Which races are on which side?

WoW Forever races by faction
FactionRacesWatch out for
Alliance Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome, Skyborne (High Order) Dwarf is the only Shaman race; Alliance Skyborne can be Mage
Horde Orc, Undead, Tauren, Troll, Skyborne (Windshaper) Undead is the only Paladin race; Horde Skyborne can be Shaman

In Classic, Paladin was Alliance-only and Shaman was Horde-only. Forever's Dwarf Shaman and Undead Paladin break that, so you don't have to switch sides for a class. The catch is choice: each of those classes has just one race on its new faction.

Mulgore: rocky hills at sunset and a mesa with buildings on top
Mulgore, from Blizzard's graphics update showcase · 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 ↗

Is Skyborne Horde or Alliance?

Both. Skyborne pick their side at character creation. Horde-aligned Skyborne are Windshapers with elemental traditions and can go Shaman. Alliance-aligned Skyborne come from the High Order, with an arcane legacy, and can go Mage. Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid are open on either side.

Can you play with friends on the other faction?

No. Horde and Alliance can't group, and Blizzard confirmed there's no cross-faction play. To group, run dungeons or raid together you need the same region, the same ruleset and the same faction.

Battlegrounds are the exception to the ruleset part: you can get matched with players from other rulesets, except Hardcore, which stays separate. Forever also adds a new 15v15 battleground, Darkspear Islands.

Why faction matters more on the PvP ruleset

On the PvP ruleset you can only have characters on one faction. Roll Alliance there and Horde is locked for you, and the other way round. Normal, Roleplaying and Hardcore let you play both sides.

PvP also gets faction balance systems. Like in Season of Discovery, new character creation on one side can be temporarily limited if needed. If you're heading to PvP, settle on your faction before launch day.

Players fighting with spells on a ship deck flying Alliance banners
A fight on a ship deck flying Alliance banners 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 ↗

Which faction is better?

There's no official answer. Blizzard hasn't shared population numbers or any reward differences between the sides. There's no rated PvP either; honor runs on a progression track that resets each season.

Most people end up choosing on race looks and racials. From Blizzard's examples, Dwarves keep Stoneform, while Will of the Forsaken no longer gives full immunity. Your starting area changes too, from Mulgore and Durotar's Valley of Trials on the Horde side to the night elves' Shadowglen for the Alliance, and Ashenvale is the classic zone where both sides cross paths.

Ashenvale: dense blue and purple forest with giant tree trunks
Ashenvale, from Blizzard's lighting update showcase · 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 ↗

Checklist before you pick

  1. Which region, ruleset and faction are your friends going for?
  2. Which races on that side can play your class? Shaman and Paladin have few options.
  3. Want Skyborne? Shaman means Horde, Mage means Alliance.
  4. Going PvP ruleset? You can't add the other faction there.
  5. Got a name ready? First and last names are unique region-wide, and upgrade owners can reserve them October 27 – November 3.

FAQ

Will WoW Forever have a faction change service?
Blizzard hasn't said yet. There's no free ruleset swap either; if you want another ruleset you start a fresh character on it.
Can the other faction attack me on the Normal ruleset?
No, on Normal PvP only happens when both players opt in. If you want constant open-world fights with the other side, the PvP ruleset is the one.
Can I have Horde and Alliance characters on the same account?
Yes, on Normal, Roleplaying and Hardcore you can play both. The limit only applies on the PvP ruleset.

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