WoW Forever Races & Racials

9 Playable RacesSkyborne (Both Factions)2 Active + 2 Passive Racials

Nine races. Six new combinations. One new people of the sky.

Every race in WoW Forever carries two active and two passive racials, built around its identity and updated with the final pre-launch tuning.

What Changed

Racials were rebuilt around a shared structure: two actives and two passives per race. The final pre-launch pass puts racial identity first, so some races are slightly stronger in certain roles, but the edge is slight and looks, lore, and utility remain the main reasons to pick a race. See the pre-launch racial tuning for every change, and the races and racials change guide for how each race differs from Classic.

Six new combinations arrive at launch: Gnome Priest, Human Hunter, Dwarf Shaman, Orc Mage, Troll Warlock, and Undead Paladin. The new Skyborne join either faction at character creation.

Alliance Races and Racials

Human Racials

Alliance

Adaptable defenders of Stormwind. Forever opens the Hunter to Humans for the first time.

PerceptionActiveDramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
Will to SurviveActiveInstantly removes all Stun effects.
RuthlessPassiveIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 1%.
The Human SpiritPassiveSpirit increased by 10%.

Dwarf Racials

Alliance

Stout mountain folk of Ironforge. Dwarf Shaman joins the Alliance roster in Forever.

Find TreasureActiveAllows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until cancelled.
StoneformActiveInstantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
Big Game HunterPassiveDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Artisan's PrecisionPassiveIncreases your chance to hit with spells and attacks by 1%.

Night Elf Racials

Alliance

Ancient guardians of Kalimdor and the only Alliance route to the Druid outside the Skyborne.

Elune's LightActiveIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 10% for 15 sec.
ShadowmeldActiveActivate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Using this ability in combat discourages enemies from attacking you, but increases the cooldown to 2 min.
QuicknessPassiveDodge chance increased by 1% and movement speed increased by 2%. Night Elf Rogues and Druids are harder to detect in Stealth as if they were 1 level higher.
Wisp SpiritPassiveTransform into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 75%.

Gnome Racials

Alliance

Brilliant tinkers of Gnomeregan. Gnome Priest is one of the six new pairings.

Escape ArtistActiveInstantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
Eureka!Active · varies by classYour non-periodic damaging abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage for 8 sec.
Engineering SpecializationPassiveYour gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Expansive MindPassive · varies by classMaximum Mana increased by 5%.

High Order Skyborne Racials

AllianceFull Skyborne guide →

A brand-new playable race that picks Horde or Alliance at character creation and starts on Zephras Isle.

Walk on AirActiveGlide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.
Read LeylineActive · AllianceIncreases your Health and Mana regeneration by 50% for 15 sec. Used at a Ley Line, it also grants Attuned for 1 hour, raising the bonus to 100%. Attuned persists through death and is removed when you enter a raid. Cannot be used while Innervate is active.
Elemental InsightPassiveDamage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.
Wind BlessedPassiveIncreases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 2%.

Horde Races and Racials

Orc Racials

Horde

Proud warriors of Durotar. Forever adds the Orc Mage.

Blood FuryActiveIncreases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec.
Shatter CurseActiveInstantly removes all Curses and Banes, and reduces all Magical damage taken by 5% for 8 sec.
HardinessPassiveDuration of Stun effects on you reduced by 20%.
CommandPassiveDamage dealt by Hunter and Warlock pets increased by 5%.

Undead Racials

Horde

The Forsaken of Lordaeron. Undead Paladin brings the Light to the Horde.

CannibalizeActiveWhen activated, regenerates 7% of total Health and 7% of total Mana every 2 sec for 10 sec. Only works on Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yds. Any movement, action, or damage taken while Cannibalizing will cancel the effect.
Will of the ForsakenActiveInstantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
Touch of the GravePassive · varies by classYour spells and attacks have a 20% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health. This effect can occur once every 15 sec.
Underwater BreathingPassiveUnderwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.

Tauren Racials

Horde

Gentle giants of Mulgore with deep ties to the Earth Mother and the Druid path.

CultivationActiveCultivate a nearby herb, growing a duplicate you can harvest without requiring Herbalism skill. Each herb may only be cultivated once.
War StompActiveStuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 2 sec.
EndurancePassiveTotal Health increased by 5%.
PlainsrunningPassiveGain 2% increased movement speed every 5 sec spent moving, up to a maximum of 60% increase. Taking damage or standing still will reduce this effect.

Troll Racials

Horde

Cunning survivors of the Darkspear tribe. Troll Warlock is new in Forever.

BerserkingActiveIncreases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 15 sec.
Rapid RegenerationActiveRegenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
Beast SlayingPassiveDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
RegenerationPassiveHealth regeneration rate increased by 20%. In addition, 20% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.

Windshaper Skyborne Racials

HordeFull Skyborne guide →

A brand-new playable race that picks Horde or Alliance at character creation and starts on Zephras Isle.

Walk on AirActiveGlide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.
SkysightActive · HordeIncreases your movement speed by 15% for 15 sec. Used at an elemental convergence, it also grants Charged for 1 hour, raising the bonus to 30%. Charged persists through death and is removed when you enter a raid.
Elemental InsightPassiveDamage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.
Wind BlessedPassiveIncreases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 2%.

Race and Class Matrix

Which races can play which classes in WoW Forever
Race	Warrior	Paladin	Hunter	Rogue	Priest	Shaman	Mage	Warlock	Druid
Alliance
Human	Yes	Yes	New	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Dwarf	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	New	No	No	No
Night Elf	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Gnome	Yes	No	No	Yes	New	No	Yes	Yes	No
High Order Skyborne	New	No	New	New	No	No	New	No	New
Horde
Orc	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	New	Yes	No
Undead	Yes	New	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Tauren	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Troll	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	New	No
Windshaper Skyborne	New	No	New	New	No	New	No	No	New

Continue Exploring

Every class guide lists the races that can play it on each faction. Feeling lucky? Roll a random character and let the cards pick your race, class, and spec.