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Race guide

Best Race for Every Class in WoW Forever

Nobody has raided or fought battlegrounds in WoW Forever yet, so no one can rank its races with data. What we can do is score each race's racials as the live client (build 1.60.1.70707 with its server hotfixes) lists them, after Blizzard's October 15 rework and October 26 racial pass, and show why each race was picked in Classic 1.12.

Editorial scoring. We give every racial 0 to 3 points for PvE and for PvP (the full table is in how we score) and add up the points of the four racials a race brings to that class. It is our judgement of the tooltips, not a simulation or tested gameplay, and ties are shown as ties. Each class section then lists the Classic reference picks and our read of what changed.

Best race for Warrior

  • Alliance: PvE Dwarf (4 pts) · PvP Gnome (7 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Orc (6 pts) · PvP Orc (7 pts)

Warrior races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Orc (calculator)67PvE: Shatter Curse 1, Blood Fury 3, Savage 2. PvP: Shatter Curse 2, Blood Fury 2, Savage 1, Hardiness 2.
Gnome (calculator)37PvE: Eureka! 2, Expansive Mind 1. PvP: Eureka! 2, Escape Artist 3, Engineering Specialization 1, Expansive Mind 1.
Night Elf (calculator)35PvE: Elune's Light 2, Quickness 1. PvP: Elune's Light 2, Shadowmeld 2, Quickness 1.
Dwarf (calculator)43PvE: Stoneform 1, Big Game Hunter 1, Earth Fury 2. PvP: Stoneform 2, Earth Fury 1.
Troll (calculator)43PvE: Berserking 3, Beast Slaying 1. PvP: Rapid Regeneration 1, Berserking 2.
Skyborne (Horde) New (calculator)34PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Skysight 1, Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.
Human (calculator)25PvE: Ruthless 2. PvP: Will to Survive 3, Perception 1, Ruthless 1.
Undead (calculator)25PvE: Will of the Forsaken 1, Touch of the Grave 1. PvP: Cannibalize 1, Will of the Forsaken 3, Touch of the Grave 1.
Tauren (calculator)16PvE: Endurance 1. PvP: War Stomp 3, Plainsrunning 1, Endurance 2.
Skyborne (Alliance) New (calculator)33PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE, AllianceHuman+5 sword and mace skill cut glancing-blow penalties and misses, the biggest raid DPS racial in Classic.
PvE, HordeOrcAxe Specialization plus Blood Fury made Orc the top Horde raid warrior; Troll Berserking was the close second.
PvP, AllianceGnomeEscape Artist frees a warrior from Frost Nova and Hamstring, which decides many duels. Humans were the other choice for Perception.
PvP, HordeOrcHardiness shrugs off stuns a quarter of the time; Undead with Will of the Forsaken was just as popular.

What changes in WoW Forever

Our read (editorial): Weapon skill is gone from racials, so weapon choice no longer decides the race, and Blizzard has said the weapon racials are not coming back because it does not want loot tables judged by required weapon types. Human Ruthless is crit with anything, 1% after the October 26 notes, while Orc Savage and Dwarf Earth Fury were removed in that pass for Command and Artisan's Precision. Will to Survive gives Human warriors a stun break that Classic warriors only got from a PvP trinket.

Warrior talent calculator · Warrior guides

Best race for Paladin

  • Alliance: PvE Dwarf (4 pts) · PvP Human (5 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Undead (2 pts) · PvP Undead (5 pts)

Paladin races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Human (calculator)35PvE: Ruthless 2, The Human Spirit 1. PvP: Will to Survive 3, Perception 1, Ruthless 1.
Dwarf (calculator)43PvE: Stoneform 1, Big Game Hunter 1, Earth Fury 2. PvP: Stoneform 2, Earth Fury 1.
Undead New (calculator)25PvE: Will of the Forsaken 1, Touch of the Grave 1. PvP: Cannibalize 1, Will of the Forsaken 3, Touch of the Grave 1.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE (Holy)Human5% Spirit helps mana regeneration between casts; Humans were the default healing paladin.
PvE (Retribution)HumanSword and mace skill mattered for a melee class whose best weapons were two-handed swords and maces.
PvPDwarfStoneform removed Rogue poisons, Warrior bleeds and diseases, and Frost Resistance blunted Mages.

What changes in WoW Forever

Our read (editorial): Paladins are no longer Alliance-only. An Undead Paladin brings Will of the Forsaken and Cannibalize with Mana, which Blizzard itself named as useful for Paladins. On the Alliance side the choice is still Human against Dwarf.

Paladin talent calculator · Paladin guides

Best race for Hunter

  • Alliance: PvE Dwarf (4 pts) · PvP Human / Night Elf (5 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Orc (6 pts) · PvP Orc (7 pts)

Hunter races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Orc (calculator)67PvE: Shatter Curse 1, Blood Fury 3, Savage 2. PvP: Shatter Curse 2, Blood Fury 2, Savage 1, Hardiness 2.
Human New (calculator)35PvE: Ruthless 2, The Human Spirit 1. PvP: Will to Survive 3, Perception 1, Ruthless 1.
Night Elf (calculator)35PvE: Elune's Light 2, Quickness 1. PvP: Elune's Light 2, Shadowmeld 2, Quickness 1.
Dwarf (calculator)43PvE: Stoneform 1, Big Game Hunter 1, Earth Fury 2. PvP: Stoneform 2, Earth Fury 1.
Troll (calculator)43PvE: Berserking 3, Beast Slaying 1. PvP: Rapid Regeneration 1, Berserking 2.
Skyborne (Horde) New (calculator)34PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Skysight 1, Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.
Tauren (calculator)16PvE: Endurance 1. PvP: War Stomp 3, Plainsrunning 1, Endurance 2.
Skyborne (Alliance) New (calculator)33PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE, AllianceDwarfGun Specialization added +5 ranged skill with guns, the Alliance hunter's best raid racial.
PvE, HordeTrollBow Specialization plus Berserking, and Beast Slaying for beast-heavy content.
PvP, AllianceNight ElfShadowmeld after Feign Death let hunters drop out of fights and reset.
PvP, HordeOrcCommand's +5% pet damage and Hardiness against stuns.

What changes in WoW Forever

Our read (editorial): Three of those four reasons are gone: Gun Specialization, Bow Specialization and Command are not among the Forever racials. Humans can now be Hunters with 1% crit from Ruthless, and Skyborne hunters on both factions get 2% Haste. The October 26 notes bring Command back for Orcs, but the live client does not have it yet.

Hunter talent calculator · Hunter guides

Best race for Rogue

  • Alliance: PvE Dwarf (4 pts) · PvP Gnome (7 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Orc (6 pts) · PvP Orc (7 pts)

Rogue races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Orc (calculator)67PvE: Shatter Curse 1, Blood Fury 3, Savage 2. PvP: Shatter Curse 2, Blood Fury 2, Savage 1, Hardiness 2.
Gnome (calculator)37PvE: Eureka! 2, Expansive Mind 1. PvP: Eureka! 2, Escape Artist 3, Engineering Specialization 1, Expansive Mind 1.
Night Elf (calculator)35PvE: Elune's Light 2, Quickness 1. PvP: Elune's Light 2, Shadowmeld 2, Quickness 1.
Dwarf (calculator)43PvE: Stoneform 1, Big Game Hunter 1, Earth Fury 2. PvP: Stoneform 2, Earth Fury 1.
Troll (calculator)43PvE: Berserking 3, Beast Slaying 1. PvP: Rapid Regeneration 1, Berserking 2.
Skyborne (Horde) New (calculator)34PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Skysight 1, Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.
Human (calculator)25PvE: Ruthless 2. PvP: Will to Survive 3, Perception 1, Ruthless 1.
Undead (calculator)25PvE: Will of the Forsaken 1, Touch of the Grave 1. PvP: Cannibalize 1, Will of the Forsaken 3, Touch of the Grave 1.
Skyborne (Alliance) New (calculator)33PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE, AllianceHuman+5 sword and mace skill on a class that raided with swords.
PvE, HordeTrollBerserking was a free attack speed cooldown; Orc Blood Fury was equally common.
PvP, AllianceGnomeEscape Artist to reach kiting casters; Night Elf Shadowmeld and Human Perception were close.
PvP, HordeUndeadWill of the Forsaken against Fear, Seduction and Sleep effects.

What changes in WoW Forever

Our read (editorial): Human Ruthless is 1% crit whatever the rogue wields, so daggers no longer cost Humans their racial, and Gnome Eureka! adds an 8-second burst window on top of Escape Artist. Undead lose the 5-second immunity after Will of the Forsaken, so chain fears can follow the break.

Rogue talent calculator · Rogue guides

Best race for Priest

  • Alliance: PvE Dwarf (4 pts) · PvP Gnome (7 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Troll (4 pts) · PvP Undead (5 pts)

Priest races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Gnome New (calculator)37PvE: Eureka! 2, Expansive Mind 1. PvP: Eureka! 2, Escape Artist 3, Engineering Specialization 1, Expansive Mind 1.
Human (calculator)35PvE: Ruthless 2, The Human Spirit 1. PvP: Will to Survive 3, Perception 1, Ruthless 1.
Night Elf (calculator)35PvE: Elune's Light 2, Quickness 1. PvP: Elune's Light 2, Shadowmeld 2, Quickness 1.
Dwarf (calculator)43PvE: Stoneform 1, Big Game Hunter 1, Earth Fury 2. PvP: Stoneform 2, Earth Fury 1.
Troll (calculator)43PvE: Berserking 3, Beast Slaying 1. PvP: Rapid Regeneration 1, Berserking 2.
Undead (calculator)25PvE: Will of the Forsaken 1, Touch of the Grave 1. PvP: Cannibalize 1, Will of the Forsaken 3, Touch of the Grave 1.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE, AllianceDwarfFear Ward was a Dwarf-only priest spell and a raid requirement for fear-heavy bosses.
PvE, HordeTrollBerserking sped up healing in emergencies; Shadowguard helped Shadow priests.
PvP, AllianceHumanFeedback burned attacking casters' Mana, and Perception caught Rogues.
PvP, HordeUndeadWill of the Forsaken and Devouring Plague.

What changes in WoW Forever

  • Official Gnome Priest is a new class and race combination. Blizzard Entertainment
  • Community verified Fear Ward appears to be baseline for all Priests, and every Priest race except Skyborne has two race-specific spells. Warcraft Tavern

Our read (editorial): With Fear Ward baseline, the Dwarf lock on raid priests goes away and the choice comes down to each race's priest spells and general racials. Gnome is new and brings a group crowd control (Confounding Flash) and an ally ward (Contingency Plan).

Priest talent calculator · Priest guides

Best race for Shaman

  • Alliance: PvE Dwarf (4 pts) · PvP Dwarf (3 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Orc (6 pts) · PvP Orc (7 pts)

Shaman races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Orc (calculator)67PvE: Shatter Curse 1, Blood Fury 3, Savage 2. PvP: Shatter Curse 2, Blood Fury 2, Savage 1, Hardiness 2.
Dwarf New (calculator)43PvE: Stoneform 1, Big Game Hunter 1, Earth Fury 2. PvP: Stoneform 2, Earth Fury 1.
Troll (calculator)43PvE: Berserking 3, Beast Slaying 1. PvP: Rapid Regeneration 1, Berserking 2.
Skyborne (Horde) New (calculator)34PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Skysight 1, Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.
Tauren (calculator)16PvE: Endurance 1. PvP: War Stomp 3, Plainsrunning 1, Endurance 2.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE (Enhancement)OrcBlood Fury and Axe Specialization for two-handed axes.
PvE (Elemental, Restoration)TrollBerserking as a free casting speed cooldown.
PvPTaurenWar Stomp to interrupt and 5% extra health; Orc Hardiness was the alternative.

What changes in WoW Forever

Our read (editorial): Shamans are no longer Horde-only. Dwarf Shamans bring Stoneform and 1% hit chance (Earth Fury in the client, Artisan's Precision in Blizzard's October 26 notes) to the Alliance, and Horde Skyborne shamans get 2% Haste and 5% damage against Elementals.

Shaman talent calculator · Shaman guides

Best race for Mage

  • Alliance: PvE Gnome / Human / Skyborne (Alliance) (3 pts) · PvP Gnome (7 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Orc (6 pts) · PvP Orc (7 pts)

Mage races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Orc New (calculator)67PvE: Shatter Curse 1, Blood Fury 3, Savage 2. PvP: Shatter Curse 2, Blood Fury 2, Savage 1, Hardiness 2.
Gnome (calculator)37PvE: Eureka! 2, Expansive Mind 1. PvP: Eureka! 2, Escape Artist 3, Engineering Specialization 1, Expansive Mind 1.
Human (calculator)35PvE: Ruthless 2, The Human Spirit 1. PvP: Will to Survive 3, Perception 1, Ruthless 1.
Troll (calculator)43PvE: Berserking 3, Beast Slaying 1. PvP: Rapid Regeneration 1, Berserking 2.
Undead (calculator)25PvE: Will of the Forsaken 1, Touch of the Grave 1. PvP: Cannibalize 1, Will of the Forsaken 3, Touch of the Grave 1.
Skyborne (Alliance) New (calculator)33PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE, AllianceGnomeExpansive Mind's 5% Intelligence meant more Mana and spell crit.
PvE, HordeTrollBerserking as a casting speed cooldown.
PvP, AllianceGnomeEscape Artist out of Hamstring, Frost Nova and other roots and snares.
PvP, HordeUndeadWill of the Forsaken against Fear and Seduce.

What changes in WoW Forever

Our read (editorial): Orc Mages get Blood Fury's Spell Power and shorter stuns, a strong PvP pairing on paper. Expansive Mind now raises maximum Mana rather than Intelligence, so Gnomes lose the spell crit part of their Classic edge, but Eureka! gives them an 8-second burst. Alliance Skyborne mages add 2% Haste.

Mage talent calculator · Mage guides

Best race for Warlock

  • Alliance: PvE Gnome / Human (3 pts) · PvP Gnome (7 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Orc (6 pts) · PvP Orc (7 pts)

Warlock races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Orc (calculator)67PvE: Shatter Curse 1, Blood Fury 3, Savage 2. PvP: Shatter Curse 2, Blood Fury 2, Savage 1, Hardiness 2.
Gnome (calculator)37PvE: Eureka! 2, Expansive Mind 1. PvP: Eureka! 2, Escape Artist 3, Engineering Specialization 1, Expansive Mind 1.
Human (calculator)35PvE: Ruthless 2, The Human Spirit 1. PvP: Will to Survive 3, Perception 1, Ruthless 1.
Troll New (calculator)43PvE: Berserking 3, Beast Slaying 1. PvP: Rapid Regeneration 1, Berserking 2.
Undead (calculator)25PvE: Will of the Forsaken 1, Touch of the Grave 1. PvP: Cannibalize 1, Will of the Forsaken 3, Touch of the Grave 1.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE, AllianceGnome5% Intelligence for a Mana-hungry class.
PvE, HordeOrcCommand added 5% pet damage for pet-heavy builds; Undead was the other common pick.
PvP, AllianceHumanPerception against Rogues; Gnome Escape Artist was the other pick.
PvP, HordeUndeadWill of the Forsaken, plus Cannibalize between fights.

What changes in WoW Forever

Our read (editorial): Command is not among the Forever Orc racials, but Blood Fury now adds Spell Power. Undead Cannibalize restores Mana, which Blizzard named as useful for Warlocks. Trolls can now be Warlocks and bring Berserking haste.

Warlock talent calculator · Warlock guides

Best race for Druid

  • Alliance: PvE Night Elf / Skyborne (Alliance) (3 pts) · PvP Night Elf (5 pts)
  • Horde: PvE Skyborne (Horde) (3 pts) · PvP Tauren (6 pts)

Druid races scored

RacePvEPvPPoints from
Night Elf (calculator)35PvE: Elune's Light 2, Quickness 1. PvP: Elune's Light 2, Shadowmeld 2, Quickness 1.
Skyborne (Horde) New (calculator)34PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Skysight 1, Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.
Tauren (calculator)16PvE: Endurance 1. PvP: War Stomp 3, Plainsrunning 1, Endurance 2.
Skyborne (Alliance) New (calculator)33PvE: Elemental Insight 1, Wind Blessed 2. PvP: Walk on Air 1, Wind Blessed 2.

Classic reference picks

UnconfirmedClassic 1.12 reference — may change in WoW Forever.

UseRaceWhy it was picked in Classic
PvE, Alliance (Feral tank)Night ElfQuickness added 1% dodge, the only Alliance druid race.
PvE, Horde (Feral tank)TaurenEndurance's 5% health for tanking.
PvP, HordeTaurenWar Stomp is an instant area stun usable in caster form.
PvP, AllianceNight ElfShadowmeld to drink or reset; the only Alliance option.

What changes in WoW Forever

  • Official Skyborne on both factions can be Druids, with druid forms created for the race. Blizzard News

Our read (editorial): Druids get a third race on each side: the Skyborne, with their own shapeshift forms and 2% Haste. Tauren Endurance is back to plain 5% health after the October 26 notes, and Night Elf Elune's Light stays a crit burst.

Druid talent calculator · Druid guides

How we score racials

Points reflect what a racial is worth at level 60: 3 is a strong, always-useful effect, 0 means utility only. Racials marked “mana users” score only for classes that use Mana. Situational damage bonuses (against Beasts or Elementals) get 1 point because only some bosses are of that type. Tooltips are from the game client, live build 1.60.1.70707 with its server hotfixes; open each race page for the exact text.

RacialRacePvEPvPWhy
Will to SurviveHuman03a stun break on a 3-minute cooldown
PerceptionHuman01finds stealthed Rogues and Druids for 20 seconds
RuthlessHuman211% crit on every spell and attack, all the time
The Human SpiritHuman1010% Spirit means more Mana regeneration (mana users only)
StoneformDwarf12cleanses Bleeds, Poisons and Diseases and cuts Physical damage by 10%
Find TreasureDwarf00utility only
Big Game HunterDwarf105% damage against Beasts, which only some bosses are
Earth FuryDwarf211% hit chance with spells and attacks, all the time
Elune's LightNight Elf2210% crit for 15 seconds every 3 minutes
ShadowmeldNight Elf02drops out of fights and sets up openers
QuicknessNight Elf111% dodge and 2% run speed
Wisp SpiritNight Elf00faster corpse runs only
Eureka!Gnome228 seconds of 10% cheaper, 10% stronger abilities every 2 minutes
Escape ArtistGnome03breaks roots and snares and gives 3 seconds of immunity to them
Engineering SpecializationGnome01fewer failed Engineering devices, which matter mostly in PvP
Expansive MindGnome115% more maximum Mana, Rage or Energy
Shatter CurseOrc12removes Curses and Banes and cuts Magic damage by 5% for 8 seconds
Blood FuryOrc3210% Attack Power and Spell Power for 15 seconds every 2 minutes
SavageOrc211% crit on every spell and attack
HardinessOrc02stuns on you last 20% shorter
CannibalizeUndead01restores Health and Mana between fights
Will of the ForsakenUndead13breaks Charm, Fear and Sleep every 2 minutes
Touch of the GraveUndead11a Health drain on spells and attacks (15-second internal cooldown per the October 26 notes)
Underwater BreathingUndead00utility only
CultivationTauren00herbs without Herbalism; utility only
War StompTauren03an instant area stun every 90 seconds
PlainsrunningTauren01up to 60% run speed while you keep moving
EnduranceTauren125% more Health
Rapid RegenerationTroll01half your Health back over 6 seconds if nobody touches you
BerserkingTroll3210% casting and attack speed for 15 seconds every 3 minutes
RegenerationTroll00faster Health regeneration, mostly out of combat
Beast SlayingTroll105% damage against Beasts, which only some bosses are
Read LeylineSkyborne00regeneration that needs an outdoor leyline to last
Walk on AirSkyborne01a glide that saves you from falls and repositions
Elemental InsightSkyborne105% damage against Elementals, which only some bosses are
Wind BlessedSkyborne222% Haste on everything, all the time
SkysightSkyborne0115% run and mount speed, doubled for an hour near an elemental convergence

Race pages

Human · Dwarf · Night Elf · Gnome · Orc · Undead · Tauren · Troll · Skyborne · All WoW Forever races

Sources

Checked against these sources on Nov 1, 2026.