Best race for each class in WoW Forever

How races work now

The old weapon skill racials are gone and every race has two actives and two passives. The stated goal is racial identity, which means some races end up slightly better than others at certain roles.

For leveling the differences are small, with two exceptions: movement speed racials (Tauren and Windshaper Skyborne) and racials that cut downtime spent recovering health and mana (High Order Skyborne, Troll and Undead). At 60, in dungeons, raids and PvP, the choice matters more.

Race and class combinations

Alliance: Human (Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior); Dwarf (Hunter, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior); Night Elf (Druid, Hunter, Priest, Rogue, Warrior); Gnome (Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior); High Order Skyborne (Druid, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Warrior).

Horde: Orc (Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior); Undead (Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior); Tauren (Druid, Hunter, Shaman, Warrior); Troll (Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior); Windshaper Skyborne (Druid, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior).

The combinations that are new compared with Classic are Gnome Priest, Human Hunter, Dwarf Shaman (the Alliance's first Shaman), Orc Mage, Troll Warlock and Undead Paladin, plus every Skyborne option.

Skyborne

The Skyborne are the new race and pick their faction at character creation: the High Order is Alliance and can be a Mage; the Windshapers are Horde and can be a Shaman. Both versions can be Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid, with their own druid forms. The race comes with the Skyborne packs (Heroic Pack and up) and starts on Zephras Isle.

Shared racials: Walk on Air (glide for 10 seconds, 90-second cooldown), Elemental Insight (+5% damage against Elementals) and Wind Blessed (+2% Haste).

The High Order has Read Leyline: +50% health and mana regeneration for 15 seconds; used on a ley line it grants Attuned for one hour and goes up to +100%. The Windshapers have Skysight: +15% movement speed for 15 seconds; used at an elemental convergence it grants Charged for one hour and goes up to +30%. Both one-hour effects are removed when you enter a raid.

Alliance racials

Human: Will to Survive and Perception (actives); Ruthless (+1% critical strike chance) and The Human Spirit (+10% Spirit).

Dwarf: Stoneform (now reduces physical damage taken instead of granting armor) and Find Treasure; Artisan's Precision (+1% hit chance with spells and attacks) and Big Game Hunter.

Night Elf: Elune's Light (raises critical strike) and Shadowmeld (stealth while standing still); Quickness and Wisp Spirit.

Gnome: Escape Artist and Eureka! (for 8 seconds, mana, rage or energy abilities cost 10% less; doesn't apply to periodic effects); Expansive Mind and Engineering Specialization.

Horde racials

Orc: Blood Fury (2-minute cooldown) and Shatter Curse; Command (+5% Hunter and Warlock pet damage) and Hardiness.

Undead: Will of the Forsaken (no longer grants immunity to Charm, Fear and Sleep) and Cannibalize (now restores health and mana); Underwater Breathing and Touch of the Grave (extra damage, 15-second internal cooldown).

Tauren: War Stomp (90-second cooldown) and Cultivation (15-minute cooldown); Plainsrunning (+2% movement speed per stack, up to 60%; not while mounted) and Endurance (+5% health).

Troll: Berserking (lasts 15 seconds) and Rapid Regeneration; Beast Slaying and Regeneration (+20% health regeneration).

Our pick for each class

Warrior: Orc or Troll for damage (Blood Fury, Berserking); Tauren or Dwarf for tanking (extra health and War Stomp; Stoneform and hit). Paladin: Human or Dwarf; Undead is the Horde option and has its own story.

Hunter: Orc (Command raises pet damage); on the Alliance, Dwarf for hit or Skyborne for Haste. Rogue: Human or Dwarf on the Alliance; Orc or Troll on the Horde; Night Elf is the PvP favorite thanks to Shadowmeld.

Mage: Gnome (Eureka! and Expansive Mind) or High Order Skyborne, who drinks less thanks to Read Leyline; on the Horde, Troll or Undead. Warlock: Orc (Command) or Gnome; Undead for PvP.

Priest: Dwarf or Human on the Alliance; Undead or Troll on the Horde. Shaman: Orc or Troll for damage; Windshaper Skyborne for leveling, thanks to Skysight; Dwarf is the Alliance's only Shaman. Druid: Tauren or Night Elf, or Skyborne on either faction, for the new forms and the Haste.

For leveling

If your priority is reaching 60 fast, look at downtime and speed. Tauren and Windshaper Skyborne move faster before you get a mount; High Order Skyborne, Troll and Undead recover health or mana faster between fights.

For Hunters and Warlocks, who level with a pet, the Orc combines pet damage and Blood Fury. Beyond that, pick the race you like most: the difference in hours to 60 is small.