Choose your race. Find your class.

High Elf

Begin in Thalassian Highlands. Choose a Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest or Mage.

Goblin

Begin on Blackstone Island. Choose a Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Mage or Warlock.

A different beginning

The list below brings all ten races together. The class choices for High Elf and Goblin help you plan your first character.

All ten races at a glance

Humans, Dwarves and Trolls have the widest choice with seven classes each. Night Elves, Gnomes, Tauren and Goblins have five. Altogether that makes 59 race and class combinations.

Every race and class combination

This matrix shows every combination the realm allows, read from its character creation data. A tick means the race can start as that class; the last column counts the classes per race and the bottom row counts the races per class.

Warriors and Hunters are open to every race. Rogues are open to nine races, Mages to eight, Priests and Warlocks to seven, Paladins and Shamans to three each, and Druids only to Night Elves and Tauren. Together that makes the 59 combinations.

High Elves: the Alliance's newest race

High Elves begin their story in Thalassian Highlands, a starting zone with 56 quests that carry you from level 1 to about 12. Their class list leans towards magic and martial discipline: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest and Mage. A High Elf Paladin or Priest is a natural healer for Alliance groups, while the Mage and Hunter are strong solo choices for your first character.

Later, the Alliance city of Alah'Thalas offers 25 more quests for High Elves and their allies.

Goblins: the Horde's new recruits

Goblins start on Blackstone Island, whose 35 quests take you through the first levels (1 to about 9) before you head for the mainland. They can be Warriors, Hunters, Rogues, Mages or Warlocks. A Goblin Warlock or Mage gives the Horde another caster option, while the Goblin Rogue fits the race perfectly.

New pairings for the classic races

Turtle WoW opened up class choices that the original 1.12 game kept closed:

• Human Hunter – Humans can now tame a pet and fight from range.
• Orc Mage – the Orcs' first arcane spellcasters.
• Dwarf Mage and Dwarf Warlock – Dwarves gain both arcane and fel magic.
• Undead Hunter – the Forsaken can finally take up the bow and a pet.
• Tauren Priest – a new healer for the Horde.
• Gnome Hunter – small race, big rifle.
• Troll Warlock – Trolls now have seven classes.

These pairings use the normal class trainers and abilities; the novelty is who gets to learn them.

How to choose your first character

If you are new, pick the role you enjoy first and the race second. Warriors and Paladins stand at the front, Priests, Druids, Shamans and Paladins can heal, and Mages, Warlocks, Hunters and Rogues deal damage. Hunters and Warlocks are the easiest to level alone because their pets take hits for them. Priests and Druids are always welcome in dungeon groups.

Then think about where you want to start. Each race begins in its own zone, and the new races begin in brand-new areas: Thalassian Highlands for High Elves and Blackstone Island for Goblins. Faction matters less than usual here, because Alliance and Horde characters can group, trade and join the same guild on this realm.

Alliance or Horde?

The Alliance brings Humans, Dwarves, Night Elves, Gnomes and now High Elves; the Horde brings Orcs, Undead, Tauren, Trolls and now Goblins. Your faction decides your capital cities, your flight paths and which side you fight for in the battlegrounds. On this realm it no longer decides who you can play with: Alliance and Horde characters can chat, group, join the same guild, trade and share the auction house. Pick the side whose story and look you like best.

Planning a character for the long road

Levelling to 60 at x1 rates takes time, so it pays to choose a character you will enjoy for weeks. Think about how you like to play in a group: tanks and healers find dungeon groups quickly, while damage dealers often wait longer but have more freedom while questing. Think about your friends, too. On this realm Alliance and Horde characters can group and join the same guild, so the faction you pick does not lock you away from them.

Finally, look at where your race begins. High Elves start in Thalassian Highlands and Goblins on Blackstone Island, the two Turtle starting zones; every other race starts in its classic home zone and meets the Turtle content a little later, in Balor, Northwind or Grim Reaches.

Where your race starts

• Elwynn Forest – Humans.
• Dun Morogh – Dwarves and Gnomes.
• Teldrassil – Night Elves.
• Thalassian Highlands – High Elves.
• Durotar – Orcs and Trolls.
• Tirisfal Glades – Undead.
• Mulgore – Tauren.
• Blackstone Island – Goblins.

For what comes after the starting zone, see the zones and dungeons guide.