What Is The Best Race for Warriors?

Varian Wrynn is an iconic warrior in World of Warcraft.

If you are looking to make a warrior, it can be overwhelming to try and pick a race. Overall, the differences between race selection in Battle For Azeroth are pretty minimal, but if you want to know the differences and how they rank I am here to help! 

1. Gnome

I may be small, but I will knock you back to Gnomeregan!

Gnomes are the tinkerers of the Alliance. These small statured individuals excel at Engineering and can pack a punch in a small body. Gnomes have the following racial abilities: 

• Reduce Arcane damage taken by 1%
• Escape Artist is an ability with a 1-minute cooldown which lets Gnomes remove any immobilization or movement speed reduction effect
• Has 5% more maximum rage
• Haste increased by 1%

Is this race good for warriors?

• Highest simulated Fury spec DPS
• Second highest simulated Arms spec DPS
• Haste is always useful
• Escape artist on such a short cooldown is amazing in PvP and allows them to stick to a target easier than some other races

Usefulness Rating: 96/100

2. Human

For the Alliance!

The time-tested Human race of Azeroth. Since the beginning in 2004, Humans have been a popular race for warriors. Humans have the following racial abilities: 

• Every Man for Himself ability removes all stun effects on a 3-minute cooldown and shares a 90-second cooldown with similar abilities
• Gains 2% more of all secondary stats (Haste, Critical Strike, Mastery, Versatility)

Is this race good for a warrior?

• Second highest simulated Fury spec DPS
• Third highest simulated Arms spec DPS
• Bonus to secondary stats helps in all situations
• Having a PvP trinket for a racial allows for other trinket selections

Usefulness Rating: 95/100

3. Zandalari Troll 

The Loa and I will destroy you!

Zandalari Trolls were introduced as a playable race in the Battle for Azeroth. They worship spirit gods called Loa. Zandalari Trolls have the following racial abilities: 

• Pterrordax Swoop is a 15-minute cooldown that reduces falling speed for 2 minutes 
• Regeneratin’ is a 2.5-minute cooldown that regenerates 100% of your max health over 6 seconds but is interrupted by damage
• Embrace of the Loa allows you to worship a Loa and gain a specific benefit

Is this race good for warriors?

• Highest Horde race simulated Fury spec DPS
• Regeneratin’ is an amazing cooldown as warriors do not have a max heal ability on their own
• Selecting different Loas will grant different boons but Paku is the best choice for damage

Usefulness Rating: 94/100

4. Dwarf

There are two things I love: defeating enemies and drinking a pint!

Dwarves have been one of the original playable races since WoW’s inception. A hearty race that has a racial reflecting that fact. Dwarves have the following racial abilities: 

• Reduce Frost damage taken by 1%
• Might of the Mountain grants 2% critical strike damage
• Stone Form is a 2-minute cooldown that removes all poison, curse, magic, and bleed effects while reducing all physical damage taken by 10% for 8 seconds

Is this race good for warriors?

• Third highest simulated Fury spec DPS
• Critical strike damage is very attractive for a warrior
• Stone form is a great cooldown for both PvP and PvE

Usefulness Rating: 92/100

5. Tauren

Stop asking me to moo for you. 

The original World of Warcraft beefcake. Puns aside, they have been an iconic race since vanilla. Tauren have the following racial abilities: 

• Critical strike bonus damage increased by 2%
• Has increased Stamina 
• Reduces Nature damage taken by 1%
• War Stomp is a 1.5-minute cooldown ability that stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds

Is this race good for warriors?

• Critical strike bonus damage is great to have
• More health is something a warrior will always need
• War Stomp is a nice ability for both PvE and PvP

Usefulness Rating: 92/100

6. Goblin

This will be a blast!

Penny for my thoughts? You have to do better than that! Goblins love money and were added back in Cataclysm. Goblins have the following racial abilities: 

• Rocket Jump is a 1.5-minute cooldown that jumps you forward
• Rocket Barrage is a 1.5-minute cooldown with a 30-yard range that shoots a rocket at an enemy dealing fire damage
• Haste increased by 1%
• Pack Hobgoblin is a 30-minute cooldown that summons access to your bank

Is this race good for warriors?

• Rocket Jump adds mobility which is good for both PvP and PvE
• Having a racial DPS cooldown is always useful
• Haste is necessary for any warrior spec

Usefulness Rating: 91/100

7. Highmountain Tauren

Mess with the bull and you'll get these horns!

Tauren with moose antlers. The Highmountain Tauren were added in Battle for Azeroth. They have been part of Azeroth’s history for a long time, but they have only recently rejoined the Horde. The Highmountain Tauren have the following racial abilities: 

• Bull Rush is a 2-minute cooldown with a 6-yard range that charges forward for 1 second knocking enemies down for 1.5 seconds
• Versatility is increased by 1%
• Rugged Tenacity is a passive racial that reduces damage taken

Is this race good for warriors?

• Bull Rush a nice interrupt in case of an emergency
• Increased Versatility is useful in PvP and PvE
• Taking reduced damage is always a good thing

Usefulness Rating: 89/100

8. Blood Elf

For Quel'Thalas!

The elf of the Horde was the first new Horde playable race added in Burning Crusade. They were the first Paladin class playable for the Horde faction. Blood Elves have the following racial abilities: 

• Critical Strike Chance increased by 1%
• Reduces Arcane damage taken by 1%
• Arcane Torrent is a 2-minute cooldown that removes 1 beneficial effect from all enemies within 8 yards and restores Rage

Is this race good for warriors?

• Critical Strike Chance is a very important stat to any warrior spec
• Arcane Torrent is a great ability for both PvE and PvP
• The ability to remove a buff from your enemies could potentially turn the tide in your favor during PvP

Usefulness Rating: 89/100

9. Troll

Who you want me kill?

The Darkspear were the first playable trolls of the Horde. This jungle tribe has been one of the better warrior races. Trolls have the following racial abilities: 

• Berserking is a 3-minute cooldown that increases melee haste by 15% for 10 seconds
• Da Voodoo Shuffle is a passive ability that reduces the duration of all movement impairing effects by 20%
• Regeneration is a passive racial that increases health regeneration rate by 10% and 10% of total health regeneration continues during combat

Is this race good for warriors?

• Berserking is one of the best racial abilities for a warrior
• Da Voodoo Shuffle is good for PvP and sticking to a target
• Health regeneration is useful for PvP and PvE

Usefulness Rating: 89/100

10. Undead

For the Forsaken!

Creepy, spooky, partial skeletons. The Forsaken have been an iconic race since vanilla. The Undead have the following racial abilities: 

• Will of the Forsaken is a 2-minute cooldown that removes any Charm, Fear, or Sleep effects and shares a 30-second cooldown with other similar effects
• Cannibalize is a 2-minute cooldown that requires Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yards, and when activated, regenerates 7% of your total health every 2 seconds for 10 seconds. It is interrupted by movement, actions, or when damage is taken
• Reduces Shadow damage taken by 1% 
• Touch of the Grave is a passive ability that gives you the ability to breathe underwater and gives your attacks a chance to drain the target, dealing shadow damage and healing you for the same amount

Is this race good for warriors?

• Will of the Forsaken is a great ability in PvP and PvE
• Cannibalize is a nice way to stay on the move in both PvE and PvP
• Touch of the Grave provides some extra passive damage and healing which a warrior can always use

Usefulness Rating:  88/100

11. Void Elf

I'm blue da ba dee da ba daa!

The blue version of Blood Elves. Elves that harnessed the dark magic of the Void and fought against the madness that took many others. Void Elves have the following racial abilities: 

• Reduces Shadow damage taken by 1%
• Spatial Rift is a 3-minute cooldown that rips a rift in space and time that you can reactivate to teleport back to if it is within 30 yards
• Entropic Embrace is a passive ability that causes your damaging abilities to deal an additional 5% of the damage dealt as shadowfrost damage for 12 seconds

Is this race good for warriors?

• Spatial Rift can allow for some decent mobility
• Entropic Embrace is a nice passive increase to all damage
• Both Spatial Rift and Entropic Embrace are useful in PvE and PvP

Usefulness Rating: 87/100

12. Kul Tiran

The Kul Tiran is an unlockable race in the Battle for Azeroth allied to the Alliance. 

The Kul Tiran is the stocky, seafaring counterpart to the Human race. They were made playable in Battle for Azeroth. The Kul Tiran have the following racial abilities: 

• Reduce Frost and Nature damage taken by 1%
• Has increased Versatility by 1%
• When damage is taken, heal 2% of that amount over 4 seconds
• Haymaker is a 2.5-minute cooldown that deals damage stuns for 3 seconds, and knocks the enemy away

Is this race good for warriors?

• Versatility is useful in both PvP and PvE
• Any healing when taking damage is nice, even if it is a small amount
• Haymaker can lead to some nice PvP plays when there are different elevations

Usefulness Rating: 86/100

13. Worgen

Remember that the beast in the shadows might be your salvation.

Cataclysm introduced the shape-shifting Worgen.  The citizens of Gilneas first play as a human, get infected, and voila they become Worgen! Worgen have the following racial abilities: 

• Darkflight is a 2-minute cooldown that increases movement speed by 40% for 10 seconds
• Critical Strike Chance increased by 1%
• Reduce Shadow and Nature damage taken by 1%
• Running Wild drops you to all fours allowing for 60% movement speed between levels 20-39 and eventually 100% movement speed at levels 40+

Is this race good for warriors?

• Darkflight gives a little more mobility that can be useful in PvE and PvP
• Critical Strike is important no matter what spec you choose to play
• Running Wild is a nice movement bonus while leveling so you don’t have to spend money on a mount

Usefulness Rating: 85/100

14. Pandaren

Don't' make me put this knee up in your Chi!

• Mist of Pandaria brought us the only neutral faction to currently exist. Pandaren can either be a member of the Alliance or the Horde. It’s your choice! The Pandaren have the following racial abilities: 
• Receives 100% more stat benefits from food
• Quaking Palm is a 2-minute cooldown that incapacitates a target for 4 seconds and stops your auto attacking
• Receives twice as much rested experience

Is this race good for warriors?

• Receiving more benefits from food is a plus
• Quaking Palm gives warriors access to another CC/interrupt
• Earning twice as much rested experience lets you level slightly faster

Usefulness Rating: 85/100

15. Night Elf

Vengeance for the World Tree!

The classic elf race. Night Elves have a prominent role in the story of Azeroth. They are one of the most popular races since 2004. Night Elves have the following racial abilities: 

• Shadowmeld is a 2-minute cooldown that stealths you, reducing the chance enemies detect you and drops combat
• Reduce Nature damage taken by 1%
• Has 2% increased dodge chance against melee and ranged attacks and has 2% increased movement speed
• Haste is increased by 1% during the night and Critical Strike is increased by 1% during the day

Is this race good for warriors?

• Shadowmeld is a good tool while leveling to escape a bad situation and guard PvP locations in stealth
• Increased movement speed is always helpful
• Night and day mechanics are not always worth counting on, but still useful in niche cases

Usefulness Rating: 83/100

16. Mag’har Orc

Drink the Blood of Mannoroth? I don't think so!

The uncorrupted Orc race. After driving out the Burning Legion, the combined remnants of the Iron Horde and the Frostwolf clan formed the Mag’har. Mag’har Orcs have the following racial abilities: 

• Open Skies is a passive ability that increases mounted speed by 10%
• Savage Blood is a passive ability that reduces the duration of Poisons, Diseases, and Curses by 10%
• Ancestral Call is a 2-minute cooldown that grants you an increase to Mastery, Versatility, Haste, or Critical Strike for 15 seconds

Is this race good for warriors?

• While having a DPS cooldown for a racial is nice, random is not always the best
• Having increased mounted speed is great across the board
• Reduced duration for Poisons, Diseases, and Curses can make you feel slightly tankier

Usefulness Rating: 83/100

17. Lightforged Draenei

The Lightforged Draenei are Elite Draenei fighters that decided to join the Army of the Light.

The Draenei have fought against the Burning Legion for a long time. The most committed against them undergo a ritual and that gives us this playable race. The Lightforged Draenei have the following racial abilities: 

• Reduces Holy damage taken by 1%
• Light’s Judgement is a 2.5-minute cooldown, 40-yard range ability that deals Holy damage to enemies with 5 yards after 3 seconds
• Light’s Reckoning is a passive ability that upon death, deal damage to enemies within 8 yards and heal allies

Is this race good for warriors?

• Highest simulated Arms spec DPS
• Having a racial DPS cooldown is useful in all situations
• Light’s Reckoning, while cool, is not nearly as good as other racial abilities

Usefulness Rating: 81/100

18. Orc

For the Horde!

Mean and green. Originally the slaves of the Burning Legion, they eventually broke free and now call Orgrimmar their home. Orcs have the following racial abilities: 

• Bloody Fury is a 2-minute cooldown that increases melee attack power for 15 seconds
• Hardiness is a passive ability that reduces the duration of Stun effects by an additional 20%

Is this race good for warriors?

• Blood Fury is a great DPS cooldown
• Hardiness has its place in PvE but mainly a PvP racial

Usefulness Rating: 79/100

19. Draenei

Prophet Velen and the naaru will lead us to victory!

The Draenei came to Azeroth on their dimensional ship The Exodar. They were made playable in the Burning Crusade. The Dranei are led by Prophet Velen and are enemies of the Burning Legion. The Draenei have the following racial abilities: 

• Reduces Shadow damage taken by 1%
• Has increased Strength, Agility, and Intellect
• Gift of the Naaru is a 3-minute cooldown, 40-yard range ability that heals a target for 20% of their total health over 5 seconds

Is this race good for warriors?

• Increased stats are always useful to have
• Gift of the Naaru is useful in both PvP and PvE

Usefulness Rating: 78/100

20. Dark Iron Dwarf

Working conditions in the depths of Blackrock weren't that great!

The Dark Iron Dwarves are now a playable race as of Battle for Azeroth. Having at one point served Ragnaros the Firelord, they now fight alongside the Alliance against the Horde. Dark Iron Dwarves have the following racial abilities: 

Reduces damage taken from physical attacks by 1%

• Mole Machine is a 30-minute cooldown that allows you to travel to certain locations
• Fireblood is a 2-minute cooldown that removes all poison, disease, curse, magic, and bleed effects while increasing your primary stat by 3 for each effect removed for 8 seconds
• Has 4% increased movement speed while indoors

Is this race good for warriors?

• Mole Machine allows for some quick city trips and faster leveling since it does not share a cooldown with a hearthstone
• Fireblood is a great cooldown for both PvE and PvP
• Increased speed indoors is nice but not always applicable

Usefulness Rating:  78/100

21. Nightborne

I conquered the Nightwell, I can surely conquer you!

An illusion? What are you hiding!? The Nightborne are now a playable race in Battle for Azeroth. After freeing themselves from the shackles on the Burning Legion, they joined the Horde. The Nightborne have the following racial abilities: 

• Reduces arcane damage taken by 1%
• Arcane Pulse is a 3-minute cooldown that deals Arcane damage to nearby enemies and reduces their movement speed by 50% for 12 seconds

Is this race good for warriors?

• Arcane Pulse is a good PvP ability, but the cooldown is longer than other racial abilities

Usefulness Rating: 70/100

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In reality, the differences between races are negligible. There are some perks in specific situations that make one race better than another but don’t feel down if your race isn’t as high as others. Play what you like and enjoy your time spent in Azeroth!