Blizzard Entertainment Inc.

09/22/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/22/2026 11:05

Create the Hero You Want to Be in World of Warcraft: Forever

Race and class shape the hero you become in World of Warcraft: Forever, from the fantasy you embody to the role you take on in the world. You can return to a familiar favorite, explore a newly available combination, or begin your journey as a Skyborne character, with each choice offering a different way to step into Azeroth's next chapter.

The Skyborne are a new playable race in World of Warcraft: Forever, bringing their own identity to the unfolding story. When choosing to play this new race, players can choose between Horde-aligned Windshapers which can become Shaman, or an Alliance-aligned High-Order Skyborne which can become Mages.

Meet the Classes

When creating your character, it's worth considering both the class you want to play and the race that can become that class. The nine available classes each bring their own abilities and roles to the adventure, whether you prefer healing allies, dealing damage, protecting your group, or shifting between multiple roles with a few tradeoffs along the way. Choose wisely-the path you set your feet upon will shape the hero you become.

  • Druid: Druids live in a state of unparalleled union with nature. Tightly bound to the plant and animal kingdoms, they are natural shapeshifters, and so they know firsthand the abuse visited on their wild brethren. In consequence, despite their numbers, druids tend to be wary, reclusive, and difficult to spot. Few outsiders have plumbed the depths of their secrets.
  • Hunter: Hunters know the uncharted places of the world. Gifted with a deep empathy for all life, they have an uncanny knack for befriending wild animals and taming them as pets. In addition, hunters can use their finely honed senses to become master trackers. Wherever hunters go, they fight back the ravages of sickness, exploitation, and industrialization.
  • Mage: Magi are wizards of immense knowledge and skill. Their obvious physical frailty is deceptive, for they can call upon the cosmic energies of the Twisting Nether. Rarely do the magi engage in melee combat. Instead, they prefer to attack from a distance, hurling powerful bolts of frost and flame at their unsuspecting enemies.
  • Paladin: Paladins do battle to protect the world from the forces of shadow. Powerful warriors in their own right, they can also call upon the Light to heal wounds, create shields of force, and incinerate evil creatures.
  • Priest: Priests guide the spiritual destiny of their people. Through their unique insight into the mind, they are able to shape an individual's beliefs, whether to inspire or terrify, soothe or dominate, heal or harm. Just as the heart can hold both darkness and light, priests wield powers of creation and devastation by channeling the potent forces underlying faith.
  • Rogue: Rogues are most successful when their deeds never come to light. Fond of poisons and silent projectile weapons, rogues rely on a blend of stealth and minor mysticism. Usually in the employ of rich nobles or local governments, the rogue redistributes wealth or eliminates designated targets. A rogue's allegiance lasts only as long as the latest contract.
  • Shaman: Shaman commune directly with the elements. Their combination of wisdom and resilience makes them ideal as community advisors and leaders. In battle the shaman use totems and spells to manipulate the elements and provoke other fighters to untold heights of rage and might. Shaman exemplify the prima bond between the mortal races and their environment.
  • Warlock: Warlocks are the bane of all life. Empowered by demonic blood, they can inflict great torment upon their foes. To replenish the dreadful energy their spells expend, warlocks drain vitality from their victims. The warlock can also summon and control terrifying demonic entities. Still, warlocks are feared above all else for their singular wickedness and cruelty.
  • Warrior: Warriors train constantly and strive for perfection in armed combat. Though they come from all walks of life, they are united by their singular commitment to engage in glorious battle. Many warriors serve as mercenary soldiers, while others become adventurers and danger-seeking fortune hunters. A typical warrior is strong, tough, and exceptionally violent.

Horde Race and Class Combinations

Race

Druid

Hunter

Mage

Paladin

Priest

Rogue

Shaman

Warlock

Warrior

Orc

X

X

X

X

X

X

Tauren

X

X

X

X

Troll

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Undead

X

X

X

X

X

X

Skyborne

X

X

X

X

X

An X indicates that the listed race can choose that class.

Alliance Race and Class Combinations

Race

Druid

Hunter

Mage

Paladin

Priest

Rogue

Shaman

Warlock

Warrior

Dwarf

X

X

X

X

X

X

Gnome

X

X

X

X

X

Human

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Night Elf

X

X

X

X

X

Skyborne

X

X

X

X

X

New and Notable Combinations

World of Warcraft: Forever opens new ways to build your character, including Orc Mages, Troll Warlocks, Undead Paladins, Human Hunters, Gnome Priests, Dwarf Shamans, and the debut of the Skyborne.

Racial Traits

Each playable race has its own racial traits, offering additional flavor and utility alongside your chosen class as you adventure through Azeroth.

Some racial traits have also been updated for World of Warcraft: Forever, with adjustments that better support the expanded class options and give each race a stronger sense of identity. These updates preserve the spirit of each race while helping their traits feel at home in this new era of adventure.

Horde

The proud nations of the Horde are loosely joined in an alliance of convenience against a hostile world that would see them destroyed.

Focused, ferocious, and sometimes monstrous, the Horde values strength and honor, but struggles to keep aggression in check. Join the Horde and fight to build a world where their people can live free.

Orc

The Orc race originated on the planet Draenor. A peaceful people with shamanic beliefs, they were enslaved by the Burning Legion and forced into war with the humans of Azeroth. Although it took many years, the orcs finally escaped the demons' corruption and won their freedom. To this day they fight for honor in an alien world that hates and reviles them.

  • Blood Fury: Increases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 seconds.
  • Shatter Curse: Immunity to Curses and Banes and reduce Magical damage taken for 8 seconds.
  • Axe Specialization (Passive): Axes increase spell and ability critical chance by 1%.
  • Hardiness (Passive): Stun durations decreased by 20%.

Undead

Free of the Lich King's grasp, the Forsaken seek to overthrow his rule. Led by the banshee Sylvanas, they hunger for vengeance against the Scourge. Humans, too, have become the enemy, relentless in their drive to purge all undead from the land. The Forsaken care little even for their allies; to them the Horde is merely a tool that may further their dark schemes.

  • Will of the Forsaken: Removes Charm, Fear, and Sleep.
  • Cannibalize: Consume corpses to regenerate 35% Health and Mana over time.
  • Underwater Breathing (Passive): Breathe 300% longer underwater.
  • Touch of the Grave (Passive): Sometimes drain health with your attacks.

Tauren

Always the tauren strive to preserve the balance of nature and heed the will of their goddess, the Earth Mother. Recently attacked by murderous centaur, the tauren would have been wiped out, save for a chance encounter with the orcs, who helped defeat the interlopers. To honor this blood-debt, the tauren joined the Horde, solidifying the two races' friendship.

  • War Stomp: Stuns nearby enemies for 2 seconds.
  • Cultivation: 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% and Hit Chance increased by 1%.

Troll

Once at home in the jungles of Stranglethorn Vale, the fierce trolls of the Darkspear tribe were pushed out by warring factions. Eventually the trolls befriended the orcish Horde and Thrall, the orcs' young warchief convinced the trolls to travel with him to Kalimdor. Though they cling to their shadowy heritage, the Darkspear trolls hold a place of honor in the Horde.

  • Berserking: Increases casting and attack speed by 10% for 10 seconds.
  • Rapid Regeneration: Regenerate 50% of maximum Health over time.
  • Beast Slaying (Passive): Damage to Beasts increased by 5%.
  • Regeneration (Passive): 10% of Health regeneration continues during combat.

Windshaper Skyborne

The Windshapers are the descendants of the first shen'dorei high elves to receive the wind spirits' gift of elemental skysight. A new generation of Windshapers is called to Azeroth from their home within Skywall to solve the mystery of what became of their missing elemental mentors and will stop at nothing to see the wind spirits restored and their way of life preserved.

  • Walk on Air: Glide downward through the air for 10 seconds.
  • Skysight: Receive an Elemental Blessing increasing run speed by 10%.
  • Wind Blessed (Passive): 1% increased melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste.
  • Elemental Insight (Passive): Damage to Elementals increased by 5%.

Alliance

The noble races of the Alliance are bound together by proud traditions of nobility, honor, faith, justice, and sacrifice.

The many different Alliance peoples all contribute their technical, arcane, and spiritual wisdom toward the goal of a peaceful and just world.

Take up their banner to represent the high ideals of the Alliance throughout Azeroth and beyond.

Human

Humans are a young race, and thus highly versatile, mastering the arts of combat, craftsmanship, and magic with stunning efficiency. The humans' valor and optimism have led them to build some of the world's greatest kingdoms. In this troubled era, after generations of conflict, humanity seeks to rekindle its former glory and forge a shining new future.

  • Will to Survive: Remove Stuns.
  • Perception: Detect Stealthed enemies for 20 seconds.
  • Sword Specialization (Passive): Swords increase spell and ability critical chance by 2%.
  • The Human Spirit (Passive): 5% increased Spirit.

Dwarf

In ages past the dwarves cared only for riches taken from the earth's depths. Then records surfaced of a god-like race said to have given the dwarves life… and an enchanted birthright. Driven to learn more, the dwarves devoted themselves to the pursuit of lost artifacts and ancient knowledge. Today dwarven archaeologists are scattered throughout the globe.

  • Stoneform: Immunity to Bleeds, Poisons, and Diseases and reduce Physical damage taken for 8 seconds.
  • Find Treasure: Track nearby treasure chests.
  • Mace Specialization (Passive): Maces increase spell and ability critical chance by 1%.
  • Big Game Hunter (Passive) Damage to Beasts increased by 5%.

Night Elf

Ten thousand years ago, the night elves founded a vast empire, but their reckless use of primal magic brought them to ruin. In grief, they withdrew to the forests and remained isolated there until the return of their ancient enemy, the Burning Legion. With no other choice, the night elves emerged at last from their seclusion to fight for their place in the new world.

  • Elune's Light: Increases critical chance by 10% for 15 seconds.
  • Shadowmeld: 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

Though small in stature, the gnomes of Khaz Modan have used their great intellect to secure a place in history. Indeed, their subterranean kingdom, Gnomeregan, was once a marvel of steam-driven technology. Even so, due to a massive trogg invasion, the city was lost. Now its builders are vagabonds in the dwarven lands, aiding their allies as best they can.

  • Escape Artist: Brief Immunity to Roots and Snares.
  • Eureka!: Reduced cost and 10% increased damage or healing on next 3 spells or abilities.
  • Expansive Mind (Passive) Maximum Mana, Rage, or Energy increased by 5%.
  • Engineering Specialization (Passive): More reliable engineering devices.

High Order Skyborne

The High Order is made up of the descendants of the ancient Highborne scholars of Eldre'Thalas. When the wind spirits disappeared from Zephras Isle, the High Order realized that the Skyborne's utter dependence upon their elemental patrons had left them dangerously vulnerable. A new generation of High Order have now been called upon to return to Azeroth to reclaim the arcane knowledge that they have lost, and use that power to ensure that the shen'dorei have the self-reliance to survive on their own.

  • Walk on Air: Glide downward through the air for 10 seconds.
  • Read Ley Line: Activate a ley line to gain 100% increased Health and Mana regeneration.
  • Wind Blessed (Passive); 1% increased melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste.
  • Elemental Insight (Passive): Damage to Elementals increased by 5%.

With new choices to explore and classic favorites to revisit, World of Warcraft: Forever gives every hero a meaningful place to begin their next adventure.

Blizzard Entertainment Inc. published this content on September 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 22, 2026 at 17:05 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]