Races of Azeroth: History of the Alliance and Horde Peoples
Vanilla WoW Classic 1.12 · x5 realm · wowx5.ru
Azeroth is home to dozens of peoples, but in the WoW Classic (Vanilla 1.12.1) era players can choose from eight playable races split between two warring factions — the Alliance and the Horde. Each race has its own history, racial abilities and starting path. This page is a guide to the lore of these peoples; follow the linked articles for the full chronicle of each.
Race affects not only appearance but also racial abilities and available classes. Before rolling a character, read the Best Race for Class guide.
Alliance Races
The Alliance is a union of peoples bound by honor, order and the Light.
| Race | Homeland | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | Stormwind, Elwynn Forest | A young but ambitious people, heart of the Alliance |
| Dwarves | Ironforge, Dun Morogh | Heirs of the earthen giants, masters of runes and steel |
| Night Elves | Teldrassil, Ashenvale | An ancient druidic people, guardians of nature |
| Gnomes | Gnomeregan, Ironforge | Brilliant inventors robbed of their home |
Read: History of Humans · History of Dwarves · History of Night Elves · History of Gnomes.
Horde Races
The Horde is not an empire of evil but a union of outcasts seeking their place: honor, survival and freedom.
| Race | Homeland | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Orcs | Orgrimmar, Durotar | Warriors freed from the demonic blood curse |
| Tauren | Thunder Bluff, Mulgore | Peaceful nomads, children of the Earth Mother |
| Trolls | Durotar, Darkspear Isles | Ancient voodoo hunters of the Darkspear tribe |
| Undead | Undercity, Tirisfal Glades | The Forsaken, broken free from the Scourge |
Read: History of Orcs · History of Tauren · History of Trolls · History of the Forsaken.
How the Races Tie Into World History
The fates of these peoples are woven through a chain of great wars. The War of the Ancients and the Sundering shaped the night elves; the First and Second Wars pitted humans against orcs; the Third War and the Fall of Lordaeron birthed the Forsaken and brought the Horde to Kalimdor. Full timeline: History of Azeroth.
Begin Your Own Story
Choosing a race is the first step of your adventure. Create a WowX5 x5 account, pick the people that speaks to you and write your name into Azeroth's chronicle.
FAQ
How many playable races are in WoW Classic?
Classic offers 8 races: Alliance — humans, dwarves, night elves and gnomes; Horde — orcs, undead (Forsaken), tauren and trolls.
Which race is best for my class?
It depends on the role: each race has unique racial abilities. See the 'Best Race for Class' guide for a full breakdown.
Can I play neutral races?
No. In the Vanilla era only the 8 listed races are available. Goblins, high elves and others remain NPCs.