s

21ms

Test-realm latency

48ms/tick

World update interval

Diff stays under the 100 ms warning threshold.

99.97%

30-day uptime

Measured on the public test realm.

3,410

Peak concurrent testers

Highest simultaneous session count this month.

Recommended Linux host

OS: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
CPU: 6 vCPU @ 3.8 GHz
Memory: 16 GB
Storage: 80 GB NVMe
Database: MySQL 8.0

Recommended Windows host

OS: Windows Server 2022
CPU: 8 core @ 3.8 GHz
Memory: 24 GB
Storage: 120 GB SSD
Database: MariaDB 11.4

Environment showcase

One plate per notable tier

Icecrown Citadel

The Frozen Throne · 3.3

Ulduar

Descent into Madness · 3.1

Naxxramas

Construct Quarter · 3.0

Deployment tiers

Pick one, then open the setup sheet

≈ 15 minutes

Quick-start repack

Prebuilt core with a seeded database. Fastest way to see a realm come up, hardest to keep current.

Binaries and world database ship together
One config file to edit before first launch
You still extract maps and DBC from your own client
Fixes arrive only when a fresh repack is issued

≈ 2 hours

Full source build

Compile the core yourself. Slower to start, and the only tier where you can patch and contribute back.

Unpack the source bundle and verify its checksum
CMake configure, then build with your own flags
Apply SQL updates in order on every pull
Custom C++ modules compile into your binary

≈ 40 minutes

Container stack

Core, database, and auth server as separate services. Best fit if you plan to run more than one realm.

Compose file brings up worldserver, authserver, and MySQL
Volumes keep DB and extracted data across rebuilds
Same stack runs on a laptop and on a host
Higher memory floor than a bare-metal build

How a realm fits together

Deployment topology