---

Alliance

Human

Starting Area: Northshire Abbey, Elwynn Forest
Capital City: Stormwind
Racial Mount: Horse
Playable Classes: Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Warlock, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 20 STR, 20 AGI, 20 STA, 20 INT, 20 SPR (21 Spirit with their racial)

Abilities:

Perception
Increases your stealth detection (Passive)

The Human Spirit
Increases Spirit by 3%

Diplomacy
Reputation gains increased by 10%

Sword Specialization
Increases expertise with Swords (1H and 2H) by 3.

Mace Specialization
Increases expertise with maces (1H and 2H) by 3.

Every Man for Himself:
Removes all movement impairing effects and all effects which cause loss of control of your character. This effect shares a cooldown with other similar effects, 2 minute cooldown.

Information:

Humans are a great starter class for anyone new to World of Warcraft. By having better stealth detection, a free PvP trinket from the start, and better reputation gains, Humans are a very solid class pick.

Definitely consider Humans as one of the top-end classes racial-wise in the Alliance, especially if going for a Melee character, to take advantage of their extra expertise if planning to raid. Unfortunately, you cannot stack Every Man for Himself with your PvP trinket (how cool would that be?) so you still have to wait 2 minutes if you activate either. Still, though, a great addition by freeing up a trinket slot if doing PvP! This race should be one of the best picks for Death Knights as they have to catch up on a LOT of reputations once they get out of their starter areas.

Night Elf

Starting Area: Teldrassil
Capital City: Darnassus
Racial Mount: Nightsaber
Playable Classes: Druid, Hunter, Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 17 STR, 25 AGI, 19 STA, 20 INT, 20 SPR

Abilities:

Shadowmeld (active)
Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Any threat is restored against enemies still in combat upon cancellation of the effect. 2 Minutes Cooldown.

Quickness
Reduces the chance that melee and ranged attackers will hit you by 2%

Wisp Spirit
Transform into a wisp upon death. 50% faster movement (25% more than a normal ghost)

Nature Resistance
Reduces the chance you will be hit by Nature spells by 2%

Elusiveness
Reduces the chance enemies have to detect you while Shadowmelded or Stealthed

Information:

Many people pick Night Elf for the looks alone, and that's a big plus - Night Elves look awesome! Aside from that, Shadowmeld is pretty useful in PvP situations or when you need to take a small break in an enemy zone. The other perks aren't as good, with Wisp Spirit leading the way if you tend to die a lot, but the rest is merely a bonus for those who use Stealth. Night Elves make one of the best Rogues and Hunters, that's for sure. As for anything else, it's up to you to decide! (And for the love of god, don't go for an xLegolasX name!)

Dwarf

Starting Area: Dun Morogh
Capital City: Ironforge
Racial Mount: Ram
Playable Classes: Hunter, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 22 STR, 16 AGI, 23 STA, 19 INT, 19 SPR

Abilities:

Stoneform (active)
Activate to gain immunity to poison, disease, and bleed (this will also remove these types of debuffs). 10% more armor as well. Lasts 8 seconds, 3 minutes cooldown.

Gun Specialization
Increases chance to critically hit with Guns by 1%

Mace Specialization
Expertise with Maces (1H and 2H) increased by 5.

Frost Resistance
Reduces the chance you will be hit by Frost Spells by 2%

Find Treasure
Activate to see treasure chests on the minimap. Lasts until you cancel it, no cooldown.

Information:

Dwarves are a solid pick overall, Stoneform being one of the best active racials one can have by eliminating all sorts of debuffs on your character. The rest of the racials are pretty subpar, but Dwarves make strong tanks for their starter stamina and stoneform abilities. As for the rest, the treasure-finding skill is seldom useful (who seriously uses it?)

Gnome

Starting Area: Dun Morogh
Capital City: Ironforge
Racial Mount: Mechanostrider Playable Classes: Mage, Rogue, Warrior, Warlock, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 15 STR, 23 AG, 19 STA, 24 INT, 20 SPR

Abilities:

Escape Artist (active)
Escape the effects of any immobilization or movement speed reduction effect. Instant cast. 1 minute 45 second cooldown.

Expansive Mind
Increases Intellect by 5%

Arcane Resistance
Reduces the chance you will be hit by Arcane Spells by 2%

Engineering Specialization
Engineering gets 15 point skill bonuses. This also raises the cap by 15 at each level of Engineering.

Information:

Gnomes make the best casters for their bonus to intellect and their escape artist ability. By having more mana than the other races, and the Escape Artist perk, you are able to keep your distance from enemies while casting at the same time. Engineering proficiency is a plus, but you don't have to get it if you don't want to. If considering a caster, definitely give Gnomes a look. As for the other classes, you have very little to benefit you, so unless you love the gnome look (and who doesn't! a tiny warrior?), do look into the other races.

Draenei

This class is only available with the Burning Crusade expansion.

Starting Area: Azuremyst Isle
Capital City: Exodar
Racial Mount: Elekk
Playable Classes: Mage, Hunter, Paladin, Priest, Shaman, Warrior, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 21 STR, 17 AGI, 19 STA, 21 INT, 22 SPI

Abilities:

Gift of the Naaru (Active)
Heals the target for 170 damage over 15 seconds. The amount healed is increased based on the caster's spellpower or attack power, whichever is highest. This ability does not lose casting time from taking damage.

Heroic Presence
Increases chance to hit [with spells or melee, depending on class] by 1% for you and all party members within 30 yards. Mages, Priests and Shaman increase chance to hit with spells; Hunters, Paladins and Warriors increase chance to hit.

Shadow Resistance
Reduces the chance you will be hit by Shadow Spells by 2%.

Gemcutting
Jewelcrafting skill increased by 5. This also increases the cap by 5 at each level of jewelcrafting.

Information:

Draenei are a race that was introduced in the Burning Crusade and has quite a few unique perks, such as the Gift of the Naaru, which you will see on EVERY single Draenei if they get a chance to use it (a free heal? sign me up!) Aside from that, Heroic Presence makes them a great overall race to pick, and have no real leniency toward any class combo. A decent all-around race.

---

Horde

The Forsaken (Undead)

Starting Area: Tirisfal Glades
Capital City: Undercity
Racial Mount: Skeletal Horse
Playable Classes: Mage, Priest, Rogue, Warrior Warlock, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 19 STR, 18 AGI, 21 STA, 18 INT, 25 SPR

Abilities:

Will of the Forsaken (active)
Removes any charm, fear and sleep effect. 2 Minute Cooldown.

Cannibalize (active)
Activate to regenerate 7% of total health every 2 sec. by consuming Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yds. Lasts 10 sec with a 2 min cooldown. Any movement or action cancels the effect.

Underwater Breathing
Underwater breath lasts 233% longer than normal.

Shadow Resistance
Reduces the chance you will be hit by Shadow Spells by 2%

Information:

Undead players used to be one of the top picks for the Horde until a few patches ago, when Will of the Forsaken received its last nerf - before, it would last a few seconds and could be activated to prevent effects, now it's a reactive racial, like the Human one. This one differs in the fact you can use it along with your PvP trinket for double the effect breakage. Cannibalize and Underwater breathing are icing on the cake. Undead are still one of the top picks for any Horde player who wants a decent set of racials, if you can get past the looks!

Orc

Starting Area: Durotar
Capital City: Orgimmar
Racial Mount: Wolf
Playable Classes: Hunter, Shaman, Rogue, Warrior, Warlock, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 23 STR, 17 AGI, 22 STA, 17 INT, 23 SPR

Abilities:

Blood Fury (active)
Activate to increase attack power and spell damage by an amount based on level/class for 15 seconds, decreasing healing done to the user by 50% for the duration. 2 minute cooldown.

Hardiness
15% resistance to stun and knockout effects.

Command
Damage done by Death Knight, Hunter and Warlock pets increased by 5%

Axe Specialization
Expertise with Axes (1H and 2H) is increased by 5.

Information:

Orcs are an awesome pick for PvP oriented players. From Bloodfury to Hardiness, Orcs make deadly opponents with any class they pick. Good luck getting an Orc Rogue off your back if you want to Stun - PvP gear will make him that much harder to contain. Orcs also make great Hunters for their Command perk, so if you're looking to PvP or just have a solid character (especially melee), can't go wrong with the Orcs.

Tauren

Starting Area: Mulgore
Capital City: Thunder Bluff
Racial Mount: Kodo
Playable Classes: Druid, Hunter, Shaman, Warrior, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 25 STR, 15 AGI, 22 STA, 15 INT, 22 SPR

Abilities:

War Stomp (active)
Activate to stun up to 5 opponents within 8 yards. Lasts 2 sec with a 2 min cooldown.

Endurance
Max Health increased by 5%.

Cultivation
15 skill bonus to Herbalism. This also raises the cap by 15 at each level of herbalism.

Nature Resistance
Reduces the chance you will be hit by Nature Spells by 2%

Information:

Tauren are the other top pick for the Horde. High HP for Tanks and a Stun, these two abilities seem ideal for any becoming Warriors. Be advised, though, their size gives them trouble more often than not (Kodos or even regular mounts get stuck on cities frequently with a Tauren riding them!), if you can live with everything you have being HUGE by player standards, a Tauren is an ideal Warrior or Hunter.

Troll

Starting Area: Durotar
Capital City: Orgrimmar
Racial Mount: Raptor
Playable Classes: Mage, Hunter, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warrior, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 21 STR, 22 AGI, 21 STA, 16 INT, 21 SPR

Abilities:

Berserking (active)
Activat to increase attack and casting speed for 10 seconds. Speed is raised by 10% at full health, increasing health is lost to a maximum bonus of 30%. 3 Minute cooldown.

Regeneration
10% health regen bonus, 10% regeneration active in combat

Beast Slaying
5% damage bonus to Beasts

Throwing Specialization
Increases chance to critically hit with a Throwing Weapon by 1%

Bow Specialization
Increases chance to critically hit with Bows by 1%

Da Voodoo Shuffle
Reduces the duration of all movement imparing effects by 15%. Trolls be flippin' out mon!

Information:

Trolls used to be really bad with Racials, some considering them worthless and a laughable race. Now, it's all changed - Berserking changed to an active skill without needing a crit, and Da Voodoo Shuffle tosses them up there with Orcs and Undead for PvP abilities and maybe even some PvE encounters - all around, a good, solid pick with little to no drawbacks for either casters or melee.

Blood Elves

This race is only available with the Burning Crusade expansion.

Starting Area: Eversong Woods
Capital City: Silvermoon City
Racial Mount: Hawkstrider
Playable Classes: Warlock, Mage, Hunter, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Death Knight
Starting Stats: 17 STR, 22 AGI, 18 STAM, 24 INT, 19 SPI

Abilities:

Arcane Torrent
Activate to silence all enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds. In addition, you gain 15 energy, 15 runic power or 6% mana. 2 minutes cooldown.

Arcane Affinity
10 point skill bonus to Enchanting. This also raises the cap by 10 at each level of Enchanting.

Magic Resistance
Reduces the chance you will be hit by spells by 2%

Information:

Blood Elves have changed some from their original inception. Now, Mana Tap is gone, but Arcane Torrent is always fully energized, giving you back energy, runic power, or mana at a considerable amount. Aside from that silence and regen combo, however, there's not much that makes Blood Elves attractive - if you PvP a lot, or like an extra AoE silence added to your bars, Blood Elf is the way to go!

 

---

Comments or questions? Email us (DarkFact@TenTonHammer.com) or post on our forums!