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The Warcraft universe is inhabited by many races of sentient and sapient beings. These races speak many different languages, have different homelands and racial traits, and can pursue different classes.

Though most races are native to the world of Azeroth, some have arrived from other worlds, such as Draenor. The armies of the Burning Legion are culled from many worlds throughout the Twisting Nether.

As of Cataclysm Cataclysm, there are two playable factions in World of Warcraft, the Alliance and the Horde, and each is comprised of six very different races who can play a variety of different classes.

In Warcraft lore, race often has the same definition as species.[1] Occasionally, within a race/species are groups called subspecies/subraces[2][3][4] Note that use of race may not always denote separate species however (and may refer to ethnicities/subraces/subspecies within species, i.e. blood elves vs. high elves).

Playable races[]

Fail:WoW Icon 16x16.gif This section concerns content exclusive to World of Warcraft.

Base Stats
Faction Race Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Druid Hunter Warlock Shaman Paladin Monk Death knight Str Agi Sta Int Spi
 Alliance 

Alliance Crest

HumanHuman Human Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Hunter Warlock Paladin Monk Death knight 20 20 20 20 20
DwarfDwarf Dwarf Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Hunter Warlock Shaman Paladin Monk Death knight 25 16 21 19 19
Night elfNight elf Night elf Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Druid Hunter Monk Death knight 16 24 20 20 20
GnomeGnome Gnome Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Warlock Monk Death knight 15 22 20 23 20
DraeneiDraenei Draenei TBC Priest Warrior Mage Hunter Shaman Paladin Monk Death knight 21 17 20 20 22
WorgenWorgen Worgen Cataclysm Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Druid Hunter Warlock Death knight 23 22 20 16 19
Both Both PandarenPandaren PandarenMists of Pandaria Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Hunter Shaman Monk 20 18 21 19 22
Horde

Horde Crest

OrcOrc Orc Rogue Warrior Mage Hunter Warlock Shaman Monk Death knight 23 17 21 17 22
UndeadUndead Undead Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Hunter Warlock Monk Death knight 19 18 20 18 25
TaurenTauren Tauren Priest Warrior Druid Hunter Shaman Paladin Monk Death knight 25 16 21 16 22
TrollTroll Troll Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Druid Hunter Warlock Shaman Monk Death knight 21 22 20 16 21
Blood elfBlood elf Blood elf TBC Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Hunter Warlock Paladin Monk Death knight 17 22 20 23 18
GoblinGoblin Goblin Cataclysm Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Hunter Warlock Shaman Death knight 17 22 20 23 18

Note that Humans receive a +5% racial bonus to Spirit and Gnomes receive a +5% racial bonus to Intellect. These bonuses are not reflected in the table above, and they are actually calculated after the class and level bonuses are added.

Base stats do not include the bonus scores from classes.? The class bonuses are:

Attribute Priest Rogue Warrior Mage Monk Druid Hunter Warlock Shaman Paladin Death Knight*
Strength +1 +3 +1 +1 +1 +2 +88
Agility +3 +1 +3 +53
Stamina +1 +2 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +79
Intellect +2 +3 +2 +2 +2 +1 +9
Spirit +3 +2 +2 +1 +2 +2 +1 +22

Monk is NYI and planned for the Mists of Pandaria Mists of Pandaria expansion.

* Death knight bonus stats represent a level 55 character.

Burning Crusade races[]

TBC This section concerns content exclusive to The Burning Crusade.

Cataclysm races[]

Cataclysm This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.

Mists of Pandaria race[]

Mists of Pandaria This section concerns content exclusive to Mists of Pandaria.

  • Mists of Pandaria added the Pandaren playable race which can be either player faction (Both).

"Subraces"[]

Subraces (aka subspecies)[3] are generally considered lesser groups within a main race/species. However, even these subgroups can be considered separate races or species themselves in some cases.

  • Elf sub-races can include Blood elves and High elves. Night elves may be distinct enough to be a truly separate race or species.
  • Dwarf sub-races can include Wildhammer, Ironforge, or Dark Iron dwarves.
  • The various types of trolls are usually considered separate subraces, though occasionally separate races.[5][6][7] The terms appear to be interchangeable to Blizzard.
  • Aesir and vanir are considered two of the titan's various subraces.[8]

See also[]

  • Background and analysis
    • Lore
    • Future race ideas
    • Origin of the Races

References[]


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