!Skyborne mage casting wind-themed magical effects in twilight
Skyborne Mage vs Undead Paladin: Which to Main in WoW Forever?
Beta Day 3 data is in: Skyborne Mage and Undead Paladin are tied as the two most-rolled combos for launch. This guide breaks down both — mechanics, racials, PvE/PvP — and helps you decide which to main.
For broader context, see our Skyborne Race Guide, Undead Paladin Combo, and Class Tier List articles.
Quick summary: Skyborne Mage wins for PvE (best caster DPS + leveling ease). Undead Paladin wins for PvP (broken immunities + Blessing buffs). Both are top-tier picks — main whichever fits your playstyle. If you can only play one, Undead Paladin is the safer launch bet.
Quick comparison
| Aspect | Skyborne Mage | Undead Paladin |
|---|---|---|
| Race | Skyborne (Alliance) | Undead (Horde) |
| Class | Mage | Paladin |
| Faction | Alliance only | Horde only |
| PvE DPS | S tier (best caster) | A tier (Blessing of Might utility) |
| PvP | A tier | S tier (broken) |
| Solo leveling | S tier (easiest) | B tier (slow without healer) |
| Group utility | Food/water/portals | Blessings/Auras/Bubbles |
| Difficulty | Easy-medium | Medium-hard |
Skyborne Mage deep dive
Racial kit
| Ability | Effect |
|---|---|
| Walk on Air | Glide downward for 10 sec (mobility) |
| Read Ley Line | +100% HP/Mana regen for 15 sec |
| Wind Blessed | +1.5% Haste (all forms) |
| Elemental Insight | +3% damage vs elementals (after nerfs) |
Why Skyborne Mage works
- Best solo leveling class in the game (Frost spec)
- Best raid caster DPS in Phase 1
- Best utility (food/water/portals)
- Faction-locked to Alliance — guaranteed raid spot
Weaknesses
- Glass cannon — dies fast if caught
- Skyborne repeated nerfs (Elemental Insight 5% → 3%)
- Highly competitive (every Alliance player wants one)
Undead Paladin deep dive
Racial kit
| Ability | Effect |
|---|---|
| Will of the Forsaken | Break Charm/Fear/Sleep (45s CD) |
| Cannibalize | Restore 35% HP/Mana from humanoid corpses |
| Underwater Breathing | +300% underwater breath |
| Touch of the Grave | Chance to drain HP from attacks |
Paladin kit
| Spec | Role |
|---|---|
| Retribution | DPS spec |
| Holy | Healer |
| Protection | Tank |
Why Undead Paladin works
- Will of the Forsaken + Paladin immunities = broken in PvP
- Blessings of Might/Wisdom/Kings are mandatory in raids
- Bubble (Divine Shield) + BoP (Blessing of Protection) = unkillable in 1v1
- Horde first Paladin — novelty + power
Weaknesses
- No self-heals (relies on Plate wear)
- Slow solo leveling (no pet, no AoE)
- Cannibalize is awkward (need corpses)
PvE comparison
Skyborne Mage PvE
- Raids: Best caster DPS (Fire spec post-buff)
- Dungeons: Best AoE (Frost spec)
- Group utility: Mandatory (food/water/portals)
- Tier set pieces: Strong mage tier (pre-bis for Fire)
Undead Paladin PvE
- Raids: A tier (Blessing of Might + Kings = mandatory utility)
- Dungeons: A tier (Blessing of Kings saves healer mana)
- Group utility: Mandatory (Blessings + Auras)
- Tier set pieces: Strong paladin tier (pre-bis for Retribution)
PvE verdict
Skyborne Mage wins for caster DPS. Undead Paladin wins for hybrid DPS + utility. In groups, both are mandatory.
PvP comparison
Skyborne Mage PvP
- Frost spec: Polymorph + Ice Block = best caster
- AoE kiting: Strong in BGs
- Glass cannon: Dies fast in melee
- Will of the Forsaken: Loses vs Undead Paladin
Undead Paladin PvP
- Will of the Forsaken + Bubble + BoP: Unkillable combo
- Blessing of Freedom: Free ally from root/slow
- Blessing of Sacrifice: Save teammate from death
- Lay on Hands: Emergency 100% HP heal
- Ret Aura / Devo Aura: Party-wide defense
PvP verdict
Undead Paladin is the meta pick — the immunities stack makes them almost unkillable in BGs.
Solo leveling comparison
| Level range | Skyborne Mage | Undead Paladin |
|---|---|---|
| 1-12 (Zephras / DK) | Easy (pet tank via Water Elemental) | Slow (manual pulls) |
| 12-18 (Hall of Thanes) | Fast AoE | Slow but tanky |
| 18-20 (final stretch) | Fast | Medium |
Verdict
Skyborne Mage wins for solo leveling by a large margin.
Group utility comparison
| Utility | Skyborne Mage | Undead Paladin |
|---|---|---|
| Food/water | ✅ Mandatory | ❌ None |
| Portals | ✅ (8 magics at 60+) | ❌ None |
| Blessings | ❌ None | ✅ Mandatory (3 blessings) |
| Auras | ❌ None | ✅ Party-wide |
| Bubbles | ❌ None | ✅ 2 immunities |
Verdict
Undead Paladin wins for group utility (Blessings + Auras). Skyborne Mage wins for logistics (food/water/portals).
Which to main?
Choose Skyborne Mage if:
- You main PvE (best caster DPS)
- You want easy leveling (no competition)
- You prefer ranged gameplay
- You enjoy utility roles (food/water/portals)
- You don’t mind being one of many (very popular pick)
Choose Undead Paladin if:
- You main PvP (meta-breaking immunities)
- You enjoy hybrid gameplay (tank/heal/DPS)
- You want strong group utility (Blessings + Auras)
- You prefer Horde aesthetic (Undead racial + Paladin combo)
- You want to stand out (less crowded pick than Skyborne Mage)
Cannot decide?
Main Undead Paladin as your “main” + Skyborne Mage as your alt. That gives you the best of both worlds.
Common questions
Is Undead Paladin broken in PvP?
Yes — Will of the Forsaken + Paladin immunities stack makes them almost unkillable in BGs.
Is Skyborne Mage the best caster?
Yes — Fire spec post-buff is the strongest caster DPS in beta.
Can I have both?
Yes — most players will have a Skyborne alt and a Horde alt.
Which is more popular?
Skyborne Mage by a small margin (most-played combo on beta leaderboards).
Which is harder to play?
Undead Paladin — more abilities, situational skills, harder spec rotations.
Final verdict
For PvP mains: Undead Paladin (no contest — meta-breaking immunities).
For PvE mains: Skyborne Mage (best caster DPS, easiest leveling).
For new players: Skyborne Mage (more forgiving, easier to learn).
For hardcore players: Undead Paladin (more skill ceiling, more utility).
Whatever you choose, both are top-tier picks. The only “wrong” choice is playing a weak class at launch.
For more class comparison, see our Class Tier List, Skyborne Faction Choice, and Best Races Guide articles.