Picking a race in World of Warcraft can be a daunting. Races can have special abilities with a relatively negligible impact on a player’s experience, but forms of content or classes almost feel like they’re best-suited for specific races.
Below, we’ve listed all you need to know about choosing the right race for the right class.
Races in World of Warcraft explained
There are 13 different classes in WoW, and all but three of them have three specializations (specs). Demon Hunters and Evokers have just two specs. Meanwhile, Druids have four specs with one for each role—healer, tank, melee DPS, and ranged DPS.
Deciding on a race for your class is largely a personal decision, and it typically doesn’t impact your gameplay too heavily. However, some racial abilities are known to be especially useful. For instance, Blood Elf has historically been a popular race for characters because of Arcane Torrent. Additionally, Night Elf’s racial ability Shadow Meld has made it a prominently used race by players that run high-level Mythic Keystones.
The race you pick for your character will vary not only by the secondary stat boost it provides, but its racial abilities might be more in line with certain types of content.
Additionally, some WoW races are especially proficient at certain gathering professions, and players will make characters of a certain race and class combination, like a Tauren Druid, specifically to be a gatherer.
Level up faster in WoW Dragonflight with these Zygor in-game guides
What are the best races for each class in WoW Dragonflight?
At the end of the day, the race you pick for your character should be whatever makes you happiest. Whether you dream of being a Goblin Rogue or any other combo that you can dream up, don’t let the high-end content meta define what you select.
But for those that are looking to get every advantage possible in the world—of Warcraft—here is a list of some of the most optimal races that high-level players use for each individual class and the roles they perform in WoW Dragonflight.
This list is primarily intended for players doing PvE content.
Best Horde races for each class
- Death Knight – Troll (Unholy), Blood Elf (Frost), Goblin (Blood)
- Demon Hunter – Blood Elf or Night Elf
- Druid – Troll or Tauren
- Evoker – Can only be played Dracthyr
- Hunter – Orc
- Mage – Troll or Tauren
- Monk – Highmountain Tauren (Brewmaster), Blood Elf (Mistweaver/Winderwalker)
- Paladin – Blood Elf (Holy, Protection), Tauren (Retribution)
- Priest – Goblin or Blood Elf
- Rogue – Blood Elf
- Shaman – Tauren
- Warlock – Troll
- Warrior – Troll, Highmountain Tauren (Protection)
When it comes to the new (and very cool) race called the Dracthyr, there is a pretty big requirement you have to meet before you can play as one. While the other races are available from the time you start, you can’t make a Dracthyr character until you’ve got a character that is level 60. Unfortunate, but the traits and abilities of the Dracthyr’s unique Evoker class sound pretty sweet!
Best Alliance races for each class
- Death Knight – Human
- Demon Hunter – Can only be Night Elf
- Druid – Night Elf
- Evoker – Can only be played Dracthyr
- Hunter – Night Elf
- Mage – Dwarf
- Monk – Kul Tiran (Brewmaster), Dwarf (Mistweaver), Human (Windwalker)
- Paladin – Human (Holy), Lightforged Draenei (Protection), Dwarf (Retribution)
- Priest – Dwarf or Night Elf
- Rogue – Human
- Shaman – Dwarf
- Warlock – Dwarf
- Warrior – Human, Kul Tiran (Protection)
