Question about deleted characters

Community General Discussion
1

I’m considering deleting most of my characters to focus on only a couple of them.

My questions are:

  1. Will the names of deleted characters of an active account be freed up for use?
  2. If they are and someone uses the name, will my deleted character be “overwritten” and can no longer be retrieved?
  3. Will deleted characters be purged from the system after a certain period of time?

All the characters I will be deleting are over level 50.

Just checking before I do anything because amongst the characters I will be deleting are my first character and my main from MoP till the start of DF.

2

Well, you can also not delete them and just not play them. There is not really any benefit of deleting characters unless you have untreated OCD or if you are at the cap of 60 per account and want to make room for more. But yes, you might lose the names if someone else takes them. You will get a free rename if this is the case. Your characters will not be permanently deleted if they are level 50+ right now. Even if they increase the level requirement later, the characters will be available for restoration forever if you delete them at 50+ while that is the level requirement for permanent restoration. This is the scheme for other levels.

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3

  • Yes, you can instantly reuse them on a new character. I am not sure how long or if it’s different for others.

  • When someone else uses your deleted characters name, your character will automatically be marked for rename. Note if you restore a character with the same name on your own account it advises that there is a character with the same name and you cannot restore. This seems to be on some kind of internal timer as a character I deleted a long time ago seemed to eventually get a free rename rather than giving me the you cannot restore error.

  • Apparently yes, but I have only lost deleted characters on merged servers. I haven’t seen them wiped on any other occasion. Could they? I dunno

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4

This support post gives more information on deleted characters:

Blizzard Support - Restore World of Warcraft Character (battle.net)

Yes. To quote the support page:

If a character doesn’t appear on your list, it means it was purged from the database because it was below level 50 and it was deleted too long ago. Purged characters cannot be restored by any means.

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5

I can’t, I really can’t. :joy: I tried it many times and I always end up logging in to them and having like 5-9 full vaults every week.

I have an altoholic problem so this is probably the only way I can focus.

That’s a relief to hear. Thank you for the article!

@Elk - Thank you for the clear and detailed answers! :pray:

@Kneeshooter - Thank you for the link! I’ll go in and take a look.

6

Hmm to answer your questions in order
1: Yes the name gets freed up for anyone to use when your character is deleted
2: If you go to retrieve your character but their name was taken by someone else I think it gives you the option to give them a different name
3: nah I’ve deleted characters and even after years of them being gone I can still retrieve them if I desire to but I might have to change their name should I do such

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7

Thank you very much! Must admit that it’s a relief to hear that characters deleted years ago can still be retrieved and are not purged forever.

8
  1. yes.
  2. no. you will be forced to do a name change.
  3. no? I think after a number of years the character is purged from the system. if its under a certain level.
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9

It depends on the level of the character.

Under level 10 pretty much right away.
Between level 10 and 29 within 90 days of deletion.
Between level 30 and 49 Within 120 days of deletion.
Level 50 or higher It stays eligible for your use, and doesn’t get purged.

If someone used you name on a character that was deleted, you character will come back to you with some random generated letters and numbers (example: GTANWNM42)
Then you you will have to make a name for it, before you can log into the game.

Only during the time periods above, if your account stays active. If your account is inactive then the names are usually purged after two inactive expansions.

** I want to make a note, that you can remake a character with any of the names that you deleted, even if the character is over level 50. The name will not be freed up for other people. You don’t have to wait a specific time to make the character as it’s your name, and on your account.

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