How to Play Azeroth Survivors
The whole job: keep moving, let your spells do the shooting, and make smart upgrade picks. Here's everything a new survivor needs.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| W A S D / arrows | Move — the core skill. Your character aims where the cursor points. |
| Mouse | Aim direction; click to pick level-up cards. |
| 1 / 2 / 3 | Pick level-up cards from the keyboard. |
| F | Class mobility spell — unlocks at level 5 (Charge, Blink, Sprint…). Never auto-cast. |
| Space | Jump. |
| Esc | Pause. |
| C | Lock / unlock the camera. |
| Mouse wheel | Zoom. |
Controls per the open community rebuild; the original game may differ slightly.
The run, minute by minute
0:00–2:15 · Find your rhythm
A handful of weak mobs. Free XP — collect gems, learn how your start ability travels, and plan which upgrade you want first.
2:15 · First boss
Bosses arrive every 2:15 sharp: 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:00, 11:15, 13:30. Keep moving — boss melee hurts more than any pack.
4:30–11:15 · The scaling wall
Enemy count climbs toward 220 and their health/damage scale up continuously. This is where area damage and passives decide the run.
13:30–15:00 · The last stand
Final boss while the field is at its densest. Save your mobility spell, hug open space, and survive the last 90 seconds to win.
Level-up cards: how to choose
- Area first, single-target second. The horde scales to 220 bodies; clear speed is survival.
- Depth beats width early. Upgrading your best ability (to level 8) usually outscales adding a fifth mediocre one — but you do want 2–3 complementary actives by mid-run.
- Rarity is a hint. New-ability cards are ranked by damage: top third show as Epic, bottom third as Uncommon. A rare Epic card is usually worth taking.
- Cap awareness: 6 actives + 6 passives max, so late cards you don't want are wasted picks — take heals or utility instead.
All 10 passives
| Passive | Stat | Per level (max 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Blessing of Might | Damage | +10% |
| Power Word: Fortitude | Max health | +20% |
| Aspect of the Pack | Move speed | +10% |
| Renew | Health regen | +0.5 |
| Arcane Intellect | Haste (attack speed) | +8% |
| Amplify Magic | Area of effect | +10% |
| Detect Lesser Invisibility | Pickup range | +40% |
| Blessing of Wisdom | XP gain | +8% |
| Mark of the Wild | Armor | +1 |
| Blessing of Kings | Crit chance | +5% |
Values from the community rebuild data (see credits); the original may differ.
Seven survival tips
- Run wide circles through the pack's edge, not through its middle — corners are where runs end.
- Never stop moving. Standing still for one cooldown cycle is how packs surround you.
- Save F for emergencies. Your mobility spell is the difference between a scare and a death; don't spend it on greed.
- Watch the clock, not just the map. At 2:00, 4:15, 6:30… pre-position in open space before the boss lands.
- Kill what chases you. Faster clear = fewer survivors orbiting your circle.
- Gems are XP. Sweep pickup radius through the pile after each wave — but not into the next one.
- Struggling? Slow down: 60Hz display and lower render scale help on modest hardware (see the community rebuild's performance flags).
Beginner FAQ
What are the controls?
WASD or arrow keys to move — aiming follows your cursor. Space jumps, F casts your class’s mobility spell (unlocked at level 5), 1/2/3 or mouse click picks level-up cards, Esc pauses, C toggles camera lock, and the mouse wheel zooms. (Controls per the community rebuild; the original may differ slightly.)
How do I win a run?
Survive 15:00. A boss spawns every 2:15 — six per run, the last arriving at 13:30 — and the horde grows from about 14 enemies to 220 while their health and damage scale up to 1.75× / 1.9×.
How many abilities can I have?
Up to 6 active abilities and 6 passives. Actives level up to 8, passives to 5. Once you hold 6 of a kind, new cards of that kind stop appearing — plan your build around what you keep.
What do the upgrade card rarities mean?
When a new ability is offered, the game ranks candidates by damage: roughly the top third appear as Epic, the bottom third as Uncommon, and the rest as Rare. Higher rarity on a new card signals a stronger hit — but utility and passives matter just as much for a finished build.
Which class should a beginner pick?
Mage, Paladin, Hunter or Druid. All four fight at range with strong escapes (Blink, Divine Shield, Aspect of the Cheetah, Dash). See the class guides for the full breakdown.