Can they ever, realistically, allow other races to be Demon Hunters...?

[Queen of Hamsters]

And should they?

I must admit that I think a female Orc DH would LOOK badass, I was never a fan of Elves, but hearing someone say that it WILL happen "because there's support in the lore" without getting a source nor clarification brought me here.

Or is it just a case of them pulling what they did with DK's and it's just a matter of time...? If so, what races would make sense?

[Maljinwo]

There's nothing elven about Demon Hunters, culturally spepaking. It's just eating a demon's heart and drinking the blood to become fel infused using tattoos to keep it in check

Zandalari Demoniacs were a similar concept where they would allow a Demon to posess them and then enslave them from the inside, using special runecloth fabric to keep the demon terrified

[Dhrizzle]

I think Orks and Draenei would make sense, but not Lightsworn or Mag'har. I could also see the lore being pushed to include dwarves (at least Dark Irons) and trolls but it would be a stretch.

Any other races and it would look like they were brushing the lore away to give people a chance to play what they want.

[Queen of Hamsters]

There's nothing elven about Demon Hunters, culturally spepaking. It's just eating a demon's heart and drinking the blood to become fel infused using tattoos to keep it in check

Zandalari Demoniacs were a similar concept where they would allow a Demon to posess them and then enslave them from the inside, using special runecloth fabric to keep the demon terrified

So in essence, any race/anyone could do it should they be so inclined? o.O

Here I was convinced (by lore buffs nonetheless) that Demon Hunters carried more sanctity and exclusivity to them than DK's...

- - - Updated - - -

I think Orks and Draenei would make sense, but not Lightsworn or Mag'har. I could also see the lore being pushed to include dwarves (at least Dark Irons) and trolls but it would be a stretch.

Any other races and it would look like they were brushing the lore away to give people a chance to play what they want.

That's my idea as well, Yes, but with limitations. No Goblins, Gnomes, Vulpera, Tauren, Lightforged etc. Orcs for Horde and Draenei for Alliance could be swell though!

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

As with Death Knights only if the story calls of it. If a new Demon invasion were to happen expansions from now that would give a good reason for the Illidari to start training other races.

[NecroVane]

The bigger liminting factor for DH is the number of unique animations they have that would need to be created for other races, including demon form and the like. Blizzard is lazy as hell at the best of times, they wouldn't waste that kind of effort when they could be spending it on a store mount or something.

[bmjclark]

So in essence, any race/anyone could do it should they be so inclined? o.O

Here I was convinced (by lore buffs nonetheless) that Demon Hunters carried more sanctity and exclusivity to them than DK's...

I think the only limitation is that Illidan only trained elves to become Illidari (mostly because he didn't really have too many other playable races in his ranks). But like, it's blizzards game they could change it tomorrow if they want other races to be demon hunters

[Dhrizzle]

That's my idea as well, Yes, but with limitations. No Goblins, Gnomes, Vulpera, Tauren, Lightforged etc. Orcs for Horde and Draenei for Alliance could be swell though!

The history those two races have with demons provides a strong narrative hooks for them to become demon hunters. With Dark Irons and Zandalari I certainly think it's within their mindsets to exploit that source of power but they don't really have the same connection in the story. Most other races I think would balk at the idea of being so fundamentally changed in that way, or they have their own thing going on with void power, undeath, wolfiness etc.

[Garymorilix]

Not going to happen.

Firstly, lore reasons.
There are no other demon hunter races in the lore, period. You cannot twist that part no matter how much you want to.

Also, saying a race "can" be something means nothing. Anything could be anything.
You think it would be virtually impossible for an Orc to be a Druid? No it wouldn't. But they can't be druids because orcs are not druids. It's that simply.
If it doesn't fit the race fantasy it simply won't exist.
Now, this doesn't mean that we cannot have an Orc Druid NPC in the world for some reason. But that will not be the norm.

Additionally, unless they literally make a 3rd Burning Legion expansion (which they won't as the BL is done) there would be literally NO lore reason to create more demon hunters.

Secondly, gameplay reasons.
Unless Blizzard gets really bored and start to make unique DH models and animations for other races it won't happen.
Making DK's available to other races is a simply eye-glow, voice effect and maybe one extra grey skin color and that's it.
Making Dh's availalbe would mean creating NEW DH animations for other races (which they don't have now), making a unique meta form for each of them and tons of character customization.

Conclusion: DH's will be exclusive to elven races for a long time.

[Feanoro]

Sadly, lore is made to service gameplay like a cheap hooker in an alley. If the spreadsheet jockeys think gnome and goblin DHs will increase MAUs, the lore will twist into pretzels if needed to support it.

[Luxeley]

If they can Retcon allied races into becoming Death Knights, I don't see why they can't do the same for Demon Hunters if they really wanted to.

[Majerin]

Not going to happen.

Firstly, lore reasons.
There are no other demon hunter races in the lore, period. You cannot twist that part no matter how much you want to.

Also, saying a race "can" be something means nothing. Anything could be anything.
You think it would be virtually impossible for an Orc to be a Druid? No it wouldn't. But they can't be druids because orcs are not druids. It's that simply.
If it doesn't fit the race fantasy it simply won't exist.
Now, this doesn't mean that we cannot have an Orc Druid NPC in the world for some reason. But that will not be the norm.

Additionally, unless they literally make a 3rd Burning Legion expansion (which they won't as the BL is done) there would be literally NO lore reason to create more demon hunters.

Secondly, gameplay reasons.
Unless Blizzard gets really bored and start to make unique DH models and animations for other races it won't happen.
Making DK's available to other races is a simply eye-glow, voice effect and maybe one extra grey skin color and that's it.
Making Dh's availalbe would mean creating NEW DH animations for other races (which they don't have now), making a unique meta form for each of them and tons of character customization.

Conclusion: DH's will be exclusive to elven races for a long time.

Some of your lore reasons are a little off. Functionally speaking, it'd be all too easy to have draenei and orc demon hunters that aren't under the faction of the illidari. After all, the Illidari is a simple faction whereas a demon hunter is arguably an archetype that empowers itself through a ritual binding itself to a demon soul.

An orc cannot be a druid because the race has a history of entangling itself against the natural forces and spirits of Azeroth. I'd agree with this argument for Lightborne draenei for sure, though.

They are absolutely going to have a 3rd Burning Legion expansion! The Seat of the Pantheon has been drawing ever nearer every patch, and there's been a ridiculous amount of hints and cookies that Sargeras is going to break free in some fashion (though whether he is an enemy or our ally is hard to say, considering their heavy handedness regarding "X was doing the right thing all along, Y is the real evil!").

Animations are an extremely valid point, and that's the real primary limitation. Same reason why they are so loath to add new druids to the game despite pandaren being shoe-ins for the concept.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

If they can Retcon allied races into becoming Death Knights, I don't see why they can't do the same for Demon Hunters if they really wanted to.

How are they a retcon? Bolvar, who was still the Lich King at the time, raised them the same way Arthas did.

[Clone]

Not going to happen.

Firstly, lore reasons.
There are no other demon hunter races in the lore, period. You cannot twist that part no matter how much you want to.

This is no reason at all. The writers, especially the ones at Blizzard, aren't constrained by the lore. They can make up anything to justify it if they want to.

[Luxeley]

How are they a retcon? Bolvar, who was still the Lich King at the time, raised them the same way Arthas did.

Maybe Retcon isn't the right word, but the point is - if they can write in Allied Races as DKs, they could easily do the same for Dhs.

[Clone]

The history those two races have with demons provides a strong narrative hooks for them to become demon hunters. With Dark Irons and Zandalari I certainly think it's within their mindsets to exploit that source of power but they don't really have the same connection in the story. Most other races I think would balk at the idea of being so fundamentally changed in that way, or they have their own thing going on with void power, undeath, wolfiness etc.

You can probably fit Highmountain taurens in there, and add humans to balance it out on Alliance side.

[Elestia]

Void elves and nightborne should have been added in Legion...

Kinda missed the boat, really no need to have another DH race option tbh. Doesn't make sense that 'all' Belf DHs happened to not become voids, or that there weren't still fel nightborne left over.


Orcs and draenei... Eh, both in game societies have a pretty deep relationship with the Legion so it's possible. Thematically speaking they would bring pretty different elements to the class however, pretty unclear if there's design space to expand a third spec with them in mind.

[Accendor]

And should they?

I must admit that I think a female Orc DH would LOOK badass, I was never a fan of Elves, but hearing someone say that it WILL happen "because there's support in the lore" without getting a source nor clarification brought me here.

Or is it just a case of them pulling what they did with DK's and it's just a matter of time...? If so, what races would make sense?

It never would have been a problem do have orcs and draenei DHs in the first place. Like really, instead of saying "night Elves only" it would have made total sense for Illidan to use all weapons that he had at his disposal and orcs and draenei were part of that.

That being said, even today it would be no problem, same as for DKs. There will always be people, no matter which race, that seek power for revenge and helping them to infuse themselves with a demon soul is really nothing thats completely unrealistic.

So yeah, it should already have happened and it needs to happen.

[Razion]

Demons have hunted and slain all various races on Azeroth. All races have the motivation and drive for revenge against demons, and all races are capable of wielding Fel magic so all races should not only want to but be able to be Demon Hunters. It's not like the training is inaccessible either, the Illidari are right there in SW and Org.

[Nathreim]

I think they could expand it to Orcs and Draenei as both were in Illidans army.

But if you are asking if any other races are willing to blind themselves and eat demon flesh for the slight chance they may not go mad or die during the mutation than no. With the Legion all but gone there is no point.