Skyborne Race Guide: Classes, Racials and Factions
The Skyborne are WoW Forever’s new race: wind-touched elves who start on Zephras Isle and pick the Horde or the Alliance at character creation. Here are their classes, both sets of racials, and how to unlock them.
By RaidForever Team
Quick summary
- The Skyborne are neutral: you choose Horde (Windshaper) or Alliance (High Order) when you create the character.
- Both sides can be a Warrior, Hunter, Rogue or Druid. Horde adds Shaman; Alliance adds Mage.
- Every Skyborne starts on Zephras Isle, a new level 1–12 zone.
- Both versions share Walk on Air, Wind Blessed (+1% Haste) and Elemental Insight. Each has one racial of its own.
- The race needs an upgrade pack; it isn’t included in the subscription alone.
Who the Skyborne are
The Skyborne, or shen’dorei, descend from Highborne exiles who made a pact with the wind spirits and built a civilisation in Skywall, the elemental plane of air. When you arrive on Zephras Isle, the spirits that protected the island have vanished and the Skyborne are split over what to do next. That split is why the race is neutral: it has one ancestry but two answers.
Horde or Alliance: the choice at character creation
| Windshaper Skyborne (Horde) | High Order Skyborne (Alliance) | |
|---|---|---|
| Outlook | Hold to elemental tradition | Reclaim the arcane legacy of the Highborne |
| Classes | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid, Shaman | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid, Mage |
| Unique racial | Skysight | Read Ley Line |
Druids of either faction get new druid forms made for the race.
Racial abilities
Shared by both factions
- Walk on Air: glide downward through the air for 10 seconds.
- Wind Blessed (passive): 1% more melee, ranged and spell Haste.
- Elemental Insight (passive): 5% more damage against Elementals.
Windshaper only (Horde)
- Skysight: an Elemental Blessing that raises your run speed by 10%.
High Order only (Alliance)
- Read Ley Line: 100% more Health and Mana regeneration while active.
What that means in practice: Haste helps every class a little. Skysight suits anyone who spends a lot of time running between objectives, which, without flying, is everyone. Read Ley Line cuts downtime between fights, which matters most for mana users like the Mage. Blizzard hasn’t published cooldowns or durations for the active racials yet.
Level your Skyborne from day one
Zephras Isle: the starting zone
Every Skyborne begins on Zephras Isle, a new zone covering levels 1–12. It mixes the original game’s look with architecture inspired by Skywall. From there you join your faction and carry on into the rest of Azeroth.
Customisation
Blizzard lists thousands of combinations across two body types, including:
- ten faces and nine skin colours, from sky blue to light peach and darker tones;
- 21 or 25 hairstyles depending on body type, with optional feathers in the hair;
- three ear lengths and nine eye colours;
- face tattoos, and two body tattoo designs (Zephyr and Wayfinder) in two colours;
- facial hair on one body type and earrings in silver or gold on the other.
You can change your look later at a barber in the cities, for a little gold. Skyborne also get their own /dance.
How to unlock the Skyborne
The race isn’t part of the base subscription. It comes with Blizzard’s upgrade packs:
| Pack | Price | Includes the Skyborne |
|---|---|---|
| Skyborne Heroic | $29.99 | Yes, with a mount, a toy, cosmetics and an Invite-A-Friend code |
| Skyborne Epic | $59.99 | Yes, plus beta access and 30 days of game time |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | $79.99 | Yes, plus Warcraft III: Reforged |
Pack owners can also reserve names and create characters early, from 27 October.
FAQ
Are the Skyborne Horde or Alliance?
Both. The race is neutral: you pick Horde (Windshaper Skyborne) or Alliance (High Order Skyborne) at character creation.
What classes can the Skyborne play?
Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid on both factions, plus Shaman on the Horde side and Mage on the Alliance side.
Where do Skyborne characters start?
On Zephras Isle, a new starting zone for levels 1–12.
Do I need to buy something to play a Skyborne?
Yes. The race comes with the Skyborne Heroic, Skyborne Epic and Warcraft Forever Collection packs, not with the subscription alone.
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