Classic WoW Racials for Alliance and Horde + Best Class Combos
| Tags: WoW News
| Author David Hollingsworth
Let's take a look at all the Classic WoW Racials Alliance and Horde and Best Class Combos. This goes for Classic, Hardcore, and SoD (though SoD has a few alterations)
Classic has a big change when it comes to Races and Classes, and their combinations. There are lots of changes to go over, and some that even we forgot were limited to back then. We've also noted a few changes in here for SoD, though those only really impact Priest.
Contents
Classic WoW Racials and more
Classic WoW Alliance and Horde Class Combos
Classic has a lot fewer options when it comes to what races can play each class. Outside of the obvious Paladin and Shaman faction lock, Druid is only open to Night Elf and Tauren.
Below you'll see every option available during Classic WoW.
| Class | Druid | Hunter | Mage | Paladin | Priest | Rogue | Shaman | Warlock | Warrior |
| Race | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dwarf | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Gnome | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||
| Human | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Night Elf | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Orc | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Tauren | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Troll | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Undead | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What's the best Race for each Class in Classic WoW Alliance?
- Druid – Night Elf, the other races just don't really do it
- Hunter – Night Elf again here comes out just ahead as they have a higher base level of Agility. Shadowmeld is as always a huge benefit.
- Mage – Gnome is strong for the extra Int , while Human is also a solid option
- Paladin – Human is best here due to Specializations, especially for Ret and Prot
- Priest – Human is big for Human Spirit, but Dwarf does well due to fear ward. (For SoD this doesn't matter as all races are open, so pick Human)
- Rogue – Human again due to Sword and Mace Spec
- Shaman – You cannot be a Shaman
- Warlock – Gnome due to the increased Int
- Warrior – Human for the same reason as Rogue
What's the best Race for each Class in Classic WoW Horde?
- Druid – Tauren
- Hunter – Troll is strong here due to Berserking and Bow Specializations in PvE. If you PvP, Orc is good.
- Mage – Same as above with Berserking.
- Paladin – Blood Elf (Which isn't in Classic, sorry)
- Priest – Nothing too special, but Troll for Berserking for cast speed
- Rogue – Orc Blood Fury is best, while Berserking on Troll is once again strong.
- Shaman – For Elemental and Resto go Troll, for Enhancement go Orc.
- Warlock – Orc is good for Command, while Troll Berserking is again strong here
- Warrior – Orc is best for DPS due to Axe Spec and Blood Fury. Tauren are great for tanking due to extra HP and War Stomp.
Classic WoW Racials – Racial Abilities
Alliance
Human
- Diplomacy: Reputation gains increased by 10%.
- Mace Specialization: Skill with Maces and Two-Handed Maces increased by 5 (flat)
- Perception: Dramatically increases stealth detection when used
- Sword Specialization: Skill with Swords and Two-Handed Swords increased by 5 (flat)
- The Human Spirit: Spirit increased by 5%
Gnome
- Arcane Resistance: Arcane Resistance increased by 10 (flat)
- Expansive Mind: Intelligence increased by 5%.
- Engineering Specialization: Engineering skill increased by 15 (flat)
- Escape Artist: Escape the effects of any immobilization or movement speed reduction effect
Dwarf
- Find Treasure: Allows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap
- Frost Resistance: Increases Frost Resistance by 10 (flat)
- Gun Specialization: Guns skill increased by 5 (flat)
- Stoneform: When activated, grants immunity to Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects. In addition, Armor increased by 10%
Night Elf
- Nature Resistance: Nature Resistance increased by 10 (flat)
- Wisp Spirit: Turn into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 50%
- Quickness: Dodge chance increased by 1%
- Shadowmeld: Slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence.
Classic WoW Racials – Racial Abilities
Horde
Orc
- Axe Specialization – Skill with Axes and Two-Handed Axes increased by 5 (flat)
- Blood Fury – Increases base melee attack power by 25% for 15 sec and reduces healing effects on you by 50% for 25 sec
- Command – Damage dealt by Hunter and Warlock pets increased by 5%
- Hardiness – Chance to resist Stun effects increased by an additional 25%
Tauren
- Cultivation: Herbalism skill increased by 15 (flat)
- Endurance: Total Health increased by 5%
- Nature Resistance: Nature Resistance increased by 10 (flat)
- War Stomp: Stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 2 seconds
Trolls
- Beast Slaying: Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%
- Berserking: Increases your casting and attack speed by 10% to 30%. Provides more attack speed the lower your HP
- Bow Specialization: Skill with Bow Weapons increased by 5 (flat)
- Regeneration: Health regeneration rate increased by 10%. 10% of total
- Health regeneration may continue during combat
- Throwing Specialization: Skill with Throwing Weapons increased by 5 (flat)
Undead
- Cannibalize: When activated, regenerates 7% of total health every 2 sec for 10 sec
- Shadow Resistance: Shadow Resistance increased by 10 (flat)
Underwater Breathing: Underwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal - Will of the Forsaken: Provides immunity to Charm, Fear and Sleep while active. May also be used while already afflicted by Charm, Fear or Sleep
Now that SoD is out, would you like to see any more changes to these racial abilities going forward?
David has written for games media outlets for the last ten years. With his first major esports role being with Esports News UK covering mostly UK League of Legends. David is also a member of the British Esports Association and is an advisor to them on World of Warcraft Esports. More recently David has worked for Esports Insider and Red Bull as an esports journalist.
David later became Editor at ESTNN and now leads the current team.