Best Race for Paladin in WoW Classic: an x5 guide

Section: Classes & races 1 min read Vanilla 1.12.1 · x5 Updated 04.08.2026

In Vanilla the Paladin is Alliance only, with two races: Human and Dwarf. The choice comes down to utility against magic and physical damage.

Class

Racial

Contents

Available races
Faction breakdown
Key racial abilities
PvP notes
Verdict: which race to pick
Related guides

Available races

Faction	Races	Best pick
Alliance	Human, Dwarf	Dwarf
Horde	none (class unavailable to this faction)	none (class unavailable to this faction)

Faction breakdown

Alliance

The Dwarf is the most versatile paladin thanks to Stoneform: it removes bleeds, poisons and diseases and boosts armor — invaluable against rogues, warriors and in poison-heavy raids. It also grants Frost Resistance and Gun Specialization. Humans are picked for Sword/Mace Specialization (useful for leveling Retribution) and The Human Spirit (+spirit for Holy).

Key racial abilities

Dwarf

Stoneform — removes bleed, poison and disease, +10% armor for 8 sec.
Gun Specialization — +1% crit with guns.
Find Treasure — shows treasure on the minimap.
Frost Resistance — +10 frost resistance.

PvP notes

In PvP the Dwarf's Stoneform is one of the strongest racial buttons in the game: it instantly clears a stack of bleeds and poisons. That is why the Dwarf paladin is prized in Battlegrounds.

Verdict: which race to pick

Alliance: Dwarf — the best overall racial package for the Paladin. The class is unavailable to the Horde.

Related guides

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FAQ

What is the best Paladin race on Alliance?

Dwarf — thanks to racials that suit the Paladin best (see the Faction breakdown).

How much does race matter?

On an x5 server race is a noticeable but not decisive bonus: 1–5% stats and utility. Build, gear and play matter more, but all else equal the best race adds DPS and survivability.