Warcraft III
Officially Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos / The Frozen Throne / Reforged
LEGENDARY FANTASY RTS developed + published by BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, released JULY 3, 2002 (Reign of Chaos) + JULY 1, 2003 (The Frozen Throne expansion). 4 asymmetric races: HUMAN, ORC, UNDEAD, NIGHT ELF (5th race Naga expansion NPC-only). Introduced HERO UNITS + EXPERIENCE + ITEMS + CREEPS (neutral monsters) to RTS — mechanics that INSPIRED THE ENTIRE MOBA GENRE via CUSTOM MAP DEFENSE OF THE ANCIENTS (DotA) which spawned League of Legends + Dota 2. Iconic Blizzard cinematics + Arthas Menethil narrative arc. 25M+ COPIES SOLD. Recent WARCRAFT III: REFORGED (2020) controversial remaster.
What is Warcraft III?
WARCRAFT III is a LEGENDARY FANTASY REAL-TIME STRATEGY (RTS) game developed + published by BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT. REIGN OF CHAOS (base game) released JULY 3, 2002 on PC + Mac. THE FROZEN THRONE (expansion, considered inseparable + definitive version) released JULY 1, 2003. Third mainline Warcraft game (Warcraft: Orcs & Humans 1994, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness 1995). SETTING: high fantasy world of AZEROTH (later expanded in World of Warcraft 2004); 4 ASYMMETRIC PLAYABLE RACES with distinct playstyles: HUMAN ALLIANCE (paladins, priests, farms, gnomish siege), ORC HORDE (grunts, headhunters, shamans, burrows), UNDEAD SCOURGE (necromancers raise skeletons, ghouls, banshees, blight-corrupted land), NIGHT ELF SENTINELS (druids, archers, ancient protectors, moon well healing, sacred grove buildings). 5th race NAGA introduced Frozen Throne as NPC + limited playable in custom games. INTRODUCED HERO UNITS to RTS: each race has UNIQUE HEROES with LEVELS (1-10), EXPERIENCE POINTS, ABILITY UPGRADES (4 abilities per hero), and INVENTORY (6 item slots). Heroes include Human Arthas Menethil / Uther / Jaina Proudmoore / Kel'Thuzad, Orc Thrall / Grom Hellscream / Cairne Bloodhoof / Rexxar, Undead Arthas (Death Knight) / Lich / Dreadlord, Night Elf Tyrande / Malfurion / Illidan / Maiev Shadowsong. INTRODUCED CREEPS (neutral monsters guarding areas + drops items/gold) — mechanics that INSPIRED THE ENTIRE MOBA GENRE via custom map DEFENSE OF THE ANCIENTS (DotA) by Eul, then Guinsoo, then Icefrog — which spawned MOBA genre (League of Legends 2009, Dota 2 2013, Heroes of Newerth, Heroes of the Storm, SMITE, Vainglory, Mobile Legends, Arena of Valor). Also custom maps spawned genres: TOWER DEFENSE (many WC3 TDs), MELEE + STRATEGY. WC3 has ICONIC BLIZZARD CINEMATICS — Arthas's fall to the Frozen Throne, Grom Hellscream's redemption, Illidan Stormrage's rise — considered peak Blizzard storytelling. NARRATIVE follows the 3rd War against the BURNING LEGION + rise of Lich King Arthas + Illidan's transformation. Won 100+ awards including Game of the Year across multiple outlets 2002. 25M+ COPIES SOLD across all versions. RECENT: WARCRAFT III: REFORGED (January 28, 2020) — controversial remake with modernized graphics + retconned scenes; poor launch (Metacritic 0.5 user score, refund controversy over promised features cut) but has since improved via patches. Currently used for both Classic + Reforged play. ESPORTS: WC3 had strong competitive scene in 2000s (Blizzcon, ESL, WC3L, WCG); MODERN REVIVAL: Warcraft III Championship 2024 (Blizzard-sanctioned $200k tournament) + community events (Back2Warcraft, DreamHack WC3 Master Classes) + Chinese/Korean/EU pro scene with top players Moon (Korea), Grubby (Netherlands), TH000, LawLiet, 120, ToD, Fly100%.
Quick facts
Category
Esports
Type
Individual
Players
1–12
Duration
~30 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
PC + peripherals
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
July 3, 2002 Reign of Chaos; July 1, 2003 Frozen Throne; January 28, 2020 Reforged remaster
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Standard: destroy all enemy buildings. Race to Age progression via Town Hall upgrades. Use hero + army + creeping strategy to defeat opponent.
Rules
Basic rules
Choose race: Human, Orc, Undead, Night Elf (each asymmetric)
Very different playstyles per race.
Gather Gold (from mines) + Lumber (from trees)
2 resources only (vs AoE's 4).
Train Hero at Altar; level 1-10 via kills + creeps
Central mechanic; hero often decides game.
Creep neutral camps for gold + items + hero XP
Balance creeping vs harassing.
Tech to Tier 2 → Tier 3 by upgrading Town Hall
Unlock better units + upgrades.
Destroy all enemy buildings to win
Buildings are elimination target.
Scoring
Elimination-based; ranked ladder ELO on battle.net; tournaments single/double elimination.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Destroy enemy buildings | Combat objective |
| Kill enemy heroes (hero revive at Altar for gold cost) | Deny XP + slow enemy |
| Creep gold + items | Fund army + hero |
| Ranked ladder MMR gain/loss | Battle.net ladder progression |
| Tournament match wins | Bracket progression + prize |
Win condition · Destroy all enemy buildings.
Playing area
Called
PC + peripherals
Dimensions
Any monitor
PC (Windows), Mac. Legacy client still active; Reforged client also supported.
Equipment
Warcraft III: Reforged ($30 USD)
Includes Reign of Chaos + Frozen Throne + Reforged remaster
Original Warcraft III + Frozen Throne (CD/battle.net)
Classic version still supported
Gaming mouse + keyboard hotkeys
APM matters in competitive
battle.net account
For ladder + custom games
Strategies
Hero micro decides late game
Skill on hero > 3 armies of grunts.
Creep for XP + items early
Priority: Level 3 hero + items ASAP.
Scout with worker or shadow (Undead) or Wisp (NE)
Info wins.
Learn matchup: HU vs Orc, HU vs UD, HU vs NE, Orc vs UD, Orc vs NE, UD vs NE
6 matchups × 4 races.
APM in fights: hotkey groups, split armies, hero abilities
Pros hit 200-300 APM.
Terminology
- Hero
- Special leveling unit; 4 abilities + inventory.
- Creep
- Neutral monsters guarding areas; drop items + gold.
- Upkeep
- Food-cost penalty phases (Low/High Upkeep reduce income at 50/80 food).
- Tier
- Town Hall level (T1/T2/T3); unlocks buildings + units.
- APM
- Actions Per Minute; pro skill metric.
- Blink / TP
- Blink Dagger / Town Portal Scroll — key items.
- Creep jack
- Steal enemy creep camp.
- Expo (expansion)
- Build second Town Hall/Great Hall at new gold mine.
- Micro / Macro
- Micro = unit-level control; Macro = economy/production management.
- TR / DR (Tower Rush / Damage Rush)
- Common WC3 openings.
Major competitions
Warcraft III Championship 2024 (Blizzard-sanctioned, $200k)
annual · worldwide · since 2024
DreamHack Warcraft III (regular events)
periodic · worldwide (Sweden origin) · since 2015
WCG (World Cyber Games) — 2000s golden era
annual · worldwide · since 2000
WGL (Warcraft III Grand League) Chinese scene
periodic · China · since 2010
Back2Warcraft Cups
monthly · Europe · since 2015
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Blizzard Entertainment (developer + publisher)
Founded 1991 · Irvine, California, USA
Microsoft (parent of Activision Blizzard since Oct 2023)
Founded 1975 · Redmond, Washington, USA
Back2Warcraft (community-run pro scene organizer)
Founded 2015 · Germany
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Moon (Jang Jae-Ho, South Korea) — 5th race player; won 30+ major titles; considered greatest Night Elf ever
- Grubby (Manuel Schenkhuizen, Netherlands) — WCG 2004 + 2005 champion; Orc; now streamer/coach
- TH000 (Xiaofeng Wang, China) — Chinese Human legend; multiple WGL titles
- LawLiet (Lyn / Park Joon-Kwon, South Korea) — Orc pro; multiple titles
- 120 (Chinese Undead) — Modern era top pro
- ToD (French Human) — 2004-2010 top pro
- Fly100% (Chinese Orc) — Modern era
- Back2Warcraft cast (Neo, WTiiWarcraft) — Popular casters
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Buy Warcraft III: Reforged ($30) on battle.net
Includes classic + reforged clients.
- 2
Play campaigns (Human → Undead → Orc → Night Elf)
Learn each race narratively.
intermediate
- 1
Pick a main race + learn build orders
Focus > variety.
- 2
Play ladder; aim for High rank
Battle.net ranked.
advanced
- 1
Watch Back2Warcraft VoDs + pro streams (Grubby, Neo)
Study meta.
- 2
Compete in monthly Back2Warcraft Cups
Community tournaments.
Frequently asked
What is Warcraft III?+
LEGENDARY FANTASY RTS by BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, released July 2002 (Reign of Chaos) + July 2003 (Frozen Throne expansion). 4 asymmetric races: HUMAN, ORC, UNDEAD, NIGHT ELF. Introduced HERO UNITS + EXPERIENCE + ITEMS + CREEPS to RTS — mechanics that INSPIRED THE ENTIRE MOBA GENRE via custom map DEFENSE OF THE ANCIENTS (DotA) which spawned League of Legends + Dota 2. Iconic Blizzard cinematics + Arthas Menethil narrative arc. 25M+ COPIES SOLD. Recent WARCRAFT III: REFORGED (2020) controversial remaster. Modern esports scene revived with 2024 Warcraft III Championship.
Warcraft III Reforged vs Classic — which to buy?+
REFORGED ($30) INCLUDES BOTH: You get access to REIGN OF CHAOS + FROZEN THRONE Classic client AND Reforged modernized visuals client (toggle in-game). REFORGED had disastrous launch (Metacritic 0.5 user score, refund crisis over promised cinematics + features cut) but has been PATCHED into a functional state. You can still play CLASSIC visuals if you dislike Reforged look. For most players: buy Reforged since it's the only way to get WC3 on battle.net, then choose Classic client + graphics if preferred. Multiplayer + ladder works on both.
Sources & provenance
- Blizzard — Warcraft III— Blizzard Entertainment
- Wikipedia — Warcraft III— Wikipedia