- Author: Shadostruct
- Date: December 2, 2022
- Updated: August 23, 2024
- Expansion: World of Warcraft
Allied races were introduced in the Battle for Azeroth expansion, allowing for 5 new races for each faction to be chosen when making new characters. While this is a typical addition to the game about every other expansion, in this expansion it was not only the number of races added that got increased, but also their impact on the storyline and cosmetic options, tailored specifically for them.
These races come with their own racial abilities, cosmetic options, and mounts (in the case of the mounts, once these are unlocked they can be used by any character of the same faction). They’re an exciting addition to the retail game even now, far past their initial release, so let’s get into some of the details on what they have to offer and how to start your journey to unlock them!
Unlocking the Races
Unlike other times races have been added to the WoW universe, this time around they must be unlocked through certain prerequisite achievements, and completion of a questline. These prerequisite achievements can be completed by characters of both factions, but the questline unlocked by the said achievements will only be available to characters of the same faction, as the allied race attempting to be unlocked. Level 50 is the minimum required to see these questlines once you have met the pre-reqs.
Note: if you’re having trouble seeing the starting quest for unlocking an allied race, you might be missing a Heart of Azeroth as a requirement — the neckpiece introduced as a main mechanic in Battle for Azeroth.
Take a deep breath and relax, though! Unlocking these races may seem a bit less intuitive with the content not being current, but not to worry, as this guide will help you decide which races you might want to pursue, and how to get started grinding for that sweet new Night Elf Mohawk Void Elf, or what have you!
Unlocking Heritage Armor
If you’ve unlocked one or more allied races already and are curious about why you don’t have the heritage armor available for them — that’d be because you need to make a new character of the allied race you want the armor for, and level them to 50.
There are some pitfalls here, though, that Blizzard aren’t exceptionally clear about. The allied race character must be leveled from 10-50 on your own without the use of a character boost or refer-a-friend bonus levels, and using the faction and/or race change service will not allow you to attain the heritage armor on that character.
Once you have reached level 50 with the allied race character, a questline should pop up that, once completed, will give you the full transmog set for that allied race.
Keep in mind that these are cosmetic items and thus have no stats, but this allows you to transmog these appearances onto any class (cloth, leather, mail, plate) of armor. Heritage armor transmogs, unlike the allied races mounts, are only usable by the race they’re paired with.
Neutral Allied Race
Earthen Dwarves
The Earthen are a special type of Dwarf made of living stone and imbued with the essence of Azeroth’s world-soul. These mighty Dwarves will play an important role in the coming conflict over Azeroth’s future in the World Soul Saga.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “Allied Races: Earthen” achievement.
- Racial Abilities: Azerite Surge, Hyper Productive, Ingest Minerals, Titan-Wrought Frame, Wide-Eyed Wonder
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Warlock, Monk, Shaman, Paladin
- Special Mount: Reins of the Slatestone Ramolith
- Heritage Armor: Heritage of the Earthen
- Tabard: TBA
Alliance Allied Races
* Death Knights are only available to all races if the Shadowlands expansion was pre-ordered
Void Elf
A race born of the void. Elves transfused with void energy that, with the help of Alleria Windrunner, learned to bend the power of the void to their will rather than the other way around.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “You Are Now Prepared!” achievement.
- Racial Abilities: Spacial Rift, Chill of the Night, Entropic Embrace, Ethereal Connection, Preternatural Calm
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Warlock, Monk, Death Knight*
- Special Mount: Nightborne Manasaber
- Heritage Armor: The Ren’dorei set
- Tabard: Ren’dorei Tabard
Lightforged Draenei
While the Draenei have always had a special relationship with the otherworldly beings known as the Naaru, select warriors among their ranks chose to follow the prime Naaru, Xe’ra, and change the fight against the Burning Legion from a defensive one to an offensive one. Infused with the power of the Light to give them strength against the Legion, thus, the Lightforged Draenei were born.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “You Are Now Prepared!” achievement.
- Racial Abilities: Holy Resistance, Demonbane, Forge of Light, Light’s Reckoning, Light’s Judgment
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Paladin
- Mount: Lightforged Felcrusher
- Heritage Armor: The Lightforged set
- Tabard: Lightforged Tabard
Dark Iron Dwarf
A fiery faction of the dwarves, the Dark Iron has a history fraught with conflict and questionable intentions. That being said, they can also be honorable and stalwart allies when all the chips are on the table. When the Sword of Sargeras was plunged into Azeroth and the world’s very soul and lifeblood was in danger, the Dark Iron’s deep connection to their world stoked them into action.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “Ready for War” achievement.
- Racial: Dungeon Delver, Fireblood, Forged in Flames, Mass Production, Mole Machine
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Warlock, Paladin, Shaman, Monk
- Mount: Dark Iron Core Hound
- Heritage Armor: The Dark Iron set
- Tabard: Tabard of the Dark Iron
Kul Tiran Human
A kingdom of humans that was once a dominant naval asset in the war against the Horde. Through dark influence and geographic isolation they were not considered part of the alliance for quite some time until their own home became the battlefield between the two warring factions. The illustrious Jaina Proudmoore hails from these people, maybe explaining some of her strength and ability to persevere.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “A Nation United” achievement, and the patch 8.1 Alliance War Campaign.
- Racial: Brush it Off, Child of the Sea, Haymaker, Jack of All Trades, Rime of the Ancient Mariner
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Druid, Shaman, Monk
- Mount: Kul Tiran Charger
- Heritage Armor: The Kul Tiran set
- Tabard: Tabard of Kul Tiras
Mechagnome
Ambition and brilliance can sometimes be a dangerous combination. A faction of gnomes split from their brethren long ago to pursue ancient titan technology to find a way to enhance their bodies. What they learned was that it was both possible, but also exceedingly dangerous. Those who realized that balance was the key between flesh and machine were reasonable enough to see the threats to themselves and Azeroth looming and threw in their lot with the Alliance.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing “The Mechagonian Threat” achievement.
- Racial: Hyper Organic Light Originator, Combat Analysis, MasterCraft, Emergency Failsafe, Skeleton Pinkie
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Warlock, Monk
- Mount: Mechagon Mechanostrider
- Heritage Armor: The Mechagnome Armor set
- Tabard: Mechagonian Tabard
Horde Allied Races
* Death Knights are only available to all races if the Shadowlands expansion was pre-ordered.
Nightborne
A mysterious isolated elven people, brought to the forefront of the war against the Burning Legion after centuries. They relied upon a great source of power called the Nightwell, which much like the Sunwell, was also their greatest weakness. Liberated from the control of the demons during the events of Legion, they sought to take down their walls and rejoin the world. They felt a kinship with the Blood Elves, able to relate to their plight, and so joined the Horde.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “Insurrection” achievement.
- Racial: Cantrips, Ancient History, Magical Affinity, Arcane Resistance, Arcane Pulse
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Warlock, Monk
- Mount: Nightborne Manasaber
- Heritage Armor: Shal’dorei Armor set
- Tabard: Shal’dorei Tabard
Highmountain Tauren
Native to the Broken Isles and descended from the hero of the War of the Ancients, Huln, these are a proud people, distinct from their familiar tauren brethren. While distinct, they are still a people that have a strong connection to nature and value honor highly.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” achievement.
- Racial: Bullrush, Pride of Ironhorn, Mountaineer, Rugged Tenacity, Waste not Want not
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Druid, Shaman, Monk
- Mount: Highmountain Thunderhoof
- Heritage Armor: Highmountain Armor set
- Tabard: Highmountain Tabard
Zandalari Troll
Zandalar, the cradle of all trollkind, and the Zandalari, the ancient trollkind that have made their empire in this inhospitable terrain. Powerful, wise, and ruthless with a deep connection to the elements and a fervent worship of wild gods called Loa.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “Zandalar Forever!” achievement, and the patch 8.1 Horde War Campaign.
- Racial: Embrace the Loa, City of Gold, Regeneratin’, Pterrordax Swoop
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Paladin, Shaman, Druid, Monk
- Mount: Zandalari Direhorn
- Heritage Armor: Zandalari Armor set
- Tabard: Tabard of the Zandalari
Mag’har Orcs
Mag’har means “uncorrupted” in the orcish language. A type of orc that was born of the alternate timeline created by Garrosh Hellscream and his Iron Horde. These orcs did not drink the blood of Mannoroth, nor form a pact with the demons, leading to them never having the fel-green coloring of their skin nor demonic taint.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “Ready for War” achievement.
- Racial: Ancestral Call, Open Skies, Savage Blood, Sympathetic Vigor
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Shaman, Monk
- Mount: Mag’har Direwolf
- Heritage Armor: Blackrock Armor set
- Tabard: Tabard of the Mag’har Clans
Vulpera
Living in harsh conditions forces one to be clever and efficient. The Vulpera might appear to be harmless at first glance, but underestimating them would be a mistake. A people that repay their debts, which led them to join the Horde after being helped against their foe – the Sethrak.
- Unlock Requirement: Completing the “Secrets in the Sands” achievement.
- Racial: Bag of Tricks, Rummage Your Bag, Make Camp, Return to Camp, Fire Resistance, Nose for Trouble
- Classes Available: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Death Knight*, Warlock, Shaman, Monk
- Mount: Caravan Hyena
- Heritage Armor: Vulpera Armor set
- Tabard: Tabard of the Vulpera