RACES / CHARACTER CREATION

Races in WoW Forever

The returning race baseline, the Skyborne faction split, ten observed racial profiles, and named race/class combinations.

STATUS / CONFIRMED COMBINATIONS

Skyborne is the new race; Dwarf Shaman and Forsaken Paladin are the named returning-race changes.

Blizzard confirms Skyborne as a new playable race, allows a faction choice at character creation, and names Dwarf Shaman and Forsaken Paladin. A community footage transcription now gives a structured ten-profile matrix with four observed abilities per profile; the beta client remains the final verification gate.

QUICK REFERENCE

The short version

OBSERVED MATRIX

10 profiles

Eight returning race profiles plus High Order and Windshaper Skyborne.

NEW RACE

Skyborne

A playable elven race from Zephras Isle.

FACTION

Player choice

Skyborne can choose Alliance or Horde at character creation.

NAMED CHANGES

Dwarf Shaman / Forsaken Paladin

Both are named on Blizzard’s product page.

SKYBORNE

The new race’s current footprint

Faction choice also changes which class options are available.

Both factions

Skyborne can play Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, or Druid on either faction.

Faction-specific classes

Mage is listed for Alliance Skyborne and Shaman for Horde Skyborne.

Starting experience

Skyborne begin on Zephras Isle from level 1 through 12, with a Heroic Pack or higher edition requirement in the checked material.

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Observed racial matrix

Classes and racial ability text below come from the buddy site's BlizzCon footage transcription. The status is intentionally provisional, and the source remains attached to each profile.

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Human · Alliance

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior. Abilities: Will to Survive — Removes all Stun effects. Perception — Dramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec. Sword Specialization — Swords increase spell and ability critical strike chance by 2%. The Human Spirit — Spirit increased by 5%.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Dwarf · Alliance

Classes: Hunter, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior. Abilities: Find Treasure — Nearby treasure appears on the minimap. Stoneform — Removes all Poison and Disease effects and reduces Physical damage taken for 8 sec. Mace Specialization — Maces increase spell and ability critical strike chance by 1%. Big Game Hunter — Damage to Beasts increased by 5%.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Night Elf · Alliance

Classes: Druid, Hunter, Priest, Rogue, Warrior. Abilities: Elune's Light — Increases critical strike chance by 10% for 15 sec. Shadowmeld — Enter the shadows until cancelled or movement; threat is restored on cancellation. Quickness — 1% increased Dodge chance and 2% increased run speed. Wisp Spirit — Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing speed by 75% while dead.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Gnome · Alliance

Classes: Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior. Abilities: Eureka! — Reduces the cost of your next 3 spells or abilities and increases their damage or healing by 10%. Expansive Mind — Maximum Mana, Rage, or Energy increased by 5%. Engineering Specialization — Engineering devices are more reliable. Escape Artist — Escape the effects of any immobilization or movement speed reduction effect.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Orc · Horde

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior. Abilities: Blood Fury — Increases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec. Shatter Curse — Immunity to Curses and Banes and reduces Magical damage taken for 8 sec. Axe Specialization — Axes increase spell and ability critical strike chance by 1%. Hardiness — Duration of Stun effects reduced by 20%.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Undead / Forsaken · Horde

Classes: Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior. Abilities: Will of the Forsaken — Removes any Charm, Fear or Sleep effect. Cannibalize — Regenerates 35% of total Health and Mana over 10 sec from a nearby Humanoid or Undead corpse. Underwater Breathing — Underwater breath lasts 300% longer. Touch of the Grave — Spells and attacks have a 5% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of maximum Health.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Tauren · Horde

Classes: Druid, Hunter, Shaman, Warrior. Abilities: War Stomp — Stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yards for 2 sec. Cultivation — Grow bonus herbs that do not require Herbalism to gather. Plainsrunning — Gain increased movement speed the longer you remain moving. Endurance — Total Health increased by 5% and Hit Chance increased by 1%.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Troll · Horde

Classes: Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior. Abilities: Berserking — Increases your attack and casting speed by 10% for 10 sec. Rapid Regeneration — Regenerates 50% of your maximum Health over a short duration. Regeneration — Health regeneration rate increased by 10%; 10% of total regeneration may continue during combat. Beast Slaying — Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

High Order Skyborne · Alliance

Classes: Druid, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Warrior. Abilities: Walk on Air — Glide downward through the air for 10 sec. Read Ley Line — Activate a ley line to gain 100% increased Health and Mana regeneration. Wind Blessed — 1% increased melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste. Elemental Insight — Damage to Elementals increased by 5%.

Buddy racial reference

FOOTAGE-TRANSCRIBED

Windshaper Skyborne · Horde

Classes: Druid, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior. Abilities: Walk on Air — Glide downward through the air for 10 sec. Skysight — Receive an Elemental Blessing increasing run speed by 10%. Wind Blessed — 1% increased melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste. Elemental Insight — Damage to Elementals increased by 5%.

Buddy racial reference

RETURNING RACES

What has and has not changed

Historical faction alignment is not the same as a published Forever ability sheet.

Dwarf

Alliance baseline with Dwarf Shaman explicitly named as a new combination.

Forsaken

Horde baseline with Forsaken Paladin explicitly named as a new combination.

The rest

Human, Night Elf, Gnome, Orc, Tauren, and Troll have no new combination named by Blizzard in the checked sources. Demo reports add possibilities, but not confirmation.

  • The full class matrix for all eight returning races is not published as one official Forever table.
  • Skyborne racial abilities, customization, voices, dances, and the final total race count need first-party or in-game confirmation.
  • The roadmap plans two more class/race combinations in Spring 2027 without naming them.

SOURCE TRAIL

Where these notes came from

We use official material first, then identify community reports and tools separately. A source link is a trail back to the evidence, not an endorsement of every claim on that page.