One of the main new features in the Battle for Azeroth expansion pack is Allied Races, which is the ability to create new characters belonging to different races and factions in the game that we have made contact with during our adventures in Azeroth. In this article, we'll give you a little background on each of the new races and what exactly you need to do to unlock them.
In addition to their unique appearance and starting the adventure at character level 20, each of the new races has some distinct unique elements, such as their own mounts, totems for shamans, or druid animal forms. On top of that, if you manage to reach the maximum character level without using automatic advancement, you will receive unique racial armor for transmogrification.
Children of the Night (Nightborne Elves) - Horde
Fenced off behind a protective barrier for 10,000 years, the elves of Suramar gradually became addicted to the secret magic of the Well of Night. To save the source from which they draw their power, the leaders of the Children of the Night made a deal with the Burning Legion that sparked a civil war in their kingdom. Having won freedom from their demonic overlords, the Children of the Night seek allies in the Horde to reclaim their place in the world.
The elves of Suramar can adorn their dark skin with shimmering magical runes. When traveling, they ride the Nightborne Manasaber mount and their racial armor is the ceremonial garb of the elven Shal'dorei. The refuge of the Children of the Night is the Nighthold.
Skills
- Cantrips - Summons a mysterious book, allowing access to the mailbox for 1.5 minutes.
- Arcane Pulse - Deals Arcane Power based damage to nearby enemies and slows them by 50%. Lasts for 12 seconds.
- Ancient History - Knowledge of Inscription profession increased by 15 points.
- Magical Affinity - Increases magic damage dealt by 1%.
- Arcane Resistance - Reduces magic damage taken by 1%.
Requirements
To unlock this race you will need to complete the Insurrection campaign in Suramar and attain the Exalted reputation with The Nightfallen faction - you will gain this reputation during the story campaign and by completing the appropriate World Quests and Emissary Orders in Suramar. You then need to complete a scenario where you convince the Children of the Night to join the Horde.
Lightforged Draenei - Alliance
For untold millennia, the Army of Light has waged war against the Burning Legion throughout the Warped Abyss. The Draenei who most dedicated themselves to this long crusade underwent a ritual that transformed them into luminous Draenei, their bodies infused with the essence of holy light. Following their victory on Argus, the Light Draenei took on a new mission - to defend Azeroth from the growing dangers and help the Covenant repel Horde aggression.
The Draenei Lightbringers have paler skin than their Azeroth brethren, which they can adorn with glittering tattoos. Their mount is the Lightforged Felcrusher, and their racial armor represents their affiliation with the Army of Light. The refuge of the luminous draenei is Vindicaar.
Skills
- Light's Judgment - Sends a stream of Light energy, dealing damage to enemies within 5 yards after 3 seconds.
- Forge of Light - Summons a forge of Light, allowing blacksmiths to create items. Increases smithing skill by 10 points.
- Demonbane - Experience gained from killing demons increased by 20%.
- Light's Reckoning - Upon death, avenges the Light, dealing damage to enemies within 8 yards and healing allies.
- Holy Resistance - Reduces damage taken from Light by 1%.
Requirements
To unlock this race, you must have completed the You Are Now Prepared campaign on Argus and attained the Exalted reputation with the Army of the Light faction - reputation is earned through the story campaign and by completing the appropriate World Quests and Emissary Orders on Argus. You then need to complete a scenario where you convince the Light Draenei to join the Covenant.
Highmountain Tauren - Horde
As descendants of Huln, the valiant hero of the War of the Ancients, the Tauren of Highmountain worship the spirits of the earth, the rivers and the skies. Although the Legion invaded their territory and sowed seeds of distrust among them, the tribes of the High Mountain have managed to reunite. Now, at last, they are ready to venture beyond their sacred mountain and stand alongside their fellow Calimdorians, lending their dignity and strength to the mighty Horde.
The Tauren of Highmountain are distinguished by their impressive antlers, colorful war colors and tattoos. Their mount is the Highmountain Thunderhoof, and their racial armor allows them to carry a huge totem on their back. Druids also have unique variants of animal forms, and shamans have separate totems. The refuge of the Highmountain tauren is the Thunder Totem.
Abilities
- Bull Rush - The character charges forward for 1 second, knocking enemies down for 1.5 seconds.
- Pride of Ironhorn - Profession skill of Mining increased by 15 points, enables faster digging.
- Mountaineer - Increases Versatility stat by 1%.
- Rugged Tenacity - Decreases damage taken based on Stamina stat.
- Waste Not, Want Not - Gives a chance to get extra meat and fish.
Requirements
To unlock this race, you'll need to complete the Ain't No Mountain High Enough campaign in Highmountain and achieve Exalted reputation with the Highmountain Tribe faction - you'll gain reputation during the story campaign and by completing the appropriate World Quests and Emissary Orders in Highmountain. Then you need to complete the scenario where you convince the tauren of the Highmountain to join the Horde.
Elves of the Void - Alliance
Many have sought to possess the fateful magic of the void. Many have failed and fallen into madness. Alleria Windrunner was the first mortal to defy the whispers of the shadows - determined to use this power for the good of Azeroth. Coming to the aid of a group of her fellows who had nearly succumbed to the darkness, Alleria vowed to teach these void elves how to control the shadow within while aiding the Covenant with their newfound power.
In addition to their pale skin color, the hair of the void elves can take the form of shining tentacles. They ride the Starcursed Voidstrider mount, and their racial armor is distinguished by shadowy wings that emerge from the shoulder pads. The refuge of the void elves is the Telogrus Rift.
Skills
- Spatial Rift - Creates a breach in space. After the second activation, teleports the character through the breach.
- Chill of Night - Reduces damage taken from shadow attacks by 1%.
- Entropic Embrace - Using this ability can fill a character with the essence of emptiness, increasing damage and healing by an additional 5%.
- Ethereal Connection - Reduces the cost of transmogrification and storing items in the void by 50%.
- Preternatural Calm - Skill recharge is not slowed by taking damage.
Requirements
To unlock this race, you are required to complete the You Are Now Prepared campaign on Argus and achieve Exalted reputation with the Argussian Reach faction - you will gain reputation by completing the appropriate World Quests and Emissary Orders on Argus. You then need to complete a scenario where you convince the Void Elves to join the Covenant.
Mag'har Orcs - Horde
For countless generations, there has been an endless war between the orc clans of Draenor. When Gul'dan offered them the blood of his demonic sovereigns, the hitherto very disparate Mag'har tribes - "the uncreated" in the orcish language - refused the dark pact and united to chase away the Burning Legion. Allied under the command of Grommash Hellscream, the Mag'har orcs vowed to one day repay the heroes of Azeroth for their support. As the war with the Covenant grows closer, the Horde must call upon the might of the Mag'har to claim victory.
Mag'har orcs have a wide variety of appearance options, as they come from many different clans of Draenor. They travel on powerful Mag'har Direwolf black wolves, and their racial armor is available in three color options (Warsong, Blackrock, and Frostwolf). Mag'har shamans also have different totems from the orcs of Azeroth.
Skills
- Ancestral Call - Summons the souls of ancestors and transfers their power to the player. Increases a random secondary stat by 102 points for 15 seconds.
- Open Skies - Increases mount speed by 10%.
- Savage Blood - Reduces the duration of poison, disease and curse effects by 10%.
- Sympathetic Vigor - Increases the life points of a fighting beast by 10%.
Requirements
To unlock this race you need to complete the Ready for War campaign on the Horde side and achieve Exalted reputation with The Honorbound faction - you will gain this reputation during the story campaign and by completing appropriate World Quests and emissary orders in Kul Tiras. Then you need to complete the scenario where you convince the Mag'har Orcs to join the Horde.
Sorcerers (Dark Iron Dwarves) - Alliance
Known for their fiery temperament and passionate determination, the Chernorites have long had a tumultuous relationship with other dwarven clans. A failed attempt to instigate a coup in the Iron Forge began the War of the Three Hammers, and many Chernorites once fought on the side of Ragnaros, Lord of Fire. While one faction of dwarves is loyal to Queen Regent Moira Thaurissan, others refuse to stand shoulder to shoulder with their kin. So the Alliance wants to unite the Chernorite clan in order to harness the power of Azerite and gain help in the conflict with the Horde.
The eyes of the dwarves of the Chernorite clan shine with a fiery glow - their beards are also smoldering. They ride a Dark Iron Core Hound mount, and their class armor is a massive, heavy armor with anvil-like shoulder pads. Additionally, paladins have their own darker version of the Darkforge Ram class mount, and shamans can summon unique totems. The refuge of the Darkforge is Shadowforge City.
