Public Test Realm



A Public Test Realm (or PTR, test server, and test realm) is a special server where upcoming features are tested for the next upcoming patch. It contains several realms.

You can make a character on the test realm from a copy of one of your characters on a normal realm or from a premade. Whether there will be premade or not will be clearly announced. Players on test realms should not be surprised by character wipes, item wipes, or frequent downtime to make changes or apply patches, so don't get too attached to your character on these servers.

For a guide to getting on the test realm, see Getting on the Test Realm.

Games
Blizzard uses the PTR for most of their games:
 * World of Warcraft
 * Diablo III
 * StarCraft II, currently unused
 * Heroes of the Storm
 * Overwatch

The PTR was also pushed to some of the classics such as
 * StarCraft, 2017
 * Warcraft III, 2018

Trivia

 * In Heroes of the Storm, any purchases made would still be accessible but the level and other progresses is separate and may be reset periodically.
 * For Overwatch, it is called Public Test Region.
 * There was also a Tournament Test Realm (TTR) to prepare for the Arena Competition.