WoW Forever: which race to choose for each class and spec

Class, spec, race: our beta picks

One race per specialisation: these are our cross-faction picks for PvE in the current beta. All 27 specs are covered, with separate cat and bear rows for Feral Druid.

These editorial recommendations draw on Icy Veins’ Forever guides and Wowhead’s racial reference, checked September 18. Icy Veins does not yet name a cross-faction winner for every spec; class-level or role-based extrapolations are identified below. This is not a proven level-60 DPS ranking.

Warrior: Night Elf DPS, Dwarf Protection

Arms and Fury: we pick Night Elf for its critical-strike window and mobility. Protection: Dwarf for Stoneform. Icy Veins favours these Alliance choices but does not yet settle every spec across both factions.

Paladin: Human Holy and Retribution, Dwarf Protection

Retribution: Human with a sword. Holy: Human for Spirit and its Reverence interaction. Protection: Dwarf for Stoneform’s physical mitigation. This role split is our interpretation of the racials described by Icy Veins.

Hunter: Troll

Berserking speeds up attacks during a damage window. We pick Troll for all three specs using Icy Veins’ Horde class recommendation. Their roundup does not establish separate winners for Beast Mastery, Marksmanship and Survival.

Rogue: Night Elf

Elune’s Light adds a critical-strike window to pair with offensive cooldowns; Icy Veins specifically mentions Adrenaline Rush. We retain this class-level pick across the three specs. Separate Assassination, Combat and Subtlety simulations are not available in the sources reviewed.

Priest: Gnome for Discipline, Holy and Shadow

All three dedicated Icy Veins guides recommend Gnome for Alliance. Confounding Flash and Contingency Plan add control and ally protection; mana also helps Shadow. We pick Gnome overall. Their guides favour Undead for Horde without quantifying a cross-faction gap.

Shaman: Orc DPS, Troll Restoration

Elemental and Enhancement: Orc for Blood Fury. Restoration: we favour Troll’s casting speed. The healing choice is our role-based interpretation; Icy Veins’ roundup picks Orc for the class without a separate Restoration ranking.

Mage: Gnome

Icy Veins’ Frost guide picks Gnome for Alliance, citing Eureka’s Ice Lance interaction and the mana pool. We also retain Gnome for Arcane and Fire as a beta class-level recommendation; a spec-specific lead for those two is not established.

Warlock: Undead, provisionally

We pick Undead, Icy Veins’ Horde roundup choice, for its racial drain and recovery. Their class guide still considers the winner unsettled. DoT interactions remain insufficiently established to promise a measured Affliction advantage.

Druid: Night Elf, Tauren for bear

Balance and cat: Night Elf for critical chance. Bear: Tauren for health, hit and control. Restoration: Night Elf for mobility and utility, not a proven healing-throughput lead. This role split is our analysis; Icy Veins does not settle every spec.

What can still change

These picks cover the current beta and will be revised with higher-level testing. Class summaries and spec guides can disagree; we prioritise the dedicated guide when it makes a recommendation. Wowhead also lists Night Elves in Forever, separately from Skyborne.