World of Warcraft - Races
The principal playable race choices in World of Warcraft, aligned with the Alliance and Horde factions. The 2004 base game launched with eight races (four per faction), and later expansions added the core races listed here alongside numerous allied races. Each race grants a faction allegiance, racia...
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| Name | Type | Description | Faction | Abilities | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | Playable Race | The bold, adaptable people of the Kingdom of Stormwind and the centerpiece of the Alliance. | Alliance | Every Man for Himself (remove crowd control) Diplomacy (rep bonus) The Human Spirit (versatility) | Core Alliance race available from the original 2004 base game. |
| Dwarf | Playable Race | Sturdy, craft-minded mountain folk of Ironforge and the disparate dwarven clans of the Eastern Kingdoms, renowned for their engineering and stonework. | Alliance | Stoneform (remove poison/disease/bleeds) Might of the Mountain Explorer (treasure finding) | Core Alliance race from the 2004 base game. |
| Night Elf | Playable Race | An ancient, druidic race of Kaldorei from Teldrassil and the World Tree, guardians of nature and the eternal night. | Alliance | Shadowmeld (stealth/agility) Nature Resistance Wisp Spirit (fast ghost form) | Core Alliance race from the 2004 base game. |
| Gnome | Playable Race | Small, brilliant tinkerers of Gnomeregan who pair high intelligence and engineering with a boundless curiosity, often allied with the Dwarves inside the Alliance. | Alliance | Escape Artist (break roots/snares) Expansive Mind Engineering Specialization | Core Alliance race from the 2004 base game. |
| Orc | Playable Race | The mighty, honor-bound warriors of the Horde who fled the demonic corruption of their past and forged a new identity on Kalimdor under Thrall. | Horde | Blood Fury (attack power) Hardiness (stun reduction) Command (pet damage) | Core Horde race from the 2004 base game. |
| Undead (Forsaken) | Playable Race | The risen Forsaken, former citizens of Lordaeron freed from the Lich King's grasp, who wage a bitter campaign for survival under the Banshee Queen. | Horde | Will of the Forsaken (break fear/charm/sleep) Cannibalize Shadow Resistance | Core Horde race from the 2004 base game. |
| Tauren | Playable Race | The noble, shamanistic bull-people of Mulgore and Thunder Bluff who honor the Earthmother and a primal connection to the land. | Horde | War Stomp Endurance (health) Cultivation (herbalism) | Core Horde race from the 2004 base game. |
| Troll (Darkspear) | Playable Race | The Darkspear trolls, jungle-dwelling survivors who threw in with the Horde after their island exile, known for voodoo, regeneration, and a long and combative history. | Horde | Berserking (attack & cast speed) Regeneration Beast Slaying | Core Horde race from the 2004 base game. |
| Blood Elf (Sin'dorei) | Playable Race | The magically-addicted High Elves of Quel'Thalas renamed the Blood Elves in grief after Silvermoon's fall, drawn to the Horde for the arcane power needed to survive. | Horde | Arcane Torrent (silence & resource restore) Magic Resistance Arcane Affinity | Added in The Burning Crusade; core Horde race. |
| Draenei | Playable Race | An exiled, light-worshipping race who fled the Burning Legion across the cosmos and found refuge on Azeroth, bringing paladins, priests, and a blessed crusade to the Alliance. | Alliance | Gift of the Naaru (heal) Gem Cutting Heroic Presence | Added in The Burning Crusade; core Alliance race. |
| Worgen | Playable Race | Gilnean humans afflicted by the worgen curse, a feral lycanthropic plague from Arugal's experiments, who learned to master their wolf form and joined the Alliance. | Alliance | Darkflight (sprint) Viciousness (crit) Flayer (skinning) | Added in Cataclysm; core Alliance race. |
| Goblin | Playable Race | Kezan's industrious goblin tinkers, a resourceful, profit-driven people who bring auction-house savvy, rocket-powered gadgets, and a love of explosives to the Horde. | Horde | Rocket Barrage & Rocket Jump Time Is Money (haste) Best Deals Anywhere (rep discount) | Added in Cataclysm; core Horde race. |
| Pandaren | Playable Race | The panda-like, peace-loving people of the Wandering Isle and Pandaria, who can choose either faction after their starting experience and bring balance and martial arts to both sides. | Alliance or Horde | Quaking Palm Bouncy Gourmand (food buff) | Added in Mists of Pandaria; neutral race that picks a faction. |
| Dracthyr | Playable Race | The dragonkin soldier-race created by Neltharion, capable of shifting between a humanoid form and a draconic one. | Alliance or Horde | Wing Buffet / Tail Sweep Glide Soar (travel form) | Added in Dragonflight alongside the Evoker class at level 1. |
| Haranir | Allied Race | An ancient, reclusive nature-wielding race introduced in the Midnight expansion as a fully-fledged allied race. | Alliance or Horde | Nature-wielding racial traits Druid class option Allied-race customization | Added in the Midnight expansion as the new allied race (announced for the 2026 expansion). |
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