How to disable self-found rules in WoW Classic Hardcore

A new way to play WoW Classic Hardcore is live with a completely solo version of the game—self-found mode—now available on Hardcore servers. But how do you disable it?

This new game mode makes it so you can’t interact with players in most traditional ways, with trading, mailing, and using the Auction House disabled while this extra-difficult ruleset is active. Solo self-found mode turns the already difficult WoW Classic experience into an even harder one, ensuring everything you find and accomplish in the world happens on your own. 

This ruleset is definitely a step up from your everyday WoW Classic Hardcore runs, and some players might be caught off-guard by the increased level of difficulty once they get out into the world. If you struggle with SSF mode after enabling it in character creation, you can always turn it off. Here’s how to disable solo self-found mode in WoW Classic Hardcore. 

How to opt out of self-found mode in WoW Classic Hardcore

You can disable the solo self-found ruleset, barring you from trading and exchanging items with other WoW Classic Hardcore players at any time. But you must keep in mind that you can’t turn it back on once you’ve disabled it. 

The only way to turn the ruleset on is by applying it in character creation when making a new character. You can then only turn it off by speaking to an Apprentice Watcher in one of the game’s major cities. These NPCs will assist you in making the permanent decision to opt out of solo self-found mode during your Hardcore run. 

Apprentice Watcher locations in WoW Classic Hardcore

Alliance

• Hall of Explorers, Ironforge
• Temple of the Moon, Darnassus

Horde 

• Hall of Legends, Orgrimmar
• The Apothecarium, Undercity

You should be relatively familiar with Apprentice Watchers if you played WoW Classic Season of Mastery back in 2021. These High Elf NPCs are the same folks you would talk to to activate the Soul of Iron buff that marked a deathless SoM run.