WoW Forever Races and Classes: All Combos and Skyborne
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- The six new race and class combinations
- Horde races and their classes
- Alliance races and their classes
- Which races can play each class
- The nine classes
- The Skyborne, Forever's new race
- Skyborne racial abilities
- Do you have to pay for the Skyborne?
- How to choose your race and class
- Frequently asked questions
- Can Horde be Paladins in WoW Forever?
- Can Alliance be Shaman in WoW Forever?
- What classes can Skyborne be in WoW Forever?
- Do you need to buy the Skyborne race?
- How many classes are in WoW Forever?
- Can Night Elves be Mages in WoW Forever?
WoW Forever has nine classes and nine playable races: the eight original races plus the new Skyborne, who can join either faction. Six race and class combinations that the original game didn't allow are now possible, so for the first time in this version of Azeroth both the Horde and the Alliance can play every class. Below is the full chart from Blizzard's official race and class list, plus what's special about the Skyborne.
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
The six new race and class combinations
| Faction | New combination | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Dwarf Shaman | The Alliance couldn't play Shaman in original WoW |
| Alliance | Human Hunter | Humans can now tame pets |
| Alliance | Gnome Priest | Gnomes can now heal as Priests |
| Horde | Undead Paladin | The Horde couldn't play Paladins in original WoW |
| Horde | Orc Mage | Orcs can now be Mages |
| Horde | Troll Warlock | Trolls can now be Warlocks |
In original WoW, Shaman were Horde-only and Paladins were Alliance-only. With the Dwarf Shaman and the Undead Paladin, that split is gone in Forever.
Horde races and their classes
| Race | Classes |
|---|---|
| Orc | Hunter, Mage (new), Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Warrior |
| Tauren | Druid, Hunter, Shaman, Warrior |
| Troll | Hunter, Mage, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock (new), Warrior |
| Undead | Mage, Paladin (new), Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior |
| Windshaper Skyborne | Druid, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior |
Alliance races and their classes
| Race | Classes |
|---|---|
| Dwarf | Hunter, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman (new), Warrior |
| Gnome | Mage, Priest (new), Rogue, Warlock, Warrior |
| Human | Hunter (new), Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior |
| Night Elf | Druid, Hunter, Priest, Rogue, Warrior |
| High Order Skyborne | Druid, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Warrior |
Humans and Trolls have the most options, with seven classes each. Tauren have the fewest, with four.
Which races can play each class
If you already know your class, this is the quicker way to read the chart.
| Class | Horde races | Alliance races |
|---|---|---|
| Druid | Tauren, Skyborne | Night Elf, Skyborne |
| Hunter | Orc, Tauren, Troll, Skyborne | Dwarf, Human, Night Elf, Skyborne |
| Mage | Orc, Troll, Undead | Gnome, Human, Skyborne |
| Paladin | Undead | Dwarf, Human |
| Priest | Troll, Undead | Dwarf, Gnome, Human, Night Elf |
| Rogue | Orc, Troll, Undead, Skyborne | Dwarf, Gnome, Human, Night Elf, Skyborne |
| Shaman | Orc, Tauren, Troll, Skyborne | Dwarf |
| Warlock | Orc, Troll, Undead | Gnome, Human |
| Warrior | All five | All five |
Warrior is the only class every race can play. If you want a Horde Paladin, Undead is your only choice. If you want an Alliance Shaman, it has to be a Dwarf.
The nine classes
There are no Death Knights, Monks, Demon Hunters or Evokers in Forever. Those classes belong to modern WoW. These are the nine you can pick:
| Class | How it plays | Typical roles |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Heavy armor and weapons, fights up close | Tank, melee damage |
| Paladin | Holy warrior who heals and uses protective shields | Healer, tank, melee damage |
| Hunter | Fights from range with a tamed pet at its side | Ranged damage |
| Rogue | Stealth, poisons and quick melee strikes | Melee damage |
| Priest | Draws on faith to heal allies or harm enemies | Healer, ranged damage |
| Shaman | Uses totems and the elements | Healer, melee or ranged damage |
| Mage | Fragile caster who throws fire, frost and arcane spells from range | Ranged damage |
| Warlock | Drains enemies and commands summoned demons | Ranged damage |
| Druid | Shapeshifter that changes forms for different jobs | Healer, tank, melee or ranged damage |
Blizzard has reworked every class's talents and abilities, building on the original game rather than copying modern WoW. Its own example is the Hunter, who can now use traps in combat and whose pets scale with gear and have abilities based on their family. Even if you know a class from modern WoW or Classic, read the new tooltips before you plan a build.
The PvP gear is changing along the same lines. Blizzard has added new item sets for specializations that lacked them in the original game, and Shaman, for example, now have separate healer, melee and caster PvP sets.
The Skyborne, Forever's new race
The Skyborne, also called the shen'dorei or "hidden people," are elves descended from Highborne exiles who made a pact with wind spirits and settled in Skywall, one of the elemental planes. Their story starts on Zephras Isle, a floating island that serves as their starting zone for levels 1 to 12.
At character creation, you pick a side:
- Windshaper Skyborne (Horde) follow the elemental path and can be Shaman.
- High Order Skyborne (Alliance) chase their ancestors' arcane magic and can be Mages.
Both versions can also be Druids, Hunters, Rogues and Warriors. Skyborne Druids get shapeshift forms made just for the race.
Skyborne racial abilities
| Ability | Windshaper (Horde) | High Order (Alliance) |
|---|---|---|
| Walk on Air | Glide down through the air for 10 seconds | Same |
| Skysight | 10% more run speed from an Elemental Blessing | Not available |
| Read Ley Line | Not available | 100% more health and mana regeneration |
| Wind Blessed (passive) | 1% more melee, ranged and spell Haste | Same |
| Elemental Insight (passive) | 5% more damage to Elementals | Same |
Do you have to pay for the Skyborne?
Yes. The Skyborne race and the Zephras Isle starting quests require the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a bigger upgrade, the Skyborne Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection. Every other race in the tables above is available with just a subscription or Game Time. Pack contents are covered in What is WoW Forever?
How to choose your race and class
- Start with your friends. You can only group with players on the same ruleset and faction, so agree on those first.
- Pick the role you want. If you want to heal in dungeons, look at Priest, Paladin, Shaman or Druid. If you want to tank, look at Warrior, Paladin or Druid.
- Then pick a race that fits. Your race sets your look, your starting zone and your racial abilities. Blizzard has updated the racial abilities in Forever too, so read them on the character creation screen.
- Remember the HD and SD choice. You choose high or standard definition models for each character, and you can change it later at a Barbershop.
Not sure where to start once your character exists? Our WoW Forever beginner guide covers the first levels, and the Legacy System guide explains why leveling more than one class can pay off.
Frequently asked questions
Can Horde be Paladins in WoW Forever?
Yes, but only as Undead. The Undead Paladin is one of the six new race and class combinations in Forever. Dwarves and Humans can still be Paladins on the Alliance side.
Can Alliance be Shaman in WoW Forever?
Yes, as Dwarves. The Dwarf Shaman is new in Forever. Alliance Skyborne can't be Shaman, because that class goes to the Horde-aligned Windshaper Skyborne.
What classes can Skyborne be in WoW Forever?
Both versions can be Druids, Hunters, Rogues and Warriors. Horde Windshaper Skyborne can also be Shaman, and Alliance High Order Skyborne can also be Mages.
Do you need to buy the Skyborne race?
Yes. The Skyborne and their Zephras Isle starting zone need the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher upgrade. All other races and the six new combinations come with a normal subscription or Game Time.
How many classes are in WoW Forever?
There are nine: Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock and Warrior. Death Knights, Monks, Demon Hunters and Evokers are only in modern WoW.
Can Night Elves be Mages in WoW Forever?
No. In Forever, Night Elves can be Druids, Hunters, Priests, Rogues and Warriors. For an Alliance Mage, choose a Human, a Gnome or a High Order Skyborne.
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