If you’re just logging into WoW for the first time or coming back after a long break, the first big choice you’ll face is picking a race for your new character. A common question new and returning players ask is how many races are in World of Warcraft, and the answer is more layered than you might think, since it counts core playable races, allied races, and limited-time expansion-exclusive options. Races don’t just change how your character looks, either: they come with unique racial abilities, faction ties, and deep backstories that shape how you experience the entire game. We’ll break down every available option, their key traits, and what you need to know before locking in your pick.
How Many Races Are in World of Warcraft: Full Breakdown
If you’ve ever looked up how many races are in World of Warcraft on forums, you might have seen conflicting counts because some players only count core races, while others include allied and expansion-locked options. As of the latest expansion, there are 25 total permanent playable races split across the Alliance and Horde factions, plus 1 expansion-restricted race that’s only available to players who own the Dragonflight expansion. That count splits into 13 core races that have been available since the early days of WoW, plus 12 allied races that were added across later expansions as rewards for completing specific story quests and faction milestones.
I remember when allied races first launched in Battle for Azeroth, I spent three weeks grinding reputation just to unlock the Void Elf for my warlock main, and it was totally worth it for the racial teleport ability that saves me so much time on dungeon runs. Core races are available to all players right out of the gate, no extra unlock requirements, while allied races require you to complete specific story arcs, hit exalted reputation with their associated faction, and finish a short recruitment quest line before you can make a character of that race. All allied race characters start at level 10, compared to level 1 for most core races, which is a nice bonus if you want to skip the earliest starting zones.
Key Differences Between Alliance and Horde Races
When you’re first learning how many races are in World of Warcraft, it can be confusing to sort through which are available to you as a free-to-play player versus which require expansion purchases. Every playable race in WoW is tied to either the Alliance or Horde faction, and you can’t group with players on the opposite faction for most endgame content outside of random matchmade dungeons and battlegrounds. The Alliance has 12 total playable races, while the Horde has 13, giving the Horde a slight edge in total options.
Your faction choice will also determine which starting zones, story quests, and city hubs you have access to for your first 30 levels of play. To help you narrow down your options, here are the most popular race picks for each faction and their key perks:
- Alliance top picks: Human is the most popular Alliance race, thanks to the Every Man for Himself racial that breaks you out of stun effects, a huge perk for PvP players. Dwarves are great for tank specs, since their Stoneform ability removes debuffs and reduces damage taken for a short window.
- Horde top picks: Orc is the go-to for DPS classes, with a racial that boosts attack power and spell power for 15 seconds on a 2-minute cooldown. Blood Elves are the most played Horde race overall, with a silence racial that’s useful in both PvE and PvP content, plus a popular aesthetic that draws a lot of players.
- Cross-faction note: If you want to play with friends on the opposite faction, you can use the paid faction change service, but you’ll lose access to any race-specific transmogs and achievements tied to your original faction.
Don’t pick a faction just for the racial abilities, though. A lot of players choose their faction based on which aesthetic they prefer, or which faction their friend group plays on. I’ve swapped factions three times over the years, and the biggest difference I’ve noticed is the community vibe on most servers: Horde players tend to lean more into casual PvP and group content, while Alliance players often focus more on raiding and achievement hunting, though that’s not a hard rule by any means.
Limited-Time and Removed Races You Might Have Missed
It’s not unusual for veteran players to have a longer answer when asked how many races are in World of Warcraft, since they remember old limited-time events and scrapped race options that never made it to the live game. Not all WoW races are available permanently, and a handful of options have been restricted or removed over the years. The most famous restricted race is the Dracthyr Evoker class/race combo that was added with Dragonflight, which is only available to players who own the Dragonflight expansion, even if you’ve already purchased later expansions.
There were also a few scrapped races that never made it to live servers, like the Furbolgs, which were supposed to be an Alliance allied race but got cut during Shadowlands development. Older players might also remember the original alpha version of the Pandaren race, which had very different racial abilities and a much more cartoonish design before the Mists of Pandaria expansion launched. If you’re a new player, you don’t have to worry about missing out on any core races, but if you want to play a Dracthyr, you’ll need to purchase the Dragonflight expansion to unlock that option. Also, some old race-specific rewards, like the original Human heirloom gear, are no longer available to new players, so if you see someone running around with those, you know they’ve been playing for at least 10 years.
How to Pick the Right WoW Race for Your Playstyle
Now that you know how many races are in World of Warcraft, you’re probably wondering how to narrow down your options to find the perfect fit. Picking the right race doesn’t have to be stressful, even if you’re worried about picking the “wrong” option for your class. First, if you care about min-maxing for endgame content, look up the racial abilities for each race that fits your faction choice, and pick the one that gives the biggest boost to your class’s main stat. Racial ability bonuses are small enough that they won’t make or break your performance in most casual content, so you only need to worry about this if you’re pushing for high-end mythic raiding or gladiator PvP ranks.
For example, if you play a healing priest, the Night Elf’s Shadowmeld ability lets you drop aggro from mobs if you pull too much threat, which can save your entire group from a wipe. If you don’t care about min-maxing, just pick the race that looks the coolest to you, or has a backstory that resonates with you. I picked a Troll Shaman for my first character just because I loved the tribal aesthetic, and even though their racial ability isn’t the best for elemental shamans, I still had more fun playing that character than any of my min-maxed alts. Also, keep in mind that you can pay for a race change later if you decide you don’t like your initial pick, so you don’t have to feel locked into your choice forever. The only thing you can’t change easily is your faction, so make sure you pick the same faction as your friends if you plan on playing together regularly.
At the end of the day, asking how many races are in World of Warcraft is just the first step to building a character that feels uniquely yours. Whether you pick a core Human for their PvP perks, an allied Void Elf for their cool aesthetic, or a Dracthyr to try out the latest Evoker class, the right race is the one that makes you excited to log in and play every time. Don’t overthink the choice too much: half the fun of WoW is experimenting with different races and classes to find what works best for you, and you can always make new alts if you want to try something different later on.
