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ne of the core tenets of the Warcraft universe is the raging conflict between the Horde and the Alliance. Old hatreds die hard, as they say, and the hate shared between these two ancient foes is deep and primal. That's why the player-versus-player gameplay has always been a staple of the design for World of Warcraft; the war between the Horde and the Alliance simply isn't over.
In the battle for Azeroth, certain territories have become focal points for conflict between the Horde and Alliance. Battlegrounds represent key locations where this struggle has escalated into all-out war. Each battleground presents a different challenge and environment, and victory here must be achieved not through sheer numbers, but through strategy, skill, and grit.
Battlegrounds Holiday
Holidays occur during most weekends, starting on Thursday night at midnight and continuing until Tuesday morning. During a holiday, emmissaries from one Battleground can be found in the major cities, and honor/faction rewards for performing objectives in that battleground are increased. To find out when the next Holiday is happening, check out the Events Calendar.
Cross-Realm Battlegrounds
Patch 1.12: The Drums of War introduced cross-realm PvP Battlegrounds, linking Alterac Valley, Warsong Gulch, and Arathi Basin so that players from several realms will be combined into one huge matchmaking pool. You can check out the full battlegroup list to find out which battlegroup you're in and which realms you'll be competing against.