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6 races can be a Mage in WoW Forever: Human, Gnome and Skyborne (Alliance) in the Alliance and Orc, Undead and Troll in the Horde. The Skyborne, the new race in Forever, can only be Mages in the Alliance. New combination in Forever: Orc Mage. There is no official "best race": what sets them apart is their racials, so the choice depends on what you are after.
For PvE, the weapon racial Mages can use is Sword Specialization (Human), and the active racials that raise damage or healing are Eureka! (Gnome), Blood Fury (Orc) and Berserking (Troll). For PvP, the ones that remove or shorten loss-of-control effects are Will to Survive (Human), Escape Artist (Gnome), Hardiness (Orc) and Will of the Forsaken (Undead). And if what matters to you is the faction, the starting zone or the looks, that is further down too.
Races that can be a Mage
These are the races that can be a Mage in the Forever client. The ones marked "new combination" or "new race" could not be one in Classic.
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.
Skyborne Heroic Pack: $29.99. Price and editions
What to pick for what you want
No ranking: races follow the game's order and each racial shows the effect it has for a Mage according to the beta client (build 1.60.1.70205).
PvE: dungeons and raids
Active racials that raise damage, healing or survival, passive bonuses and weapon specializations a Mage can use.
Sword Specialization PassiveIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 2% while you have a sword or two-handed sword equipped.
Mages can use one-handed swords, but not two-handed swords.
In the site's BiS lists, a sword is the top weapon in 3 of 15 lists (3 specializations, levels 20 to 60).
The Human Spirit PassiveSpirit increased by 5%.
Eureka! ActiveMage version: Your next 3 damaging abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
Expansive Mind PassiveMage version: Maximum Mana increased by 5%.
Blood Fury ActiveIncreases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec.
Shatter Curse ActiveInstantly removes and grants immunity to all Curses and Banes, and reduces all Magical damage taken by 15% for 8 sec.
Touch of the Grave PassiveMage version: Your spells and attacks have a 10% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
Berserking ActiveIncreases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
Beast Slaying PassiveDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Elemental Insight PassiveDamage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.
Wind Blessed PassiveIncreases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 1%.
PvP: control and defense
Racials that remove or shorten loss-of-control effects, reduce damage taken, stun enemies or have to do with stealth (spotting it or hiding).
Perception ActiveDramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
Will to Survive ActiveInstantly removes all Stun effects.
Escape Artist ActiveInstantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
- Shatter Curse Active
Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Curses and Banes, and reduces all Magical damage taken by 15% for 8 sec.
Hardiness PassiveDuration of Stun effects on you reduced by 20%.
Will of the Forsaken ActiveInstantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
Leveling, travel and professions
Out-of-combat regeneration, movement speed and profession perks.
Engineering Specialization PassiveYour gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Cannibalize ActiveWhen 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.
Underwater Breathing PassiveUnderwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
Rapid Regeneration ActiveRegenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
Regeneration PassiveHealth regeneration rate increased by 10%. In addition, 10% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
Read Ley Line ActiveAttempt 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 Air ActiveGlide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.
Faction, starting zone and looks
If performance does not matter to you, pick by looks, faction or where the race starts (every starting zone is listed in Races that can be a Mage).
What is special about the new race and the new combinations
What does nothing for a Mage
Racials of these races that a Mage cannot make use of.
Axe Specialization OrcMages cannot use axes, so this racial does nothing for them.
Racials of each race
The four racials of each race with their effect in Forever: open a race to see them. New in Forever is a racial that did not exist in Classic, Changed one that works differently and Same as Classic one that did not change. Struck through, the Classic racials that race no longer has.
New in ForeverChangedSame as Classic
Human
AlliancePerceptionWill to SurviveSword SpecializationThe Human Spirit
- PerceptionActiveSame as Classic
Dramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
- Will to SurviveActiveNew in Forever
Instantly removes all Stun effects.
- Sword SpecializationPassiveChanged
Increases 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 Classic
Spirit increased by 5%.
No longer has: Diplomacy, Mace Specialization
Gnome
AllianceEscape ArtistEureka!Engineering SpecializationExpansive Mind
- Escape ArtistActiveChanged
Instantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
- Eureka!ActiveNew in Forever
Mage version:Your next 3 damaging abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage.
- Engineering SpecializationPassiveChanged
Your gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
- Expansive MindPassiveChanged
Mage version:Maximum Mana increased by 5%.
No longer has: Arcane Resistance
Orc
HordeNew combinationBlood FuryShatter CurseAxe SpecializationHardiness
- Blood FuryActiveChanged
Increases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec.
- Shatter CurseActiveNew in Forever
Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Curses and Banes, and reduces all Magical damage taken by 15% for 8 sec.
- Axe SpecializationPassiveChanged
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and abilities by 1% while you have an axe or a two-handed axe equipped.
- HardinessPassiveChanged
Duration of Stun effects on you reduced by 20%.
No longer has: Command
Undead
HordeCannibalizeWill of the ForsakenTouch of the GraveUnderwater Breathing
- CannibalizeActiveChanged
When 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 ForsakenActiveChanged
Instantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
- Touch of the GravePassiveNew in Forever
Mage version:Your spells and attacks have a 10% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
- Underwater BreathingPassiveSame as Classic
Underwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
No longer has: Shadow Resistance
Troll
HordeBerserkingRapid RegenerationBeast SlayingRegeneration
- BerserkingActiveChanged
Increases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
- Rapid RegenerationActiveNew in Forever
Regenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
- Beast SlayingPassiveSame as Classic
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
- RegenerationPassiveChanged
Health regeneration rate increased by 10%. In addition, 10% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
No longer has: Bow Specialization, Throwing Specialization
Skyborne (Alliance)
AllianceNew raceRead Ley LineWalk on AirElemental InsightWind Blessed
- Read Ley LineActiveNew in Forever
Attempt 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 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%.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best race for a Mage in WoW Forever?
For PvE, the weapon racial Mages can use is Sword Specialization (Human), and the active racials that raise damage or healing are Eureka! (Gnome), Blood Fury (Orc) and Berserking (Troll). For PvP, the ones that remove or shorten loss-of-control effects are Will to Survive (Human), Escape Artist (Gnome), Hardiness (Orc) and Will of the Forsaken (Undead). There is no official ranking, so the best race is the one that fits what you are after: performance, PvP, faction or looks.
Which races can be a Mage in WoW Forever?
6: Human, Gnome and Skyborne (Alliance) in the Alliance and Orc, Undead and Troll in the Horde. The Skyborne, the new race in Forever, can only be Mages in the Alliance. New combination in Forever: Orc Mage.
Can the Skyborne be Mages?
Only in the Alliance, as Skyborne (Alliance): the Horde Skyborne cannot be Mages. You need the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition.
Can an Orc be a Mage in WoW Forever?
Yes. It is one of the new race and class combinations in Forever: it did not exist in Classic.
Do racials change in WoW Forever?
Yes. Of the 24 racials of the races that can be a Mage, 9 are new, 11 work differently and 4 are the same as in Classic. Gone: Diplomacy (Human), Mace Specialization (Human), Arcane Resistance (Gnome), Command (Orc), Shadow Resistance (Undead), Bow Specialization (Troll) and Throwing Specialization (Troll).
See also
Mage changesEverything that changes for the Mage in Forever compared with Classic.
Mage guideSpecializations, leveling, stats and gear.
Talent calculatorThe Mage trees with the Forever talents.
Mage BiSThe best pieces by specialization and level.
Which race to pickEvery race with its racials, classes and starting zone.
Races and racialsWhich race can be each class and the racial changes.Best race for other classes
Hunter
Rogue
Priest
Warlock
Paladin
Druid
ShamanA 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.