The Races and Classes of World of Warcraft.

[LaKourgos]

Now, as stated by the title, this post is simply the Classes, Races, and Base Stats of the WoW character. I at least hope that this will help you a little. smile

Now, let’s start. I’d like to just give a brief explanation of each class, if you don’t mind.

Druid: Druids are possibly one of the more complicated classes to play and not recommended for beginners at World of Warcraft. They perform different roles using appropriate shape-shifting forms. Like a Warrior, they have high armor and a rage bar in Bear Form and like a Rogue, they have Stealth and fight in melee with an energy bar. Through talents, they can also enhance one or more of these roles and gain a new form for healing (Tree Form) or nuking (Moonkin Form). Druids also bring additional utility, such as battle resurrection with Rebirth (and soon to be real resurrection in WotLK), and emergency or additional healing or tanking. Certain key differences do still exist, giving them advantages and disadvantages in any given role. Personally, my favorite class.

Hunter: One of the most easiest classes to play in WoW. Hunters are the only class that can effectively use ranged weapons (bows, guns, or crossbows) as a primary source of damage. They are very adept at kiting due to the fact that they have plenty of tools to allow them to avoid melee combat, where they are fairly weak. Hunters can tame various beasts to serve as combat pets, which along with scouting, tracking, and survival abilities make them excellent solo characters.

Mage: Mages are ranged magic damage dealers with powerful direct and area effect damage spells, but weak armor and health. They have a good variety of utility spells, such as crowd control, teleportation and group portals, and conjuration of food and water. They are often effective at PvP even with relatively low armor and health due to the fact of their good burst damage.

Paladin: Yet another hybrid class. They can melee DPS, tank, or heal. Paladins have strong group support and buff abilities, arguably one of the best buffing and group support classes in the game. Due to the fact they use shields and wear plate, they are renowned in their durability in combat, even while healing. Paladins can fill the role of melee DPS, tank, offtank, or healer and excel when called upon to spot-fill all these roles in a group setting. Retribution Paladins, however, have less DPS than a Rogue, but they make up for it with their utility spells, buffs, and auras. As of The Burning Crusade, Paladins are no longer exclusive to the Alliance. Blood Elves (Horde) can now play as Paladins.

Priest: Priests can be amazing healers, healing a single character or many allies at once. They have a variety of utility spells, along with a few tricks, such as Power Word: Fortitude, Mind Control and the extremely useful Dispel Magic and Cure Disease. Priests can also specialize in offensive shadow magic, gaining the ability to assume Shadowform and at high levels, regenerating mana quickly for their entire party.

Rogue: Rogues are excellent at dealing melee damage and incapacitating their foes, particularly low health and low armor targets such as casters. Stealth gives them a tactical advantage and allows them to start a fight on their own terms (and hey, who doesn’t like that?). Lockpicking and the creation of poisons are important abilities. A huge power that Rogues have is the ability to stun and incapacitate for a large period of time. Paired with the Rogue’s high damage, this gives him/her a huge advantage over their opponent. One of the only classes that do not use mana.

Shaman: One of the most versatile classes in the game because they can switch seamlessly from offensive caster to healer to melee DPS as needed, though at later levels they often specialize in just one of these roles. Shamans can provide amazing support to a party, with the ability to step in and fill any role that may be lacking. Their high burst damage and healing also makes those quite good at PvP. Shamans are able to drop stationary totems on the ground which provides many different effects, most of which are useful to their entire party. They are also unique because they can provide a wipe recovery with Reincarnation (commonly named Ankh or Ahnk) and then resurrecting the party. As of The Burning Crusade, Shamans are no longer exclusive to the Horde. Draenei (Alliance) can now play as Shamans.

Warlock: The master of damage-over-time spells. Warlocks can enslave demons and call upon dark magic and curses to dominate and destroy their foes. Like Hunters, Warlocks have combat pets. However, these are summoned demons rather than tamed beasts and cannot be renamed. They are ranged magic damage dealers with a focus on DOTs in addition to nukes and AoE, but lack the extreme burst damage capabilities of a Mage. Pets and fear spells give Warlocks a variety of tactical options and they have several utility spells and abilities. This includes summoning party members and creating healthstones and soulstones.

Warrior: Warriors are close-combat fighters and typically fill the role of primary- or off-tank. They are able to withstand fierce physical punishment and have the most versatile means of generating threat and keeping agro. They can also contribute very strong melee DPS when needed. Warriors use a rage bar, which is generated from taking or giving damage, but decays over time when not in combat. They are highly dependent on their gear and weapons.

Death Knight: This is an excerpt from Blizzard Entertainment and will not be discussed further than this. The Death Knight combines martial prowess with dark, necromantic energies. It will be the first hero class in World of Warcraft. Having a non-hero-class character at level 55 or above if the only prerequisite to be able to create a DK. DKs will start at level 55 in a new starting area in the Eastern Plaguelands with multiple spells and abilities ready to use, including a mount. They are a hybrid class, able to tank and/or deal damage. They are a melee class with casting abilities like a Paladin and can raise Undead minions. Although they will have minions, they will not be a pet class, but will use some of their mechanics. They are the only class to use the Rune resource system. It is also notable that Death Knights will have their own talent trees comparable to current classes.

Now, hopefully that didn’t bore you all. Interesting about the Death Knight, eh? I heard they’re starting from a necropolis above the Eastern Plaguelands. Anywho, off to the race base stats!

Alliance Races

Human: 20 Str, 20 Agi, 20 Sta, 20 Int, 21 Spi (Spirit is different due to a racial and passive spell.)
Dwarf: 22 Str, 16 Agi, 23 Sta, 19 Int, 19 Spi
Night Elf: 17 Str, 25 Agi, 19 Sta, 20 Int, 20 Spi
Gnome: 15 Str, 23 Agi, 19 Sta, 24 Int, 20 Spi
Draenei: 21 Str, 17 Agi, 19 Sta, 24 Int, 20 Spi

Horde Races

Orc: 23 Str, 17 Agi, 22 Sta, 17 Int, 23 Spi
Undead: 19 Str, 18 Agi, 22 Sta, 15 Int, 22 Spi
Tauren: 25 Str, 15 Agi, 22 Sta, 15 Int, 22 Spi
Troll: 21 Str, 22 Agi, 21 Sta, 16 Int, 21 Spi
Blood Elf: 17 Str, 22 Agi, 18 Sta, 24 Int, 19 Spi

Now that all the base stats are said let me explain. If you were to make a Tauren without a class, for example, those are the stats s/he would have. Base stats do not include the bonus scores from classes. The class bonuses are:

Priest: +2 Int, +3 Spi
Rogue: +1 Str, +3 Agi, +1 Stam
Warrior: +3 Str, +2 Stam
Mage: +3 Int, +2 Spi
Druid: +1 Str, +2 Int, +2 Spi
Hunter: +3 Agi, +1 Stam, +1 Spi
Warlock: +1 Stam, +1 Int, +2 Spi
Shaman: +1 Str, +1 Stam, +1 Int, +2 Spi
Paladin: +2 Str, +2 Stam, +1 Spi
Death Knight**: +88 Str, +53 Agi, +79 Stam, +9 Int, +22 Spi

**Death Knight bonus stats represent a level 55 character.

Which Races Can Be What Classes?
I’m glad you asked!

Alliance Races

Humans: Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Mage, Warlock, Paladin, Death Knight
Dwarf: Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Hunter, Death Knight
Night Elf: Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Druid, Hunter, Death Knight
Gnome: Rogue, Warrior, Mage, Warlock, Death Knight
Draenei: Priest, Warrior, Mage, Hunter, Shaman, Paladin, Death Knight

Horde Races

Orc: Rogue, Warrior, Hunter, Warlock, Shaman, Death Knight
Undead: Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Mage, Warlock, Death Knight
Tauren: Warrior, Druid, Hunter, Shaman, Death Knight
Troll: Priest, Rogue, Warrior, Mage, Hunter, Shaman, Death Knight
Blood Elf: Priest, Rogue, Mage, Hunter, Warlock, Paladin, Death Knight

Whew. I don’t know about you, but I think that about sums it up. Oh, one more small thing: (Not exact percentages) Approximately 80% of Horde prefer to PvP than PvE and 75% of Alliance prefer to PvE than PvP. Basically, this means that Alliance are possibly your better choice to go raiding with than Horde. This also means that if you love to PvP, go Horde. smile

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Don’t hesitate to PM me or add me to any of my messengers. (Yahoo! is not a messenger, it is my email account.)

{~~Lakourgos~~}