Should You Choose Horde Or Alliance?

The age-old question of whether the Horde or Alliance are the better faction in World of Warcraft is not easy to answer. Both factions still exist in World of Warcraft today, but in WoW Classic, they were practically at each other’s throats, not necessarily in collaboration with one another as they are nowadays.

Choosing the Alliance or Horde in WoW Classic is a big decision. Alliance players have Paladins, while Horde has Shamans, and both factions offer a completely different level-up experience. This guide explains the pros and cons for each faction to help you decide whether to pick the Horde or Alliance when making a new character in WoW Classic.

Why Should I Choose The Horde?

Four races comprise The Horde: the brutal Orcs, the shadowy Undead, the spiritual Tauren, and the quick-witted Trolls.

Beset by enemies on all sides, these outcasts have forged a union they hope will ensure their mutual survival.

The Horde is a faction that values strength and honor above all else. Though they are typically painted as the Bad Guys ™ in the Warcraft universe, it can be argued that the Horde offers more nuance over the Alliance. The races are bound together for survival, not for political or strategic gains, creating a kind of unity through being outcasts on the fringes of Azeroth.

The Horde was formed long before the events of WoW, but before Thrall turned it into the more unified, civilized faction it is in present times, it was essentially a blood-seeking mob of Orcs under the control of the demon Mannoroth. Now freed from the demon Mannoroth’s control, the Orcs set out to create a place for themselves and their newfound allies in this strange new world.

Compared to the traditional fantasy vibes of the Alliance, the Horde is noticeably less reliant on traditional fantasy tropes. Orcs aren’t mindless brutes like in Lord of the Rings, they value things like honor and kinship, and just want to ensure their survival – whatever the cost. The Undead were all once slaves to the Lich King, and have only recently been given free will for the first time. Trolls are more like tropical witch-doctors than they are like traditional trolls-under-the-bridge, and Tauren… well what other game can you think of where you play as a gigantic buffalo-person, not to mention their beautiful Native American-inspired culture and aesthetics.

The Shaman class is unique to the Horde. Tauren, Trolls, and Orcs can choose this unique hybrid DPS and Healing class.

Downsides of The Horde

The downside of playing as The Horde is that some of your quests may seem particularly evil or cruel, for no real reason. If you are a nature-revering Tauren, for example, questing in Ashenvale will make you ask “are we the baddies?” Half of the Undead starting zone quests are morally questionable at best and outright evil at worst – like poisoning a captured Dwarf to turn him into a Ghoul in Brill.

Though the Horde has very unique takes on traditional fantasy races and environments, the Alliance offers a more traditional “Hero” vibe as opposed to the Horde’s often barbaric and brutal approach.

All Horde Races

In WoW Classic, the Horde is made up of four different races: the Orcs, the Darkspear Trolls, the Tauren, and the Forsaken (Undead).

• Generally, Tauren are considered one of the best races in WoW Classic for their Racial ability Stomp, which interrupts spellcasts in melee range.
• Orcs and Trolls‘ racial abilities (Blood Fury and Berserking) hasten and empower their own abilities for a short time, making them great for DPS roles.
• Undead’s ability grants immunity to Fear, Sleep, and Charm, making them a prime choice for PvP.

Why Should I Choose The Alliance?

The Alliance consists of four races: the noble Humans, the adventurous Dwarves, the enigmatic Night Elves, and the ingenious Gnomes.

Bound by a loathing for all things demonic, they fight to restore order in this war-torn world.

Generally, the Alliance are portrayed as “the good guys” throughout WoW, and their aesthetics and stories are rooted in traditional fantasy. The capital city of Stormwind is one of the most iconic locations in all of WoW, and because of its location, endgame Alliance players tend to have an easier time getting to relevant Raids and Dungeons.

The Alliance is a faction that was born out of a need to repel the Demon invasion of the First War, which was the first time Azeroth encountered the Orcs that would later become free and form The Horde as we know it today. The Alliance has remained steadfast in its protection of Azeroth and its people, pulling in the Night Elves from across the world in Kalimdor to their group for strategic reasons, being located so close to Orgrimmar.

The Alliance is much more traditional B Fantasy than The Horde, which makes for a very cozy and familiar experience. As a Human, you level up in Elwynn Forest and Westfall, essentially large swathes of farms. As a Dwarf or Gnome, you level up in the snowy, mountainous Dun Morogh, home to the great Dwarvish underground capital of Ironforge. Night Elves are the Alliance race that breaks the mold the most with a gorgeous, almost alien starting zone that reflects the Night Elves’ connection with the natural world and Druidism.

The Paladin class is unique to the Alliance. Humans and Dwarves can choose this unique hybrid DPS, Tank, and Healing class.

The Alliance is often the most popular faction on PvE servers, while the Horde is the most popular on PvP, though servers will be faction balanced for WoW Classic 2024. But this is indicative of the types of players you can expect to engage with in each faction – Alliance players tend to be more chill and serious, while Horde players tend to be a bit more loose and edgy.

Downsides of The Alliance

The major downside of the Alliance is that it can feel a bit bland at times. Though the Alliance quests tend to be better written, and the stories more heavily influence the events of WoW, the Horde’s unique takes on traditionally villainous races makes them generally more interesting.

Being rooted in B Fantasy tropes isn’t necessarily bad, but you might tire of being just “the good guys” all the time.

All Alliance Races

In WoW Classic, the Alliance is comprised of four Races: the Humans, the Gnomes, the Dwarves, and the Night Elves.

• The Human racial Diplomacy is one of the most useful non-combat racials in WoW Classic because it significantly speeds up all Reputation gains
• Dwarves‘ Iron Skin and enhanced Mining ability makes them great for Tanks and certain Professions
• Gnomes make for the best Mages in WoW Classic, and their boosted Engineering skill makes them the best race for the most popular WoW Classic profession
• Night Elves can go invisible when standing still, and have the highest Agility of the four Alliance races making them excellent Rogues and Hunters. They are also the only Alliance race that can be a Druid.