Which race can play this class?
Start with the faction you need
If you plan to play with friends, select their faction before judging racials. This avoids building a character plan around a combination that cannot join the intended ordinary group.
Filter by the class, then inspect the remaining rows
Choose the class in the matrix and read the permitted races on that faction. Clear either filter to compare alternatives. The table checks legality; it does not calculate a combat advantage.
Treat an upgrade requirement as a separate condition
A Skyborne choice requires its relevant upgrade and the correct faction variant. A normal race being available for the class does not imply that both Skyborne lists also contain it.
Worked examples
Faction=Alliance; class=Shaman.
Dwarf remains a legal choice.
This is the new Alliance Shaman combination. Do not replace it with an Alliance Skyborne Shaman: High Order Skyborne instead has Mage in the faction-specific list.
Faction=Horde; class=Paladin.
Undead is the legal listed choice.
This answers who can create the character. Its ranking, preferred play style and equipment are separate questions.
Faction=Horde; race=Windshaper Skyborne; class=Mage.
That combination is not listed.
High Order Skyborne can be Mage on Alliance. To stay Horde and keep Mage, inspect other legal Horde races rather than assuming the Skyborne variants are identical.
A valid combination is different from a best-race claim
The official matrix is a factual boundary: a marked class can be created for that race and faction. A recommendation about the best race depends on the activity, role and current racial effects. This matrix does not invent a damage percentage to rank those choices.
When you already know the class and faction, use the remaining races to compare appearance, identity and the utility you actually want to use. A small theoretical advantage is not a substitute for an option you enjoy, and an unverified numerical claim should not override a clear legal choice.
Why Skyborne appears twice
The table has ten faction-specific rows: eight familiar races and one Skyborne variant for each side. That presentation does not claim ten unrelated race families. Keep each variant's name, faction and class list together when sharing a recommendation.
If a filter returns no row, clear the faction or class once and inspect the full list. Do not interpret an empty result as a page error or silently substitute another faction. Confirm the intended character in the game's creation screen if a later update differs from the checked source.
Details
Based on public client data and sourced editorial analysis. Level-60 rankings are forecasts.
Common questions
Can Horde play Paladin?
Yes. Undead Paladin appears in Blizzard's Horde matrix.
Can Alliance play Shaman?
Yes. Dwarf Shaman appears in Blizzard's Alliance matrix.
Can every Skyborne be a Mage or Shaman?
No. High Order Skyborne on Alliance can be Mages; Windshapers on Horde can be Shaman.
Why are there ten rows if Skyborne is described as one new race?
The matrix separates the two faction-specific Skyborne choices. The row count is not a count of ten independent race families.
Does the matrix say which racial gives the most damage?
No. It checks legal combinations. A performance comparison needs current effect details and activity-specific evidence.
Why does my chosen filter show no result?
That faction and class combination has no listed race under the selected conditions. Clear a filter and inspect alternatives; do not assume an opposite-faction result is equivalent.
Do I need the Skyborne upgrade for an ordinary race?
No. The upgrade condition applies to Skyborne and its starting experience, not every normal available race.
Sources
- Create The Hero You Want To Be In World Of Warcraft Forever · Checked 2026-11-04
- New Players Starter Guide Welcome To World Of Warcraft Forever · Checked 2026-11-04