Each playable race in World of Warcraft comes with unique racial bonuses that impact various aspects of the game, such as combat, professions, and quality of life features. These racial passives make each race distinct and powerful in its own right, offering different advantages to players. In this article, we will explore the racial passives of each race and discuss which classes they synergize best with.
Draenei Racials
For Draenei players, Heroic Presence is a crucial passive ability that boosts critical chance for all attacks. Additionally, Gift of the Naaru serves as a handy healing option when burst healing spells are on cooldown. Draenei characters work best with classes like Death Knights, Hunters, Mages, Paladins, Priests, Shamans, and Warriors.
- Gemcutting: Jewelcrafting skill increased by 5.
- Heroic Presence: Increases crit chance for all attacks by 1%
- Shadow Resistance: Increases your resistance to harmful Shadow effects by 1
- Gift of the Naaru: Heals 20% of a target’s total health for 15 seconds
Dwarf Racials
Dwarves, known for their Stoneform passive, are well-suited for tank classes due to their racial bonuses. This race synergizes with all classes except Druids, making them versatile and adaptable in various roles.
- Explorer: Find additional archaeological fragments and survey sites faster than others.
- Frost Resistance: Increases resistance to harmful Frost effects.
- Gun Specialization: Critical hit chance with guns is increased by 1%.
- Mace Specialization: Gain specialization with maces and two-handed maces.
- Stoneform: Removes poison, disease, and bleeding effects, and grants damage reduction.
Gnome Racials
Gnomes, with their new passive ability Expansive Mind, excel in caster-based classes. They also have bonuses that make them suitable for Rogues. Gnomes pair well with Death Knights, Mages, Priests, Rogues, Warlocks, and Warriors.
- Arcane Resistance: Increases resistance to harmful Arcane effects.
- Engineering Specialization: Engineering skills increased by 15.
- Expansive Mind: Mana pool increased by 5%.
- Shortblade Specialization: Gain expertise for daggers and shortswords.
- Escape Artist: Cleanse movement debuffs or immobilization effects.
Human Racials
Humans shine in melee DPS classes with their Sword and Mace Specialization. The Human Spirit bonus also makes them suitable for healers, providing additional Spirit stats for healing. Humans are a good fit for Death Knights, Hunters, Mages, Paladins, Priests, Rogues, Warlocks, and Warriors.
- Diplomacy: Reputation gains increased by 10%.
- The Human Spirit: Spirit increased by 3%.
- Mace Specialization: Gain expertise with maces and two-handed maces.
- Sword Specialization: Gain expertise with swords and two-handed swords.
- Will to Survive: Cleanse movement reduction effects and crowd control effects.
Night Elf Racials
Night Elves, known for their stealth abilities like Shadowmeld and Quickness, excel in classes like Death Knights, Druids, Hunters, Mages, Priests, Rogues, and Warriors.
- Nature Resistance: Increases resistance to harmful Nature effects.
- Quickness: Chance of enemy attacks and spells missing.
- Wisp Spirit: Turn into a wisp upon death, increasing speed.
- Shadowmeld: Enter shadows to reduce enemy detection.
Worgen Racials
As a new race added in Cataclysm, Worgens bring unique abilities like Darkflight and Viciousness, making them suitable for various classes like Death Knights, Druids, Hunters, Mages, Priests, Rogues, Warlocks, and Warriors.
- Aberration: Increases resistance to Nature and Shadow effects.
- Enable Worgen Altered Form: Switch between human and Worgen forms.
- Flayer: Skinning skill increased and faster skinning speed.
- Viciousness: Gain increased critical strike.
- Darkflight: Activates wolf form for increased movement speed.
- Running Wild: Run like a wild beast, counting as a mount.
Blood Elf Racials
Blood Elves stand out with Arcane Torrent, which silences casters for a duration, making them effective in PvP and PvE scenarios. Classes like Death Knights, Hunters, Mages, Paladins, Priests, Rogues, Warlocks, and Warriors work well with Blood Elves.
- Arcane Affinity: Enchanting skill increased by 10.
- Arcane Resistance: Increases resistance to Arcane effects.
- Arcane Torrent: Silence enemies and interrupt spellcasting.
Goblin Racials
Goblins, the new race representing the Horde, offer fun utility skills like Best Deals Anywhere and Time is Money, making them great for gold generation. Goblins are well-suited for Death Knights, Hunters, Mages, Paladins, Priests, Rogues, Warlocks, and Warriors.
- Best Deals Anywhere: Receive the highest discount.
- Better Living Through Chemistry: Gain points in Alchemy.
- Time is Money: Increase attack and casting speed.
- Pack Hobgoblin: Summon personal accountant for banking access.
- Rocket Barrage: Launch belt rockets at enemies for damage.
- Rocket Jump: Use rocket belt to jump forward.
Orc Racials
Orcs remain a classic choice for Horde players, with iconic racial bonuses like Blood Fury enhancing damage output. Orcs synergize well with Death Knights, Hunters, Mages, Rogues, Shamans, Warlocks, and Warriors.
- Axe Specialization: Gain expertise with weapons.
- Command: Increase pet damage.
- Hardiness: Reduce stun effects duration.
- Blood Fury: Boost Attack Power or Spell Power.
Tauren Racials
Tauren racial bonuses like Endurance and War Stomp offer no tangible benefits, but they can be a good fit for classes like Death Knights, Druids, Hunters, Paladins, Priests, Shamans, and Warriors.
- Cultivation: Herbalism skill increased and faster gathering speed.
- Endurance: Base Health increased.
- Nature Resistance: Increases resistance to Nature effects.
- War Stomp: Stun enemies within range.
Troll Racials
Trolls excel in combat with racial bonuses like Regeneration and Berserking, enhancing their longevity and DPS. Trolls work well with most classes, except for Paladins.
- Beast Slaying: Increased damage against Beast enemies.
- Bow Specialization: Gain critical hit chance with Bows.
- Da Voodoo Shuffle: Reduce movement-impairing effects duration.
- Regeneration: Increase health regeneration in combat.
- Throwing Specialization: Gain critical hit chance with Throwing Weapons.
- Berserking: Increase attack and casting speed for a duration.
Undead Racials
Undead racial bonuses like Will of the Forsaken and Cannibalize offer benefits in both PvE and PvP scenarios. Suitable for classes like Death Knights, Hunters, Mages, Priests, Rogues, Warlocks, and Warriors, Undead players have unique advantages to leverage.
- Shadow Resistance: Increases resistance to Shadow effects.
- Underwater Breathing: Extended time underwater.
- Cannibalize: Consume corpses for health and mana regeneration.
- Will of the Forsaken: Cleanse Charm, Fear, and Sleep effects.