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Core races
Allied races
Allied races all

All currently available allied races.

Allied races are a type of playable race introduced with Battle for Azeroth that can only be unlocked and used after reaching level 40 and completing an associated quest chain.

Description[]

Allied races are, from a design point of view, alternate versions of the main races. They mostly use the skeleton of an existing race but altered and with a different model. They also have their own racial abilities. Allied races get a full character kit including their own emotes, flirts, funnies, exertions, and so on.[1] All current allied races are variants of a previously playable race, with the exception of vulpera, which are only goblins in build.

Recruitment[]

For recruitment questlines, see Allied race recruitment quests.
Allied races

The original four allied races: Void elf, Lightforged draenei, Nightborne, and Highmountain tauren.

Allied races can be unlocked after a player has reached level 40 on at least one character on their account. The player must then head to their faction's embassy—the Stormwind Embassy for Alliance players and the Orgrimmar Embassy for Horde players—and complete the quests B [45] The Call for Allies and B [10-50] A Choice of Allies, which will unlock individual quest chains to recruit each allied race. Completing each chain grants the ability to create a new character of that race, which will which will start at level 10. Upon reaching level 50 without using a level boost or Recruit-A-Friend boost, they are rewarded with a heritage armor set.

Allied race recruitment quests can't currently be repeated, but there could be an option to repeat them in the future.[2]

History[]

Allied races2

The second set of allied races: Zandalari troll, Mag'har orc, Dark Iron dwarf, and Kul Tiran human.

The first four allied races were recruited as a direct result of the events of Legion, originating from the Broken Isles and Argus. Another four are part of the story in Battle for Azeroth. Allied races are not a Battle for Azeroth-exclusive feature, however.[3] Unlocking each allied race was originally a significantly more involved process, requiring Exalted reputation with a faction associated with that race as well as the completion of an associated quest achievement. For example, in order to unlock the H [40-70] A Feast for Our Kin quest chain to unlock Highmountain tauren, players first needed to earn Exalted reputation with the Highmountain Tribe and complete Achievements zone highmountain [Ain't No Mountain High Enough].

Draenor orcs were first announced by Ion Hazzikostas on January 30, 2018.[4] On March 15, they were confirmed to be named "Mag'har orcs".

The Kul Tiran humans were first announced by Ion Hazzikostas on March 15, 2018.[5]

Mag'har orcs and Dark Iron dwarves are available after completing the Battle for Azeroth War Campaign. The Kul Tiran humans and Zandalari trolls were recruited later in the expansion after they respectively join the Alliance and the Horde.[6]

Vulpera and mechagnomes were announced as allied races with the announcement of patch 8.3 on October 7, 2019.[7]

With the release of patch 9.0.1 in October 2020, the reputation requirement for unlocking allied races was removed, leaving only the achievement requirement. In patch 10.1.5 in July 2023, all remaining restrictions except the level requirement were removed.

List of allied races[]

Alliance Alliance
Horde Horde

Classes[]

Class balance on factions is more linked to lore than equality.[8] It was also stated that there were no plans to give hero classes to allied races in Battle for Azeroth, but in the future the door would be open to it.[9] All allied races received access to death knights in Shadowlands.

Class
Druid
Druid
Hunter
Hunter
Mage
Mage
Paladin
Paladin
Priest
Priest
Rogue
Rogue
Shaman
Shaman
Warlock
Warlock
Warrior
Warrior
Death knight
Death knight
Monk
Monk
Demon hunter
Demon hunter
Evoker
Evoker
Alliance Alliance Void elfVoid elf Void elf Legion Legion Legion Legion Legion Legion Shadowlands Legion
Lightforged draeneiLightforged draenei Lightforged Legion Legion Legion Legion Dragonflight Dragonflight Legion Shadowlands Dragonflight
Dark Iron dwarfDark Iron dwarf Dark Iron Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Shadowlands Battle for Azeroth
Kul TiranKul Tiran Kul Tiran Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Dragonflight Battle for Azeroth Shadowlands Battle for Azeroth
MechagnomeMechagnome Mechagnome Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Shadowlands Battle for Azeroth
Horde Horde NightborneNightborne Nightborne Legion Legion Legion Legion Legion Legion Shadowlands Legion
Highmountain taurenHighmountain tauren Highmountain Legion Legion Dragonflight Dragonflight Dragonflight Legion Dragonflight Legion Shadowlands Legion
Mag'har orcMag'har orc Mag'har Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Dragonflight Battle for Azeroth Shadowlands Battle for Azeroth
Zandalari trollZandalari troll Zandalari Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Dragonflight Battle for Azeroth Shadowlands Battle for Azeroth
VulperaVulpera Vulpera Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth Shadowlands Battle for Azeroth


Future allied races[]

  • There are no immediate plans for Wildhammer dwarves, but it is possible in the future.[10]
    • In Shadowlands, playable dwarves are able to apply Wildhammer tattoos.
  • Murlocs[11] and blood trolls[12] are not planned as allied races.
  • High elves are not planned as an allied race. At BlizzCon 2017, when asked if they could be a future allied race, Ion Hazzikostas said that "blood elves are pretty much high elves, and void elves are pretty much another flavor of high elves". He also stated that there was no obvious population center for them to come from, as they had been assimilated in other cultures.[13] In a Developer Q&A, when asked why they had thus decided to give the Alliance void elves instead of high elves, Hazzikostas elaborated that the fantasy of the "fair-skinned, blonde-haired, majestic elf" kind was already fulfilled by blood elves. Giving that race to the Alliance would also have blurred the lines between factions. Void elves allowed them to give a unique and distinct "flavor of blood elves" to the Alliance.[14]
  • Since then, Blizzard have added blue-eyed high elf customization options to both void elves and blood elves, and gave more varied skin colors to void elves including all blood elf skin color options.[15] They've then also added more varied hair color options to void elves.[16]

Notes and trivia[]

  • An allied race character can be boosted with the Character Boost service but will not receive their heritage armor set. Using the Race Change service to turn a character into an allied race will prevent the obtention of the armor as well.
  • NPCs that call the player by their race originally referred to allied races using their full allied race name, such as "Highmountain tauren" or "Lightforged draenei". This was later changed so they use only the race name, such as "Tauren" or "Draenei".
  • Before the introduction of the allied race system in patch 7.3.5, the term had occasionally been used in various other contexts:
  • With the addition of the four first allied races in patch 7.3.5, the number of available character slots per realm was increased from 12 to 16.[20] In patch 8.0 it was increased again from 16 to 18 to make room for Mag'har and Dark Irons.[21] With patch 8.1.5, the character slot limit per realm was removed entirely, though the total account limit remained at 50 characters.
  • According to game director Ion Hazzikostas, allied races will always come out in pairs to begin with so that both factions have an equal number of available races, but in the long run the developers are open to the possibility of adding one-off allied races if it makes sense for the story.[8]
  • In 2013, MMO-Champion user "shoc" created a forum thread in which they showcased various mockups for "subraces", including several ideas that later became playable as allied races (Mag'har orcs, Dark Iron dwarves, humanoid mechagnomes). They also introduced the idea of slim humans based on the Forsaken rig and beefier humans, two concepts that were eventually realized with the nation of Kul Tiras.
  • There were no new allied races planned for the launch of World of Warcraft: Shadowlands or World of Warcraft: Dragonflight.[22][23]
  • Allied races won't be able to start in Exile's Reach as they already have their own starting areas and begin at level 10.[24]
  • Kul Tirans are the only allied race to use a completely unique animation skeleton. The next closest race, Zandalari, have many unique animations but are still ultimately a modified night elf skeleton.
  • Due to not being introduced until after Wrath of the Lich King and lacking their own representation in the Argent Tournament, the allied races use their respective core race choice after completing B [25-30] The Aspirant's Challenge. For example, after finishing the quest, Zandalari trolls continue with H IconSmall Troll MaleIconSmall Troll Female [25-30] A Valiant Of Sen'jin.

Gallery[]

Official art

Patch changes[]

  • Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5 (2023-07-11):
    • Achievement requirements removed.
    • Allied races can now be unlocked with a level 40 character (was level 50).
  • Shadowlands Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13):
    • Allied races no longer require Exalted reputation to begin their unlock questlines.
    • Allied race characters now start at level 10 (was 20).
  • Battle for Azeroth Patch 8.3.0 (2020-01-14): Added Mechagnome and Vulpera allied races.
  • Battle for Azeroth Patch 8.1.5 (2019-03-12): Added Kul Tiran and Zandalari troll allied races.
  • Battle for Azeroth Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): Added Dark Iron dwarf and Mag'har orc allied races.
  • Legion Patch 7.3.5 (2018-01-16): Added Void elf, Lightforged draenei, Nightborne and Highmountain tauren allied races. Pre-order of Battle for Azeroth required.

References[]

 
  1. ^ MMO-Champion: Nov 6 Hotfixes, Dev Interviews, Heroes PTR, Overwatch PTR Build, Blue Posts, DLC #606
  2. ^ Live Developer Q&A with Game Director Ion Hazzikostas
  3. ^ Battle for Azeroth Beta Q&A with Ion Hazzikostas
  4. ^ MMO-Champion - Battle for Azeroth Developer Q&A
  5. ^ Developer Q&A with Ion Hazzikostas - Battle for Azeroth
  6. ^ BFA Press Event - Talanji Cinematic, 8.0 Pre-Patch, Mag'har and Dark Iron Unlock Schedule
  7. ^ 8.3 Developer Content Update Preview
  8. ^ a b World of Warcraft 2018-03-15. Battle for Azeroth Live Developer Q&A w/ Ion Hazzikostas 3/15/2018. youTube. Retrieved on 2019-12-23.
  9. ^ Battle for Azeroth Live Developer Q&A – April 26, 2018, 48:25
  10. ^ Elliot Gardner 2018-05-03. How Blizzard are preparing WoW for Battle for Azeroth | PCGamesN. Retrieved on 2018-06-13.
  11. ^ Battle for Azeroth Developer Exclusive Interview Q&A! - Method (17:53). YouTube (2017-11-11). Retrieved on 2018-07-16.
  12. ^ Blizzard Entertainment Ornyx 2018-06-12. Blood Troll Allied Race - World of Warcraft Forums. Retrieved on 2018-07-08.​ “Just to clear the confusion, there was a small segment in yesterday's E3 interview with IGN in which we weren't entirely clear - but we want to clarify that Blood Trolls are not currently planned as an Allied Race.
  13. ^ Ion Hazzikostas and Jesse Cox: BlizzCon 2018 (17:58)
  14. ^ Ion Hazzikostas: High Elves and Void Elves (46:20)
  15. ^ New Customization Options for Blood Elves and Void Elves
  16. ^ Linxy on the US Forums
  17. ^ Blizzard Archive 2012-05-05. Bill Roper interview 1995 (33:55). YouTube. Retrieved on 2020-05-30.
  18. ^ WoW -> Info -> Under Development -> Implemented -> Patch 1.5. Archived from the original on 2009-11-07.
  19. ^ World of Warcraft 2012-09-24. Blizzard Devs Discuss the Mists of Pandaria Release (01:17). YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-12-24.​ “The Horde armada has cordoned off Kalimdor so the Alliance fleets are coming in to break through and support their allied races on Kalimdor.
  20. ^ WarcraftDevs on Twitter (2018-01-31). Retrieved on 2019-12-24.​ “The update that enables four additional character slots per server is now available! You'll need to restart WoW to allow the Blizzard Battle.net App to pick up the update.
  21. ^ WarcraftDevs on Twitter (2018-05-18). Retrieved on 2019-12-24.​ “In Battle For Azeroth, the per-realm character limit will be going up from 16 to 18 to make room for the two new Allied Races (Dark Iron dwarves and Mag’har orcs).
  22. ^ The Lost Codex 2019-11-05. BlizzCon 2019 Interview: Steve Danuser & Frank Kowalkowski - Story and Systems | The Lost Codex. YouTube. Retrieved on 2019-12-24.
  23. ^ WoW Dragonflight Alpha Interview with Game Director Ion Hazzikostas
  24. ^ Shadowlands: Adventure Awaits in the New Starting Experience
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