WoW Classic: Should You Choose Horde Or Alliance

Should you choose Horde or Alliance in WoW Classic today?

The eternal question of whether the Horde or Alliance is the best faction in World of Warcraft is not an easy one to answer. Both factions still exist in World of Warcraft today, but in WoW Classic, they were practically pitted against each other, not necessarily in collaboration as they do today.

Should you choose Horde or Alliance in WoW Classic today?

WoW Classic: The big question is the choice between Alliance and Horde. Alliance players have paladins, the Horde has shamans, and each faction gives you a completely different leveling experience. Here we are going to explain the pros and cons of each faction to help you decide whether you are choosing the Horde or the Alliance when creating a new character in WoW Classic.

Why should I go with the Horde?

The Horde is made up of four races: the brutal orcs, the shadowy undead, the spiritual tauren, and the resourceful trolls.

The various recluses cornered by enemies on all sides, have forged a union that they hope will ensure their mutual survival.

The Horde is a faction that values strength and honor above all else. Though typically painted as the bad guys (tm) in the Warcraft universe, it can be argued that the Horde offers more nuance than the Alliance. The races are united for survival, not political or strategic gain, creating a sort of unity by being pariahs on the fringes of Azeroth.

The Horde originated long before the events of WoW, but before Thrall transformed it into the more unified and civilized faction it is today it was, basically, a mob of bloodthirsty orcs under the demonic control of Mannoroth. Now freed from Mannoroth's demonic control, the orcs set out to create a place for themselves and their new allies in this strange new world.

Compared to the traditional fantasy vibes of the Alliance, the Horde relies noticeably less 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, no matter the cost. The undead were once slaves to the Lich King, and have only recently been given free will for the first time. Trolls are more like tropical warlocks than traditional trolls living under the bridge, and tauren - well, what other game can you think of to play as a giant buffalo man in, not to mention their gorgeous Native American-inspired culture and aesthetic?

The shaman class is exclusive to the Horde. Tauren, trolls, and orcs can all choose this unique hybrid DPS and healer class.

Horde Disadvantages

The downside to playing as the Horde is that some of your quests may seem particularly evil or cruel, for no real reason. If you're a tauren who reveres nature, for example, questing in Ashenvale will have you wondering "are we the bad guys?" Half of the quests in the starting undead zone are morally questionable at best and downright evil at worst, such as poisoning a captured dwarf into a ghoul in Brill.

While the Horde has very unique takes on traditional fantasy races and settings, 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).

In general, the tauren are considered one of the best races in WoW Classic for their Stomp racial ability, which interrupts spellcasting in melee range.
The Orc and Troll racial abilities - Bloodrage and Berserking - have and empower their own abilities for a short time, making them ideal for DPS roles.
The Undead ability grants immunity to fear, sleep, and charm, making them a great choice for PvP.

Why should I choose the Alliance?

The Alliance is made up of four races: the noble humans, the adventurous dwarves, the enigmatic night elves, and the resourceful gnomes.

United by a hatred of all things demonic, they fight to restore order to this war-torn world.

Overall, the Alliance is presented as "the good guys" throughout WoW, and their aesthetic 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, Alliance players in the late game tend to have an easier time reaching relevant raids and dungeons.

The Alliance is a faction that was born out of the need to repel the demonic invasion of the First War - the first time Azeroth encountered the orcs who would later break free and form the Horde.As we know it today, the Alliance has remained steadfast in its protection of Azeroth and its people, drawing night elves from around the world in Kalimdor into its fold for strategic reasons, being located so close to Orgrimmar.

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The Alliance is a much more traditional B-fantasy than The Horde, making for a relaxed, family-friendly experience. As a human, you level up in Elwynn Forest and Westfall, which are basically large expanses of farms. As a dwarf or gnome, you level up in the snowy, mountainous Dun Morogh, home to the great underground dwarven capital of Ironforge. Night Elves are the most groundbreaking Alliance race, with a beautiful, almost alien-like starting zone that reflects the night elves' connection to the natural world and druidism.

The Paladin class is exclusive to the Alliance. Humans and Dwarves can choose this unique hybrid DPS, tank, and healer class.

The Alliance is typically the most popular faction on PvE servers, while the Horde is the most popular in PvP, though the servers will be balanced by faction for WoW Classic 2024. But this is indicative of the types of players you can expect to interact with on each faction: Alliance players tend to be more laid-back and serious, while Horde players tend to be a bit more laid-back and edgy.

Alliance Downsides

The main downside to the Alliance is that it can be a bit bland at times. While Alliance quests are often better written and the stories influence WoW events more, the Horde's unique takes on traditionally evil races generally make them more interesting.

Being rooted in B-fantasy tropes isn't necessarily bad, but you might get tired of just being "the good guys" all the time.

All Alliance Races

In WoW Classic, the Alliance is made up of four races: Humans, Gnomes, Dwarves, and Night Elves.

Diplomacy, a human race, is one of the most useful non-combat races in WoW Classic because it significantly speeds up all reputation gains.
Dwarves' iron skin and improved mining skill make them ideal for tanks and certain professions.

Gnomes are the best mages in WoW Classic, and their improved engineering skill makes them the best race for WoW Classic's most popular profession.
Night elves turn 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.

Should You Choose Horde Or Alliance in WoW Classic