Race by content type — different races excel in PvE, PvP, and leveling. This guide ranks races by content.
For broader content, see our Best Race-Class, Class Tier Lists, and Skyborne Heritage articles.
Quick summary: Best race for PvE: Skyborne (casters). Best for PvP: Undead (CC immunity). Best for leveling: Skyborne + Human.
Race tier by content
Best race for PvE
| Rank |
Race |
Why |
| 1 |
Skyborne |
Wind Blessed + Elemental Insight |
| 2 |
Troll |
Berserking + cast speed |
| 3 |
Undead |
Will of the Forsaken |
| 4 |
Human |
+5% Spirit |
Best race for PvP
| Rank |
Race |
Why |
| 1 |
Undead |
Will of the Forsaken (CC immune) |
| 2 |
Night Elf |
Shadowmeld + Quickness |
| 3 |
Tauren |
War Stomp (AoE stun) |
| 4 |
Orc |
Hardiness + Blood Fury |
Best race for leveling
| Rank |
Race |
Why |
| 1 |
Skyborne |
Wind Blessed |
| 2 |
Human |
+5% Spirit |
| 3 |
Undead |
Will of the Forsaken |
| 4 |
Troll |
Berserking |
Skyborne (best PvE + leveling)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| Walk on Air |
Slow fall |
| Read Ley Line |
+100% HP/Mana regen (15 sec) |
| Wind Blessed |
+1.5% universal Haste |
| Elemental Insight |
+3% damage vs elementals |
Best classes for Skyborne
| Class |
Strength |
| Mage |
Wind Blessed |
| Priest |
Wind Blessed |
| Warlock |
Wind Blessed |
Undead (best PvP)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| Will of the Forsaken |
Immune to Charm/Fear/Sleep |
| Touch of the Grave |
+5% healing from damage |
| Cannibalize |
Eat corpses (no food needed) |
| Underwater Breathing |
+183% breath |
Best classes for Undead
| Class |
Strength |
| Paladin |
Will of the Forsaken |
| Priest |
Will of the Forsaken |
| Warlock |
Will of the Forsaken |
| Mage |
Will of the Forsaken |
Night Elf (best PvP + caster)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| Shadowmeld |
Stealth + 1 min CD |
| Quickness |
+5% dodge |
| Wisp Form |
Anti-death escape |
| Nature Resistance |
+10 nature resist |
Best classes for Night Elf
| Class |
Strength |
| Rogue |
Shadowmeld + Stealth |
| Druid |
Shadowmeld + Travel form |
| Priest |
Will to Survive (PvP) |
| Hunter |
Quickness + Pet |
Troll (best DPS + Berserking)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| Berserking |
+10% cast speed (10 sec, 3 min CD) |
| Beast Slaying |
+5% damage vs beasts |
| Regeneration |
+10% HP regen (active) |
| Da Voodoo Shuffle |
+15% movement speed |
Best classes for Troll
| Class |
Strength |
| Mage |
Berserking |
| Priest |
Berserking |
| Warlock |
Berserking |
| Shaman |
Berserking |
Orc (best Warrior)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| Blood Fury |
+AP (15 sec, 2 min CD) |
| Hardiness |
Stun resist |
| Axe Specialization |
+5% axe crit |
| Command |
Pet +5% damage |
Best classes for Orc
| Class |
Strength |
| Warrior |
Blood Fury + Hardiness |
| Warlock |
Pet +5% damage |
| Hunter |
Pet +5% damage |
| Rogue |
Axe crit |
Tauren (best PvP + tank)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| War Stomp |
AoE stun (2 sec, 2 min CD) |
| Endurance |
+5% HP |
| Cultivation |
+15% Herbalism skill |
| Nature Resistance |
+10 nature resist |
Best classes for Tauren
| Class |
Strength |
| Warrior |
War Stomp + Endurance |
| Druid |
War Stomp + Endurance |
| Shaman |
War Stomp |
| Hunter |
War Stomp |
Dwarf (best priest)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| Stoneform |
Anti-CC (8 sec, 3 min CD) |
| Mace Specialization |
+5% mace crit |
| Troll Regeneration |
2% HP regen |
| Cold Blood |
+1% damage vs undead/demon |
Best classes for Dwarf
| Class |
Strength |
| Priest |
Stoneform |
| Warrior |
Stoneform |
| Paladin |
Stoneform |
Gnome (best mage alt)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| Escape Artist |
Root/snare break (1.5 min CD) |
| Expansive Mind |
+5% max mana |
| Arcane Resistance |
+10 arcane resist |
| Engineering Specialization |
+15 Engineering |
Best classes for Gnome
| Class |
Strength |
| Mage |
+5% max mana |
| Warlock |
+5% max mana |
| Priest |
+5% max mana |
Human (best healer)
Racial traits
| Trait |
Effect |
| +5% Spirit |
Scaling spirit |
| Will to Survive |
Remove stuns (45 sec CD) |
| Sword Specialization |
+5% sword crit |
| Mace Specialization |
+5% mace crit |
Best classes for Human
| Class |
Strength |
| Paladin |
+5% Spirit |
| Priest |
+5% Spirit |
Race comparison
| Race |
PvE |
PvP |
Leveling |
Tank |
Healer |
Caster |
| Skyborne |
S |
A |
S |
– |
– |
S |
| Undead |
A |
S |
A |
– |
A |
A |
| Night Elf |
A |
S |
A |
A |
A |
– |
| Troll |
A |
B |
A |
– |
– |
S |
| Orc |
A |
A |
B |
S |
– |
– |
| Tauren |
B |
A |
B |
S |
– |
– |
| Dwarf |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
– |
| Gnome |
B |
B |
A |
– |
– |
A |
| Human |
A |
B |
A |
– |
S |
– |
FAQ
Best race for PvE?
Skyborne (Wind Blessed + Elemental Insight).
Best race for PvP?
Undead (CC immunity).
Best race for leveling?
Skyborne (universal Haste).
Final verdict
PvE: Skyborne. PvP: Undead. Leveling: Skyborne. Tank: Orc. Healer: Human.
Whatever you choose, race-class matters for content.
For more content, see our Best Race-Class, Class Tier Lists, Skyborne Heritage, and Best Addons articles.