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Gamers, if you've grown tired of beginner tutorials and casual matches and want to witness truly elite-level competition, this event is exactly what you're looking for: Warcraft 3 Rebirth Invitational Tournament. This 12-player invitational takes place on September 14 and 15, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM (Amsterdam time) each day, featuring an all-star lineup of world-class players.

What makes this event particularly special is that it is the first official tournament held using Definitive Edition client. We will see how top players adapt to the changes in the game version and observe the intricate mechanics and high-level strategies involved in Warcraft 3 at the pinnacle of play.

However, what truly sets this tournament apart are the specific changes introduced by Definitive Edition and the debut of a brand-new hero.

Highlights of the New Content

Since the Rebirth Invitational Tournament is played on Definitive Edition client, the changes to the game content will naturally play a pivotal role in shaping the matches.

In addition to a new campaign, new graphics art, and various multiplayer mode changes, the new content introduces a feature that directly affects gameplay: the maximum number of units that can be selected at once is being raised from 12 to 24.

This expansion allows for greater freedom of movement during massive team fights. With more units under simultaneous control, decisions regarding formation deployment, switching focus fire, and executing retreats become far more complex, putting the players' mechanical skills and real-time decision-making to the ultimate test.

Another key highlight is the addition of a new neutral Tavern hero: Forsaken Paladin. While available to all players, the specific tactical systems built around this hero remain to be discovered by the competitors during the tournament.

Forsaken Paladin's abilities include:

• Righteous Fury
• Sacred Aura
• Consecration
• Cleansing Fire

Righteous Fury is a powerful charge ability, while Sacred Aura boosts magic resistance and increases the effectiveness of incoming healing.

Consecration damages enemy Undead units while healing friendly living units; Cleansing Fire is an area-of-effect stun that also applies a purge effect and amplifies damage.

Notably, as the first Tavern hero in Warcraft 3 to possess an aura, Forsaken Paladin could prove to be incredibly powerful - or perhaps require specific team compositions and timing to reach full potential. This hero represents one of the tournament's most intriguing variables.

First-Pick Forsaken Paladin?

Top players would have valid reasons for choosing - or not choosing - Forsaken Paladin as their first pick.

This new hero is a strong candidate for a first pick because of a versatile skillset that includes Charge, Resistance, and damage-boosting abilities. Furthermore, as the first Tavern hero to possess an aura ability - a feature we just mentioned - it is well-positioned to become a popular choice.

However, from another perspective, Forsaken Paladin is a brand-new hero in Warcraft 3 and lacks a proven, well-established strategy. Consequently, players face a high cost of trial and error when using the hero in Rebirth Invitational, which could ultimately affect their win rates.

Ultimately, whether players decide to first-pick Forsaken Paladin or pass on this new hero will probably depend on their individual gaming habits and playstyles.

Tournament Format

Beyond these new elements, the tournament format has been designed to intensify the competitive stakes.

The tournament for the twelve players is divided into two stages. The first two rounds utilize a single-elimination format: initially, eight players compete in four best-of-three matches, and the four winners advance to face the remaining four players in a second single-elimination round, also played as a best-of-three.

This stage results in a more brutal early-exit scenario, adding significant pressure to the matchups in the Warcraft 3 Rebirth Invitational Tournament.

Once the tournament reaches the final four stage, the format shifts to double-elimination.

The Winners Bracket Final, Losers Bracket Final, and Grand Final are all best-of-five series. The player advancing to the Grand Final from the Winners' Bracket holds a map-veto advantage, which influences map selection and strategic preparation.

Player Lineup

This format places higher demands on the players' adaptability and mental resilience. The twelve invited players represent the elite of all four Warcraft 3 races.

The lineup includes renowned Night Elf and Orc players from South Korea, top Human, Undead, and Night Elf players from China, and the only non-Asian player, who competes with multiple races.

Night Elf contingent features both a legendary figure - long recognized as the highest-earning player in history - and rising stars from the new generation. Orc lineup includes top-ranked players who are still striving for a major breakthrough.

Among Human players, some have demonstrated periods of dominance, while others are known for styles that diverge from the traditional Chinese Human approach.

Undead lineup is equally compelling, featuring one of China's strongest representatives alongside players who favor creative harassment and early expansion strategies.

Additionally, the roster includes seasoned veterans skilled in playing multiple races and employing unconventional tactics, making them strong contenders for the championship.

These twelve players cover all four playable races in Warcraft 3; their matchups will serve as a direct test of racial balance and tactical evolution under the new game version.

How ​​to watch?

The invited players will complete the entire tournament schedule over two days. The timing takes into account viewing needs across different regions: matches begin at 10:00 AM in Amsterdam. While this schedule is favorable for top Asian players, it means an early morning start for viewers in the United States.

You can watch the live stream of Warcraft 3 Rebirth Invitational on Twitch and YouTube; match replays will also be released promptly, so if you are unable to tune in live, you can simply watch the recordings later.

In short, the tournament centers on top-tier players, a brand-new hero, and a hybrid tournament format; it serves as both the first official showcase for Definitive Edition and a potential early indicator of Forsaken Paladin's role within the competitive meta.

For players interested in the current highest level of Warcraft 3 play and the latest changes to the game, this is an event you certainly won't want to miss.

Just yesterday, September 13, the highly anticipated BlizzCon 2026 came to a successful conclusion. The announcements made during the event included some expected updates alongside some truly delightful surprises!

Taking the flagship World of Warcraft series as an example: not only were there new updates regarding Midnight (originally announced this past March), but the team also responded to player demand for Classic+ by unveiling WoW: Forever.

Below, we highlight WoW series while also touching upon other titles to give you a rundown of the exciting news revealed at BlizzCon 2026.

Midnight: Eclipse revealed

As the second installment in Worldsoul Saga trilogy, Midnight has been steadily progressing through Season 2; the next major content update has now been confirmed as Eclipse.

Eclipse will transport you back to Quel'Thalas, featuring areas such as Eversong Woods, Zul'Aman, and Harandar. Xal'atath will lead a Void army in an invasion, corrupting Sunwell into Darkwell, and you must unite various factions to resist her.

To do so, you will need to travel deeper underground to Worldcore and rally the forces of Light within the Titan vaults. By thwarting Xal'atath's scheme, you will pave the way for the trilogy's final chapter: The Last Titan.

Upon the update's release, WoW: Midnight is expected to introduce the long-awaited player housing system, new class specializations and races, and innovations to adventure gameplay, including Prey, dungeons, and Delves.

In addition to the core Eclipse update, Midnight plans to launch a new game mode called Talebound. This mode offers four distinct storylines for you to explore, each featuring unique enemies and bosses. Early access is expected to be available on PTR this October.

World of Warcraft: Forever

This was arguably the biggest surprise of BlizzCon 2026! If you have been following WoW community recently, you know that an increasing number of players have been anticipating a new permanent Classic+ server; WoW: Forever is the official response to that demand.

As a brand-new server, WoW: Forever retains core features like the original level-60 cap while introducing new regions, a new main storyline, and a new playable race, Skyborne Elves. It also expands the game with new raids and dungeons, offering fun new ways to earn WoW gold.

Forever is scheduled for a simultaneous global launch on November 4th, with a beta period lasting approximately one month starting September 17th. Pre-ordering specific editions grants early access to the beta content (three editions are available, and pre-orders are open now).

Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom

On September 12th, coinciding with the opening of BlizzCon 2026, Warcraft III Reforged launched a brand-new campaign titled Forsaken Kingdom. This marks the first major update for the game in over two decades.

The campaign begins with the fall of Lordaeron and offers over 30 hours of gameplay. The story unfolds primarily through the perspectives of two new characters, Garek Bandarion and Anya, while classic characters from the original game also provide assistance along the journey.

Forsaken Kingdom introduces a Definitive Edition graphics mode, designed to enhance visual fidelity while preserving the game's original art style.

Additionally, the campaign adds a new Tavern Hero, Forsaken Paladin, and explores the hero's origins through the main storyline.

It is worth noting that the narrative timeline of World of Warcraft: Forever is set after the events of Forsaken Kingdom; unlocking both titles will likely provide a more cohesive and rewarding experience.

WoW special bonus

In addition to the news above, simply logging into World of Warcraft between September 12th and 27th will grant you BlizzCon 2026 Feat of Strength achievement and unlock a BlizzCon 2026-themed housing doormat as a reward.

Diablo 4 & 5

As the hottest title in the series, Diablo 4 announced at BlizzCon 2026 that Season 15 will be titled Season of Hell's Legacy. Launching on the 15th, the season will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Diablo series.

Furthermore, it appears Diablo 4 will not receive a third expansion; instead, plans are in place to launch Diablo 5 in the spring of 2029. Prior to that, Amazon, a new class based on Skovos region, will be introduced in the first half of 2027.

To coincide with the launch of Switch 2, Diablo 4: Age of Hatred Collection will be released on the platform on September 15, featuring the base game and the two existing expansions.

The final piece of news is particularly exciting: developers plan to create an animated series set within Diablo universe, promising a fresh audiovisual experience coming to Netflix.

More updates about other games

At BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony, developers announced plans to transform the classic StarCraft franchise into an open-world shooter by 2030, offering a novel experience that breaks away from the traditional RTS framework.

Meanwhile, Overwatch will launch Reign of Talon, bringing the year-long first chapter of the main storyline to a climactic showdown. Updates will also include a new Support hero named Doctrine, a new control map called Watchpoint: Grimsvotn, and various reworks.

The announcements from BlizzCon 2026 have been nothing short of a massive wave of news; no matter which of these titles you follow, you can look forward to a richer gaming experience in the future! Here's hoping all these plans come to fruition!