Horde
Overview
The Horde is one of the two player factions in World of Warcraft: Forever, standing opposite the Alliance. It is less a single nation than a gathering of peoples who came together out of necessity, each finding allies where it could in a world that has rarely welcomed them. Strength and honor are prized throughout the Horde, though its members have always had to work at keeping their own ferocity from getting the better of them.
In World of Warcraft: Forever
World of Warcraft: Forever entered beta on 17 September 2026 and is due to launch on 4 November 2026. The beta level cap is currently 30. Characters on the Alliance and the Horde cannot group with each other. Every character picks a faction at character creation, and that choice is treated as permanent.
Playable races
Five races can join the Horde: the four from the original game, and the Windshaper branch of the new Skyborne.
| Race | Starting zone | Capital | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orc | Durotar | Orgrimmar | Thrall |
| Tauren | Mulgore | Thunder Bluff | Cairne Bloodhoof |
| Troll | Durotar | Orgrimmar | Vol'jin |
| Undead | Tirisfal Glades | Undercity | Lady Sylvanas Windrunner |
| Skyborne (Windshaper) | Zephras Isle (levels 1–12) | Valanaar | Ayessa Dawnsinger |
Race and class combinations
| Race | Druid | Hunter | Mage | Paladin | Priest | Rogue | Shaman | Warlock | Warrior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orc | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Tauren | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Troll | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Undead | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Skyborne (Windshaper) | X | X | X | X | X |
Forever adds three combinations the Horde has never had before: Orc mages, Troll warlocks and Undead paladins. Undead paladins are the first paladins the Horde has had. The Windshaper Skyborne are an entirely new race and can be druids, hunters, rogues, shamans or warriors.
Racial traits
Each race has four racial traits: two active abilities and two passive bonuses.
Orc
- Blood Fury (active) – Attack Power and Spell Power increased by 10% for 15 sec.
- Shatter Curse (active) – For 8 sec, grants immunity to Curses and Banes and reduces Magical damage taken.
- Axe Specialization (passive) – Axes increase spell and ability critical strike chance by 1%.
- Hardiness (passive) – Stun effects last 20% less time.
Tauren
- War Stomp (active) – Stuns nearby enemies for 2 sec.
- Cultivation (active) – Gathers bonus herbs, even without the Herbalism profession.
- Plainsrunning (passive) – Run speed builds up the longer you keep moving.
- Endurance (passive) – Health increased by 5% and Hit by 1%.
Troll
- Berserking (active) – Casting and attack speed increased by 10% for 10 sec.
- Rapid Regeneration (active) – Restores 50% of maximum Health over time.
- Beast Slaying (passive) – Damage dealt to Beasts increased by 5%.
- Regeneration (passive) – 10% health regeneration while in combat.
Undead
- Will of the Forsaken (active) – Removes Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
- Cannibalize (active) – Feeding on a corpse restores 35% of Health and Mana over time.
- Underwater Breathing (passive) – Underwater breath lasts 300% longer.
- Touch of the Grave (passive) – Attacks sometimes drain health from the target.
Windshaper Skyborne
- Walk on Air (active) – Glide through the air for 10 sec.
- Skysight (active) – Run speed increased by 10%.
- Wind Blessed (passive) – Haste increased by 1%.
- Elemental Insight (passive) – Damage dealt to Elementals increased by 5%.
Skyborne
The Skyborne, also known as the shen'dorei ("hidden people"), are a race new to Forever. Every Skyborne character starts on Zephras Isle (levels 1–12) and chooses a faction during character creation. Skyborne who side with the Horde are the Windshapers, descended from the first high elves to be granted the wind spirits' elemental skysight. Their Alliance-aligned kin, the High Order, descend instead from the Highborne scholars of Eldre'Thalas. When the wind spirits vanished, both branches were drawn back to Azeroth.
Class availability
All nine classes can be played on both factions in Forever. On the Horde side, Paladin is open only to the Undead; on the Alliance side, Shaman is open only to dwarves.
Leaders and capitals
Blizzard has not yet confirmed these details. They come from third-party guides (see Sources) and may change.
- Orc – starting zone Durotar; capital Orgrimmar; leader Thrall
- Tauren – starting zone Mulgore; capital Thunder Bluff; leader Cairne Bloodhoof
- Troll – starting zone Durotar; capital Orgrimmar; leader Vol'jin
- Undead – starting zone Tirisfal Glades; capital Undercity; leader Lady Sylvanas Windrunner
- Windshaper Skyborne – starting zone Zephras Isle; capital Valanaar; leader Ayessa Dawnsinger
Sources
- Create the hero you want to be in World of Warcraft: Forever (Blizzard)
- WoW Forever: Meet the new Skyborne (Blizzard)
- Unverified third-party material (starting zones, capitals and leaders in Leaders and capitals):