Orc Mages, Undead Paladins and Dwarf Shamans: WoW Forever's new race and class combinations are official

Blizzard has published the official race and class list for WoW Forever, and it answers the question most players have been asking since BlizzCon: which combinations are actually allowed on November 4.

The new combinations

Six pairings that Classic never permitted are in:

• Orc Mage
• Troll Warlock
• Undead Paladin
• Human Hunter
• Gnome Priest
• Dwarf Shaman

Every one of them fills a gap that players have argued about for twenty years. Undead Paladin is the loudest: a Forsaken holy warrior is a real lore statement, not just a new option. Dwarf Shaman gives the Alliance a second shaman race, and Human Hunter finally puts the most-played race into the most-played leveling class.

Plus a new race

The Skyborne are the new playable race, and they are split by faction:

• Windshaper Skyborne join the Horde and can be Shaman;
• High Order Skyborne join the Alliance and can be Mage.

Both sides can also play Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid, with druid forms built specifically for the race. Their starting zone, Zephras Isle, covers levels 1 to 12.

Nine classes, and updated racials

Forever has the nine original classes. What has changed is the racial traits. Blizzard says several have been updated so they support the wider class options and give each race a clearer identity, while keeping the spirit of the originals.

That matters more than it sounds. In Classic, a handful of racials decided the meta: Orc for Warriors and Warlocks, Troll for Hunters, Human for Rogues, Dwarf for Priests. If those are rebalanced, so is the answer to “which race should I play”.

It is also the point where the beta and the announcement meet. Skyborne racials have been one of the most argued-about topics on the beta forums, where players called the first version too weak. Blizzard has not said which specific traits changed in this update.

What to decide before launch

1. Class first, race second. The combinations only matter if the class is one you want to play for 60 levels.
2. Check the racial, not the meme. Our races section lists every racial as it stands in the beta, and we will update it as traits change.
3. Remember the faction lock on PvP. On the PvP ruleset your account is tied to one faction, so a Horde-only combination such as Troll Warlock settles your side. See our rulesets explainer.
4. Name reservation opens October 27, so have the character decided by then.

For how each class actually performs in the beta right now, see the class tier list and the level 20 builds in our talent calculator.