How to play Warcraft III today: Reforged, classic graphics and the campaigns
Which version you'll get, how to switch to the original look and the order to play every campaign in.
Playing Warcraft III in 2026 is a little more confusing than it should be. The game has been remade, re-released and updated, and the version you’ll end up with depends on when you bought it and how. On top of that, its campaigns span two games and a bonus chapter, and the game’s design differs from most modern RTS titles in important ways.
This guide answers the practical questions: which version to get, how to make it look the way you remember, the order to play everything in and how to get good enough to enjoy it.
Reforged and “classic”
In 2020 Blizzard released Warcraft III: Reforged, a remake with new models, textures and updated cutscenes. Its launch was badly received: many features that had been promised were missing, and the update also changed the original game, since the classic version on Battle.net was updated to run on the same client.
In practice, today there are two ways to own it:
- Warcraft III: Reforged: includes the new graphics and the option to switch to the classic graphics at any time.
- Classic owners: if you already owned the original Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne, you can still play through the Battle.net launcher with the classic look.
Either way, it runs through Battle.net, and both versions can play together online.
Switching to classic graphics
If you prefer the 2002 look, open the game’s settings and select the classic graphics option. Many veterans find the original art more readable, and it’s closer to the style of the time. It’s a matter of taste — try both.
Old discs and installers
If you have the original discs, they may no longer be the easiest way to play. The Battle.net version is generally simpler and kept up to date.
Campaign order
The full story spans two games and a bonus campaign. Play them in this order:
Reign of Chaos
- Exodus of the Horde — the orc prologue, which doubles as a tutorial. Short but essential.
- The Scourge of Lordaeron — the human campaign. Arthas, the plague and the fall of a prince.
- Path of the Damned — the undead campaign. The Scourge spreads across Lordaeron.
- The Invasion of Kalimdor — the orc campaign. Thrall leads the Horde to a new land.
- Eternity’s End — the night elf campaign. The battle for Mount Hyjal.
The Frozen Throne
- Terror of the Tides — the Sentinels campaign. Maiev pursues Illidan.
- Curse of the Blood Elves — the Alliance campaign. Kael’thas and the last of his people.
- Legacy of the Damned — the Scourge campaign. Arthas returns to Northrend; Sylvanas breaks free.
- The Founding of Durotar — the orc bonus campaign. Rexxar’s RPG-style adventure.
We talk about the story of the first five in The campaign that shaped Azeroth and the rest in our Frozen Throne retrospective.
How long does it take?
Expect several hours per campaign on Normal, depending on your experience. The whole story is a substantial undertaking, but each campaign is a satisfying chunk on its own.
Choosing a difficulty
Campaigns can be played on several difficulty levels. Our advice:
- Normal for your first time. It’s challenging enough to require attention without being frustrating.
- Easy if you’re new to RTS games or just want the story.
- Hard for a replay, once you know the missions and units.
You can change difficulty between missions.
Understanding Warcraft III’s design
If you’re used to other strategy games, a few things set Warcraft III apart:
Heroes are central
Each race has several heroes: powerful units that level up, learn abilities and carry items. They’re the most important units on the battlefield. Losing a hero is a big setback; a well-levelled hero can turn a fight.
- Keep your heroes alive: pull them back when they’re low on health.
- Level them up: kill neutral creeps on the map to gain experience.
- Use their abilities: heroes are much stronger when you actively cast their spells.
- Buy items: shops on the map sell potions, scrolls and equipment.
Creeping
Neutral monsters, or creeps, guard gold mines, shops and items around the map. Killing them — creeping — gives experience and loot. It’s a core part of the game’s rhythm: early on, you’ll spend more time fighting creeps than the enemy.
Upkeep
As your army grows, your upkeep increases, and you collect less gold from each trip your workers make. This discourages huge armies. A smaller, well-levelled force with strong heroes is often better than a massive one.
Small armies, big decisions
Compared to games like StarCraft, battles involve fewer units, and each one matters more. Micromanagement — focusing fire, pulling back damaged units, using abilities — is very important.
The four races at a glance
- Human Alliance: solid, flexible and good at defending. Strong heroes like the Archmage and Paladin.
- Orcish Horde: tough units and powerful melee. Heroes like the Blademaster and Far Seer.
- Undead Scourge: dark magic and swarming units. They need to build on blighted ground. Heroes like the Death Knight and Lich.
- Night Elves: mobile, ranged units and buildings that can move. Heroes like the Demon Hunter and Keeper of the Grove.
Each race plays very differently. The campaigns introduce them gradually, so you don’t need to learn everything at once.
Tips for newcomers
- Play the campaigns before multiplayer: they teach you the units and heroes of each race.
- Read tooltips: abilities and items have specific uses.
- Use control groups: assign heroes and units to number keys for quick selection.
- Don’t forget your economy: keep building workers and expand when safe.
- Save often in the campaign, especially before difficult sections.
Multiplayer
Warcraft III still has an online community. Matchmaking can be slower than in newer games, but you’ll find players, especially at popular times. If you’re new, start with games against the AI, then try team games before one-on-one.
Custom games
The custom games list is still there, and it’s still where Warcraft III shows off its legacy: tower defence, survival, role-playing maps and descendants of DotA. Spend an evening there — it’s a history lesson you can play. We tell the story in From map editor to the birth of a genre.
Is it worth it?
Absolutely. Warcraft III is one of the best strategy games ever made, and its campaigns tell one of the defining stories of fantasy gaming. Whether you choose the new graphics or the classic look, the game underneath is the same: smart, demanding and full of character.
