Talebound: How to Play, Classes, and Rewards

Talebound is a standalone World of Warcraft: Midnight adventure mode where dark stories become the setting. You create a new hero, explore themed levels, fight monsters and bosses, solve puzzles, and find treasures. Stories can be played solo or with friends.

The adventure begins with a meeting with The Storyteller. Between expeditions, heroes return to Quillgrave, where they can prepare for the next story and improve their character. Participation offers cosmetic rewards for the main game, including mounts, pets, armor appearances, and decor.

The full launch is tied to Patch 12.1.7.

An separate demo is available on the test realm from October 30 to November 1, 2026. A subscription is not required to participate in the demo.

The demo includes:

• The introduction in Red Hollow.
• Three classes: Slayer, Inquisitor, and Witch.
• Three stories: Darkhaven, Greenthistle Wood, and Greywake's Expedition.
• Three difficulty levels: Normal, Veteran, and Heroic.

Four stories have been announced for the full version. The fourth, Grove of the Night Court, is not part of the announced demo lineup. The presence of a reward in the test database alone does not mean it can be earned in the main game during the test weekend.

1. Open the mode from the World of Warcraft menu. The demo requires the Patch 12.1.7 test client.
2. Create a separate hero and choose one of the three classes. The character is ready for the adventure right away; you do not need to level a regular character to max level.
3. Complete the introduction and learn how Quillgrave works.
4. Choose a story and set out. For your first time with the controls, Normal difficulty is a good place to start.
5. Return to the village between attempts, check the available upgrades, and review quests that reward currency.

You can create several mode characters and try different classes. Their ability kits differ from the familiar specializations in the main game.

All three classes have a double jump, dodge, and guard. Your position and attack direction matter: many abilities hit enemies in front of your character or within a specific area.

A powerful attack does not always let you move. Basic attack sequences can lock your character in place, while some spells require you to hold a button. It is useful to alternate damage with movement and keep a safe escape route open.

For your first run, learn three things: face groups of enemies before attacking, move out of dangerous areas, and switch to abilities that can be used while moving. Each class has different options for doing this.

Slayer

Slayer combines a sword, firearms, and monster-hunting tools. Its abilities let you switch from a close-range attack sequence to a shot or a retreat behind mines.

• Slash - A sequence of three attacks in front of your character. You stay in place while performing it; the final blow hits harder and leaves enemies off balance for longer.
• Explosive Shot - Fires a shotgun blast in front of you. Holding the ability empowers the attack, and nearby targets are hit by multiple pellets. You can use it while moving.
• Minefield - Leap backward while laying mines in front of you. The explosions deal damage and slow enemies.
• Shrapnel Round - Fires four projectiles, each of which explodes and hits a small area around its target.
• Throwing Knives - A quick attack that moves you and lets you interrupt another ability in progress.
• Silver Bolt - Leap into the air, briefly become immune to damage, and strike the enemy with the most health in range. Recasting the ability or letting its effect end triggers a second shot.

This class suits players who like alternating between melee combat and shooting. To start safely, keep an escape option available before beginning an attack sequence that roots you in place.

Inquisitor

Inquisitor wields fire and the Light. Its arsenal includes attacks that can be used while moving, slows, and powerful abilities that require you to stand still.

• Purify - A sequence of three attacks in front of your character. The final blow deals more damage and stuns enemies for longer; you remain in place during the sequence.
• Condemn - Hits enemies in a cone in front of you and slows them. It can be cast while moving.
• Denounce - An empowered attack against the closest enemy in front of you. The longer you hold the ability, the more damage it deals, but you cannot move.
• Light's Wrath - Creates a sun above an enemy that burns up to three nearby foes.
• Rapture - Surrounds enemies with flames, then detonates them. You remain in place; using the ability again ends the effect early.
• Radiance - A fire projectile explodes on impact and hits nearby targets. This weaker attack can be used while moving.

Inquisitor is a good fit for players who prefer ranged attacks. Its powerful stationary abilities are easier to use after slowing enemies or when a foe has finished a dangerous attack.

Witch

Witch summons creatures, wields lightning and moon magic, and can transform into a cat. Some of her abilities keep dealing damage while she changes position.

• Brewing Storm - A sequence of three attacks in front of you. The final blow hits harder and stuns targets for longer; you remain in place during the sequence.
• Bubbling Cauldron - Summons a cauldron that releases frogs. They leap at random enemies and explode, dealing area damage.
• Feline Communion - Moves you forward and transforms you into a cat. In this form, a shower of stars hits nearby enemies and unlocks additional abilities.
• Crooked Path - A forward dash through moonlight that is available in cat form.
• Full Moon - Strikes the closest target and damages enemies around it, ending your cat transformation.
• Winter Spiders - Sends a swarm of spiders forward. When they reach an enemy, the broodmother explodes and deals heavy damage in a small area.
• Moonlight Ravens - A channeled summon that sends a flock to attack enemies in front of the Witch. You can channel it while moving.
• Thorn - Thorns appear beneath the two closest enemies. You can use this ability while moving.

Witch suits players who enjoy combining summons with mobility. Pay attention to your attack direction: ravens and spiders act in front of your character, so positioning relative to the enemy group still matters.

The stories have different settings, enemies, and bosses. They are separate adventures with combat, puzzles, and discoveries that you can revisit.

Quillgrave serves as your hub between runs. Four upgrade paths are available here:

Talents let you adapt familiar abilities to your playstyle. For example, if you move often, consider upgrades to attacks you can use on the move; if you are having trouble surviving, look at defensive options. Use this as a guide, not as a mandatory build for every class.

Ducats are collected during stories and are used to obtain resources for progression within the mode.

Bound Silver is used for account-wide cosmetic rewards. Sources include quests, achievements, and collecting Ducats during stories. No universal exchange rate has been published.

You can shop with Nib in Quillgrave. You can also open the reward store from the character selection screen or the game menu.

The current test database lists the following quests. The requirements and rewards below reflect PTR data; they do not confirm that every objective will be available during the limited demo.

• A Tale Yet Told - Complete any story at any difficulty. Weekly quest, rewards 100 Bound Silver.
• A Daunting Final Tale - Complete the final confrontation on Heroic or Mythic difficulty. Weekly quest, rewards 100 Bound Silver.
• The Veteran's Ballad - Defeat 150 enemies in stories. Rewards 100 Bound Silver.
• The Hero's Saga - Defeat 10 bosses in stories. Rewards 100 Bound Silver.

A quest's name does not always indicate the required difficulty. For example, The Veteran's Ballad asks you to defeat a certain number of enemies; it does not require you to complete Veteran mode.

Rewards are for your main World of Warcraft collections. Check the event store for final prices and purchase requirements; a complete confirmed price list has not been published yet.

Mounts

The main reward shown so far is the Shadowbound Storybook. This flying book resembles the Storyteller's tome.

The reward list and test data also include:

Autumn Dream Jumper.

Lost Mare of the Maddening Faire.

Night Court Courier.

Summer Harvesthog.

Faith-Cursed Courser.

Shadowpaw Wood Watcher.

Stone-Carved Crusher.

Ambermill Traveler's Rouncey.

Pets

• Hex-Cursed Manifestation - a magical pet.
• Inquisitor's Messenger - a flying pet.
• Slayer's Faithful Tracker - an animal-family pet.
• Zyg'ee - a humanoid pet.

Armor Appearances

The Ensemble: Witch Hunter's Shadow Attire unlocks a set of cosmetic appearances.

The set includes:

• Witch Hunter's Shadow Hat.
• Witch Hunter's Shadow Mantle.
• Witch Hunter's Shadow Drape.
• Witch Hunter's Shadow Jacket and Witch Hunter's Shadow Vest.
• Witch Hunter's Shadow Grips.
• Witch Hunter's Shadow Cinch.
• Witch Hunter's Shadow Kilt and Witch Hunter's Shadow Pants.
• Witch Hunter's Shadow Striders.

The jacket, vest, and lower-body options let you put together different looks, including one with long coat tails.

Decor

The rewards shown so far confirm the Quillgrave Storyteller's Lectern and Quillgrave Talebound Shadowtome.

Test files contain other decor, but their acquisition methods and availability have not all been confirmed. They should not be treated as guaranteed items in the store.