You haven't played WoW in years -- but then you got a whiff of the expansion. Now you're itching to play again, but you're completely lost. So much has changed. Heck, so much is still changing. What do you need to do to get your characters back up to speed? Is there something you should be doing right now, before the expansion hits in December? Should you wait and reroll a new character? Will you sideswipe yourself if you simply start blind and fresh from level 1 in Cataclysm?

WoW Insider makes it simple.

Coming back to WoW after a break This article hits all the basics: Should you start now or wait for the expansion? Will you be at a disadvantage if you're not in game "getting ready" right now? What's changed since X date? What's important right now in today's game?

What's important about Cataclysm? Get a good grasp of key changes and new content in the upcoming expansion.

Cataclysm: The inside scoop Here's our reference page where we constantly update you with everything you need to know about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.

Click onward for more answers you can sink your teeth into.

What's happening in the game right now? If you want to jump in and get your feet wet early, here's a state-of-the-game update on current gameplay and mechanics.

What about my UI and mods? WoW's user interface and the mods you can use to personalize it are better -- and simpler to adjust and use -- than ever.

Can I download the expansion? Yes, you can -- with a few caveats.

You'll need a Battle.net account now You'll be able to connect with friends across servers and games, manage all your Blizzard games and more.

Choosing a new realm Ready to go all the way with a whole new realm for the expansion? Here's how to make a choice that fits your playstyle.

Choosing a new guild If you've been out of the loop so long that you've lost or would prefer a new guild home, check out these tips for finding a compatible group to hang with.

Isn't something changing about raid group sizes? In Cataclysm, 10- and 25-man raids will share the same raid lockout and loot tables, and the 10-man scene, widely regarded as inferior throughout WoW's history, will be designed to have approximately the same difficulty as its 25-man counterpart.

What's up with your class and spec?

Death knights Blood / Frost / Unholy
Druids Balance / Feral DPS / Feral tanking / Restoration
Hunters Beast mastery / Marksmanship / Survival
Mages Arcane / Fire / Frost
Paladins Holy / Protection / Retribution
Priests Discipline / Holy / Shadow
Rogues Assassination / Combat / Subtlety
Shaman Elemental / Enhancement / Restoration
Warlocks Affliction / Demonology / Destruction
Warriors Arms / Fury / Protection


Still hungry for more details on what's ahead? Stroll through our comprehensive look at the upcoming expansion with WoW Insider's Guide to World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.

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World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.

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Filed under: Cataclysm