World of Warcraft: Forever has the same nine classes as Classic Era — Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock and Druid — but every class changed: each one now works from a single connected talent tree, gets new baseline abilities, and in most cases opens up to races that could not play it before. This page is the overview; each class links to its own talent guide for builds and details. Everything below is beta information (build 1.60.1.69893) and Blizzard says class abilities and talents may still change before the November 4, 2026 release.

What is new for every class

  • One tree per class. The three Classic trees are merged into one tree with seven rows and three columns that still follow the old identities. Node counts in the beta data: Shaman 50, Druid 51, Paladin 52, Hunter 52, Warlock 52, Rogue 53, Warrior 53, Mage 54, Priest 54.
  • Talent rules. According to Warcraft Tavern's coverage of Blizzard's class posts, talents start at level 10, and one-point milestone talents sit at 11, 21 and 31 points spent, now joined by a new one at 16. Within each column (the old specialization), a new row opens for every 5 points spent in that column, so the last row needs 30 points there; the talent calculator explains the exact rules from the client data. You change talents, including Legacy talents, at a class trainer in a major city, and Dual Specialization unlocks at level 40.
  • Crit and hit. In beta build 1.60.1.69893, periodic effects can crit and hit and crit rating are unified; Blizzard has not published exact numbers. Details are in Forever vs. Classic: every change at a glance.
  • New race and class combinations. Six are free with the base subscription (see the table below and the combinations guide); the Skyborne race adds access to six classes.

You can try any class tree in the talent calculator. Concrete changes between builds are listed in the patch notes.

Overview: class, roles, new access

Class Specialization identities (roles) New race access in Forever
Warrior Arms, Fury (melee damage), Protection (tank) Skyborne
Paladin Holy (healer), Protection (tank), Retribution (melee damage) Undead (Horde's first Paladin)
Hunter Beast Mastery, Marksmanship (ranged damage), Survival (melee) Human, Skyborne
Rogue Assassination, Combat, Subtlety (melee damage) Skyborne (announced; see note)
Priest Discipline, Holy (healer), Shadow (damage) Gnome
Shaman Elemental (ranged damage), Enhancement (melee), Restoration (healer) Dwarf (Alliance's first Shaman), Horde Skyborne
Mage Arcane, Fire, Frost (damage) Orc, Alliance Skyborne
Warlock Affliction, Demonology, Destruction (damage) Troll
Druid Balance (ranged damage), Feral (melee damage, tank), Restoration (healer) Skyborne

Roles follow Warcraft Tavern's class overview. Skyborne Rogue is announced, but a matching character-creation entry is not yet in the beta data.

Warrior

Warrior was already open to every Classic Era race. Rage works differently: Blizzard's notes say armor no longer reduces Rage gained from taking damage, absorbs such as Power Word: Shield no longer reduce it either, and critical strikes give 75% more Rage than normal hits. Victory Rush (level 20) and Tactical Mastery (level 14) are now baseline, and Blizzard is still fixing Rage-generation bugs in the beta. Detail: Warrior talent guide.

Paladin

The headline is the Undead Paladin, which gives the Horde the class for the first time. Blessing of Kings and Consecration are now baseline (trainable at level 20), Judgement no longer consumes your Seal, and Holy Strike is a new ability trained at level 6. These values come from beta observation and may be tuned. Detail: Paladin talent guide.

Hunter

Human Hunter is new. Aimed Shot is granted to all Hunters at level 20, and Foxes join the pet families. Detail: Hunter talent guide.

Rogue

Skyborne Rogue is announced but not yet in the beta data; otherwise no new combination, but one-handed axes are now usable, poisons have more charges and can be applied together with temporary weapon enchantments, and Sap no longer breaks Stealth. Detail: Rogue talent guide.

Priest

Gnome Priest is new. Fear Ward and Devouring Plague are baseline for all Priests at level 20, Divine Spirit at level 30, and Shadow Word: Death at level 32. Several racial abilities have a Priest component; see the races and racials guide. Detail: Priest talent guide.

Shaman

Shaman is no longer Horde-only: Dwarf Shaman opens it to the Alliance, and Horde Skyborne can play it too. Totems got a 1.0-second global cooldown and last longer, weapon imbues last 60 minutes, and Lava Burst, Riptide and Call of the Elements are new. Detail: Shaman talent guide.

Mage

Orc Mage is new, and Alliance Skyborne can choose Mage. Frostfire Bolt is learned at level 40, and Arcane Blast, Ice Lance and Fingers of Frost arrive as talents. Detail: Mage talent guide.

Warlock

Troll Warlock is new. Curse of Agony and Curse of Doom become Banes (one Bane per Warlock on a target), Firestone and Spellstone are weapon imbues, and pets scale from the Warlock's stats. Detail: Warlock talent guide.

Druid

Not part of the six free combinations, but open to both Skyborne factions, with druid forms built for that race. Nature's Grasp, Revive, Omen of Clarity and Lacerate are baseline. Blizzard announced Shifting Power, a Feral talent that brings back powershifting; as of its September 30 post it was not yet in the beta. Detail: Druid talent guide.

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