Quick answer: In World of Warcraft: Forever, you can choose from 10 playable races, split evenly between the factions. Each race has two active and two passive racials.
No race in WoW Forever has access to every class. Human and Troll offer the broadest selection, at seven classes apiece. The new Skyborne race has two versions, one aligned with each faction.
Alliance races and racials
Alliance characters can be Human, Gnome, Dwarf, Night Elf, or High Order Skyborne. Newly available pairings are Human Hunters, Gnome Priests, Dwarf Shamans, and High Order Skyborne Mages.
Human
Humans can be a Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Mage, or Warlock, which makes them one of the two most flexible races. Will to Survive instantly removes all Stun effects, and Perception lets you detect Stealthed enemies for 20 sec. On the passive side, Ruthless adds 1% spell and attack critical chance, and The Human Spirit grants 10% increased Spirit.
Dwarf
Dwarves can play Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, or Shaman. Stoneform gives immunity to Bleeds, Poisons, and Diseases and cuts Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec, while Find Treasure tracks nearby treasure chests and adds a chance to find more valuables in them. Artisan’s Precision raises spell and attack hit chance by 1%, and Big Game Hunter adds 5% damage to Beasts.
Night Elf
Night Elves can be a Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, or Druid. Elune’s Light raises critical chance by 10% for 15 sec, and Shadowmeld puts you in Stealth while you stay immobile. Quickness adds 1% Dodge chance and 2% run speed, and Wisp Spirit gives 75% increased run speed while dead, which shortens the trip back to your body.
Gnome
Gnomes have five class options: Mage, Warrior, Warlock, Priest, and Rogue. Escape Artist grants immunity to effects that impair movement for 3 sec. Eureka! reduces costs and increases spell and ability damage or healing by 10% for 8 sec. Expansive Mind increases maximum Mana, Rage, or Energy by 5%, while Engineering Specialization reduces engineering devices’ chance to fail or backfire by 20%.
High Order Skyborne
Alliance Skyborne may choose Mage, Warrior, Druid, Hunter, or Rogue. Walk on Air allows a 10-sec glide downward through the air. Read Leyline activates a leyline, increasing Health and Mana regeneration by 50% for 15 sec. Wind Blessed grants 2% melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste, and Elemental Insight increases damage against Elementals by 5%.
| Race | Classes | Racial abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Mage, Warlock | Will to Survive (Active): Instantly removes all Stun effects. Perception (Active): Detect Stealthed enemies for 20 sec. Ruthless (Passive): Increases spell and attack critical chance by 1%. The Human Spirit (Passive): 10% increased Spirit. |
| Dwarf | Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman | Stoneform (Active): Gain immunity to Bleeds, Poisons, and Diseases and reduce Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec. Find Treasure (Active): Track nearby treasure chests and gain a chance to find more valuables in them. Artisan's Precision (Passive): Spell and attack hit chance increased by 1%. Big Game Hunter (Passive): Damage to Beasts increased by 5%. |
| Night Elf | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Druid | Elune's Light (Active): Increases critical chance by 10% for 15 sec. Shadowmeld (Active): Gain Stealth while immobile. Quickness (Passive): 1% increased Dodge chance and 2% increased run speed. Wisp Spirit (Passive): 75% increased run speed while dead. |
| Gnome | Warrior, Rogue, Priest, Mage, Warlock | Escape Artist (Active): Immune to movement-impairing effects for 3 sec. Eureka! (Active): Reduced cost and 10% increased damage or healing on spells and abilities for 8 sec. Expansive Mind (Passive): Maximum Mana, Rage, or Energy increased by 5%. Engineering Specialization (Passive): 20% reduced chance for engineering devices to fail or backfire. |
| High Order Skyborne | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Mage, Druid | Walk on Air (Active): Glide downward through the air for 10 sec. Read Leyline (Active): Activate a leyline to gain 50% increased Health and Mana regeneration for 15 sec. Wind Blessed (Passive): 2% increased melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste. Elemental Insight (Passive): Damage to Elementals increased by 5%. |
Horde races and racials
For the Horde, choose Troll, Orc, Undead, Tauren, or Windshaper Skyborne. New pairings are Orc Mages, Troll Warlocks, Undead Paladins, and Windshaper Skyborne Shamans.
Orc
Orcs can be a Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Mage, or Warlock. Blood Fury raises Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec, and Shatter Curse removes Curses and Banes while reducing Magical damage taken by 5% for 8 sec. Command adds 5% damage to Hunter and Warlock pets, and Hardiness shortens Stun durations by 20%.
Undead
Undead have access to Rogue, Warrior, Mage, Paladin, Warlock, or Priest. Will of the Forsaken immediately removes Charm, Fear, and Sleep effects. Cannibalize restores 35% of Health and Mana over 10 sec by consuming a Humanoid or Undead corpse. Underwater Breathing extends Underwater Breath by 300%, and Touch of the Grave gives your attacks a chance to drain Health from their target.
Tauren
Tauren have the shortest class list at four: Warrior, Hunter, Shaman, and Druid. War Stomp stuns up to 5 nearby enemies for 2 sec, and Cultivation grows bonus herbs that anyone can gather without herbalism. Plainsrunning builds movement speed the longer you keep moving, and Endurance raises total Health by 5%.
Troll
Trolls can be a Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, or Warlock, matching Humans at seven classes. Berserking raises casting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec, and Rapid Regeneration restores 50% of maximum Health over 6 sec. Beast Slaying adds 5% damage to Beasts, and Regeneration keeps 20% of Health regeneration running in combat while raising it by 20% at all times.
Windshaper Skyborne
The Horde Skyborne can play Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, or Druid. Walk on Air gives a 10 sec downward glide, and Skysight grants an Elemental Blessing that raises run speed by 15% for 15 sec. Wind Blessed adds 2% melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste, and Elemental Insight adds 5% damage to Elementals.
| Race | Classes | Racial abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Orc | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Mage, Warlock | Blood Fury (Active): Increases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec. Shatter Curse (Active): Removes Curses and Banes and reduces Magical damage taken by 5% for 8 sec. Command (Passive): Increases damage done by Hunter and Warlock pets by 5%. Hardiness (Passive): Stun durations decreased by 20%. |
| Undead | Warrior, Paladin, Rogue, Priest, Mage, Warlock | Will of the Forsaken (Active): Instantly removes all Charm, Fear, and Sleep effects. Cannibalize (Active): Consume a Humanoid or Undead corpse to regenerate 35% of Health and Mana over 10 sec. Underwater Breathing (Passive): Underwater Breath lasts 300% longer. Touch of the Grave (Passive): Your attacks sometimes drain Health from the target. |
| Tauren | Warrior, Hunter, Shaman, Druid | War Stomp (Active): Stuns up to 5 nearby enemies for 2 sec. Cultivation (Active): Grow bonus herbs that don't require herbalism to gather. Plainsrunning (Passive): Gain increased movement speed the longer you stay moving. Endurance (Passive): Total Health increased by 5%. |
| Troll | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock | Berserking (Active): Increases casting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec. Rapid Regeneration (Active): Regenerate 50% of maximum Health over 6 sec. Beast Slaying (Passive): Damage to Beasts increased by 5%. Regeneration (Passive): 20% of Health regeneration continues during combat, and is increased by 20% at all times. |
| Windshaper Skyborne | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Druid | Walk on Air (Active): Glide downward through the air for 10 sec. Skysight (Active): Receive an Elemental Blessing increasing run speed by 15% for 15 sec. Wind Blessed (Passive): 2% increased melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste. Elemental Insight (Passive): Damage to Elementals increased by 5%. |
Skyborne versions and how to unlock them
Every race except the Skyborne is available with a WoW subscription or Game Time. Playing either Skyborne version requires any Skyborne pack: Heroic, Epic, or the Warcraft Forever Collection.
Walk on Air, Wind Blessed, and Elemental Insight are shared by both Skyborne variants. Their fourth racial differs by faction: High Order Skyborne have Read Leyline, while Windshaper Skyborne have Skysight. Both versions can be Warriors, Hunters, Rogues, or Druids, with druid forms designed for the race. Mage is available only to the Alliance version, and Shaman only to the Horde version.
Skyborne characters start on Zephras Isle, which covers levels 1-12.
WoW Forever races FAQ
How many races are in WoW Forever?
There are 10, five Alliance and five Horde, with the two Skyborne versions counted separately.
Which races are new?
Skyborne: High Order Skyborne belong to the Alliance, while Windshaper Skyborne are on the Horde side.
Do the Skyborne have different racials per faction?
Only one. Three racials are shared, while the second active ability is Read Leyline for the Alliance and Skysight for the Horde.
Which race can be any class?
None. Human and Troll come closest, with seven classes each.
