Choosing Your Character's Race

There are 13 races in the game: six for the Alliance, six for the Horde, and one race that can choose either side. Keep in mind that each race has limitations on available classes.

Each race has innate benefits (known as Racial Abilities) that are unique to that race. These are abilities you have in addition to what you get from choosing your class.

Factions

The race you choose determines whether you are part of the Alliance or the Horde. If you have friends in the game with whom you want to play, choose the same faction as them to work together. There are no “good” or “bad” sides in this conflict. Both factions have rich storylines and compelling motives.

Horde Races

Though their ways are sometimes brutal and warlike, some of the leaders of the Horde exemplify honor and courage. The various races of the Horde have struggled to free themselves from demonic tyranny, a mindless plague, and countless wars.

Pandaren Race

The enigmatic Pandaren have long been a mystery to the other races of Azeroth. For ten thousand years, they lived in isolation in their mist-shrouded homeland, staying away from the conflicts of the world of Azeroth. Now the outside world has come to the continent of Pandaria and the Wandering Isle, giving each Pandaren the option of which faction they wish to join.

Alliance Races

The Alliance gives the appearance of being on the side of righteousness, and many of its leaders are good people. However, they are also the source of hypocrisy and considerable lawlessness. The destruction left behind by the Gnomes’ scientific mistakes, Dwarven civil wars, and Human misconduct have scared much of the Eastern Kingdoms.

Starting Out With Friends

Each race has its own home region, so the race you choose determines where you start in the game. If you and a friend want to begin the game together, choose the same race to start at the same location.

If you and your friend can’t agree on the same race, it won’t take long to reach the game’s major hubs where you can join up. As a result, it’s best to play the exact character you want, even if it means waiting to see your buddies a little bit longer.

The Most Important Factor

It’s not uncommon to see that one race might be better suited to the class that you’ve chosen, but what if that isn’t the race that you had your heart set on? If you have any strong preference for a specific race, the best thing to do is ignore Racial Abilities. Bonding with your character is a real thing. Choosing a race that you don’t want to play is something that grates on you over time. Don’t let that happen. Enjoy your time in the game. In the end, stats aren’t a big deal; you won’t founder just because you picked a “weaker” race to go with your class. None of the races are especially overpowered or underpowered. Their bonuses are more of a tiny perk. They help, but they never make or break a class.