Best Class and Race in WoW Forever: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Picking Your First Character

If you are new to WoW Forever, play a Hunter, Warlock or Paladin first: all three can fight alone, survive mistakes and level comfortably, with Beast Mastery Hunter the easiest of all because its pet holds enemies while you shoot from range. For your race, pick the faction your friends play and the look you like best. Race bonuses are small; the class decides how the game feels.

Step 1: Pick Your Faction

WoW Forever keeps the two factions apart: Alliance and Horde cannot group together. If you are playing with friends, agree on faction and ruleset before anyone makes a character, because you can only group inside the same pair. Our rulesets guide explains why that second part matters so much.

• Alliance: Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome, plus the Skyborne High Order.

• Horde: Orc, Undead, Tauren, Troll, plus the Skyborne Windshapers.

Step 2: Pick Your Class

WoW Forever has the nine original classes, and no new classes, but every class has revised talents and new trainer abilities. Here is each one in plain terms.

Easiest: Hunter, Warlock, Paladin

Hunter. A ranged class with a pet. The pet holds the enemy's attention while you shoot, which is why multiple leveling tier lists rank Beast Mastery Hunter as the easiest and fastest way to learn the game.

Warlock. Ranged spells, a demon pet and damage over time. Affliction Warlock is in the top leveling tier in current lists, and the pet gives you the same safety net as a Hunter.

Paladin. A sturdy melee fighter who heals himself. Retribution Paladin is often called the most forgiving class for players who make mistakes, and Paladins can also heal and tank later.

Medium: Mage, Warrior, Priest, Shaman, Rogue

Mage. Huge ranged damage and crowd control, but very little health. Frost Mage is one of the fastest levelers once you learn to keep distance.

Warrior. The classic tank and a damage powerhouse at max level, but slow to level alone in the early game because it has no self-healing.

Priest. The healer every group wants, with a Shadow spec for solo leveling.

Shaman. Totems, self-heals and three roles: melee, caster or healer. Enhancement Shaman can even tank leveling dungeons.

Rogue. Stealth lets you choose your fights, which makes it fun and safe once you learn your cooldowns.

Hardest to Learn: Druid

Druid. Every role in one class: tank, healer, melee and ranged damage. That flexibility comes with several forms to master, so it is rewarding but busy for a first character.

The most important rule: every class can reach level 60. A class you enjoy will always beat a "better" class you get bored of at level 25.

Step 3: Pick Your Race

Races change your starting zone, your look and a small racial bonus. For a first character, choose the look you like inside your faction.

The 6 New Race and Class Combinations

WoW Forever opens up six pairings that original Classic never allowed:

• Human Hunter (Alliance)

• Dwarf Shaman (Alliance)

• Gnome Priest (Alliance)

• Orc Mage (Horde)

• Undead Paladin (Horde)

• Troll Warlock (Horde)

That means Alliance can now play Shaman and Horde can now play Paladin, which was impossible in original Classic.

The Skyborne

The new Skyborne race joins either faction and starts on its own island, Zephras Isle. It is not included in the base subscription: it requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher. Our Skyborne guide covers what it can play.

Our Beginner Picks

• Never played WoW: Human or Orc Hunter, Beast Mastery spec.

• Want to heal later: Dwarf or Undead Paladin.

• Want big numbers: Gnome or Undead Mage, Frost spec for leveling.

• Want a pet but prefer magic: Orc or Undead Warlock, Affliction spec.

Next, read our beginner guide for your first hours, and set up the best addons before you start questing.

Ready for Group Content?

Leveling is only half of WoW Forever. The other half is the nine new dungeons and the raids that open on December 9, according to Blizzard's roadmap. If you want to get through them with an experienced group, WoW Forever dungeon runs are built for exactly that. Coming back from Classic? We also run WoW Classic dungeons.

FAQ

What is the best class for beginners in WoW Forever? Hunter, especially Beast Mastery. Warlock and Paladin are also very forgiving.

Are there new classes in WoW Forever? No. The nine original classes return with reworked talents and new abilities.

What are the new race and class combinations? Human Hunter, Dwarf Shaman, Gnome Priest, Orc Mage, Undead Paladin and Troll Warlock.

Does race matter in WoW Forever? Only a little. Racial bonuses are small, so pick your faction and the look you like.

Can Horde play Paladin in WoW Forever? Yes. Undead Paladin is one of the six new combinations.