Skyborne (shen'dorei) — a new playable race in WoW: Forever with a 1–12 starter zone on Zephras Isle. The faction (Horde or Alliance) is chosen at character creation and changes the class list and some racial abilities.

Blizzard unveiled a new playable race for WoW: Forever — Skyborne (shen'dorei, the "hidden folk"). Their story begins on Zephras Isle, a 1–12 starter zone: an island with elemental architecture that blends classic Warcraft motifs with a wind-and-origin theme. The side — Horde or Alliance — is chosen at character creation and changes the available classes and racial abilities.

Where the Skyborne come from

The Skyborne are descendants of highborne exiles who, thousands of years ago, made a pact with the spirits of wind and built a civilization in Skywall — one of the elemental planes. At the start of the game, their island of Zephras Isle is in crisis: the wind spirits have vanished, ancient structures are collapsing, communities are isolated, and society is split.

The split is reflected in two branches:

• Windshaper Skyborne (Horde) — descendants of the first shen'dorei who received the gift of elemental sight from the wind spirits. They lean on elemental traditions.
• High Order Skyborne (Alliance) — descendants of the ancient highborne scholars of Eldre'Thalas. When the wind spirits vanished, they realized that depending entirely on elemental patrons was dangerous, and returned to Azeroth to recover lost arcane knowledge and make the shen'dorei self-sufficient.

The shared set is Druid, Hunter, Rogue, Warrior. The difference is one class: the Horde gets Shaman and emphasizes elemental traditions, the Alliance gets Mage and leans on the arcane heritage of their ancestors. Blizzard gave Skyborne druids their own forms, created specifically for the race.

Racial abilities

Shared by both sides:

• Walk on Air — glide down through the air for 10 seconds.
• Wind Blessed (passive) — +1% to melee, ranged, and spell speed.
• Elemental Insight (passive) — +5% damage against elementals.

Unique to each side:

• Horde (Windshaper): *Skysight* — a blessing of the elements, +10% run speed.
• Alliance (High Order): *Read Ley Line* — while channeling a ley line, +100% to health and mana regeneration.

Appearance

Customization is something Blizzard is particularly proud of. Body Type 1 includes 10 faces, 9 skin tones (from sky-blue to light peach and darker shades), 21 hairstyles, 11 hair colors, 3 ear lengths, 9 eye colors, 4 brow shapes, 13 beard options, face and body tattoos, and feather color — including feathers woven into the hair. Body Type 2 adds 25 hairstyles, earrings (six styles), and silver or gold accessories. Blizzard talks about thousands of possible combinations. Appearance can be changed later at the barber in cities, for a small fee.

Among the new emotes are a dedicated Skyborne dance, plus /laugh, /flirt, /silly, /applaud, /bye, /hello, /cackle, /bow, /cry, /no, and others.

In practice

• Class depends on faction. If you want Shaman, you go Horde; if you want Mage, you go Alliance. This is decided on the character creation screen, before you enter the world.
• Walk on Air is a downward glide, not flight. The ability lasts 10 seconds and does not let you ascend.
• Elemental Insight only works against elementals — +5% damage against them.
• Appearance can be edited at the barber for coins. You can start with one set of options and tweak them later.