Dueling

"Duel" redirects here. For the warrior PvP talent, see [Duel].

Dueling is a way for players in the PvE environment to fight each other consensually. Players from opposite factions can duel, but the mechanism is primarily for dueling players of the same faction. Perfect for challenging friends or testing out skills against other adventurers 1-on-1, duels offer no rewards, save the sweet taste of victory.

Starting a duel

Right-click on a player's portrait and select the "Duel" option or type /duel. A Duel flag will drop from the sky, and if the other player accepts, a countdown will start showing the time remaining before the start of the duel. The selection circle around the opponent will turn red, indicating that the player is now hostile.

Dueling is disabled in most capital cities and in dungeons. Attempting to request a duel with another player in these locations will cause the on-screen notification "Dueling isn't allowed here." One exception is the Underbelly in Dalaran.

Dueling etiquette

Some behaviors during a duel are considered bad form or impolite (also known as bad etiquette) and some are considered good form.

Some examples of usually frowned upon behavior:

• Requesting to duel another player at a much lower level than yourself.
  • If you want to duel someone just to "Test a new ability you got from a trainer," at least duel someone around your own level; you won't be using that new ability on mobs or players that are 30+levels under you, you'll be using it on things that are actually a challenge (using a new ability on someone that can't possibly beat you only makes that ability seem much more powerful than it really is).
• Drinking any potions during combat.
• Having an ally buff you before combat.
• Using very long cooldown moves during duels
• Running behind buildings or large obstacles just to buy time.
• Repeatedly requesting another duel if you lose (or win).
• Randomly asking people to duel, especially when they are obviously busy with something else (like checking mail, exercising some profession to make something, or fighting a mob).

These points are disputed among players. Discuss your opinions on the talk page. If you are having problems with any of these issues, make sure to discuss the points of your duel with your opponent before beginning.

Some examples of good behavior:

• Asking your opponent if they want to duel and getting their agreement before selecting Duel from their portrait.
• Letting your opponent buff up before you start.
• Healing your opponent after you defeat them.
• Taking aggro off a defeated opponent who gets attacked by a mob after they lose.
• Praising an opponent or giving them a positive emote when you lose.

Ending a duel

Generally, two things will end a duel:

• A duel ends when a player takes enough damage to reduce them to one hit point.
  • The system will announce the result of the duel: <winning_player_name> has defeated <losing_player_name> in a duel.
  • While rare, it is possible to die after a duel with a same-faction player. This usually happens with mistimed damage from a warlock DoT. No honor is gained nor does the death cause durability damage.(Note that malicious Death Knights could kill players by placing [Unholy Frenzy] on them immediately after winning the duel.
• A duel also ends when one player moves too far away from the Duel Flag.
  • The system will announce the result of the duel: <fleeing_player_name> has fled a duel with <remaining_player_name>.

Players can also use /forfeit or /yield to end a duel.

What does winning a duel mean?

You win. You get glory (the system announces that you won). You don't earn XP, [Honor] or an opportunity to loot, you just get the satisfaction of knowing that you were able to defeat another player and possibly gain some experience at fighting other players that you will be able to use in the various forms of PvP combat. Sometimes players wager bets on duels, which means that you can earn (or lose) gold from dueling. However, the first time you win a duel, you receive the  [Duel-icious] achievement.

Notes

• Dueling in neutral towns or cities may anger the local guard NPCs (who will attack the duelers) and lower the reputation of the duelers there.
• A duel cannot be requested with someone who has the character on their ignore list.
• Players on Hardcore can conduct a Duel to the Death.

Patch changes

• Patch 1.7.0 (2005-09-13):
  • Fixed bug where you could kill someone in a duel with spell reflection.
  • You are no longer able to kill players in duels with reflected DoT spells.
    
• Patch 1.6.0 (2005-07-12):
  • Dispel Magic can no longer be used on players participating in a duel unless the caster is in the duel.
  • You are considered in combat for the entire duration of a duel.
  • Hunter traps work properly in duels if the target is flagged for PvP and the hunter is not.
    
• Patch 1.5.0 (2005-06-07):
  • Players can no longer swap inventory gear while dueling.
  • Dueling is now allowed within Everlook.
    
• Patch 1.3.0 (2005-03-07):
  • Priests can no longer kill players with Shadow Word: Pain and Mind Control in duels.
  • Dueling players can now cast helpful spells on their allies (but not vice versa).
    
• Patch 1.2.3 (2005-2-15): Dueling across factions remains intact in the patch, in consideration of players' desires to duel members of the opposing faction.
  
• Patch 1.2.2 (2005-02-15): Horde and Alliance members cannot duel with each other regardless of realm type.
  
• Patch 1.2.0 (2004-12-18):
  • There is now a short countdown before a duel starts.
  • Warlocks can no longer kill players in duels.