Arathi Basin

15 vs 15 · levels 20-60, in brackets of ten levels (20-29 up to 50-59) plus 60

Map and plan

15 vs 15Levels 20-60, in brackets of ten levels (20-29 up to 50-59) plus 60

Hold resource nodes. Five nodes give resources over time while you own them. More nodes means faster points. In Classic, the first team to 2000 resources wins (later versions use 1500; Forever's number is not confirmed).

New in Forever: No map or rule changes have been published. Blizzard said Arathi Basin Honor will go up relative to Alterac Valley, with no numbers given. Arathi Basin has its own Mark of Honor for some PvP gear slots and League of Arathor (Alliance) or Defilers (Horde) reputation.

Alliance start (Trollbane Hall): Alliance spawn and last-resort graveyard.Stables (ST): Closest node to the Alliance start. Easy Alliance node.Gold Mine (GM): Northeast node. Far from both starts.Lumber Mill (LM): West node on a high cliff. Good view over Blacksmith.Blacksmith (BS): Center node. Key node most fights go through.Farm: Closest node to the Horde start. Easy Horde node.Horde start (Defiler's Den): Horde spawn and last-resort graveyard.Alliance startStables (ST)Gold Mine (GM)Lumber Mill (LM)Blacksmith (BS)FarmHorde start (Defiler's Den)
schematic, not to scale. Alliance start at the top left (northwest), Horde start at the bottom right (southeast), as on the classic in-game map. Blue: Alliance. Red: Horde. Gold: neutral.

The plan

  1. The first minuteOne or two players take your closest node (Stables for Alliance, Farm for Horde). The main group goes to Blacksmith. A small group goes to Lumber Mill or Gold Mine.
  2. The middle gameThree nodes beats two. Pick three nodes and hold them. Leave at least one or two defenders on each. Send a group to break an enemy node only when your own three are safe.
  3. Closing it outWatch the score. If you are ahead, defend, do not chase. If you are behind, the whole team hits one enemy node at a time. A node is not yours until the capture timer ends, so stay on it.
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Your job by role

Base defender

Stay on your node, even when nothing happens. Call 'inc' the moment you see enemies. Stand on the flag to block or delay a capture.

Healer

Stay with the main group or the hardest-hit node. A healer on a defended node can hold it against more attackers.

Damage

Move with the main group. Stop enemies who are capturing a flag. Any damage interrupts their capture.

Scout / roamer

Fast or stealth players watch enemy nodes and look for weak ones. Call what you see, then the group decides.

Calls you will see in chat

inc BS 3Three enemies coming to Blacksmith. Swap BS for ST, LM, GM or Farm.
BS / LM / ST / GM / FarmBlacksmith, Lumber Mill, Stables, Gold Mine, Farm.
LM clearNo enemies at Lumber Mill right now.
help BSBlacksmith is being attacked and will fall without help.
hold 3Keep three nodes and stop pushing for more.
zergA large enemy group moving together.

Newcomer mistakes

  • Leaving a node empty after taking it. One stealthy enemy can flip it.
  • The whole team chasing one fight while nodes fall behind them.
  • Walking off the flag before the capture finishes.
  • Trying to hold all five nodes and getting spread thin.
  • Not calling 'inc' early. Late calls lose nodes.

See all four maps on the Battlegrounds page, and class tips in each class guide.

Sources

  1. Blizzard to Lower Alterac Valley Honor and Increase All Other Battlegrounds Honor in WoW: Forever (Wowhead News)
  2. WoW Forever Honor changes: Alterac Valley and the other battlegrounds (Forever Wisp)
  3. WoW Forever Battlegrounds: All Four Maps, Brackets and Marks (wowforevertierlist.com)
  4. Arathi Basin (Warcraft Wiki)