Choose your allegiance.
Deciding which faction to play in World of Warcraft is a question that all players ask when starting their adventure during the character creation process. It can be a difficult decision; how do you make your decision? Will it be because of the aesthetics? Races? Or is it probably because your friends are there and would like to join them? In this article, we will look into Alliance and Horde factions to try and help WoTLK Classic account owners decide which faction is best for them.
Aesthetics
First, we will discuss the aesthetic differences between the two factions. Usually, new players would decide which faction they would side with by checking if the characters’ race looks cool based on their personal preferences. It is essential to check the aesthetics of your character before making a decision; as you progress through the game, you are stuck with whatever race you choose.
Aside from race, you’ll also notice that the Alliance and Horde factions have different buildings, armor, WoTLK items, colors, and models. The Horde’s buildings are usually made from wood with many spikes. On the other hand, the Alliance’s buildings are made of stone and are practical and traditional.
One final thing to remember when picking a faction with aesthetics in mind is that the Horde focuses on darker colors with a lot of red. Meanwhile, the Alliance faction has lighter colors and a royal blue color. At this part of the guide, the aesthetic of your character depends on your decision on what race you think looks best. If this is not enough for you to decide, we will move on to the differences in gameplay.
Gameplay
After deciding which race you decide to be in, there are things for you to consider gameplay-wise. Both Alliance and Horde are different when leveling experiences while having specific questlines. Picking either side limits your gameplay to one quest line. Abilities are another thing to remember, as both have an ability exclusive to your chosen race. Some abilities are better than others. For example, you can have a better advantage in PVP as a human.
Lore
There are no good guys nor bad guys in World of Warcraft; nothing is black and white. The Alliance and Horde factions have reasons for existing and hating the other. Reading through their history, Orcs arrived at Azeroth through a dark portal as an expedition but were under the influence of the Burning Legion. The Burning Legion in the games’ lore invaded peaceful settlements before driving them back and stopping the invasion. Any surviving Orcs were then taken to internment camps while having the Dark Portal sealed before they escaped the camp.
The surviving Orcs then joined forces after the escape and found refuge in the land of Kalimdor, where they killed the demons to set Orcs free from the demonic corruption that plagued their minds. Any creatures not a part of the Alliance worked together and were named the Horde. Feeling uneasy about these races living together and memories of the violence that the corrupted Orcs have displayed between wars became a constant reminder, and the battle between the two factions never ceased throughout the years. A truce was only formed when a more significant threat came into play.
With each faction’s history into mind, choosing your allegiance matters as it gives you a sense of what you are fighting for during your gameplay in World of Warcraft. The lore adds a role-playing immersion in which you can get lost. We recommend reading more on the lore to understand the reasons each faction stands for. It will help you to decide to either join them or fight them.
What are the available races in each faction?
To understand them further, the game briefly describes each race. We’ve compiled them for you, and you can read them below:
Horde
A group of races banded together with ideals, policies, and beliefs that have changed over the years, but it is the same Horde that Thrall inherited through the Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer.
- Orc: Led by Warchief Thrall, their capital is at the Orgrimmar in Durotar; they live in camps in the Barrens, Ashenvale, Stranglethorn Valo, Arathi Highlands, Badlands, Swap of Sorrows, and Azshara. The Orcs are trying to redeem themselves from their once true selves after the corruption of demon magic.
- Undead Forsaken: Led by Banshee Queen Sylvanas Windrunner along with Varimathras, who is her majordomo until he betrayed her and the Horde. Their capital is located at the Undercity in Tirisfal Glades, Silverpine Forest, and the Hillsbrad Foothills. They were also a group of undead who was released from the control of the Lich King and set up a truce with members of the Horde.
- Tauren: Led by the High Chieftain Cairne Bloodhoof, their capital is located at the Thunder Bluff in Bulgore, with camps across the Barrens, Thousand Needles, Stonetalon Mountains, Desolace, Feralas, and Felwood. These creatures are a noble race who offer spiritual guidance to Orcs in exchange for military aid.
- Trolls: Led by Shadowhunter Vol’jin, this race was originally from a chain of islands in the Great Sea before moving to Echo Isles and being rooted out by the Kul Tiras Marines. Their main village is Sen’jin Village, which shares the capital with the Orcs in Orgrimmar. Their camps are spread throughout Durotar, Ashenvale, Stonetalon Mountains, and Desolace. This race is indebted to the Orcs after they saved their tribe and provided them with a home.
Alliance
The Alliance is known as the Alliance of Lordaeron during its time when its leadership was based in Lordaeron. However, they were forced to move to Kalimdor and the southern Azerothian kingdoms of Stormwind and Khaz Modan due to a plague of undeath that invaded the Kingdom of Lordaeron years ago. The Alliance has lost many members while gaining new ones.
- Humans: Led by King Varian Wrynn, their capital is Stormwind City, north of the Elwynn Forest, a subcontinent of Azeroth. The Kingdoms’ influence spreads around the surrounding lands like Lakeshire and Darkshire.
- Dwarves: Led by King Magni Bronzebeard, their capital is Ironforge in Hun Morogh; it controls several settlements in Khaz Modan, Kharanos, and Thelsamar. They also have outposts in Dun Farok and Mael Modan.
- Gnomes: Led by the High Tinker Gelmin Mekkatorque, the long-time capital was Gnomeregan in Dun Morogh while having a temporary settlement in Tinker Town.
- Night Elves: Led by the High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind with the Archdruid Fandral Staghelm and General Shandris Feathermoon. Their capital is Daranassus in the World Tree of Teldrassil, north of Kalimdor while controlling several large outposts in Feathermoon Stronghold and Astranaar.
Conclusion
After reading through the entire guide, hopefully, this gives you an idea of what to choose as your faction. As important as it may be to pick either, you can explore both sides of the ongoing war with an alternate WoTLK Classic account and experience the different races and questlines available. May you choose wisely, adventurer.
