WoW Forever race and class chart

WoW Forever classes, roles and available races
ClassRolesAlliance racesHorde races
Warrior Tank, DPS Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome, Skyborne Orc, Undead, Tauren, Troll, Skyborne
Paladin Healer, tank, DPS Human, Dwarf Undead (new)
Hunter DPS Dwarf, Night Elf, Human (new), Skyborne Orc, Tauren, Troll, Skyborne
Rogue DPS Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome, Skyborne Orc, Undead, Troll, Skyborne
Priest Healer, DPS Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome (new) Undead, Troll
Shaman Healer, DPS Dwarf (new) Orc, Tauren, Troll, Skyborne
Mage DPS Human, Gnome, Skyborne Undead, Troll, Orc (new)
Warlock DPS Human, Gnome Orc, Undead, Troll (new)
Druid Tank, healer, DPS Night Elf, Skyborne Tauren, Skyborne

(new) means the combo didn't exist in Classic; Skyborne entries are new because the race is. Roles are the usual Classic ones.

An Undead character in character creation with Paladin selected on the class icon bar below
Blizzard's racials video: an Undead in character creation with Paladin lit up, Hunter and Druid greyed out · Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Source / rights
Image / usage information: (c) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Frame from the official World of Warcraft video Reworked racial abilities make each race feel unique and fresh in WoW: Forever. (captured 22 Sep 2026); shown with source link, no ownership asserted. · Image source ↗

The six new race and class combos

Three go to the Alliance and three to the Horde, and two of them actually change the faction picture.

  • Gnome Priest (Alliance): gnomes finally get a healer.
  • Human Hunter (Alliance): the first ranged physical class for humans.
  • Dwarf Shaman (Alliance): the only way to play Shaman on Alliance.
  • Orc Mage (Horde): a third Horde race for Mage.
  • Troll Warlock (Horde): trolls can pick up demons now.
  • Undead Paladin (Horde): the only Horde Paladin.

Why Dwarf Shaman and Undead Paladin matter most

In Classic, Shaman was Horde-only and Paladin was Alliance-only. Skyborne Shaman are Horde-aligned and Skyborne can't be Paladins, so for either class on the "wrong" side, these two races are the only route. They're also the pair Blizzard features on the Forever page.

Dwarf Shaman casting between totems
A Dwarf Shaman casting between totems · Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Source / rights
Image / usage information: (c) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Official World of Warcraft: Forever media from Blizzard announcement pages (downloaded 16 Sep 2026); shown with source link, no ownership asserted. · Image source ↗

Forsaken Paladins get their own storyline around Bandarion Keep in Tirisfal's Whispering Wood, and a Retribution-themed epic mount quest at level 60.

Full quest line and mount: WoW Forever Forsaken Paladin: Bandarion Keep and the epic mount quest

What about the other four?

For Gnome Priest, Human Hunter, Orc Mage and Troll Warlock, the combo is all Blizzard has shown; more details are promised later.

A robed female Orc in character creation with Mage selected on the class bar below
Same video: a female Orc with Mage selected, Priest, Paladin and Druid greyed out · Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Source / rights
Image / usage information: (c) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Frame from the official World of Warcraft video Reworked racial abilities make each race feel unique and fresh in WoW: Forever. (captured 22 Sep 2026); shown with source link, no ownership asserted. · Image source ↗

Which race and faction should you roll?

Pick the row that matches the character you have in mind
You wantRoll this
Shaman on Alliance Dwarf, no other option
Paladin on Horde Undead, no other option
A gnome healer Gnome Priest, the only gnome healer
A human with a bow or gun Human Hunter
A Skyborne caster Mage on Alliance or Shaman on Horde, locked at character creation
A Skyborne tank or healer Druid on either side; Warrior also tanks
A new combo without buying a pack Any of the six; only Skyborne needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher

Which classes can Skyborne play?

Skyborne pick a side at character creation, and it decides one class: Horde-aligned Windshapers can be Shaman, Alliance-aligned High Order can be Mage. Both sides get Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid, with new Skyborne druid forms. The race and its levels 1–12 zone, Zephras Isle, need at least the Skyborne Heroic Pack.

A Skyborne character sitting on top of a stone tower above a glowing blue light
A Skyborne character on top of a stone tower, shown during Blizzard's live Q&A · Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Source / rights
Image / usage information: (c) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Frame from the official World of Warcraft video World of Warcraft Developer Q&A (captured 21 Sep 2026); shown with source link, no ownership asserted. · Image source ↗

What the devs said about classes on stream

  • Skyborne and two-part names stay in Forever, not modern WoW's Worldsoul Saga. 50:58
  • On high elves: they'll return to Quel'Thalas "at some point". No new playable race was promised. 59:44
  • HD and SD character models share one skeleton, and animations were reworked to keep the Classic feel. 1:05:27
  • One difficulty for dungeons and raids; recoloured armour is for offset pieces, not harder modes. 1:26:49
  • Hardcore panel: level 25 on a class earns Legacy Points, a bonus that survives a dead character. 28:52
  • Deep Dive panel: Resilience isn't being added for PvP. 31:29

Talents and racials

Every class and spec is changing. Talent trees keep their rows and the 11, 21 and 31-point milestones, add a new 16-point one, and some talents stay as they were in 1.12. Group buffs like Divine Spirit, Blessing of Kings and Improved Mark of the Wild go baseline, so nobody is stuck in a spec just for a buff.

Blizzard's Paladin example: Holy Strike at level 6, Seals no longer eaten by Judgement, Seal of Fury for tanks and baseline Consecration at 20. Still no interrupt. Every race has two active and two passive racials: Dwarves get Stoneform, Mace Specialization and Big Game Hunter, while Undead get a Will of the Forsaken without full immunity, a Cannibalize that restores mana and the new Touch of the Grave.

A red-armoured character with a hammer running along a cobbled path
Artwork from the new race and class card on Blizzard's Forever page · Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Source / rights
Image / usage information: (c) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Official World of Warcraft: Forever media from the official WoW: Forever page (downloaded 21 Sep 2026); shown with source link, no ownership asserted. · Image source ↗

Talent tiers and racials in detail: WoW Forever class and talent changes. Rolling your first character? Best class for beginners in WoW Forever

What's the best class in WoW Forever?

Nobody knows yet. The beta started at a level 20 cap (30 later), so nobody has seen these classes at 60. Tier lists wait for launch; with Classic combat pace, crowd control and threat still count.

A gold-armoured character with a sword fighting in front of stone walls
A gold-armoured fighter in front of stone walls in Blizzard's gameplay trailer · Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Source / rights
Image / usage information: (c) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Frame from the official World of Warcraft video World of Warcraft: Forever | Gameplay Trailer (captured 21 Sep 2026); shown with source link, no ownership asserted. · Image source ↗

FAQ

Are Death Knights, Monks or Demon Hunters in WoW Forever?
They don't show up in any official announcement. Forever is set in the Vanilla era, and the class news is the new combos plus Skyborne.
Are there new classes for Night Elves or Tauren?
Not in the first six. Blizzard says more combos are coming but hasn't said which races are next.
Will there be dual spec, and how much will respecs cost?
Blizzard hasn't said yet. What's out so far covers the talent tree layout and the new 16-point milestone.

Skyborne packs and the starting zone: WoW Forever Skyborne race: classes, faction and how to unlock it