Races
Forever reworked every racial in the game onto a common structure, deleted the weapon-skill racials outright, and added six new race and class combinations. If you last played Classic, your racial assumptions are all stale.
On this page 3 sections
Source tiers
- Official or client data
- Verbatim reporting, hands-on
- Provisional or placeholder
- Our analysis
Every race now has four racials: two actives and two passives. The structure holds across all eight original races and both Skyborne variants — ten playable options in total.
Priests also learn two race-specific Priest spells on top of the four racials — listed under each race below. Dwarf Fear Ward and Undead Devouring Plague are now baseline for every Priest at 20, regardless of race.
Dwarf Gun Specialization, Troll Bow and Throwing Specialization, and Human Mace Specialization have been removed entirely.
The last three went on 15 October, replaced by plain stats that need no weapon at all: Human Ruthless (+2% critical strike chance, was Sword Specialization), Orc Savage (+1% critical strike chance, was Axe Specialization) and Dwarf Earth Fury (+2% critical damage and healing, was Mace Specialization). The twenty-year Human-sword and Orc-axe rule is gone — see Mechanics.
The six new combinations
Gnome Priest · Human Hunter · Dwarf Shaman · Orc Mage · Troll Warlock · Undead Paladin
Two more arrive in Spring 2027, unannounced. Note that Dwarf Shaman gives the Alliance Chain Heal for the first time in the game's history, and Orc Mage matters more than it looks because Blood Fury now grants Spell Power.
Every race
Ordered Alliance then Horde. Classes in gold are new combinations in Forever.
● Human 1 new combo
Alliance · Warrior · Hunter · Mage · Rogue · Priest · Warlock · Paladin
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Will to Survive New | active | Removes all Stun effects. 3 min cooldown. Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B NEW (22 Sep kits) |
| Perception | active | Much better Stealth detection for 20 sec. 3 min cooldown. Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B |
| Ruthless Changed | passive | +2% critical strike chance. No weapon needed (tooltip: all spells and attacks Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B). CHANGED 15 Oct: replaced Sword Specialization |
| The Human Spirit | passive | +5% Spirit. |
Priest race spells: Divine Grace (10) · Feedback (learned at the level shown; Priest deep dive, 30 Sep)
Removed in Forever: Diplomacy · Mace Specialization
● Dwarf 1 new combo
Alliance · Warrior · Hunter · Rogue · Priest · Paladin · Shaman
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Stoneform | active | Removes and grants immunity to Bleed, Poison and Disease, and reduces Physical damage taken by 10% Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B for 8 sec. 3 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. |
| Find Treasure Changed | active | Shows treasure on the minimap and stacks with herb, mineral and beast tracking. Since 15 October it also gives a chance of extra items from most chests. CHANGED 15 Oct: extra chest loot |
| Earth Fury Changed | passive | +2% critical damage and healing. No weapon needed. CHANGED 15 Oct: replaced Mace Specialization |
| Big Game Hunter | passive | +5% damage against Beasts. |
Priest race spells: Desperate Prayer · Chastise (20) (learned at the level shown; Priest deep dive, 30 Sep)
Removed in Forever: Gun Specialization · Frost Resistance
● Night Elf
Alliance · Warrior · Hunter · Rogue · Priest · Druid
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Elune's Light New | active | +10% critical strike chance with all spells and attacks for 15 sec. 3 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. NEW (22 Sep kits) |
| Shadowmeld Changed | active | Usable in combat, which raises its cooldown to 2 min (10 sec out of combat). Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B CHANGED (22 Sep kits): usable in combat |
| Quickness Changed | passive | +1% Dodge and +2% run speed. Since 15 October the speed stacks with other movement-speed increases. CHANGED 15 Oct: speed now stacks |
| Wisp Spirit | passive | +75% run speed while dead. Since 15 October shields no longer show in Wisp Form. |
Priest race spells: Starshards (10) · Elune's Grace (20) (learned at the level shown; Priest deep dive, 30 Sep)
Removed in Forever: Nature Resistance
● Gnome 1 new combo
Alliance · Warrior · Mage · Rogue · Priest · Warlock
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Escape Artist | active | Escapes movement-impairing effects with brief immunity (tooltip: 3 sec Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B). 2 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. |
| Eureka! Changed | active | An 8 sec buff with no charges: 10% lower Mana, Rage or Energy costs and 10% more damage (Priests: damage or healing). 2 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. No benefit to periodic effects; since 15 October it also benefits Power Word: Shield. CHANGED 15 Oct: 8 sec buff, no charges |
| Expansive Mind | passive | +5% maximum Mana (Rage for Warriors, Energy for Rogues). |
| Engineering Specialization | passive | 20% less chance of engineering devices failing or backfiring. Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B |
Priest race spells: Confounding Flash (10) · Contingency Plan (20) (learned at the level shown; Priest deep dive, 30 Sep)
Removed in Forever: Arcane Resistance
● Orc 1 new combo
Horde · Warrior · Hunter · Mage · Rogue · Warlock · Shaman
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Fury Changed | active | +10% Attack Power and Spell Power for 15 sec. 3 min cooldown. CHANGED 15 Oct: cooldown 3 min (was 2) |
| Shatter Curse Changed | active | Dispels all Curses and Banes on you and reduces magic damage taken by 5% for 8 sec. 3 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. CHANGED 15 Oct: now a dispel, -5% (was immunity, -15%) |
| Savage Changed | passive | +1% critical strike chance. No weapon needed (tooltip: all spells and abilities Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B). CHANGED 15 Oct: replaced Axe Specialization |
| Hardiness | passive | Stun duration reduced by 20%. |
Removed in Forever: Command
● Undead 1 new combo
Horde · Warrior · Mage · Rogue · Priest · Warlock · Paladin
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Will of the Forsaken Changed | active | Removes Charm, Fear and Sleep, with no lingering immunity. Usable while asleep or charmed; not usable while under Scatter Shot. 2 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. CHANGED 15 Oct: blocked by Scatter Shot |
| Cannibalize | active | Restores 35% of Health and Mana over 10 sec Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B from a Humanoid or Undead corpse; moving, acting or taking damage cancels it. 2 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. |
| Underwater Breathing | passive | 300% underwater breath. |
| Touch of the Grave Changed | passive | Damaging attacks and spells can drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B: a 30% chance for casters and 20% for Paladins, Rogues and Warriors, with a 25 sec internal cooldown. Doesn't break crowd control. Blizzard's 15 October notes also call it Touch of the Dead. CHANGED 15 Oct: proc chance and cooldown |
Priest race spells: Touch of Weakness · Dark Sacrifice (20) (learned at the level shown; Priest deep dive, 30 Sep)
Removed in Forever: Shadow Resistance
● Tauren
Horde · Warrior · Hunter · Druid · Shaman
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| War Stomp Changed | active | Stuns up to 5 nearby enemies Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B for 2 sec. 90 sec cooldown. CHANGED 15 Oct: cooldown 90 sec (was 2 min) |
| Cultivation Changed | active | Duplicates a herb you find, harvestable without Herbalism, once per herb. 15 min cooldown. CHANGED 15 Oct: cooldown 15 min (was 60) |
| Plainsrunning Changed | passive | Run speed builds while you keep moving, up to 30% Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B; since 15 October also +3% mounted speed, and stutter-stepping no longer keeps it. CHANGED 15 Oct: mounted speed, minimum distance |
| Endurance Changed | passive | +5% Health Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B and +2% critical damage and healing. CHANGED 15 Oct: +2% crit damage and healing (was +1% hit) |
Removed in Forever: Nature Resistance
● Troll 1 new combo
Horde · Warrior · Hunter · Mage · Rogue · Priest · Warlock · Shaman
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Berserking | active | +10% casting and attack speed for 10 sec. 3 min cooldown Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. Not changed on 15 October. |
| Rapid Regeneration | active | Channel for 6 sec to regain 50% of maximum Health; moving, acting or taking damage cancels it. 3 min cooldown. Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B |
| Beast Slaying | passive | +5% damage against Beasts. |
| Regeneration Changed | passive | Health regeneration bonuses of 20%, part of which continues in combat Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. CHANGED 15 Oct: 20% (was 10%) |
Priest race spells: Hex of Weakness · Shadowguard (learned at the level shown; Priest deep dive, 30 Sep)
Removed in Forever: Bow Specialization · Throwing Specialization
● Skyborne — High Order New race
Alliance · Warrior · Hunter · Mage · Rogue · Druid
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Walk on Air Changed | active | Glide for 10 sec. 90 sec cooldown. CHANGED 15 Oct: cooldown 90 sec (was 2 min) |
| Read Ley Line Changed | active | +100% Health and Mana regeneration: 15 min near a ley line, otherwise 30 sec. Castable while moving. CHANGED 15 Oct: 30 sec minimum (was 20), castable moving |
| Wind Blessed Changed | passive | +3% melee, ranged and spell haste. CHANGED 15 Oct: +3% (was 1%) |
| Elemental Insight | passive | +5% damage against Elementals. |
● Skyborne — Windshaper New race
Horde · Warrior · Hunter · Rogue · Druid · Shaman
| Racial | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Walk on Air Changed | active | Glide for 10 sec. 90 sec cooldown. CHANGED 15 Oct: cooldown 90 sec (was 2 min) |
| Skysight Changed | active | +10% run speed: 15 min at an elemental convergence, otherwise 30 sec Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B. Castable while moving. CHANGED 15 Oct: castable moving |
| Wind Blessed Changed | passive | +3% melee, ranged and spell haste. CHANGED 15 Oct: +3% (was 1%) |
| Elemental Insight | passive | +5% damage against Elementals. |
Where sources disagree
Published figures below are the ones this guide uses and why. They are the 15 October build's — the last beta build with notes. A later beta build probably existed and was never documented, and launch on 4 November can still change them.
- Touch of the Grave / Touch of the Dead: Blizzard's 15 October notes use both names in one block; the client passive is still Touch of the Grave and no rename is stated. Treated as one racial.
- Gnome Eureka!: Blizzard's race article gives 10% damage or healing and the 15 October notes keep the "same effect on damage and ability costs"; the 2 min cooldown is the tooltip's (tier B).
- Settled on 30 September: racials work in Druid forms — Blizzard's Druid deep dive names "Shadowmeld, War Stomp, and Walk on Air".
- Gnome Escape Artist immunity: Blizzard says "brief"; Icy Veins' guide said 3 sec, its hub table 5 sec; Wowhead's tooltip says 3 sec. Likely 3 sec.
- Tauren Cultivation cast time: instant in our 20 September client data, a 3 sec cast in the newer tooltip that carries the 15 min cooldown. Check in game at launch.
- Racial crit on Hunter pets: pets now inherit the higher of the Hunter's melee or ranged crit; whether Ruthless or Savage reach the pet that way is not stated.
- Settled on 15 October: the Orc and Troll actives Blizzard called "perhaps a little too strong" (Blood Fury now a 3 min cooldown; Berserking untouched) and the three weapon-crit passives (replaced by Ruthless, Savage and Earth Fury, none needing a weapon). Earlier: Troll Berserking lasts 10 sec and Night Elf Quickness is +1% Dodge / +2% run speed (22 Sep).
Generated from data/races.json · sources: Blizzard's beta development notes of 15 October, the race articles of 22 September and the Priest deep dive; values marked Source tier B — verbatim reporting or hands-on testing: B are from Wowhead's Forever tooltips · Last updated 2026-10-23