World of Warcraft Hallow’s End is the annual in game Halloween style event that celebrates the Forsaken breaking free from the Scourge. It brings trick or treating at inns, city festivities, town attacks to repel, and the Headless Horseman boss. This guide uses only verified, in game and official Blizzard information. Dates and some details can shift by year and by region, as shown on the in game calendar and event notes.
Real World Inspirations And Lore
Blizzard presents Hallow’s End as a festive break from fear and a time of tricks and treats in Azeroth. In lore, it marks the Forsaken separating from the Scourge and is now observed by both factions through mischief, costumes, candy, and burning Wickerman effigies outside their hubs. These elements are how Blizzard describes the event in game and in official posts.
When World of Warcraft Hallow’s End Runs
Hallow’s End typically runs in late October through November 1. Blizzard often lists October 18 to November 1 as the general window, but exact start and end times may vary by year and region. The in game calendar shows your realm’s dates and daily reset timing. Maintenance can affect the first day’s start time and the final day’s end time.
Where World of Warcraft Hallow’s End Takes Place
Most activities center on:
- Alliance hubs such as Stormwind City and nearby Goldshire
- Horde hubs such as the Ruins of Lordaeron near Undercity and nearby Razor Hill
- Inn locations across Azeroth and newer continents where Candy Buckets appear
- Seasonal decor and vendors in major cities
Faction rituals include Wickerman celebrations outside Stormwind and outside the Ruins of Lordaeron during the event.
World of Warcraft Hallow’s End Currencies And Vendors
The event currency is Tricky Treats. You earn Tricky Treats from event quests, Candy Buckets at inns, and other seasonal activities. You spend them at Hallow’s End vendors on toys, costumes, masks, pets, and more. Blizzard has named vendors such as Dorothy for the Alliance and Chub for the Horde. Vendor stock includes items like Little Wickerman, Hallowed Wands, masks, and pets. Where Blizzard has published prices, many items cost 2 to 5 Tricky Treats for small consumables and 150 Tricky Treats for several pets and toys.
Core Activities And How They Work
Seasonal Quests And Dailies
Seasonal quest givers appear at the Wickerman areas outside Stormwind and the Ruins of Lordaeron. There are faction tasks about lighting your Wickerman and putting out the other side’s Wickerman. Additional quests tied to the event include daily cleanup or mischief tasks and, in some years, short stories such as an orphan themed set during the celebration. Quest names and objectives show in your quest log with clear tooltips.
Candy Buckets And Trick Or Treating
Candy Buckets are found at inns across the world, including older continents and newer ones added over time. Interacting with a Candy Bucket grants a handful of treats, which can include Tricky Treats and other seasonal items. Each inn’s bucket can be looted during the event. Candy Bucket achievements guide you to the specific inn lists for each continent.
Town Invasions And Firefighting
At times during Hallow’s End, the Headless Horseman flies over certain starter towns, like Goldshire and Razor Hill, and sets buildings ablaze. Players grab water buckets and form a bucket brigade to extinguish the fires. Completing the defense leads to fighting the Horseman’s shade and rewards tied to the event.
The Wickerman Ceremony Or Faction Rituals
Horde and Alliance hold Wickerman celebrations outside Undercity’s ruins and outside Stormwind. The ceremony runs on a schedule, with faction leaders arriving to light the Wickerman and mark the holiday. Players can accept quests here and gain a themed buff when asked to light their own Wickerman. There are also tasks to dampen the rival Wickerman.
Holiday Boss Encounter
The event boss is the Headless Horseman, located in the Scarlet Monastery Graveyard for the purpose of the holiday instance. During Hallow’s End, players access the encounter through the Dungeon Finder. Queue level ranges and item levels can change by expansion, so check the Dungeon Finder for current requirements. A daily reward container, the Loot Filled Pumpkin, is granted on your first clear per day per character, and the boss also has loot on his body.
Holiday Boss Details
Access method
- Queue for the Headless Horseman from the Dungeon Finder during Hallow’s End
- Queue eligibility, bracket, and level range are set each year; check the tool for your character
- Dungeon Finder shows if there is a daily reward container and any lockout rules
Encounter summary
- The fight features the rider and his severed head with add waves and fire effects
- Seasonal hard mode with Wicker Curses has been introduced, which slightly increases your odds at certain rewards when active
Loot overview
- The Horseman’s Reins mount can be obtained from the holiday rewards
- The Loot Filled Pumpkin can contain seasonal cosmetics and event items
- The boss also drops rings and themed items for the given year
- Blizzard has added event pets and cosmetics over time, such as Arfus in a recent update
Rewards Overview
Mounts
- The Horseman’s Reins from the Headless Horseman encounter
- Magic Brooms that function during Hallow’s End, including a short duration flying broom from reward containers
Pets
- Sinister Squashling
- Feline Familiar
- Cursed Birman
- Widget the Departed
- Other seasonal pets when Blizzard adds them for the year
Toys
- Little Wickerman
- Bucket of Morbid Treats in a recent update
Transmog and costumes
- Hallowed Helm
- Costume sets and Hallowed Wands
- Assorted masks that match playable races
Heirlooms or gear
- Holiday themed rings and items from the boss, based on the current year’s itemization
Titles and achievements
- Completing the event meta grants the title The Hallowed
Achievements And The Meta
The World of Warcraft Hallow’s End meta achievement is Hallowed Be Thy Name, which awards The Hallowed. It requires a set of holiday achievements. Blizzard has listed the following as part of the lineup for the meta and the event:
- Trick or Treat!
- Out With It
- Bring Me the Head of… Oh Wait
- The Savior of Hallow’s End
- That Sparkling Smile
- Rotten Hallow
- G.N.E.R.D. Rage
- Check Your Head
- The Masquerade
- Sinister Calling
- Tricks or Treats of Azeroth
- Regional or yearly additions, such as Tricks and Treats of the Dragon Isles, may also appear
Account wide behavior for achievements or titles should be followed as documented by Blizzard in the Achievement UI and patch notes. If not stated, treat each requirement as listed on your character.
Classic And Other Game Versions
Hallow’s End also appears in World of Warcraft Classic era titles, with event dates and available rewards set for that version. Not all retail features or items are present in Classic. The in game calendar for Classic shows the schedule for your region. When Blizzard publishes differences for Classic seasons, those details apply only to that version.
Update Timeline And Changes Over The Years
The table below lists major updates that Blizzard has publicly documented. Patch numbers are included only where Blizzard has specified them. Dates and features can vary by year.
| Year | Patch | Expansion | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Not specified | Mists of Pandaria | Wickerman events at Stormwind and Ruins of Lordaeron highlighted; Tricky Treats used as a spendable currency at vendors; holiday boss accessed via Dungeon Finder with a high level character requirement for that year. |
| 2023 | Not specified | Dragonflight | Added Dragon Isles Candy Buckets and a related achievement; Headless Horseman hard mode with Wicker Curses; new rewards including Arfus and additional cosmetics. |
Accessibility And Quality Of Life
- Dungeon Finder provides direct access to the holiday boss during the event.
- The in game calendar shows start and end dates for your region.
- Candy Buckets are placed at inns with clear names and can be tracked via achievements per continent.
- Seasonal vendors are placed in faction hubs and are easy to find by their event banners and pumpkins.
- If Blizzard adds account wide or warband wide reward sharing rules for the event, those appear in item tooltips or system notes.
Practical Tips Grounded In Official Mechanics
- Use the Dungeon Finder to do the Headless Horseman once per day per character for the daily reward container.
- Route Candy Buckets while you quest or fly between hubs. The achievement lists show the exact inns for each continent.
- Pick up Wickerman quests at the faction sites outside Stormwind and the Ruins of Lordaeron, then complete the related lighting or dousing tasks for currency and buffs.
- During town attacks, grab water buckets and work with others to put out fires quickly before engaging the shade.
- Save Tricky Treats for the pets or toys you want most, then fill in masks, wands, and costumes as you finish achievements.
- Check the in game calendar for the last day and do your boss queue early in case of maintenance.
Conclusion
World of Warcraft Hallow’s End is the annual Halloween style holiday that runs in late October. It focuses on tricks and treats at inns, Wickerman ceremonies, town defense events, and the Headless Horseman boss in Scarlet Monastery via the Dungeon Finder. You earn Tricky Treats to spend at vendors on pets, toys, masks, and costumes, and you can finish achievements toward The Hallowed. Dates, level ranges, and some rewards can vary by year and region based on the official calendar and patch notes. For current highlights and locations, see the Official Hallow’s End overview and Blizzard’s seasonal details.
