Battle for Azeroth - Allied Races In Depth Preview

In Battle for Azeroth, the Horde and Alliance will each receive three new playable races.


Alliance
  • Dark Iron Dwarves
  • Lightforged Draenei
  • Void Elves



Horde
  • Zandalari Trolls
  • The Nightborne
  • Highmountain Tauren



Why are They Different?
While the basic skeleton model for each of these races resemble existing ones, each race will have unique customizations and racials.


More in the Future
While there are only 6 Allied Races to start, there are more planned in the future.


How to Unlock
Allied Races are unlocked via preliminary requirements that lead to a quest chain done on your main character to bring the race into your faction. Once completed, the Allied Race will be available in the character creation options account-wide. Preliminary requirements can include becoming exalted with the Allied Race’s faction from previous expansions such as Highmountain or the Nightborne.


What Level/Where do They Start At?
Allied Races begin their journey at level 20. The current plan is for them to start in the main hub of their respective faction (Orgrimmar and Stormwind) and level wherever they see fit within the new old world scaling technology.


Level Boost/Race Change
You are able to level boost and race change to an Allied Race once it is unlocked on your account.


Heritage Armor

After you unlock an Allied Race, leveling one to level cap will unlock a race restricted armor transmog unique to that race. This must be done by actually leveling and not through level boosting or race changing. These transmogs are armor agnostic, meaning they can be transmogged on any type of armor.


Faction Embassies
In the BlizzCon demo, Stormwind and Orgrimmar each had a new building that served as a hub for recruiting their Allied Races. The quests to unlock each race was given out in a manner similar to your artifact weapon acquisition.


Alliance Races

Alliance players will have access to the Dark Iron Dwarves, Lightforged Draenei, and Void Elves.

Dark Iron Dwarves: Led by Magni Bronzebeard’s daughter Moira Thauissan, the Dark Iron Dwarves are known for their dark skin and fiery features. The clan has resided mostly in the Blackrock Mountains until the death of their previous ruler, Dagran Thaurissan.Their relationship with the Alliance has been rocky at best, but with Moira joining Ironforge’s Council of Three Hammers, the Dark Iron Clan is slowly finding a place within its ranks.


  • Racials
    • Unknown
  • Class Options
    • Paladin
    • Rest Unknown
  • Miscellaneous
    • Allowing Death Knights as an option is under consideration


Lightforged Draenei: These Draenei have fought the Burning Legion across the cosmos for a millenia. Infused with the Light by a Naaru ritual, this faction of Draenei joined the Army of the Light and helped vanquish the Legion on Argus. With their main purpose fulfilled, the Lightforged Draenei have joined their brethren in the Alliance to counter Horde aggression.


  • Racials
    • Light's Judgement - Call down a strike of Holy energy dealing 5,150 Holy damage to enemies within 5 yards after 3 sec. 40 yd range, 2.5 min cooldown.
    • Forge of Light - Summon a forge of light, enabling Blacksmithing. Blacksmithing skill increased by 10.
    • Demonbane - Experience gains from killing beasts increased by 20%.
    • Holy Resistance - Reduce Holy damage taken by 1%.
    • Final Verdict - When you die the Light avenges you, dealing 1,162 Holy damage to enemies within 8 yards and healing allies for 1,383.
  • Class Options
    • Hunter, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Warrior
  • Miscellaneous
    • Customization options include light themed tattoos


Void Elves: During the final push against the Legion on Argus, Alleria Windrunner learned to harness the void without falling to madness by her mentor The Locus-Walker. The Void has a reputation for corrupting those who use it, but Alleria has since managed to train a group of outcasted Blood Elves to resist it as well. She and her followers have joined her husband to fight for the Alliance.


  • Racials
    • A small blink
    • Rest Unknown
  • Class Options
    • Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Warrior, Rogue, Warlock
  • Miscellaneous
    • Switch between a void form and a less shadowy form similar to Worgen


Horde Races

Horde players will have access to the Zandalari Trolls, Nightborne, and Highmountain Tauren.

Zandalari Trolls: These trolls are the original trolls of Azeroth residing on the continent of Zandalar. They have a rich history and a proud heritage. Zandalari society worships Loa, animal gods and protectors. They also have a bond with the many dinosaur species found on the planet. The Horde are seeking to gain the trust of this tall-standing race to counter Alliance aggression.


  • Racials
    • Unknown
  • Class Options
    • Druid, Unknown
  • Miscellaneous
    • Druid travel form is a raptor


The Nightborne: Thalyssra and the Nightborne managed to quell their addiction to the Nightwell that had plagued them inside their protective barrier in Suramar for over 10,000 years. When the Legion came, the leaders of their race made a pact that created civil war. Now liberated, the Nightborne have found common ground with the Horde and plan to fight for them.


  • Racials
    • Unknown
  • Class Options
    • Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior


Highmountain Tauren: Bestowed with moose horns by their ancestor Huln, the Highmountain Tauren tribes have united together after pushing the Legion out of their lands. With the threat gone, these Tauren have decided to ally with the horde and the rest of their kind to fight the Alliance.


  • Racials
    • Rugged Tenacity - Reduces damage taken by 330
    • Pride of Ironhorn - Mining skill increased by 15 and allows you to mine faster
    • Mountaineer - Increases your Versatility by 1%.
    • Bull Rush - Charges forward for 1 sec, knocking enemies down for 1.5 sec. 2 minute cooldown.
    • Waste Not, Want Not - You have a chance to loot additional meat and fish
  • Class Options
    • Druid, Hunter, Monk, Shaman, Warrior
This article was originally published in forum thread: Battle for Azeroth - Allied Races started by chaud View original post
Comments 194 Comments
  1. ExtremelyCrusty's Avatar
    Erecccctttt.
  1. Kaichu's Avatar
    The Draenei racials though...
  1. Shinrael's Avatar
    Umm, is it just me or the playable class options listed under Nightborne are incorrect? Atleast they differ from what the official Blizzard site for BfA shows. Can they really be Paladins? Was this confirmed somewhere? This would be a huge thing for me, ya know xD As a blood elf paladin...
  1. Teri's Avatar
    Nightborne shows Monk,Rogue,Warlock as classes on the official page, not Paladins
  1. Hey There Guys its Metro's Avatar
    Why is this being shown now of all days?
  1. Williamgood's Avatar
    Demonbane - Experience gains from killing beasts increased by 20%. Assuming Blizz didn't change that tool tip when copied it over from Troll's Beast Slaying.
  1. Nezzrik's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Teri View Post
    Nightborne shows Monk,Rogue,Warlock as classes on the official page, not Paladins
    yah, nightborne should be hunter mage monk priest rogue warlock warrior
  1. Valysar's Avatar
    Heart attack, I tought they were available right now
  1. Triggered Fridgekin's Avatar
    Jesus Christ I really want them to bring Paladin to Zandalari Trolls.
  1. EternalBany's Avatar
    Yes no more blood elf paladin or cow
  1. Lens Hunter's Avatar
    Really dislike how they had Blood Elves be outcasts for dabbling with Void. Seems like Blizzard doesn't give a shit about the Horde seeming like the bad guys any more.
  1. Noix's Avatar
    Wow that sorta blows cant be a DK on any of them (atm of course).. you would think they would be everything atlest :\
  1. mmocad868b809d's Avatar
    The heritage armour bit mentions it CLASS restricted, shouldn't that be race restricted?
  1. Adoxe's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Shinrael View Post
    Umm, is it just me or the playable class options listed under Nightborne are incorrect? Atleast they differ from what the official Blizzard site for BfA shows. Can they really be Paladins? Was this confirmed somewhere? This would be a huge thing for me, ya know xD As a blood elf paladin...
    Zandalari Trolls will most likely get Paladins, Nightborne do not have them - it's just an error on MMO-C's side.
  1. Pandragon's Avatar
    "In depth preview" "unknown, unknown, unknown."

    This is the worst part of a new expansion. Waiting for the information.
  1. Adoxe's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Noix View Post
    Wow that sorta blows cant be a DK on any of them (atm of course).. you would think they would be everything atlest :\
    Death Knights start in WOTLK timeline, the playable DK's are created by Arthas. Void Elves didn't exist, Nightborne were inside a bubble, Highmountain didn't even meet the Kalimdor Tauren yet, Zandalari were plotting their vengeance from Zandalar, Lightforged were still on Xenedar in Twisting Nether. Why would you expect any of them to be Death Knights? They aren't gonna redesign the whole DK starting zone just because of them, Dark Iron Dwarves are the only ones that would somewhat make sense and they said they're thinking about allowing them to be DK's.
  1. Nezzrik's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Pandragon View Post
    "In depth preview" "unknown, unknown, unknown."

    This is the worst part of a new expansion. Waiting for the information.
    blizzard doesnt even know yet.... would you rather blizzard just not share anything until its ready to be released?
  1. Strawberry's Avatar
    Demonbane - Experience gains from killing beasts increased by 20%.
    That's rather interesting.
    Demonbane but more like Beastbane.
  1. Aqua's Avatar
    I hope paladin for nightborne is true, it seemed odd them not having it considering WHO brought them into the horde. Lady Liadrin.

    Edit: never mind, way to get my hopes up.
  1. Noix's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Adoxe View Post
    Death Knights start in WOTLK timeline, the playable DK's are created by Arthas. Void Elves didn't exist, Nightborne were inside a bubble, Highmountain didn't even meet the Kalimdor Tauren yet, Zandalari were plotting their vengeance from Zandalar, Lightforged were still on Xenedar in Twisting Nether. Why would you expect any of them to be Death Knights? They aren't gonna redesign the whole DK starting zone just because of them, Dark Iron Dwarves are the only ones that would somewhat make sense and they said they're thinking about allowing them to be DK's.
    LOL what... Iron Dwarf makes senses... but Zandalari doesnt (they was around just not seen really)... half of what you said doesnt make sense.

Site Navigation