Find your class, then compare abilities
Open the complete race and class combinations table to scan both factions, or use the filters above to compare individual racial abilities. If you already know your class, the Warrior guide and Paladin guide connect those choices to the documented ability changes.
Compare the character you want to play
WoW Forever racials are part of the character choice, alongside faction, class availability and the kind of play you enjoy. This tool puts two race options next to each other so you can compare their preview abilities without jumping between separate lists.
Start with your class to remove race options that do not support it in the current preview record. Choose a faction if you already know where your friends will play. Then use the selectors above each panel to compare the remaining choices. Share the page address to reopen the same comparison.
Ten options, including two Skyborne variants
The list contains eight original Classic races and two faction-specific Skyborne options. The Skyborne entries represent variants of one new race, not two different races. The Alliance and Horde versions share several reported traits but have different additional abilities and caster-class options.
Our source snapshot lists Mage for Alliance Skyborne and Shaman for Horde Skyborne. The community transcription and WOWTBC.GG overview agree on that split, while some early coverage reverses it. The panels preserve that uncertainty and direct you back to the sources. Verify availability in the Beta client before treating a character plan as final.
Read abilities before chasing rankings
Combat traits, survival tools and travel conveniences solve different problems. A racial that helps you escape crowd control may matter in a situation where a small throughput bonus does not. A movement ability can make exploring feel better without making a race the best choice for every dungeon.
The summaries deliberately leave out unverified percentages and durations. They are descriptions of reported preview behavior, not a simulated damage ranking. Class-specific racial spells are also outside this first dataset. In particular, a Priest’s full racial spell list should not be inferred from the general race traits shown here.
For another view of your choice, open class changes and look for new abilities or race options. Read the Skyborne field notes for access requirements, source conflicts and the distinction between the two faction variants. All forty trait summaries currently come from a community preview transcription checked on September 13, 2026.
Questions from the campfire
Where can I see all race and class combinations at once?
The race and class combinations table lists Alliance and Horde options for all nine classes. Each race links back to this comparison with the class and faction already selected.
Does this tool identify the best race?
It compares reported racial abilities and class availability. It does not simulate performance or establish a best race, and unverified numerical values are omitted.