What kind of game is Perfect World?
Perfect World, often shortened to PW, is a 3D fantasy MMORPG built on Chinese mythology. It launched in China in January 2006 and reached North America in September 2008. If you are here because you want to play it on a community server, the Perfect World private servers list is the place to start; this page explains the game underneath.
Below you will find the race and class system, how flying and guild warfare work, a short expansion timeline, and a comparison of the official game with community servers. The glossary covers any term that is not explained inline.
- Launched in China
- January 2006
- North American release
- 2 September 2008
- Guild size
- Up to 200 members
Beijing Perfect World
Arc Games
Territory War is 80 vs 80
The setting is the mythical world of Pangu. Players pick a race, then a class inside that race, and level through quests, instances and open-world bosses. The game is advertised as free-to-play, although Wikipedia notes that most cash shop items improve gameplay rather than looks.
Races and classes
Character creation is two decisions: race first, class second. Each race has its own starting zone, home city and flying mount, and the classes available depend on the race you choose. One wiki lists the following base set, and it is the best way to see how the game is organised.
| Race | Classes | Home city | Mount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human | Blademaster, Wizard | Etherblade | Flying Swords |
| Wing Elves | Archer, Cleric | Plume City | Wings |
| Untamed | Barbarian, Venomancer | City of the Lost | Beasts |
| Earthguard | Seeker, Mystic | Tellus City | Gliders |
| Tideborn | Assassin, Psychic | City of Raging Tides | Wings |
“Players can take on various roles depending on choice of race and choice of class within that race.”
The same wiki gives short role notes for six of the classes. Treat them as starting points, because class balance changes from version to version and many private servers retune skills.
| Class | Role | Strength and weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Blademaster | Melee | High physical defense, low magical defense |
| Wizard | Ranged magic | Highest skill damage, slow casting time |
| Barbarian | Melee tank | Highest physical defense, low damage |
| Venomancer | Ranged magic and pets | Excellent solo class, low hit points |
| Archer | Ranged physical | High critical chance, low physical defense |
| Cleric | Healer and support | Heal, buff and revive skills, party based |
Flying and Territory War
Flying is one of the game's signatures. The wiki says Wing Elves can fly from level 1, while Earthguard, Human, Tideborn and Untamed characters unlock flying at level 30, each on a race-specific mount.
The endgame is guild-driven. The map is divided into territories, and guilds of up to 200 members fight for them in Territory War, an 80 vs 80 battle. Wikipedia reports that the US version shortened the time cap from 3 hours to 1 hour 40 minutes because of low player numbers, and that most fights end within 15 to 20 minutes.
Expansions and why versions matter
The official international game has grown through numbered expansions. Version numbers like 1.4.6 or 1.8.7 on private servers refer to client builds from different points in that history, which is why two servers can feel like different games. The versions pages and 1.5.x servers sort servers by those builds.
| Expansion | Released |
|---|---|
| The Lost Empire | December 2008 |
| Age of Spirits | May 2009 |
| Genesis | March 2011 |
| Neverfall | April 2017 |
| Wings of Rebirth | May 2019 |
| Dawnlight | June 2021 |
| Song of the Surging Waves | December 2024 |
Wikipedia lists 21 expansions in total and gives only their names and dates, not their contents. For what a version includes, read each server's own feature list, and see Perfect World latest-content servers for the newest builds.
A practical rule: the higher the version number, the more systems you have to learn. On a 1.8.7 server such as MythPW, characters start at level 105 with two reawakenings, so the early game that older builds are known for is skipped entirely. On a 1.3.6 or 1.5.x server you level from the beginning, which suits players who want to see the whole game in order.
Official game versus a private server
Two ways to play
Official game
- Run by regional publishers such as Arc Games, Games-Masters, Astrum and Level Up! Games
- Advertised as free-to-play, but Wikipedia says players need substantial money to compete
- Content follows the live expansion schedule
Private server
- Run by volunteers, who pick one client version from 1.3.6 up to 1.8.7 or 1.9.0
- Rates are set by the operator, for example x2 EXP and spirit with x1 drops on Silent Harbor, or x1 EXP and drops on PW Village
- No publisher support, and some sites state they are test servers or restrict who may access them
| Server | Version shown | Detail from its own site |
|---|---|---|
| Silent Harbor | 1.5.2 | Titled as an x2 leveling server |
| PW Village | 1.5.5 | x1 EXP and drops, shop currency earned by voting, donating and referrals |
| MythPW | 1.8.7 | Starts at level 105 with 2 reawakenings |
| Heaven Perfect World | 1.3.6 and 1.4.6 | Realms at x5, x2 and x2; footer calls it a test server |
| PW Void | 1.7.4 | Notice says rights holders are not permitted to access the site |
Private servers are unofficial and unaffiliated with the publishers. Whether playing on one is acceptable depends on the publisher's terms and your local law, and this is not legal advice. Read the private server safety guide before you download a client.
How to pick a first version
- 1
Decide the era
Older builds such as 1.3.6 and 1.4.6 have fewer classes and slower pacing. Later builds add classes and systems.
- 2
Read the rates
Look for EXP, spirit, drop and coin multipliers. Understanding server rates explains how to read them.
- 3
Match the client
A client for one realm will not work on another, so download only from the server's own site or pinned Discord post.
- 4
Check activity
Open the Discord, look for dated patch notes and check the status page for uptime.
- 5
Start small
Do not spend on a shop in the first weeks. Servers can close, a point also made in how to choose a private server.
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