World of Warcraft: Forever keeps the nine original classes (Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock and Druid), each with three talent trees: 27 specializations in all. Six race and class combinations are new, among them the Undead Paladin and the Dwarf Shaman, and the new Skyborne race adds ten more, so both factions can now play all nine classes. Here is each class at a glance, from Blizzard's announcements and the beta client (build 1.60.1.70009), with a link to its full guide.
The nine classes at a glance
"(new)" marks the six new pairings for the original races.
| Class | Specializations and roles | Races | Headline changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Arms, Fury (damage); Protection (tank) | All ten | Victory Rush at level 20; Weaponmaster replaces the weapon specializations |
| Paladin | Holy (healer); Protection (tank); Retribution (damage) | Human, Dwarf, Undead (new) | Holy Strike at level 6; Seal of Fury, a tanking Seal |
| Hunter | Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, Survival (damage) | All but Undead and Gnome; Human (new) | Lacerate at level 30; Summon Hawk and Lone Wolf talents |
| Rogue | Assassination, Combat, Subtlety (damage) | All but Tauren | Mutilate and Venom in Assassination; Hack and Slash replaces Combat's weapon specializations |
| Priest | Discipline, Holy (healer); Shadow (damage) | Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome (new), Undead, Troll | Shadow Word: Death from the trainer; Penance and Prayer of Mending talents |
| Shaman | Elemental, Enhancement (damage); Restoration (healer) | Dwarf (new), Orc, Tauren, Troll, Windshaper Skyborne | A Totem Bar drops four totems in one cast; Lava Burst and Riptide at 31 points |
| Mage | Arcane, Fire, Frost (damage) | Human, Gnome, High Order Skyborne, Orc (new), Undead, Troll | Frostfire Bolt at level 40; Arcane Blast, Hot Streak and Ice Lance talents |
| Warlock | Affliction, Demonology, Destruction (damage) | Human, Gnome, Orc, Undead, Troll (new) | Curse of Agony and Curse of Doom become Banes; Wrack, Demonic Pact and Incinerate at 31 points |
| Druid | Balance (damage); Feral Combat (tank, damage); Restoration (healer) | Night Elf, Tauren, both Skyborne | A new bleed, Lacerate; Eclipse, Primal Bite, Berserk and Wild Growth talents |
Both factions can play every class
WoW Forever counts 56 race and class combinations, 28 per faction, against 40 in Classic: the Horde gets Paladins through the Undead, the Alliance Shamans through the Dwarves.
The Skyborne are one race split in two, the side chosen at creation: Horde Windshaper Skyborne can be Shamans, Alliance High Order Skyborne Mages, and both Warriors, Hunters, Rogues or Druids. The race needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a bigger upgrade; our race and class combinations guide has the full tables.