New race
The Skyborne
Forever's new playable race starts on Zephras Isle and joins the Horde as Windshapers or the Alliance as the High Order. Each side has its own racials and one class the other cannot play.
Blizzard Confirmed CGN checked October 9, 2026
- StartZephras IsleLevels 1 to 12
- FactionYour choiceHorde (Windshaper) or Alliance (High Order) at character creation
- AccessUpgrade neededSkyborne Heroic Pack or higher
- Also calledShen'doreiThe "hidden people"
Quick facts
The Skyborne are descendants of Highborne exiles who fled Eldre'Thalas after the War of the Ancients and found refuge in Skywall, one of the elemental planes, where wind spirits anchored their island home. When you arrive, the island is in crisis: the wind spirits have vanished, the pylons holding Zephras together are failing, and parts of the island are falling into ruin.
You choose a side at character creation. The two sides share their ancestry but have different visions for the future.
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 13, 2026 ↗
Two sides, one people
Windshaper Skyborne Horde
Descendants of the first shen'dorei to receive the wind spirits' gift of elemental skysight. They embrace elemental traditions and want the wind spirits restored and their way of life preserved.
Gains access to: Shaman.
High Order Skyborne Alliance
Descendants of the ancient Highborne scholars of Eldre'Thalas. They realized the Skyborne's dependence on elemental patrons left them vulnerable, and pursue the arcane legacy of their ancestors.
Gains access to: Mage.
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗
Classes
| Class | Windshaper (Horde) | High Order (Alliance) |
|---|---|---|
| Druid | Yes | Yes |
| Hunter | Yes | Yes |
| Mage | No | Yes |
| Paladin | No | No |
| Priest | No | No |
| Rogue | Yes | Yes |
| Shaman | Yes | No |
| Warlock | No | No |
| Warrior | Yes | Yes |
Both sides have new Skyborne druid forms made for the race. Blizzard lists no Paladin, Priest or Warlock for either side.
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 12, 2026 ↗
Racials side by side
Each race has two active and two passive racials. The two Skyborne sides share three of the four and each has one of its own. Do not mix the lists up: Skysight is Horde-only and Read Ley Line is Alliance-only.
| Racial | Type | Windshaper (Horde) | High Order (Alliance) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk on Air | Active | Glide downward through the air for 10 seconds | Same |
| Skysight | Active | 10% more run speed (an Elemental Blessing) | Not available |
| Read Ley Line | Active | Not available | 100% more Health and Mana regeneration while active |
| Wind Blessed | Passive | 1% more melee, ranged and spellcasting Haste | Same |
| Elemental Insight | Passive | 5% more damage to Elementals | Same |
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗
Zephras Isle
- What it is: a level 1 to 12 starting experience that blends classic Warcraft aesthetics with elemental architecture inspired by Skywall.
- Rival groups: Blizzard names the Windshapers, the High Order and the Al'Aketh as groups vying for control of the island. Only the first two are listed as playable.
- Self-contained: Blizzard describes Zephras as a surprising but self-contained experience, "added with care and restraint".
- Leaving: Skyborne quest chains visit the other continents. In the October 1 build, the Skyborne quest "Exploring the Horde" now completes its Sylvanas objective in Undercity.
Zephras Isle on the zones page →
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 13, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 12, 2026 ↗
Access and editions
Not every subscriber gets the Skyborne. Blizzard's product page says: access to the Skyborne race or the Zephras Isle starting experience questline requires purchase of the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition.
- Forever itself is included with a WoW subscription or game time. You do not need to buy anything to play it.
- The three upgrades that include the Skyborne: Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack and the Warcraft Forever Collection (limited time, on sale through January 11, 2027).
- Both factions are covered by the race: the page says "Skyborne Race", not a faction.
Not stated: whether the entitlement is permanent for the account, and whether Blizzard plans any later way to unlock the Skyborne without the upgrade. CGN will not guess.
Editions and what each includes →
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard ↗ · Blizzard ↗
Customization
- Body type 1: ten faces, nine skin colors (from sky blue to light peach to darker tones), twenty-one hair styles, eleven hair colors, three ear lengths, nine eye colors, four eyebrow styles, thirteen facial hair options, feather colors (including feathers in the hair), four face tattoos in two colors, and two body tattoos (Zephyr and Wayfinder) in two colors.
- Body type 2: ten faces, the same skin colors, twenty-five hair styles, ten hair colors, nine eye colors, three ear lengths, four eyebrow styles, six earring styles in silver or gold, feather colors, two face tattoo colors and the same two body tattoos.
- Barber shops let you change your look later for a fee.
- New emotes include a Skyborne-specific /dance, plus voices and dances made for the race.
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026 ↗
Visual updates: HD Druid forms and SD Skyborne
- HD Skyborne Druid forms are being revisited. Blizzard says some ideas did not reach the consistency it wants with the original WoW look. As one example, the High Definition (HD) Skyborne Druid forms lose some softness, gain more detailed fur textures and get adjusted color saturation, so they sit better beside other creatures. Blizzard says this is an update "for the future" and gave no date.
- Standard Definition (SD) Skyborne characters are in development, and so are SD Druid forms. Blizzard says they are coming in early 2027, and that the HD Skyborne can look jarring next to SD models and the world. It showed an early work-in-progress image and promised more information closer to the date.
- Why it matters now: Forever offers an SD or HD toggle for player characters, built around the original races. Blizzard's wording implies the Skyborne have only HD models until early 2027, but it has not spelled out how the toggle treats them in the meantime.
Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Oct 7, 2026 ↗
Beta changes so far
- October 1: the High Order quest "Catching Wind" was redesigned and spawns at the Overlook Standing Stones in Shen'dar Highlands were adjusted. The Nightclaw Cavern druids now award credit for "Wounds of Betrayal" properly, and "A Firm Response" no longer fails to grant credit.
- October 1: High Order Skyborne can do the quest "Power Over Poison" to learn Cure Poison.
- October 1: the notes list "Shenthul in Orgrimmar will now train Windshaper Skyborne" under Professions. Blizzard did not say what he trains.
Beta Build Blizzard, Oct 1, 2026 ↗
What we don't know yet
- The final racial numbers at launch. Blizzard says all racials were reworked and may change.
- The exact date of the SD Skyborne models ("early 2027") and of the updated HD Druid forms, and what mounts or gear are tied to the race.
- Whether the Skyborne entitlement is permanent or can be earned another way.
Sources on this page
- WoW: Forever Meet the New Skyborne ↗ Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026
- World of Warcraft: Forever Found Photos Panel Recap ↗ Blizzard, Sep 13, 2026
- Create the Hero You Want to Be in World of Warcraft: Forever ↗ Blizzard, Sep 22, 2026
- World of Warcraft: Forever What's Next Panel Recap ↗ Blizzard, Sep 12, 2026
- World of Warcraft: Forever (official product page) ↗ Blizzard
- Carve a New Path with World of Warcraft: Forever (pre-purchase and BlizzCon recap) ↗ Blizzard
- The Future of Skyborne Visual Updates ↗ Blizzard, Oct 7, 2026
- WoW Forever Beta Development Notes (updated October 1) ↗ Blizzard, Oct 1, 2026
Labels: Blizzard Confirmed Beta Build Beta Data Developer Interview Press Report Community Observation Survey / Concept Only Not Yet Known