World of Warcraft Esports: 2018 Plans Revealed
Last year was huge for WoW esports, with the introduction of the Mythic Dungeon Invitational (MDI), the WoW Arena Championship tournament matches throughout the year, and a tense and exciting championship match at BlizzCon. We’re proud of all we have achieved, but we won’t rest on our laurels: we are hard at work gearing up for 2018—with more teams, more talent, and more epic battles that will have us all on the edge of our seats.
The 2018 WoW Arena World Championship (AWC)
The biggest event in WoW esports will be supported by a full calendar of tournaments around the world, ensuring only the most battle-tested and proven teams have a shot at the 2018 WoW Arena World Championship. At the championship tournament itself, teams will be fighting for their share of a $280,000 prize pool and WoW Arena glory.
We'll be back later in the year to discuss how teams from China, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific make their way to the 2018 Arena World Championship.
Introducing Seasonal Finals for North America and Europe
*drum roll* We are delighted to announce TWO seasonal finals where the best North American and European Teams will clash for the first time ever outside of the World Championship. The first season finals will be decided in March at a live event.
- Each event will feature eight teams: The top four teams from Europe and the top four teams from North America.
- Both events in 2018 will offer $100,000 prize pools—that’s two opportunities for players in Europe and North America to land a share of $100k before the World Championship is even on the horizon.
- The eight teams will also be competing for a spot in the WoW Arena World Championship, rewarded to the winners at each of the two events.
You won’t want to miss either of these milestone events where your favorite players and teams will fight for regional pride, a spot in the WoW Arena World Championship, and a share of $100,000. Dates and additional details on these events to come.
Multiple Seasons of Arena Cups in North America & Europe
We are starting early this year with the first Arena Cups just around the corner. Arena Cups will be spread across the entire year and will offer not only a cash prize but also AWC Points.
Teams with the most points from each season will be invited to compete at that season’s Finals event, while the top overall teams of the year from each region will be invited to the Arena World Championship.
- The first of three Arena Cup seasons starts Jan 31
- There will be nine (up from five) Arena Cups in each region (18 total) over the course of the year
- A $10,000 (up from $6,000) prize pool will be available for each of the 18 cups
- The top 12 (up from six) teams at an Arena Cup event will earn points
- New point distribution system will reward consistency
- Teams in 2018 will follow the same guidelines and rules regarding roster changes as last year—
Schedule and Sign-Up Information!
All events will be streamed on our Twitch channel.| Event | Signup Deadline | Play Begins | Broadcast of Top 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Cup #1 | January 29 | January 31 | February 3—4 |
| NA Cup #1 | February 5 | February 7 | February 10—11 |
| EU Cup #2 | February 12 | February 14 | February 17—18 |
| NA Cup #2 | February 19 | February 21 | February 24—25 |
| EU Cup #3 | February 26 | February 28 | March 3—4 |
| NA Cup #3 | March 5 | March 7 | March 10—11 |
Please refer to the official rules for additional information, coming soon on our esports page.
The Mythic Dungeon Invitational Returns!
In 2017, we took our first foray into the world of competitive Dungeon Races with our Mythic Dungeon Invitational (MDI). Teams from around the world battled against each other with Australia’s ‘Free Marsy’ standing head and shoulders above the rest to become the inaugural champions.
The excitement and passion we saw from fans meant we couldn’t wait to kick it up a notch. So today we’re truly excited to announce a second season of the MDI.
What Is Changing for the MDI?
- More teams from the Proving Grounds! All eligible teams that complete the Mythic Keystone dungeon challenge (details still to come) during the Proving Ground stage will be invited to the Time Trials in the tournament realm.
- In Time Trials, all teams will compete on specific dungeons and post their best times over one week. The top eight teams will advance to the regional playoffs.
- The regional playoffs will be broadcast like last year, but with a few key changes:
- Each region (Asia Pacific, Americas, China, Europe) will have their own weekend of broadcasts.
- The format will be double elimination, giving teams a chance to regroup after a loss and bounce right back.
- The Mythic Keystone level will change over the course of the tournament, rewarding teams who can quickly crush easier dungeons and survive tougher ones.
- Just like 2017, the top two teams will advance to the Global Finals.
- The Global Finals will feature the top eight global teams, who will compete head-to-head and on stage at a live event.
For all updates, announcement, fixtures, and news, check out the WoW Arena World Championship hub for all the details—and see you on the stream!