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WHICH RACE TO PICK

Which race should a Paladin pick in WoW: Forever?

3 possible racesRacials: game clientLevel 60 simulatorUpdated October 27, 2026

The Paladin can be played by 3 races. For each one, here are its racial abilities as the game client describes them and, for the simulated specs, the DPS gap these racials create against the best race.

Which race deals the most damage?

For each simulated spec: the DPS gap against the best race. Only the racials read from the client count: each race's base stat bonuses are not published in the tables and are not accounted for (all races start from the same stats).

Retribution

RaceDPS gap (± error)
Human Alliance Best 0.0 % ± 0.08
Dwarf Alliance Equivalent −0.2 % ± 0.08
Undead Horde −1.1 % ± 0.08

Protection (threat per second)

RaceDPS gap (± error)
Human Alliance Best 0.0 % ± 0.02
Dwarf Alliance −0.4 % ± 0.02
Undead Horde −0.4 % ± 0.02

"Equivalent": the gap with the best race is within the simulation's error margin. Only racials that change damage are simulated; the others (resistances, escapes, movement, professions) are listed below.

Method and limits
  • For each spec, the same character (gear, talents, consumables from the level 60 ranking) is simulated with every possible race: 180 seconds against a stationary level 63 boss, 20000 runs per race and per variant (in 5 batches for the error).
  • Racials come from the game client tables (build 1.60.1.69913): Forever reworked those of WoW Classic. Weapon specializations were replaced by critical strike chance (Human, Orc) or critical damage (Dwarf), and several racials are new (Elune's Light, Wind Blessed...). The October 15 racial rework (build 1.60.1.70425) is included, and so are the changes Blizzard announced on October 26 and 27, 2026 for the launch (Ruthless, Human Spirit, Earth Fury and Savage removed, Endurance, Command, Artisan's Precision, Blood Fury, Berserking, Wind Blessed), which are not in the tables read yet and are applied from the announcement.
  • Simulated: Ruthless (Human, +1% crit), Artisan's Precision (Dwarf, +1% hit), Command (Orc, +5% damage of Warlock and Hunter pets), Blood Fury (2 min), Berserking (15 s) and Eureka! (Gnome, 8 s of +10% damage every 120 s: without the 10% cost cut) as temporary damage bonuses, Elune's Light, Wind Blessed (+2% haste), The Human Spirit (+10% Spirit), Expansive Mind (mana). Savage, Earth Fury and Endurance's critical damage no longer exist.
  • Not simulated: Eureka!'s 10% cost cut, Undead Touch of the Grave (a health drain, with a 15 s internal cooldown, worth a few DPS at most), bonuses against Beasts and Elementals (the simulated fight is against a single boss), and the Tauren's extra health.
  • Each race's base stat bonuses (strength, agility, etc.) are not in the tables read: they are the Classic values taken from the open-source simulator WoWSims (MIT licence, github.com/wowsims/classic), not confirmed for Forever; the Skyborne have none. A racial you press (Blood Fury, Elune's Light, Berserking) is used at the best moment among four possible starts (0.2 s, 20 s, 60 s, 120 s), as a player would line it up with their other cooldowns.

Paladin races and their racials

The descriptions come from the game client. The label says whether the simulation accounts for them.

Human Alliance

  • Perception utility, no effect on DPS

    Dramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.

    Duration 20 s · Cooldown 180 s
  • Ruthless simulated

    Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 1%.

  • The Human Spirit simulated

    Spirit increased by 10%.

  • Will to Survive utility, no effect on DPS

    Instantly removes all Stun effects.

    Cooldown 180 s

Dwarf Alliance

  • Find Treasure utility, no effect on DPS
  • Stoneform utility, no effect on DPS

    Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.

    Duration 8 s · Cooldown 180 s
  • Big Game Hunter damage, not simulated

    Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.

  • Artisan's Precision simulated

    Increases your chance to hit with spells and attacks by 1%.

Undead Horde

  • Underwater Breathing utility, no effect on DPS

    Underwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.

  • Will of the Forsaken utility, no effect on DPS

    Instantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.

    Duration 0.1 s · Cooldown 120 s
  • Cannibalize utility, no effect on DPS

    When activated, regenerates 7% of total Health and 7% of total Mana every 2 sec for 10 sec. Only works on Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yds. Any movement, action, or damage taken while Cannibalizing will cancel the effect.

    Cooldown 120 s
  • Touch of the Grave damage, not simulated

    Your spells and attacks have a 20% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health. Internal cooldown 15 sec.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best race for a Retribution Paladin in WoW: Forever?

In our simulation, Human, Dwarf deals the most DPS as a Retribution Paladin with its racials; the lowest-placed race, Undead, is about 1.1% behind. These gaps are small: play the race you prefer unless you chase the last percent.

Can I pick any race?

No: the race and class combinations come from the game client. Alliance and Horde races do not mix, and the Skyborne have their own classes.

Go further

RetributionProtection Level 60 tier list Paladin talents DPS simulator All classes

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