Title For player character s , titles are displayed before or after the character ' s name , usually as an indication of the character ' s achievement s . While a character may have earned multiple titles , only one can be displayed at a time — players can choose which title to display , if any , in the character info frame . Prior to patch 2 . 0 , characters could only earn titles through the honor system and could not alter which title was displayed . For mob s and NPC s , titles appear after the name ( surrounded by < > s ) . They usually help identify either the faction or organization the creature belongs to or what kind of service they might provide . Currently obtainable titles . Patch 3 . 0 . 2 introduced many new titles ; most are through the achievements system . PvP titles . All PVP titles are displayed in the format : " title name " . PvP top percentage titles only last for the season after they ' re earned . As of Season 7 , 2v2 Arena teams can no longer earn titles . Unobtainable titles . PvE titles . These PvE titles are for performing substantial tasks , and with the release of additional content , these tasks have been made impossible to complete or somewhat trivialized , so the titles are no longer attainable . History of PvP Honor System Titles . Prior to Patch 2 . 0 . 0 , players could earn titles by participating in PvP ; ranks would be assigned based on the number of contribution points acquired by killing opposite - faction players during a week . With the release of Patch 2 . 0 . 0 and the Burning Crusade , players could no longer obtain or improve their Honor System title , but could choose to display their highest lifetime title they ' ve earned before the patch . All honor system titles are displayed in the format : " title name " . With the release of Cataclysm expansion , new titles that look the same were issued for rated battleground rankings . See section Return of PvP titles in Cataclysm for the new titles of the same name . Return of PvP Titles in Cataclysm . The Season 9 title for ending the season in the top 0 . 5 % of the rated battleground ladder is Hero of the Alliance or Hero of the Horde . Another title gained through the rated battleground system is Veteran of the Alliance or Veteran of the Horde - in patch 4 . 0 . 6a , you need to win 500 rated battlegrounds , but in patch 4 . 1 . 0 they are reduced to 100 and the title Warbound or Warbringer will be added ( you will need 300 wins in rated battlegrounds ) . In " " , players will again be able to earn titles by participating in PvP ; the old ranks would be given based on a new battleground rating system . In Cataclysm , we plan to make the old PvP titles available based on your performance in our upcoming rated Battleground system , similar to the current Arena titles which are based on your performance in the Arenas . Keep in mind , however , that Cataclysm is still relatively early in the development stages and this information is subject to change . We ' ll have more on the rated Battleground system and associated rewards in the months ahead . [ . . . ] I ' m going to clarify my original post , as I don ' t believe it ' s been decided yet whether they ' ll be purchased with Arena points or Honor points , or if a specific Battleground rating is the only requirement to unlock them . There are no plans to make these titles available for real - world money . [ . . . ] We feel they ' re going to fit well with the new rated Battleground system . The titles were previously earned through a very cumbersome experience that didn ' t necessarily measure a player ' s PvP skill . With a new system for measuring performance in the Battlegrounds , we feel it ' s a good fit to award the honor title to those who excel . We do not intend for the top titles to be earned in a triival manner . It ' s going to be quite hard to get High Warlord or Grand Marshal ; and not because it ' s going to requrie that someone plays in the Battlegrounds more than everyone else on their realm each week , but because it ' s going to require a very impressive win / loss ratio . The current plan is still for rated Battlegrounds to grant Arena points , though some rewards will require a certain rating from this system just as with the current Arena system . NPC titles . NPC s ( and mob s ) also have titles that appear like this . They usually help identify either the faction or organization the creature belongs to or what kind of service they might provide . WoWWiki has an to try to track them .