For twenty years, the first decision in classic World of Warcraft was fixed. Nine classes, eight races and a table of combinations that never changed. World of Warcraft: Forever, which launches on November 4, is the first time Blizzard has opened that table up. There are six new race and class pairs, a brand-new playable race called the Skyborne, and a set of reworked racial abilities on top.
That makes the character screen more interesting than it has been in years. It also makes the choice harder. Here is what is new, what it means in practice and how to pick a character you will still enjoy at level 60.
The Six New Race and Class Combinations
Blizzard announced six new pairs for launch, all available with a normal subscription, and said more are planned for later updates:
- Undead Paladin. The first Horde Paladin in classic WoW, and one of the most talked-about additions. It comes with its own themed mounts.
- Dwarf Shaman. Gives the Alliance a Shaman with Stoneform, a strong defensive racial for PvP.
- Human Hunter. Humans could never be Hunters in the original game. Now they can.
- Orc Mage. Pairs Blood Fury, which raises Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 seconds, with a caster class.
- Troll Warlock. Berserking, which raises casting speed by 10%, makes Troll a natural fit for a caster.
- Gnome Priest. A long-requested combination that gives Gnomes their first healing class.
The practical effect is simple: if you always wanted a certain class but disliked its racial options, there is a good chance the new table fixes that.
Who the Skyborne Are
The Skyborne are the only new race in Forever and the only one that is not free. They are unlocked through the Skyborne Heroic Pack at $29.99, which also includes their starting zone, Zephras Isle. More expensive editions include the race as well.
The race is neutral and joins both factions, but each side gets a different version. Both can play Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid. Horde Skyborne, the Windshaper, can also be Shamans. Alliance Skyborne, the High Order, can also be Mages. Neither side can play a Priest, Paladin or Warlock.
The racial abilities differ in one important way. Both versions get Walk on Air, a 10-second glide, plus 1% Haste and 5% extra damage against Elementals. On top of that, the Horde version gets Skysight, a 10% run speed boost, while the Alliance version gets Read Ley Line, which doubles health and mana regeneration. Many beta players noticed that the Alliance bonus looks much stronger for leveling, because it cuts the time spent drinking and eating between fights.
How Racials Changed for the Old Races
The classic races were not left alone. Humans gained Will to Survive, which removes a stun. Gnomes received Eureka!, which lowers the cost of the next three spells and makes them 10% stronger. Tauren have Cultivation, which lets them grow herbs anyone can gather, and Plainsrunning is back as a movement speed bonus. Night Elf Quickness now adds 2% run speed on top of dodge chance.
The strongest Horde racials remain familiar. Will of the Forsaken still breaks Charm, Fear and Sleep, which matters a lot in PvP. Blood Fury and Berserking are still among the best damage cooldowns in the game.
How to Choose Your First Character
With so many new options, it is easy to pick something only because it is new. A few questions help:
- What will you do at 60? If you plan to raid from December 9, pick the class your guild needs. If you plan to play PvP, look at Will of the Forsaken, Stoneform and Will to Survive first.
- How much time do you have for leveling? Classes with pets and ranged damage, such as Hunter and Warlock, level faster. Warriors and Priests are slower solo but strong in groups.
- Which friends are you playing with? Forever is realmless, and you choose a ruleset such as Normal, PvP or Roleplaying. You cannot group across rulesets, so agree on one before launch.
- Is the Skyborne worth $29.99 to you? The race looks great and has its own starting zone, but its class list is narrower than most races. If your favourite class is Priest, Paladin or Warlock, it is not an option.
When Your Second Character Has to Catch Up
Many players will discover that the combination they really wanted is not the one they started with. Maybe your guild needs a Shaman when you are already halfway to 60 on a Mage, or a friend convinces you to try an Undead Paladin. Leveling a second character at classic pace takes many evenings. Some players use a WoW Forever character boost to get their second choice ready while they keep playing their main.
For everyone else, the best advice is to try a few combinations in the first zones before committing. Forever gives you more options than classic WoW ever did, and the right first character is the one you will still want to log into at level 60.