Races, classes and reworked racials in WoW Forever

· ForeverDB

Forever adds six new race and class combinations plus the Skyborne, and reworks every race’s racials into two active and two passive abilities. Here is the full list.

Blizzard’s Create the Hero You Want to Be article covers the nine classes, which races can play them and the updated racial traits. Here’s what’s new, with extra detail from the BlizzCon panels and the latest beta notes.

New race and class combinations

Six combinations are new in Forever: Orc Mage, Troll Warlock, Undead Paladin, Human Hunter, Gnome Priest and Dwarf Shaman. At the Deep Dive panel, Blizzard said more are planned for future updates. The official article has full Horde and Alliance race and class tables.

The new Skyborne race picks its faction at character creation. Horde Windshapers can be Druids, Hunters, Rogues, Shaman or Warriors, and Alliance High Order Skyborne can be Druids, Hunters, Mages, Rogues or Warriors.

Undead Paladins get their own story. The Found Photos panel recap says their path follows on from the new Warcraft III campaign Forsaken Kingdom, at a time when these former paladins are deeply mistrusted by other Forsaken. Bandarion Keep in the Whispering Wood of Tirisfal Glades is a key location for their journey, and at level 60 they get their own epic mount quest.

Whereas Alliance paladins claim their epic charger in the name of Redemption, the paladins of the Forsaken ride in the name of Retribution. Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft: Forever Found Photos Panel Recap

How racials changed

Blizzard says racial abilities were reworked to feel stronger, more distinct and more meaningful, without pushing every race toward the same strengths.

Each race now has two active abilities and two passive abilities, tuned to provide a similar amount of offensive power while preserving signature utility. Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap

The panel gave two examples. For Dwarves, Stoneform still removes and grants immunity to Bleeds, Poisons and Diseases, but it now reduces Physical damage taken instead of increasing Armor, and Find Treasure can stay active alongside other tracking abilities. For Undead, Will of the Forsaken still removes Charm, Fear and Sleep but no longer grants immunity to them, and Cannibalize now restores Mana as well as Health.

Horde racials

  • Orc: Blood Fury (Attack Power and Spell Power up 10% for 15 seconds), Shatter Curse (immunity to Curses and Banes and less Magical damage taken for 8 seconds), Axe Specialization (passive: axes add 1% spell and ability critical chance) and Hardiness (passive: stun durations reduced by 20%).
  • Undead: Will of the Forsaken (removes Charm, Fear and Sleep), Cannibalize (consume corpses to regenerate 35% Health and Mana over time), Underwater Breathing (passive: breathe 300% longer underwater) and Touch of the Grave (passive: your attacks sometimes drain health).
  • Tauren: War Stomp (stuns nearby enemies for 2 seconds), Cultivation (grow bonus herbs that don’t need Herbalism to gather), Plainsrunning (passive: more movement speed the longer you keep moving) and Endurance (passive: 5% more total Health and 1% more Hit Chance).
  • Troll: Berserking (casting and attack speed up 10% for 10 seconds), Rapid Regeneration (regenerate 50% of maximum Health over time), Beast Slaying (passive: 5% more damage to Beasts) and Regeneration (passive: 10% of Health regeneration continues in combat).
  • Windshaper Skyborne: Walk on Air (glide downward for 10 seconds), Skysight (run speed up 10%), Wind Blessed (passive: 1% Haste) and Elemental Insight (passive: 5% more damage to Elementals).

Alliance racials

  • Human: Will to Survive (removes Stuns), Perception (detect stealthed enemies for 20 seconds), Sword Specialization (passive: swords add 2% spell and ability critical chance) and The Human Spirit (passive: 5% more Spirit).
  • Dwarf: Stoneform (immunity to Bleeds, Poisons and Diseases and less Physical damage taken for 8 seconds), Find Treasure (track nearby treasure chests), Mace Specialization (passive: maces add 1% spell and ability critical chance) and Big Game Hunter (passive: 5% more damage to Beasts).
  • Night Elf: Elune's Light (critical chance up 10% for 15 seconds), Shadowmeld (stealth while standing still), Quickness (passive: 1% more Dodge chance and 2% more run speed) and Wisp Spirit (passive: 75% more run speed while dead).
  • Gnome: Escape Artist (brief immunity to Roots and Snares), Eureka! (lower cost and 10% more damage or healing on your next 3 spells or abilities), Expansive Mind (passive: maximum Mana, Rage or Energy up 5%) and Engineering Specialization (passive: more reliable engineering devices).
  • High Order Skyborne: Walk on Air (glide downward for 10 seconds), Read Ley Line (100% more Health and Mana regeneration), Wind Blessed (passive: 1% Haste) and Elemental Insight (passive: 5% more damage to Elementals).

Racials are still being tuned in the beta. Two days after this article, the September 24 development notes changed Gnome Eureka to a 10% discount on Mana, Rage or Energy abilities for every class, added player level requirements to Tauren Cultivation, and stopped Undead Touch of the Grave from breaking crowd control or triggering from abilities that don’t deal damage.

Talent trees

The Deep Dive panel also covered talents. The trees keep a familiar structure and the same number of rows, with one-point milestone talents at 11, 21 and 31 points, plus a new milestone at 16 points. Some talents are exactly as they were in patch 1.12 and some have been adjusted or improved. Talents that granted key class buffs, such as Divine Spirit, Blessing of Kings and Improved Mark of the Wild, are now baseline for their classes.

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