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Pick your faction and class first, then the race whose racials fit what you will do. If you already have a class, the best race for each class is right below. In Forever every race has two active and two passive racials, and nearly all of them change: the beta client brings 14 new racials and removes 11 Classic ones, mostly resistances and weapon specializations. The big news is the Skyborne, who can be Alliance or Horde, start on Zephras Isle and need the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher.
Best race for each class
Pick your class. Each guide goes over the races that can play it and what every racial does for that class in the beta client: in dungeons and raids, in PvP and while leveling.
Best race for a Warrior9 races: 4 Alliance, 4 Horde and the Skyborne
Best race for a Hunter7 races: 3 Alliance, 3 Horde and the Skyborne
Best race for a Mage6 races: 3 Alliance, 3 Horde
Best race for a Rogue8 races: 4 Alliance, 3 Horde and the Skyborne
Best race for a Priest6 races: 4 Alliance, 2 Horde
Best race for a Warlock5 races: 2 Alliance, 3 Horde
Best race for a Paladin3 races: 2 Alliance, 1 Horde
Best race for a Druid3 races: 1 Alliance, 1 Horde and the Skyborne
Best race for a Shaman5 races: 1 Alliance, 4 HordeThe races at a glance
Racials come from the beta client (1.60.1.70205); classes from the races page, and the starting zone from our leveling guide.
| Race | Faction | Classes | Starts in | Racials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Human | Alliance | | Elwynn Forest | Perception, Will to Survive, Sword Specialization, The Human Spirit |
 Dwarf | Alliance | | Dun Morogh | Find Treasure, Stoneform, Big Game Hunter, Mace Specialization |
 Night Elf | Alliance | | Teldrassil | Elune's Light, Shadowmeld, Quickness, Wisp Spirit |
 Gnome | Alliance | | Dun Morogh | Escape Artist, Eureka!, Engineering Specialization, Expansive Mind |
 Orc | Horde | | Durotar | Blood Fury, Shatter Curse, Axe Specialization, Hardiness |
 Undead | Horde | | Tirisfal Glades | Cannibalize, Will of the Forsaken, Touch of the Grave, Underwater Breathing |
 Tauren | Horde | | Mulgore | Cultivation, War Stomp, Endurance, Plainsrunning |
 Troll | Horde | | Durotar | Berserking, Rapid Regeneration, Beast Slaying, Regeneration |
| Skyborne (Alliance)New | Alliance | | Zephras Isle | Read Ley Line, Walk on Air, Elemental Insight, Wind Blessed |
| Skyborne (Horde)New | Horde | | Zephras Isle | Skysight, Walk on Air, Elemental Insight, Wind Blessed |
Alliance races
Human
Alliance
PerceptionActiveSame as ClassicDramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
Will to SurviveActiveNew in ForeverInstantly removes all Stun effects.
Sword SpecializationPassiveChangedIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 2% while you have a sword or two-handed sword equipped.
The Human SpiritPassiveSame as ClassicSpirit increased by 5%.
No longer has: Diplomacy, Mace Specialization
Dwarf
Alliance
Find TreasureActiveSame as ClassicAllows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until cancelled.
StoneformActiveChangedInstantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
Big Game HunterPassiveNew in ForeverDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Mace SpecializationPassiveNew in ForeverIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 1% while you have a mace or two-handed mace equipped.
No longer has: Frost Resistance, Gun Specialization
Night Elf
Alliance
Elune's LightActiveNew in ForeverIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 10% for 15 sec.
ShadowmeldActiveChangedActivate 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.
QuicknessPassiveChangedDodge 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 SpiritPassiveChangedTransform into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 75%.
No longer has: Nature Resistance
Gnome
Alliance
Escape ArtistActiveChangedInstantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
Eureka!ActiveNew in ForeverRogue:Your next 3 non-periodic damaging abilities have their Energy cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Warrior:Your next 3 non-periodic damaging abilities have their Rage cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Mage:Your next 3 damaging abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Warlock:Your next 3 non-periodic damaging abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Priest:Your next 3 non-periodic damaging or healing abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage or healing.
Engineering SpecializationPassiveChangedYour gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Expansive MindPassiveChangedWarrior:Maximum Rage increased by 5%.
Rogue:Maximum Energy increased by 5%.
Priest, Mage, Warlock:Maximum Mana increased by 5%.
No longer has: Arcane Resistance
Horde races
Orc
Horde
Blood FuryActiveChangedIncreases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec.
Shatter CurseActiveNew in ForeverInstantly removes and grants immunity to all Curses and Banes, and reduces all Magical damage taken by 15% for 8 sec.
Axe SpecializationPassiveChangedIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and abilities by 1% while you have an axe or a two-handed axe equipped.
HardinessPassiveChangedDuration of Stun effects on you reduced by 20%.
No longer has: Command
Undead
Horde
CannibalizeActiveChangedWhen 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 ForsakenActiveChangedInstantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
Touch of the GravePassiveNew in ForeverWarrior, Paladin, Rogue:Your spells and attacks have a 5% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
Priest, Mage, Warlock:Your spells and attacks have a 10% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
Underwater BreathingPassiveSame as ClassicUnderwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
No longer has: Shadow Resistance
Tauren
Horde
CultivationActiveChangedCultivate a nearby herb, growing a duplicate you can harvest without requiring Herbalism skill. Each herb may only be cultivated once.
War StompActiveSame as ClassicStuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 2 sec.
EndurancePassiveChangedTotal Health increased by 5% and chance to hit increased by 1%.
PlainsrunningPassiveNew in ForeverGain 1% increased movement speed every 5 sec spent moving, up to a maximum of 30% increase. Taking damage or standing still will reduce this effect.
No longer has: Nature Resistance
Troll
Horde
BerserkingActiveChangedIncreases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
Rapid RegenerationActiveNew in ForeverRegenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
Beast SlayingPassiveSame as ClassicDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
RegenerationPassiveChangedHealth regeneration rate increased by 10%. In addition, 10% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
No longer has: Bow Specialization, Throwing Specialization
Skyborne: the new race
New playable race that chooses Horde or Alliance at character creation. Starts on Zephras Isle with its own level 1 to 12 adventure. Requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher. Like every race in Forever, it has two active and two passive racials.
Blizzard calls them Skyborne (the Spanish client says «cielonatos»). The Alliance version is Skyborne (Alliance) and the Horde one Skyborne (Horde).
They share Walk on Air, Elemental Insight and Wind Blessed; on top of that, the Alliance version gets Read Ley Line and the Horde one Skysight.
You need the Skyborne Heroic Pack ($29.99) or higher.
Skyborne (Alliance)
AllianceNew
Read Ley LineActiveNew in ForeverAttempt to tap into the power of a nearby ley line, increasing your Health and Mana regeneration by 100%. Lasts 15 sec if no ley line is nearby, and 15 min if one is found.
Walk on AirActiveNew in ForeverGlide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.
Elemental InsightPassiveNew in ForeverDamage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.
Wind BlessedPassiveNew in ForeverIncreases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 1%.
Skyborne (Horde)
HordeNew
SkysightActiveNew in ForeverAttempt to draw power from a convergence of elements and receive its blessing, increasing your movement and mounted movement speeds by 10%. Lasts 30 sec if no elemental convergence is nearby, and 15 min if one is found.
- Walk on AirActiveNew in Forever
Glide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.
- Elemental InsightPassiveNew in Forever
Damage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.
- Wind BlessedPassiveNew in Forever
Increases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 1%.
Official article: WoW: Forever Meet the New Skyborne
Racials that depend on your class or weapon
Some racials change with your class or only work with one weapon type. All of it, exactly as in the client:
Weapon specializations (more critical strike chance while you wield that weapon):
- Sword Specialization Human
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 2% while you have a sword or two-handed sword equipped.
- Mace Specialization Dwarf
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 1% while you have a mace or two-handed mace equipped.
- Axe Specialization Orc
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and abilities by 1% while you have an axe or a two-handed axe equipped.
Racials with a different version per class:
- Eureka! Gnome
Rogue: Your next 3 non-periodic damaging abilities have their Energy cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Warrior: Your next 3 non-periodic damaging abilities have their Rage cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Mage: Your next 3 damaging abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Warlock: Your next 3 non-periodic damaging abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Priest: Your next 3 non-periodic damaging or healing abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage or healing.
- Expansive Mind Gnome
Warrior: Maximum Rage increased by 5%.
Rogue: Maximum Energy increased by 5%.
Priest, Mage, Warlock: Maximum Mana increased by 5%.
- Touch of the Grave Undead
Warrior, Paladin, Rogue: Your spells and attacks have a 5% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
Priest, Mage, Warlock: Your spells and attacks have a 10% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
Racials and professions
Racials that touch professions:
- Engineering Specialization Gnome
Your gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
- Cultivation Tauren
Cultivate a nearby herb, growing a duplicate you can harvest without requiring Herbalism skill. Each herb may only be cultivated once.
Beta change: Every herb now has a player-level requirement: the Herbalism skill needed to pick it, divided by 5. Herbs that need more than 300 Herbalism can be Cultivated at level 60.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best race in WoW Forever?
There is no single best one: it depends on your class and what you will do. Look at which racials give you something in your role; for example, the weapon specializations raise critical strike chance with swords (humans), maces (dwarves) and axes (orcs). There is a guide for each class under Best race for each class. And remember that on the PvP ruleset you can only create characters of one faction.
Who are the Skyborne?
New playable race that chooses Horde or Alliance at character creation. Starts on Zephras Isle with its own level 1 to 12 adventure. Requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher. Like every race in Forever, it has two active and two passive racials. The Spanish client calls them «cielonatos».
How do I get the Skyborne?
With the Skyborne Heroic Pack ($29.99) or any higher pack. They start on Zephras Isle, a self-contained level 1 to 12 adventure.
Which race and class combinations are new?
Gnome Priest, Human Hunter, Dwarf Shaman, Orc Mage, Troll Warlock and Undead Paladin. On top of that, the Skyborne can be Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid on both factions, Mage on the Alliance and Shaman on the Horde.
Are the racials the same as in Classic?
No. According to the beta client, 14 racials are new, 17 change and 6 stay as in Classic; 11 Classic racials are gone.
Can I have characters on both factions?
On the Normal and Roleplaying rulesets, yes. On PvP you can only create characters of one faction.
See also
A The Forever Era guide. Anything specific to Forever comes from Blizzard's official announcements or the beta client; general Classic knowledge is marked as such. We never invent numbers or rankings, and the guide is reviewed with every build.
