Skyborne revealed: the Shen'dorei, their faction-locked classes and Walk on Air

The Gnomeregan loading screen from the WoW Forever client

2026-10-05 · ForeverDB

Blizzard's official video reveals the Skyborne, a race of exiled high elves who call themselves the Shen'dorei. It is mostly lore plus the race's own glide, a crane mount and its airships, none of which are in our client data yet. What the video skips is how the six classes a Skyborne can play have changed in Forever, so we list all of that from the client.

This is an official Blizzard video, posted on the World of Warcraft YouTube channel on 5 October 2026. It is a lore and race reveal, so most of it is story, racial abilities and a mount. Those aren't in the client files we hold, which cover class spells and talents, so we can't confirm the Skyborne's own numbers from the client yet. Where we quote the client it is from the WoW Forever beta client, build 1.60.1.70205. Beta data can change before launch.

Blizzard has revealed the Skyborne, the new playable race coming with World of Warcraft: Forever. The video is mostly lore and a tour of the race's own tricks: a glide, a crane mount and the airships that carry them to Azeroth. It also says which classes the Skyborne can play, and that depends on your faction. We can't check racials, mounts or lore against our client data, so below we report what Blizzard said and then cover what the video left out: how the six classes a Skyborne can play have changed in Forever.

Skyborne Lore & Abilities | World of Warcraft: Forever, a video by World of Warcraft — Skyborne Lore & Abilities | World of Warcraft: Forever (World of Warcraft on YouTube)

The short version

The Skyborne call themselves the Shen'dorei, "a race of high elves exiled from the kingdom of Eldre’Thalas nearly 10,000 years ago".
They sheltered on the floating refuge of Skywall. The Wind Spirits that protected it have vanished, and "the delicate balance of magic keeping Skywall safe is starting to break down".
Two groups split over what to do: the Windshapers want to restore the spirits, the High Order want to master Skywall's magic themselves.
Faction matters. "Which faction you choose changes the quests you experience, and even the classes available to you."
Skyborne can be warriors, hunters, rogues and druids on either side. Only Alliance Skyborne can be mages, and only Horde Skyborne can be shamans.
Their racial, Walk on Air, slows a fall into a glide. Their mount is the Galestrider, a crane. The Skycutters are the airships that bring them to Azeroth.
We can't confirm the racial, the mount or the class combos from the client yet. Lower down we list what the video skipped: every class change for the six classes a Skyborne can play.

Claim by claim

Ability	Blizzard says	The client says	Verdict
Walk on Air	"Every Skyborne has access to Walk on Air", turning "a fatal fall into a controlled glide"	This is a racial, not in the class files we hold. We can't confirm it from the client yet.	We can't check this
Galestrider mount	The race's mount, "a majestic crane"	Mounts aren't in the class data. We can't confirm it from the client yet.	We can't check this
Playable classes	Warrior, hunter, rogue and druid on either faction	The client holds changes for these classes but not which race can be which class. We can't confirm the combos yet.	We can't check this
Mage and shaman	Alliance Skyborne can be mages; Horde Skyborne can be shamans; neither can be the other	Not something the class files record. We can't confirm it from the client yet.	We can't check this
New druid forms	Skyborne "come with all new druid forms"	The client has Druid spell changes but no Skyborne-specific forms we can point to yet.	We can't check this

A race reveal, so the features are racials, a mount and lore. Our client data is class spells and talents, so we can't confirm any of these from it yet.

What Blizzard showed

The Shen'dorei

The Skyborne call themselves the Shen'dorei. Blizzard describes them as "a race of high elves exiled from the kingdom of Eldre’Thalas nearly 10,000 years ago". After fleeing Kalimdor, they crossed to Zephras Isle, and the Spirit of the Four Winds lifted their mountain into Skywall, where they stayed hidden. Now the Wind Spirits have vanished, and "the delicate balance of magic keeping Skywall safe is starting to break down". You play one of a new generation forced to look beyond the sanctuary that once protected your people.

Two schools of thought

Before you leave Skywall, you pick a side in how to save it. "The Windshapers believe the Skyborne owe their survival to the spirits," and want to restore the balance and bring back the Elementals that protected it. "The High Order sees another path," and wants to master Skywall's magic and make the Skyborne independent. Blizzard says the choice shapes the quests and the story you see.

Faction decides your classes

At character creation you choose tattoos, feathers and hair, then a faction, and "which faction you choose changes the quests you experience, and even the classes available to you". "Skyborne can become warriors, hunters, rogues, and druids, regardless of which side they join," and they come with new druid forms. Mage and shaman are split: Alliance Skyborne follow the arcane and can be mages, Horde Skyborne lean into the spirits and can be shamans. "A Horde Skyborne can't become a mage, an Alliance Skyborne can't become a shaman."

Walk on Air

An NPC called Myriaal Mistwake teaches the race's signature move by telling you to step off a tower. "Through the magic of the wind spirits, every Skyborne has access to Walk on Air." Activate it, jump, and you slow your descent, "turning a fatal fall into a controlled glide". Blizzard says it changes how you move through the world, and that a cliff edge "might be the fastest way forward". We can't see the racial in our client data, so we can't give its numbers yet.

The Galestrider and the Skycutters

Every new race gets its own mount. "For the Skyborne, that is the Galestrider," which Blizzard calls "a majestic crane that pairs well with the race's innate air affinity". The "Skycutters are among the Shen’dorei’s greatest creations", airborne vessels that carry the Skyborne between planes and bring this new generation to Azeroth. Neither is in our client data.

What the video didn't mention

The video names the six classes a Skyborne can play but says nothing about how they have changed in Forever. Here is what we found in the client for each, with the Classic Era numbers only as the before. The beta cap is level 30, and talent tiers open every five levels from 10, so tier 5 is the last one you can reach now. Changes you can use at the cap come first.

Warrior

Arms

Spearing Strike Spearing Strike: new Arms talent at level 25 (tier 4). A brutal attack for 40% weapon damage, plus 80% more against Giants, Dragonkin and mounted targets.
Bloodthrill Bloodthrill: new Arms talent at level 30 (tier 5), in Classic's Axe Specialization slot. Main-hand hits on a target with your Rend have a 20% chance to let you use Overpower for 6 sec.
Weaponmaster Weaponmaster: new Arms talent at level 30 (tier 5), in Classic's Mace Specialization slot. Gives a different bonus per weapon type (crit, armour ignore or an extra swing).
Tactical Mastery Tactical Mastery: now a trainer ability at level 14, new in Forever. In Classic this name was a talent.
Thunder Clap Thunder Clap: cooldown 6 sec instead of 4 sec, and now usable in Battle or Defensive Stance (Classic: Battle Stance only). From level 6.
Victory Rush Victory Rush: new class ability at level 20, healing you for 10% of your health after a kill, on a 30 sec cooldown. It was a Season of Discovery rune; the trainer teaches it here.
Removed: Sword Specialization Weaponmaster and Polearm Specialization are gone from the Arms tree.

Fury

Lingering Rage Lingering Rage: new Fury talent at level 15 (tier 2), in Classic's Improved Demoralizing Shout slot. Rank 5 holds your Rage from decaying for 10 sec longer after combat.
Furious Precision Furious Precision: new Fury talent at level 20 (tier 3), in Classic's Improved Cleave slot. Rank 3 gives +10% off-hand hit.
Raging Blows Raging Blows: new Fury talent at level 25 (tier 4). Cuts the Rage cost of Cleave and Whirlwind by 3.
Slam Slam: now has a rank 1 at level 20 and an 18 sec cooldown instead of none.
Battle Shout Battle Shout: weaker but longer. Rank 7 gives 139 attack power instead of 232, and lasts 3 min instead of 2 min.
Demoralizing Shout Demoralizing Shout: stronger and longer. Rank 5 cuts 196 attack power instead of 140, for 45 sec instead of 30. From level 14.
Gore Drinker Gore Drinker: new Fury talent (level 35, above the cap).

Protection

Master of Defense Master of Defense: new Protection talent at level 20 (tier 3), in Classic's Improved Shield Block slot. Rank 2 gives 5 Rage whenever you Dodge or Parry with a shield.
Vanguard Vanguard: new Protection talent at level 25 (tier 4). Lets you Charge in Defensive Stance.
Focused Rage Focused Rage: new Protection talent at level 30 (tier 5). Cuts the Rage cost of your offensive abilities by 3.
Shield Block Shield Block: now lasts 7 sec and blocks 2 attacks, instead of 5 sec and 1 attack. From level 16.
Revenge Revenge: more damage. Rank 6 hits for 138 to 168 instead of 81 to 99.
Taunt Taunt: 8 sec cooldown instead of 10 sec.
Removed: Improved Taunt Improved Taunt and Toughness Toughness are gone.

All 71 Warrior changes, rank by rank →

Hunter

Beast Mastery

Focused Fire Focused Fire: new Beast Mastery talent at level 15 (tier 2), in Classic's Improved Eyes of the Beast slot. Rank 2 adds 2% damage for you and your pet while the pet is out.
Summon Hawk Summon Hawk: new Beast Mastery talent at level 25 (tier 4). Sends a hawk to dive-bomb for 32 (+5% of ranged attack power) damage over 18 sec; shares a cooldown with Arcane Shot.
Removed: Thick Hide Thick Hide is gone from the tree.

Marksmanship

Careful Aim Careful Aim: new Marksmanship talent at level 15 (tier 2). Rank 5 adds 100% of your Intellect to Attack Power.
Improved Stings Improved Stings: new Marksmanship talent at level 15 (tier 2). Rank 3 adds 20% Serpent Sting damage, cuts Viper Sting's cooldown and lengthens Scorpid Sting.
Lone Wolf Lone Wolf: new Marksmanship talent at level 20 (tier 3). +20% damage while you have no pet out.
Rapid Killing Rapid Killing: new Marksmanship talent at level 20 (tier 3). Cuts Rapid Fire's cooldown and buffs a shot after a kill.
Sniper Shot Sniper Shot: new Marksmanship talent (level 40, above the cap).
Removed: Improved Hunter's Mark Improved Hunter's Mark and Improved Serpent Sting Improved Serpent Sting are gone.

Survival

Improved Tracking Improved Tracking: renamed from Monster Slaying, Survival tier 1 at level 10. Rank 5 adds 5% damage to whatever creature type you are tracking.
Predator's Edge Predator's Edge: new Survival talent at level 25 (tier 4). Rank 5 adds 30% melee crit damage and 50% off-hand damage.
Expose Prey Expose Prey: new Survival talent at level 30 (tier 5), in Classic's Killer Instinct slot. A chance to proc Mongoose Bite against marked targets.
Strider Kick Strider Kick: new Survival talent at level 30 (tier 5). A kick for full weapon damage and +30% move speed for 3 sec.
Lacerate Lacerate: new class ability at level 30 (a Season of Discovery rune the trainer now teaches).
Lacerating Strikes Lacerating Strikes: new Survival talent (level 40, above the cap).

Beast Training

New pet attacks at level 1: Dismember Dismember, Dust Cloud Dust Cloud, Mine! Mine!, Pinch Pinch, Savage Rend Savage Rend, Swipe Swipe, Tendon Rip Tendon Rip and Web Web, none of which existed in Classic Era.
Trickster's Dance Trickster's Dance: new pet ability at level 20.

All 85 Hunter changes, rank by rank →

Rogue

Assassination

Mutilate Mutilate: new Assassination talent at level 30 (tier 5). Hits with both weapons for 75% weapon damage each, +20% against poisoned targets, and awards 2 combo points.
Coup de Grace Coup de Grace: new Assassination ability at level 30, new in Forever.
Malice Malice: now raises crit with attacks and Poisons, not just attacks. From level 10.
Expose Armor Expose Armor: stronger. Rank 5 strips 450 armour per combo point instead of 340.
Rupture Rupture: less damage. Rank 6 does 105 over 6 sec instead of 180.
Venom Venom: new Assassination talent (level 40, above the cap).

Combat

Puncturing Wounds Puncturing Wounds: new Combat talent at level 15 (tier 2), in Classic's Improved Backstab slot. Rank 3 adds 30% Backstab crit and 15% Mutilate crit.
Flawless Execution Flawless Execution: new Combat talent at level 25 (tier 4), in Classic's Dagger Specialization slot. Cuts Eviscerate's energy cost by 10.
Improved Eviscerate Improved Eviscerate: moved into Combat tier 1 and now +20% instead of +15%.
Removed: Fist Weapon Specialization Fist Weapon Specialization and Mace Specialization Hack and Slash are gone.

Subtlety

Dirty Tricks Dirty Tricks: new Subtlety talent at level 15 (tier 2). Cuts Sap and Blind energy cost by 50%.
Improved Distract Improved Distract: new Subtlety talent at level 20 (tier 3).
Sap Sap: no longer needs you to be stealthed and does not break Stealth. From level 10.
Distract Distract: now lasts 10 sec and lowers enemies' stealth detection. From level 22.
Opportunity Opportunity: 2 ranks now instead of 5, and buffs Backstab, Garrote, Ambush and Mutilate by 10%.
Quietus Quietus and Thousand Cuts Thousand Cuts: new Subtlety talents (levels 35 and 40, above the cap).

All 56 Rogue changes, rank by rank →

Shaman

Elemental

Earthbound Earthbound: new Elemental talent at level 30 (tier 5). Your Earthbind Totem now immobilises nearby targets for 5 sec when cast.
Lightning Overload Lightning Overload: new Elemental talent at level 30 (tier 5). Rank 3 gives Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning a 10% chance to fire a free half-damage copy.
Call of the Elements Call of the Elements at level 20 and Call of the Ancestors Call of the Ancestors at level 30: new abilities that drop a saved set of totems at once.
Totemic Recall Totemic Recall: new ability at level 20, new in Forever.
Call of the Spirits Call of the Spirits: new ability (level 40, above the cap).
Removed: Fire Nova Totem (level 12) and Tranquil Air Totem (level 50) are gone from the Shaman's list.

Enhancement

Dual Wield can no longer be learned in Forever (Classic Era taught it from level 1). A big change for Enhancement.
Shamanistic Focus Shamanistic Focus: new Enhancement talent at level 20 (tier 3), in Classic's Two-Handed Axes and Maces slot. Cuts Shock and Lightning Shield mana cost by 45%.
Improved Stormstrike Improved Stormstrike: new Enhancement talent at level 30 (tier 5).
Mental Quickness Mental Quickness: new Enhancement talent at level 30 (tier 5). Adds up to 30% of your Intellect to spell damage and healing.
Spirit Weapons Spirit Weapons: new talent at level 30 (tier 5), in Classic's Parry slot; gives a parry chance and lowers threat.
Totemic Projection Totemic Projection: new ability at level 22 (a Season of Discovery spell; 1 min cooldown here).

Restoration

Mindfulness Mindfulness: new Restoration talent at level 15 (tier 2). Rank 3 keeps 50% of your mana regen going while casting.
Water Shield Water Shield: new Restoration talent at level 20 (tier 3), in Classic's Totemic Mastery slot. Restores mana when you are hit or land a crit-heal.
Healing Wave Healing Wave: a little less healing at its top ranks and higher spell power scaling at low ranks. Rank 10 heals 1508 to 1722 instead of 1620 to 1850.
Riptide Riptide: new Restoration talent (level 40, above the cap).
Removed: Nature's Guidance Nature's Guidance is gone.

All 86 Shaman changes, rank by rank →

Mage

Arcane

Arcane Blast Arcane Blast: new Arcane talent at level 20 (tier 3). Each cast raises your other spells' damage by 10% but makes the next Arcane Blast cost more; stacks up to 4 times.
Missile Barrage Missile Barrage: new Arcane talent at level 25 (tier 4). A chance to make your next Arcane Missiles fast and free.
Arcane Intellect Arcane Intellect: now lasts 1 hour instead of 30 min.
Dampen Magic Dampen Magic: stronger. Rank 5 soaks 135 spell damage instead of 90.
Teleport: Dalaran Teleport: Dalaran: new ability (level 50, above the cap).
Removed: Detect Magic (level 16) is gone from the Mage's list.

Fire

Heating Up Heating Up: new Fire talent at level 25 (tier 4). Fire crits cut your next Pyroblast's cast time, stacking up to 3 times.
Fireball Fireball: less base damage at its top ranks but full spell power scaling at low ranks. Rank 12 does 425 to 541 instead of 596 to 760.
Fire Blast Fire Blast: slightly less damage. Rank 7 does 402 to 474 instead of 431 to 509.
Flamestrike Flamestrike: the burning damage-over-time is gone from most ranks.
Frostfire Bolt Frostfire Bolt: new ability (level 40, above the cap; a Season of Discovery rune).

Frost

Ice Lance Ice Lance: new Frost talent at level 20 (tier 3). Deals 300% damage to frozen targets.
Fingers of Frost Fingers of Frost: new Frost talent at level 30 (tier 5). Chill effects can make your next 2 spells treat the target as frozen.
Frostbolt Frostbolt: less base damage at high ranks, higher spell power scaling at low ranks. Rank 11 does 457 to 493 instead of 515 to 555.
Frost Nova Frost Nova: a touch less damage at most ranks.
Chilled Chilled: one rank now instead of three.

All 65 Mage changes, rank by rank →

Druid

Balance

Genesis Genesis: new Balance talent at level 10 (tier 1). Rank 5 adds 5% to your periodic damage and healing.
Nature's Majesty Nature's Majesty: new Balance talent at level 15 (tier 2), in Classic's Natural Weapons slot. Rank 2 adds 4% crit with spells and melee.
Nature's Splendor Nature's Splendor: new Balance talent at level 20 (tier 3). Lengthens Moonfire, Rejuvenation, Regrowth and Insect Swarm.
Eclipse Eclipse: new Balance talent at level 30 (tier 5). Wrath shortens your next Starfires.
Wrath Wrath: costs less mana and scales more at low ranks; less base damage at high ranks.
Removed: Improved Thorns Improved Thorns is gone.

Feral Combat

Primal Bite Primal Bite: new Feral talent at level 25 (tier 4). A bite for 100% normal damage plus 26 and high threat.
Shifting Power Shifting Power: new Feral talent at level 25 (tier 4). Converts Mana into Energy.
Predatory Instincts Predatory Instincts: new Feral talent at level 30 (tier 5). +20% melee crit damage.
Improved Shifting Power Improved Shifting Power: new Feral talent at level 30 (tier 5). Cuts Shifting Power's cooldown by 8 sec.
Above the cap: Rend and Tear Rend and Tear and Natural Reaction Natural Reaction at level 35, Berserk Berserk at level 40, and the Lacerate Lacerate ability at level 42.
Removed: Feral Aggression Feral Aggression is gone.