Is Alterac Valley still the best place for Honor?
Blizzard no longer wants it to be the automatic answer. Asked around 41:58 whether the returning Rank 14 grind would again push everyone into Alterac Valley, a developer said around 42:25 that AV's Honor gains have been trimmed, while every other battleground has been made considerably more rewarding. Warsong Gulch, Arathi Basin and the new Darkspear Islands were all named as valid places to earn Honor, with the hope that players feel free to move between them.
The question described the habit the change targets: repeated AV runs where both sides dodge each other, rush the enemy boss and collect points, sometimes while barely playing.
Blizzard's 7 October progression article says the same in writing. Honor gains were reviewed across battlegrounds so rates are more consistent, and players should not feel compelled to choose AV purely for efficiency. More consistent is not the same as identical. Neither source had published Honor per match or per hour as of 15 October, so this page does not rank the four maps.
Honor and Rank Points are separate goals
Honor is the currency you spend; Rank Points move you up the ranks. The progression article lists defeating players, completing battlegrounds and relevant PvP quests as Honor sources, and battlegrounds and relevant quests as Rank Point sources. Ranks also have a weekly cap.
Around 43:14 a developer added that the split gives the team a second balancing lever. One activity might suit a player chasing currency, while another might suit a player pushing rank. They did not say which activities lean which way.
So decide what a session is for. Saving for a blue-quality gear piece is an Honor goal. Upgrading it to the epic version also takes an Emboldened Seal, and seals have rank requirements, so that part depends on Rank Points as well. Reaching your next rank is a Rank Points goal, limited by the weekly cap. Our progression guide covers the reward table.
Holiday weeks should change your plan
Battlegrounds take holiday weeks. The progression article says a highlighted battleground awards increased Honor and an extra boost to Rank Points during its holiday week.
Around 43:33 the developers made the intent plain: when another battleground is on holiday, you should not be left wondering whether to keep running Alterac Valley anyway. Neither source gives the holiday schedule or the size of the boost, so check which map is featured before committing to a long session.
The four battlegrounds named on the podcast
With rates evened out, the map you enjoy and the current holiday become reasonable ways to choose. The table summarizes what the sources say; it is not a set of measured rates.
| Battleground | What you fight over | What Blizzard said about Honor |
|---|---|---|
| Alterac Valley | A large faction battle | Gains trimmed; no longer meant as the only efficient choice |
| Warsong Gulch | Capturing the enemy flag | Made more rewarding; named as a valid option |
| Arathi Basin | Holding resource points | Made more rewarding; named as a valid option |
| Darkspear Islands | Control points and a central flag | Made more rewarding; named as a valid option |
Still to come
Not yet settled by our sources or tested in game:
- The Honor and Rank Points each battleground awards per match or per objective.
- The battleground holiday schedule and the size of the holiday Honor and Rank Points boost.
- Which activities lean toward Honor and which toward Rank Points, as the developers hinted.
Sources
Beta notes are dated because Forever is still changing.
- Official WoW: Forever podcast episode 4, 15 October 2026 — 42:25Alterac Valley made somewhat less lucrative for Honor, all other battlegrounds greatly increased; Warsong Gulch, Arathi Basin and Darkspear Islands named as valid options. Timestamped automatic captions checked; no exact quote depends on them.
- Same episode — 41:58The question: players spamming Alterac Valley for points during the Rank 14 grind by avoiding fights and rushing the boss. Same podcast as the entry above, not independent corroboration.
- Same episode — 43:14Rank Points and Honor as separate balancing levers; some activities may suit currency and others advancement. No activities named. Same podcast, different segment.
- Same episode — 43:33During another battleground's holiday, players should not feel they ought to keep running Alterac Valley. Same podcast, different segment.
- Blizzard: How PvP Progression in World of Warcraft: Forever Works, 7 October 2026Honor gains reviewed for more consistent rates so Alterac Valley is not chosen solely for efficiency; Honor and Rank Point sources; holiday-week increases; weekly rank cap; blue and epic gear sets and Emboldened Seal rank requirements. Read 15 October.
- Blizzard: Battle for the Darkspear Islands, 7 October 2026Four capture points and a central flag. Read 15 October.