How to Connect to Conquest of Azeroth

Before You Begin

Connecting to Conquest of Azeroth requires three things: a Project Ascension account with CoA beta access, the Ascension PTR launcher installed on your PC, and a stable internet connection. If you have not yet obtained beta access, read our How to Get Access guide first — without an active access flag on your account, the CoA realm will not appear or will reject your login.

CoA runs on a dedicated test realm separate from Ascension's live classless servers. The PTR launcher handles patching, version management, and realm selection in one interface. Windows is the primary supported platform; ensure your graphics drivers are up to date and that you have at least 40 GB of free disk space for the client and future patches.

Disable conflicting background applications that hook into game clients — some overlay tools and outdated addons from other WoW private servers can cause launch failures. Add the Ascension install folder to your antivirus exclusion list if downloads stall or files are quarantined during patching.

Installing the PTR Launcher

Visit the official Project Ascension website and navigate to the download section. Download the PTR launcher installer — not the live realm launcher if both are offered separately. Run the installer as administrator, choose an install path without special characters or excessively long folder names, and allow the installer to complete fully before opening the launcher.

On first launch, the PTR launcher prompts you to log in with your Ascension account credentials. Use the same email and password you registered with or purchased beta access through. Enable two-factor authentication if available on your account for additional security.

After login, the launcher begins checking for client files. Initial download size is substantial and varies by patch version. Let the download complete without interruption; partial downloads can corrupt the client and require a repair or full reinstall from the launcher's settings menu.

Selecting Conquest of Azeroth

The Ascension launcher includes a dropdown menu near the top of the window that lists available game modes and realms. Click this dropdown and look for Conquest of Azeroth or CoA Beta — the exact label may vary by patch but will clearly distinguish CoA from Ascension's classless live and PTR environments.

Selecting CoA from the dropdown changes which client version the launcher patches and which realm list appears on the play screen. Confirm the selection shows CoA branding or description text before clicking Play. Switching back to another mode later requires re-selecting from the same dropdown and may trigger an additional patch download.

If Conquest of Azeroth does not appear in the dropdown, your account likely lacks beta access. Verify access status on the Ascension website account page, check your email for activation confirmation, and allow a few minutes after purchase for permissions to propagate. Contact Ascension support with your transaction ID if access should be active but the option remains missing.

Realm Selection and Login

Once CoA is selected and patched, click Play to launch the game client. At the realm selection screen you will see the CoA beta realm — typically a single test realm during beta rather than multiple population-split servers. Select the realm and press Enter or click Connect.

Character creation is available after realm selection if you have no existing characters. Choose your race, class, appearance, and name according to CoA's rules. Name reservation policies and character limits may apply during beta; check current patch notes for restrictions.

Login errors most commonly stem from incorrect realm selection, expired beta access, or outdated client versions. Use the launcher's repair tool for file corruption, force a patch recheck by restarting the launcher, and verify your credentials on the website if authentication fails repeatedly.

• Wrong game mode selected: Return to launcher, choose CoA from dropdown, patch, relaunch.
• Authentication failed: Reset password on website, confirm beta access is active.
• Connection timed out: Check server status on Discord, disable VPN, retry later.
• Black screen on launch: Update GPU drivers, run client in compatibility mode, delete Cache folder.
• Missing realm: Beta access not applied — see Get Access guide or contact support.

Post-Connection Setup

After your first successful login, configure interface settings before diving into quests. Set keybinds for your class resource bar — Necromancer Life Force, Pyromancer Ignition, and other mechanics have dedicated UI elements. Adjust nameplate, combat text, and camera settings to your preference.

Install CoA-compatible addons by copying them to the AddOns folder within your CoA client directory. Not all retail or classic addons work; refer to our Addons Guide for tested recommendations. Enable Load out of date addons in the character select screen if versions differ slightly.

Join the CoA Discord channels linked from the official Ascension community hub. Beta testers share launcher workarounds, patch day status, and group-finding in real time. Bookmark this wiki for class guides and build references as you progress.