What Classes fit each race best?

Community General Discussion
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Let me ask you a question, do you pick race/class based on iconic characters and racial fantasies?

Interesting to figure out what inspires you to pick up a character and play it. Why that race and class - and how much of an influence do the iconic characters in lore have in your decision - does the fantasy cause you to enjoy the character more or make it meaningful as selectable choice?

If we go through each race based on the most iconic characters blizzard has created for them, I think we can tell what the key classes are for each race.

This actually is quite insightful, as it can majorly influence the character you play. I can only play classes on races that have a strong characterisation in them, and this usually is based on their lore and iconic characters from that lore. Each race has provided some very awesome fantasies to play, and detailed characters based

So far (copied from Enigmaddict on mmo-champion)

These are the Iconic classes for each race

I think blizzard has given each race key iconic classes, those classes will have legendary characters , with detailed lore. So if you wanted to know what class really fits each race. Here it is.

Blood Elf:
Mage: [Kael’thas/Rommath/Aethas]
Hunter [Lor’themar, Windrunners, Halduron]
Paladin [Liadrin]

(can’t think of anyone else that is iconic level - though there are some decent characters in other classes, Valeera and Kayn for e.g.)

Nightborne:
Mage: Elisande, Thalyssra, Valtrois, Occuleth

(Silgryn for warrior? Although he isn’t that iconic tbh)

Night Elf:
Mage [Azshara/Xavius/Farondis/Illidan, Elisande, Darth’remar]
Druid: [Malfurion, Broll, Nar’thalax maybe?]
Demon Hunter: [Illidan]
Priest: [Tyrande]
Hunter/Warrior: [Shandris]
Rogue: Maiev, Sira (all wardens really)

(can’t think of anymore really, that are iconic level, Mordant Evenshade perhaps?, Shandris fitting Warrior?)

Void Elf
Hunter: Alleria
Mage: Umbric

(yep, no priest, lock or rogue toon - though they fit the theme very well)

Orc
Shaman: Thrall, Drek’thar, Aggra, Ner’zhul
Warrior: Garrosh, Grom x2, Ogrim
Warlock: Gul’dan, Ner’zhul
Hunter: Rexxar

Human
Warrior: Varian, Anduin Lothar, Bolvar
Paladin: Uther, Tirion, Arthas, Bolvar
DK: Arthas, Bolvar, Morgraine
Priest: Anduin Wyrnn, Benedictus
Mage: Antonaidas, Aegwyn, Medivh
Rogue: Matthias Shaw

Kul’tiran:
Mage: Jaina
Tidesage/Shaman: Brother Pike
Rogue: Flynn/Tandred Proudmore
Warrior: Daelin Proudmore

(how would you categorise Lord Stormsong and Lady Waycrest - Priest/druid? or Mages?)

Forsaken
Hunter: Nathanos
Mage: Meryl Firestorm
Rogue: Lilian Voss
Priest: Calia Menethils, Alonsus Faol

Worgen
Warrior: Genn Greymane

Draenei
Priest: Velen
Paladin: Yrel, Maraad
Mage: Archimonde

Gnome:
Tinker: Gelbin Mekkatorque
Rogue: Kelsey
Mage: Millhouse Manastorm

Mechagnome
Warrior/Tinkert: Prince Erazmin

Darkspear:
Hunter: Vol’jin, Sen’jin
Warrior: Rokhan
Shaman: Witch Doctor Zalazane (on Echo Isles)
Druid: Zentabra

Zandalari:
Shaman: Talanji
Paladin: Talanji
Warrior: Rastakhan
Priest: Zhul, Talanji

(Talanji a shaman/paladin/priest combo?)

Tauren:
Warrior: Cainre & Baine Bloodhoof
Hunter; Cairne/Baine (they were hunters first turned warriors)
Shaman; Magatha Grimtotem
Druid: Hamuul Runetotem

Highmountain:
Warrior: Huln, Mayla
Shaman: Rivermane lady
Hunter: Skytotem tribe guy with the eagles

Dwarf:
Shaman: Magni? Falstaad?
Warrior: Muradin, Kudrann?
Rogue: Brann?
Priest: Moira

Dark Iron
Mage: Thaurissian
Shaman?

Goblin
Tinker: Gazlowe
Scumbag (Rogue): Gallywix
Mage: Alakahzam ? (does he even qualify?)

Vulpera
Rogue: Don’t remember their names

Pandaren
Monk - i mean like every pandaren we know.
Chen Stormstout, Lili, Taran Zhu, Ji Firepaw - to name a few, all monks

Currently I think blizzard is serious about race/class combos they have iconic characters in, yes I know it seems some races are very far from that, but that’s just a time illusion, if they don’t come to a character or class in a race for a while, people start forgetting that race does that class very well. Classic example is blood elves, people now think of them as Light experts, and don’t even have them as mages number 1 anymore - just because blizzard hasn’t showcased Belf mages for a while.

But i think if they have powerful legendary characters in a race.

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Humans : all classes

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Draenei and LFD
All classes, especially hunter and pala.

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Yeh … all classes you can play fit a race in someway, but not all are iconic or characteristic of that race.

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I pick my race based on how they look in tier sets.

Trolls (both types) fit Hunters, Druids and Shamans because they look really good in the minimal, savage, tribal type of gear.

Elves and Undead fit rogues and casters because they’re slim.

Orcs and Tauren fit big beefy juggernaut type classes. Although Tauren does match the tribal looks too.

But there are definitely common themes among race and class pairings.
Such as Human Warriors, Elf Hunters, Undead rogues.

I wouldn’t say Paladin is iconic to Blood Elf though. The theme fits but Paladin is all about righteous Humans in my mind.

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I choose Race/class based on Lord of the Rings which I’m a big fan of.

Gnome rogue (Hobbit)
Human Mage (Gandalf)
Dwarf fury war (Dwarves)
Void elf Hunter (Legolas)

I know Legolas Would be better as a Blood elf, however in Lord of the Rings the elves would NEVER ally with the Orcs. They are however friendly with the Humans. So Void elf is my best option.

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You missed some.

Nightborne Hunter (Hunter classhall follower Syrenne)

Night Elf Hunter - Also Tyrande and Shandris

Worgen Rogue - Tess Greymane

Zandalari Paladin - Talanji is actually a Paladin/Priest not a Shaman due to Rezan.

Tauren Druid - Archdruid Hamul(?) Runetotem

I do tend to pick for themes but then I lean towards looks and animations because some drive me insane.

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Good spot… I copy pasted hastily and haven’t got a chance to do a proper run through myself either, but yeah… nice catches.

Most of my characters are theme based and fantasy based, especially inspired by lore versions or their converses.

I seem to have no interest in doing a toon that doesn’t fit the theme of a race or is without representation.

for example, void elves, I would do a priest, lock and rogue though they have no iconic characters in those classes, but the theme fits… Definitely a hunter and mage though because of Alleria and Umbric.

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Lliadrin has a ton of lore around her - basically all of the TBC campaign against Kael is led by her and she founded the class within the race. She is the first Belf Paladin and therefore a literal icon.

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Right, but that’s just one figure that had to introduce the class into the race.

Whereas Elf Hunters are natural. It’s core to pretty much every elf race in any fantasy game. You don’t need a specific icon to know elves and hunters go hand in hand.
Same with Human and Orc Warriors, or sneaky Undead Rogues & Warlocks.

Not saying it doesn’t fit, I just don’t see Paladin Elves to the same degree as Orc Warriors or Elven Hunters.

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I don’t get inspired by famous members of each class.

My driving factors are the animations and looks of the race in question.

Sometimes I like to play against type but other times I want to go with what fits. Hence I have a Goblin Warrior (looks cute, amusing death animation) and a Goblin Rogue (he really looks like a backstabbing little git)

For Nightborne, I think they look okay. Not as cool as their Wretched incarnation but decent enough with their animations.

Also wanted to RP her as wanting to keep as far away from magic temptations as possible. So hunter and NB seemed like a good fit.

Other times it can just be that I want to try a class out and have to look for a race that fits, or as in the case of KT just looks cool.

I loved the Drustvar zone with it’s gothic druids, and hints of dark magic and cultists. The KT druid forms…love them to bits, whereas I see the work that has gone into the Zandalari forms…but they just don’t float my boat.

I often try to avoid common combinations, but part of me has realised that e.g. Belfadins are common because they are kinda cool.

Racials aren’t a factor at all.

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Oh yeh, for me it’s key, the animations and style are fixed per race… right…

So for example if i like night elf melee female style, that’s cool, I’ll play a warrior cos of the sentinel fantasy and possibly a rogue, but never a dK, cos it just doesn’t jibe.

If i wanted to play a DK, I’d consider, human, orc, Void elf - they have iconic characters like Arthas, Thaurissian/Klitra/Morgraine etc.

Now if they introduced new lore saying that say, Lord Ravencrest was leading a bunch of undead night elves after being released from the Legion’s deception, to help restore his people until they met their demise, then instantly a night elf DK would be very attractive.

Just the same way I would never be interested in playing a night elf as a shaman if they “learnt it from orcs/Tauren or dwarves” , but if the story was actually they aren’t shaman but arcane elemental wielders that are able to do everything a shaman has using the arcane instead of having to have the elemental bestow power on them - then that becomes immediately attractive to me, cos it makes sense, Night elves did not continue shamanistic ways of their dark troll predecessors because the arcane could do it all - we see the arcane able to manipulate all the elements, and summon and banish elements to /from their plane to use for whatever purpose is necessary - this covers the shaman class completely, why would an elf need to learn orcish shamanism?

It would be the same class abilities and spells, but entirely different concept, I would find that cool? and dig it, because it has a race appropriate fantasy… now slap on an iconic character behind it – say Prince Farondis was actually one of these Elemental Mages, or Lothrius Mooncaller of the Moonguard (Legion Suramar quests), was one, and raise his profile and past exploits a bit, both in the pre-sundering era and post legion, and you got yourself an icon to inspire a new Night elf Elementalist that’s shaman.

otherwise if i want to play a shaman I will find another race who can play it whose appearance and animation I like but also has the fantasy, currently, non of the races that can play shaman satisfy all those criteria, so I don’t play one

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Bolvar was a Paladin btw, but in Wrathgate they made him look like a warrior.

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Oh yeh, the classic BRD quest, he is a pala isn’t he.

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Blood elf druid : Alexstrasza
Gnome Druid : Chromie

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Troll
if u cant be a Troll
Zandalari Troll.

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certainly not shamans or warlocks. the one going shamnism pretty much mostly were broken because the light abandoned them and they plead to the elements instead.

And well warlocks? we got to kill the ones who went warlock during the legion expansion

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We do not have warlocks yet though. And it is just a shame.

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Technically,… all the Eredar warlocks would be under Draenei, they’re just not playable yet

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SL givesa rison to play undead race …