The Ultimate Guide to Optimal Race and Class Pairings in WoW Classic

World of Warcraft has undergone a remarkable transformation since its release in 2004. This MMORPG has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide, establishing an incredibly dedicated and passionate community. For those who are new to WoW, the sheer scope of the game may seem overwhelming. Meanwhile, veteran players were overjoyed when Blizzard announced the return of World of Warcraft Classic in 2017. This revival allowed them to revisit the game’s origins, rediscover their favorite races, and rekindle their love for specific classes.

The most exciting news for WoW Classic fans came at BlizzCon 2021, with the announcement of the highly anticipated re-release of The Burning Crusade expansion. As players eagerly await this expansion, they want to ensure that their existing WoW characters are well-equipped. Some may even be considering creating new characters. Regardless of the situation, it is crucial to choose the best race and class combination to maximize your character’s potential in WoW Classic.

Alliance

The Best Race and Class Combinations for the Alliance

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The Alliance is a diverse coalition of races, including Humans, Gnomes, Dwarves, and Night Elves. Representing both spiritual and economic ways of life, these races flourish in cooler climates and have a deep connection with nature. If you aspire to fight on the side of good in this epic tale, here are the best race and class combinations for each Alliance race.

Warrior

Best: Human
Humans are considered the optimal choice for Alliance Warriors. Their twin weapon specialization bonuses allow Warriors wielding swords or maces to reach higher weapon skill caps. This means increased potential damage output, leading to more efficient Rage generation over time. While Humans lack natural health regeneration, their Human Spirit trait enables them to regenerate HP slightly faster.

Runner-Up: Gnome
Gnomes are an excellent choice for PvP-oriented Warriors. They possess means to counter powerful Crowd Control effects, allowing Gnome Warriors to avoid untimely defeat. Additionally, their increased Engineering skill, a profession that Warrior tanks can benefit from, provides a valuable advantage.

Paladin

Best: Human
Similar to Warriors, Humans are destined to be the optimal race for Paladins. They boast higher base regeneration and dual weapon specializations, which synergize well with various talent trees. These specializations particularly benefit sword and mace wielders, making the Human race an obvious choice for Paladins.

Runner-Up: Dwarf
For those focusing on PvP, Dwarf Paladins possess the powerful Stoneform racial ability. This ability can prevent death from Bleed, Poison, or Disease effects, adding a significant advantage in combat.

Druid

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Best: Night Elf
According to WoW lore, only Night Elves can embrace the mantle of Druid. Though this “rule” has been loosened over time, Night Elves remain the obvious choice for Druids in WoW Classic. Their increased base dodge chance is highly beneficial for Feral Druids. Bear tanks can avoid additional damage, and Cat Druids can engage with their prey for an extended period.

Priest

Best: Human
Extra Spirit is invaluable for Priests, known for their potent heals and shadow spells. Being a Human affords Priests increased Spirit, resulting in enhanced regeneration for both damage and healing disciplines.

Runner-Up: Dwarf
Dwarf Priests possess a racial ability called Fear Ward, which specifically benefits Priests. This ability can nullify potential deadly Fear effects on party members before they take effect. While playing as a Dwarf Priest may deplete your mana faster, the ability to prevent your tank from charging into more mobs is priceless.

Mage

Best: Gnome
Gnomes are unrivaled when it comes to Mages. With increased Intellect, they possess a distinct advantage in spellcasting.

Runner-Up: Human
Spirit plays a crucial role yet again. We’ve already discussed its significance.

Rogue

Best: Human
Human Rogues benefit greatly from their inherent right to bear arms. Despite the prominence of daggers in later versions of WoW, WoW Classic encourages Rogues to stick with swords and maces. Human Rogues can utilize this focus on swords and maces to deal extra damage, exemplified by the Sap icon.

Runner-Up: Gnome/Dwarf
Gnomes and Dwarves excel as Rogues within PvP encounters. Gnomes can use their racial skill to swiftly return to battle, while Dwarves can activate Stoneform to retreat or regroup efficiently, as stealth is impossible when taking any DoT (damage over time) effects.

Hunter

Best: Dwarf
The Hunter class revolves around ranged attacks, making the Dwarf the ideal choice. The Dwarf’s Gun Specialization bonus perfectly complements the Hunter’s focus on shooting enemies from a distance.

Runner-Up: Human
Early Hunter kills often require melee strikes to finish off targets. As a result, Humans prove their worth as Hunters by capitalizing on their sword/axe weapon specialization bonuses.

Horde

The Best Race and Class Combinations for the Horde

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If you identify as a misunderstood antihero or someone who lets actions speak louder than words, then a Horde character might be appealing to you. Horde races sometimes struggle to find perfect synergy with particular classes. However, the Troll stands out within the Horde due to its powerful Berserker ability, closely followed by the Undead in PvP encounters.

Warrior

Best: Orc
Debate aside, Orc Warriors have two significant racial skills in their favor: Blood Fury and Axe Specialization. While the latter may be less relevant if you end up wielding a sword or a mace, Blood Fury provides a concrete 25% base melee damage increase for 15 seconds every two minutes. Say goodbye to being starved for Rage!

Runner-Up: Troll
I’ll mention it again—Troll Warriors benefit immensely from the Berserking skill. This skill increases attack speed by 10-30% based on missing health, boosting the potential of any class in a pinch. Warriors can generate more Rage and quickly spend excess Rage with Heroic Strike.

Priest

Best: Troll
The tusk-laden Troll reigns supreme once more, thanks to Berserking. Increased speed enhances both damage and healing potential, despite the accelerated mana consumption. If keeping your tank alive means depleting your mana faster, it’s a worthy sacrifice. However, you may want to advise your tank to exercise caution when dealing with massive pulls.

Runner-Up: Undead
Will of the Forsaken empowers Undead Priests by dispelling Charm, Sleep, and Fear effects. This racial ability is incredibly potent in PvP, adding a significant strategic advantage.

Warlock

Best: Orc
Orcs possess a unique trait that increases outgoing pet damage. This trait harmonizes perfectly with the Warlock, whose versatile range of creatures allows for various specialization builds. While Blood Fury may not see extensive use for Warlocks, extra damage can be a lifesaver when enemies get too close.

Runner-Up: Undead
Once again, Will of the Forsaken proves invaluable to Undead Warlocks. Removing or negating Fear, Sleep, and Charm effects can disrupt an opponent’s strategy, providing an instant upper hand.

Shaman

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Best: Troll/Orc
Shamans are the Horde’s counterpart to the Alliance’s Paladins. As a hybrid class, the best race for a Shaman depends on their primary role. Orcs make ideal melee Shamans, benefiting from the base melee damage increase of Blood Fury. On the other hand, healers and ranged DPS Shamans thrive as Trolls, taking advantage of the Berserking skill.

Runner-Up: Tauren
Taurens’ War Stomp and Endurance can significantly aid tank and healer Shamans in challenging situations. Additionally, Cultivation helps generate the necessary currency to maintain Totem Reagents. Tauren is the only alternative available for Shaman players.

Mage

Best: Troll
Trolls continue their dominance in the ranged game with the powerful Berserking ability. Like the Priest, Mages benefit from this speed-increasing skill, enabling faster casting of immensely potent spells. Running down the mana meter becomes a trade-off for a quicker demise of your target.

Runner-Up: Undead
Once again, allow me to stress the incredible benefits of Will of the Forsaken. Crowd Control can make or break a cloth-clad Mage. It’s best to nip that threat in the bud.

Rogue

Best: Orc
Rogues pride themselves on swift kills before they face their own demise. With an attack increase like Blood Fury, Orcs provide Rogues with a welcomed advantage, reducing their figurative time-to-kill timer.

Runner-Up: Undead
While the mighty Troll can be helpful in rescuing a Rogue from certain death, the prevalence of Rogues in PvP battles makes the Undead a more popular choice. Once again, Will of the Forsaken proves vital in countering and surprising opponents attempting to incapacitate a Rogue quickly.

Hunter

Best: Troll
Once again, Berserking proves its worth, making the Troll the optimal choice for Hunters. However, there’s more to being a Troll Hunter than just this one racial trait. Trolls also bring Bow Specialization to the table, cementing their position as the Horde’s counterpart to Alliance Dwarf Hunters.

Runner-Up: Orc
Orcs excel as Hunters in PvP, thanks to their Hardiness trait. While relatively insignificant for non-tanks in PvE, the additional 25% Stun resistance helps withstand abilities like a Warrior’s Charge.

Druid

Best: Tauren
Just like Night Elves for the Alliance, only Tauren can fully embrace their shapeshifting Druidic powers. If you wish to play as a Horde Druid, you must return to nature and join Bovine University in the sunny lands of Durotar.

Editors’ Recommendations

By carefully considering the various race and class combinations available, you can create a WoW Classic character that truly embodies your desired playstyle. With the right choices, you’ll be well-prepared to conquer the challenges that await you in the world of Azeroth. So, gear up, sharpen your skills, and embark on an unforgettable adventure with OnSpec Electronic, Inc.!