Hardcore mode makes Azeroth deadly: a hardcore character has one life. Die — to anything, anywhere — and it becomes a fallen hero, a permanent ghost that can never be resurrected. It's opt-in per character (or realm-wide if the owner chooses), and it unlocks Mak'gora: a duel to the death between the willing.

One life

When a hardcore character dies, there is no corpse run, no spirit healer, no resurrection — ever. The character becomes a permanent fallen hero (a ghost), and the fall is announced to the whole realm. Every pull matters; every level is earned for keeps.

Going hardcore (player)

It's opt-in and can only be switched on at level 1 — once set, it's permanent:

.hardcore on        # become hardcore (asks you to confirm)
.hardcore status    # check whether you're hardcore / fallen

If the owner has forced hardcore realm-wide (see below), every character is hardcore automatically — no command needed.

The Herald of the Fallen

Prefer a proper "are you sure?" moment over a command? The Herald of the Fallen stands in every starting zone. Speak to them, accept through the gossip prompt, and your fate is sealed — the same effect as .hardcore on, with a little ceremony.

Mak'gora — a duel to the death

Settle a score the old way. Two hardcore players can agree to a lethal duel — the loser falls for good. It only happens with mutual consent: both players must challenge each other.

.makgora <Name>    # challenge that player (they must challenge you back)

Normal duels are never lethal — only a mutually-agreed Mak'gora kills. No one can drag you into a death match.

Server owner settings config

Hardcore is configured in mod_wowlegends.conf (edit, then restart the worldserver):

WowLegends.Hardcore.RealmWide      = 0   # 1 = the ENTIRE realm is hardcore (forced, every character)
WowLegends.Hardcore.AllowOptIn     = 1   # 1 = players may use .hardcore on at level 1 (ignored if RealmWide=1)
WowLegends.Hardcore.AnnounceDeaths = 1   # 1 = realm-wide message when someone opts in and when one falls
WowLegends.Hardcore.Makgora        = 1   # 1 = enable .makgora (consensual lethal duels)
WowLegends.Hardcore.AuraSpell      = 0   # visual aura on LIVING hardcore chars (0 = off; e.g. 168, 28189, 11426)

Want a pure hardcore realm? Set RealmWide = 1 and every character is hardcore from creation. Leave it 0 for an opt-in realm where players choose for themselves.

One life, real stakes. Flip it on with .hardcore on at level 1 — or talk to the Herald — and make every pull count. 💀