In Classic most racials were "nice to have" passives. Forever fills every race out to four, and the fourth is usually a new active or a passive that matters in combat. Orcs gain Shatter Curse (a curse cleanse plus 15% less magic damage for 8 seconds), Undead gain Touch of the Grave, Tauren gain Plainsrunning, Trolls gain Rapid Regeneration. The old idea that only Gnomes had a profession racial now applies to everyone.
Gold cells in the race × class table are combinations Classic never had — Undead Paladins, Human Hunters, Troll Warlocks. They are not just new models: the racials change how the class plays. Orc Axe Specialization treats Enhancement Shamans and Warriors the same way; Human Sword Specialization now benefits Rogues just as much.
Priest racial spells survive, two per race. Human Divine Grace is a 10-minute emergency heal; Dwarves, Night Elves, Gnomes, Undead and Trolls each have their own pair. Read all six before rolling a Priest — they shape how you heal more than the talent tree does.
Orc
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
Blood FuryInstant, 2 min cooldown. Increases Attack Power and Spell Power by 10% for 15 sec.
HardinessDuration of Stun effects on you reduced by 20%.
Axe SpecializationIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and abilities by 1% while you have an axe or a two-handed axe equipped.
Shatter CurseInstant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Curses and Banes, and reduces all Magical damage taken by 15% for 8 sec.
Undead
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
Underwater BreathingUnderwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
Will of the ForsakenInstant, 2 min cooldown. Instantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
Cannibalize5 yd range, Instant, 2 min cooldown. When activated, regenerates 7% of total Health and 7% of total Mana every 2 sec for 10 sec. Only works on Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yds. Any movement, action, or damage taken while Cannibalizing will cancel the effect.
Touch of the GraveYour spells and attacks have a chance (5% for casters, 10% for melee) to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health. 1 sec internal cooldown.
Tauren
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
War Stomp0.5 sec cast, 2 min cooldown. Stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 2 sec.
EnduranceTotal Health increased by 5% and chance to hit increased by 1%.
CultivationInstant. Cultivate a nearby herb, growing a duplicate you can harvest without requiring Herbalism skill. Each herb may only be cultivated once.
PlainsrunningGain 1% increased movement speed every 5 sec spent moving, up to a maximum of 30% increase. Taking damage or standing still will reduce this effect.
Troll
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
BerserkingInstant, 3 min cooldown. Increases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
RegenerationHealth regeneration rate increased by 10%. In addition, 10% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
Beast SlayingDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Rapid RegenerationChanneled, 3 min cooldown. Regenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
Skyborne (Windshaper)new race · paid
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
Walk on AirInstant, 2 min cooldown. Glide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.
Skysight0.5 sec cast, 2 min cooldown. Attempt to draw power from a convergence of elements and receive its blessing, increasing your movement and mounted movement speeds by 10%. Lasts 30 sec if no elemental convergence is nearby, and 15 min if one is found.
Elemental InsightDamage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.
Wind BlessedIncreases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 1%.
Human
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
Sword SpecializationIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 2% while you have a sword or two-handed sword equipped.
The Human SpiritSpirit increased by 5%.
PerceptionInstant, 3 min cooldown. Dramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
Will to SurviveInstant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes all Stun effects.
Dwarf
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
Find TreasureInstant. Allows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until canceled.
StoneformInstant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
Mace SpecializationIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 1% while you have a mace or two-handed mace equipped.
Big Game HunterDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Night Elf
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
ShadowmeldInstant, 10 sec cooldown. Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Using this ability in combat discourages enemies from attacking you, but increases the cooldown to 2 min.
QuicknessDodge chance increased by 1% and movement speed increased by 2%. Night Elf Rogues and Druids are harder to detect in Stealth as if they were 1 level higher.
Wisp SpiritTransform into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 75%.
Elune's LightInstant, 3 min cooldown. Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 10% for 15 sec.
Gnome
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
Escape ArtistInstant, 2 min cooldown. Instantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
Expansive MindMaximum Mana, Rage or Energy increased by 5%, whichever your class uses.
Engineering SpecializationYour gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Eureka!Instant, 2 min cooldown. Your next 3 damaging abilities cost less (50% less Mana, 40% less Rage, 20% less Energy; 15% less Mana for healers, who also heal 10% more) and deal 10% more damage.
Skyborne (High Order)new race · paid
WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid
Walk on AirInstant, 2 min cooldown. Glide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.
Read Ley Line2 sec cast, 2 min cooldown. Attempt to tap into the power of a nearby ley line, increasing your Health and Mana regeneration by 100%. Lasts 15 sec if no ley line is nearby, and 15 min if one is found.
Elemental InsightDamage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.
Wind BlessedIncreases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 1%.
Spell text from the beta client. Which race gets which spell was first seen in the demo.