WoW vs WoW Classic [Spot the Difference and Make a Decision]

World of Warcraft aged like a fine wine. With the new re-release, people are jumping back to the game that was launched 19 years ago!

Both WoW Retail and WoW Classic are great in different aspects. So choosing one between them can be a tough call.

Don’t worry. In this article, I’ll explain the differences between WoW Retail vs WoW Classic and help you decide which one you should choose for your required purposes.

Let’s do this!

What is the Difference between WOW Classic and WOW Retail?

To distinguish between WoW Retail and WoW classic, you have to look for seven aspects. Among them, Graphic is far more enhanced in retail than classic, and leveling up is very challenging in classic than retail. To give you a whole contrast, I have created a chart.

Here are the main differences between World of Warcraft Classic vs Retail:

Now you know the basic difference between Classic and Retail. But if you are a newbie, let’s move further into the realm of Warcraft so that everything becomes vivid to you. And remember to play WoW you must have a Subscription.

World of Warcraft came out in 2004 by Blizzard Inc. The game genre focuses on massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG). It is set in the world of Azeroth. The game had Eight major expansions and those are:

In the World of Warcraft, players can create a character avatar and traverse an open game world in a third- or first-person view, exploring the scenery, battling monsters, performing quests, and interacting with non-player characters other players.

The game invites players to collaborate to complete missions, enter dungeons, and engage in player vs. player combat, although it may also be played alone without engaging with others.

However, character advancement is the primary emphasis of the game, with players earning experience points to level up their characters and buying and selling goods using in-game cash to obtain better equipment, among other game features. But often the WoW server can be down, which can hamper your gameplay.

Right now, let’s move in and see what the fuses are all about, Classic and Retail. I also provided a bonus WoW version, The Burning Crusade, so don’t miss that.

Wow Classic

Wow classic is the exact representation of the game that came out in 2004. It sets back to how it was before the first expansion of the burning crusade. The game was re-released in 2018. Many people initially joined because of the nostalgia trip. Honestly, I did as well.

But after, numerous people dropped off the gameplay and switched to other wow games. Because the game falls short for many people, and when they reach the highest level, there’s nothing interesting to do to keep them engaged in the game.

Wow Retail

WoW retail is known as the modern World of Warcraft. It receives expansions every two years. And has new zones, quests, and a new storyline with every expansion. The game mechanics are different. There are also new classes and races in WoW retail.

Furthermore, the new expansion is called Shadowlands, which is the eighth expansion of this all-time classic game. This came out in early 2020 and is the newest and modern version of wow.

If you are a new player and want to play wow for a long time, then starting with this one would be a wise decision. Because with time, this game will update, and you will have new things to play now and then. But can you play WoW solo? Know that if you love to complete the mission on your own.

Wow The Burning Crusade

WoW the burning crusade came out in 2007. It is the first expansion of World of Warcraft. It doesn’t replace the first game, which is now known as WoW Classic. And that is the reason it is judged as a stand-alone game, and it also has separate servers.

The biggest difference between Classic and Burning Crusade is that Classic is less casual-friendly. Raiding is a 40-man operation that is more difficult to coordinate. PVP is limited to Battlegrounds, and the honor system necessitates so much honor farming that it’s toxic.

Dungeons don’t have a heroic mode and don’t grant you gold to upgrade your equipment. The class balance in The Burning Crusade was also improved. Hybrids are less readily viable; they take far more effort to make them function, and in certain circumstances, they just do not and will not work.

These are the fundamental knowledge about World of Warcraft. And I differentiate between Classic and Retail with a chart above. Now let’s find out those aspects in brief.

Here are the 7 categorized differences between wow classic and wow retail:

1. Class Balance and Talents

When it comes to big differences, if we talk about Class Balance, Talents, and Races, then in classic wow you can grow your character with the talent tree, but it is not convenient. As a wow, classic lets you customize your character in one specific way.

On Classic, If you want to reset your talent and invest in another talent, you have to go to a quest trainer and pay for a total reset of the talent points. And then you can redistribute all your points. Each time you do the reset, it gets more expensive than the last reset. That means your character will be either a good tank, a good healer, or a damage dealer.

This means you cannot be a diverse player in wow classic. The talent system is pretty much the same in the burning crusade game.

But in wow retail, each specialization will have a separate talent tree, and most importantly, it is independent. You can play as a healer if you select holy if you want to be a damage dealer, then you can choose retribution, and if you’re going to play tank, you can select tank. Also, the reset is free in wow retail.

Classes are more balanced in the wow retail. So it is up to the player and the skill to improvise their game. But in wow classics, the classes are imbalanced, so some characters can only do specific roles. For example, priests are expected to heal only.

2. Leveling comparison

Leveling in the wow retail is far easier than the wow classics. You can level your character without developing even a single profession. Everything is fast and happening too quickly. Gaining gold is also very easy.

But it is a different ball game in wow classics. It is too difficult to level up. To be in a good position, you have to do almost every quest available. Spells are more expensive, that is why you have to think if you want to use one.

Likewise, that makes the classics far more rewarding for many players, as you have to earn your way to win. And in classics, there is no easy way out. You have to grind a lot to develop your character and complete the skill tree.

However, if you are new to the game, then knowing where you should start the game can boost your performance.

3. Players Base

You can easily find groups to do dungeons and quests in WoW retail. If you click on the group finder, you will easily find the players to play with. But all these are connected to regular updates and when WoW is not updating you will face some issues so prioritize that matter.

But it is way hard to find players in WoW classics as the player’s base is very low. Also, there is no group finder in wow classics. You have to find players to do dungeons manually. If you are a high-level player in wow classics, you will find some players to play with.

However, if you are someone starting new in the game, you will have to sweat a lot to find players to play with.

4. Endgame Content

Endgame content is nonexistent in wow classics. When you are done playing the game, there is nothing more to do. You have to do the same thing again and again to continue the game.

The endgame contents in the retail version are way more fun and enjoyable than wow classics. You have new dungeons, more battlegrounds, and arenas with new difficulty levels. New world quests and island expeditions make the game more fun and less repetitive.

5. Graphics Quality

When it comes to graphics, Wow retail, as in the wow Shadowlands, is far superior to the wow classics. You can even play in 4k resolution on both retail and Shadowlands.

On the other hand, you can play the WoW classics on any PC. Even with an integrated GPU, wow classics can run at 60 FPS. Furthermore, when the WoW does not use your GPU you will not get the maximum outcome, so solving that issue should be your first priority.

6. PC Configuration

WoW classic required less from your machine than WoW retail. So with integrated graphics, you can play the classic on an average of 60 FPS. On the contrary, as the Retail version is more power-hungry, you’ll need a sufficient GPU such as RTX 2060 to play the game at its fullest.

Therefore, if you hold a low-end pc then classic should be your priority, but if you possess an adequate GPU then WoW retail should be the one for you. There are some gaming laptops available on the market that can give a pleasant adventure on WoW, you can browse them out.

7. Population

As WoW is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), you will not enjoy its experience when there are fewer players online. And due to insufficient game content, several gamers are now shifting to the retail version from the classic.

That’s why you will find more players in WoW retail than in classic. Nevertheless, if you encounter problems like WoW not launching or not having enough memory on your device, solve that ASAP! To enjoy a hassle-free gaming adventure.

What to Choose Between WoW retail and WoW Classic?

After telling you about every aspect of WoW retail and classic, my final verdict is that if you want the authentic feel of WoW, go for Classic. But for that, you have to consider Graphics and new content. Likewise, to enjoy World of Warcraft to its fullest, go after the Retail version.

On WoW Retail, you will get regular updates and enhanced graphics. Also, with a sufficient GPU, you can play Retail with greater visuals. Oppositely, for a low-end PC, a classic is preferable. Besides, the player base is very big in wow Retail and shadow land. So you will always have players to play wow with.

Furthermore, If you start wow classics now, it will be hard for you to develop your character as not many players are currently playing the wow classics.

You will also find more players playing the burning crusade online, as it is considered one of the best WoW expansions of all time.

FAQs

Is WoW more popular than WoW Classic?

According to recent stats, WoW retail has more traffic than Classic, so it’s safe to say that WoW is more popular than WoW Classic.

Is WoW Classic harder than retail?

For some players, the Classic version of WoW seems harder because it takes a lot of time to level up, and arranging quests is more difficult on Classic than retail.

Are WoW and WoW Classic the same?

There is a significant difference between the retail and original versions of WOW. The current awesome gameplay is the result of 17 years of research and development. WoW now has new areas, classes, and races, as well as a significant graphic upgrade.

Final Thoughts

WoW is a timeless classic. It is astonishing how players still want to play a game that came out over a decade ago.

Hopefully, with this guideline, you can clear out your confusion, and choose the perfect one for you. But if you still have any queries, you can always reach out to us through a comment.

Happy Gaming!