Racial Bonuses in Cataclysm Classic

In World of Warcraft there are many different races you can choose from for your character. Each different race has unique benefits that you gain for picking them; these benefits vary for each race, but typically are either an activated spell or passive benefits. Below you can see each of the racials available for every race in Cataclysm.

Draenei have a 1% increased chance to hit; note that this passive no longer buffs the group and instead only buffs the Draenei. Aside from that, there are no other benefits to the class, making it a mediocre choice in terms of power from racial abilities.

• Gemcutting — Jewelcrafting skill increased by 10.
• Heroic Presence — Increases your chance to hit with all spells and attacks by 1%.
• Shadow Resistance — Increases your resistance to harmful Shadow effects by 1, increased by character level.
• Gift of the Naaru — Heals the target for 20% of their total health over 15 sec.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Draenei

Dwarfs have a few notable racials, namely Mace Specialization for DPS and Stoneform for tanks. Both of these racials are great, making Dwarves a good choice for DPS, and a great choice for tanking.

• Explorer — You find additional fragments when looting archaeological finds and you can survey faster than normal archaeologists.
• Frost Resistance — Increases your resistance to harmful Frost effects by 1, increased by character level.
• Gun Specialization — Your chance to critically hit with Guns is increased by 1%.
• Mace Specialization — Expertise with Maces and Two-Handed Maces increased by 3.
• Stoneform — Removes all poison, disease and bleed effects and reduces all damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Dwarf

Gnomes get a couple of new racials, Expansive Mind and Shortblade Specialization. Shortblade Specialization makes Gnomes a great choice for Rogues, especially if you are using Daggers.

• Arcane Resistance — Increases your resistance to harmful Arcane effects by 1, increased by character level.
• Engineering Specialization — Engineering skill increased by 15.
• Expansive Mind — Mana pool increased by 5%
• Shortblade Specialization — Expertise with Daggers and One-Handed Swords increased by 3.
• Escape Artist — Escape the effects of any immobilization or movement speed reduction effect.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Gnome

Humans still have both Mace Specialization and Sword Specialization, making them a strong choice for Melee DPS classes. Humans also still have The Human Spirit, making them a great choice for healers.

• Diplomacy — Reputation gains increased by 10%.
• The Human Spirit — Spirit increased by 3%
• Mace Specialization — Expertise with Maces and Two-Handed Maces increased by 3.
• Sword Specialization — Expertise with Swords and Two-Handed Swords increased by 3.
• Will to Survive — Removes all movement impairing effects and all effects which cause loss of control of your character. This effect shares a cooldown with other similar effects.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Human

Night Elves have 2 main racials; Quickness is the first racial, great for tanking PvE content. Shadowmeld has quite a few uses, mainly to temporarily drop threat (if solo will reset all threat). Rogues can also use opener spells such as Cheap Shot while using Shadowmeld, making it a solid choice for them as well.

• Nature Resistance — Increases your resistance to harmful Nature effects by 1, increased by character level.
• Quickness — Reduces the chance that melee and ranged attackers will hit you by 2%.
• Wisp Spirit — Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing speed by 75%.
• Shadowmeld — Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until canceled or upon moving. Any threat is restored versus enemies still in combat upon cancellation of this effect.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Night Elf

Worgens are 1 of the 2 races added in Cataclysm. Viciousness is a flat 1% increased Crit Chance, making Worgens a decent choice for DPS classes. Darkflight is a Sprint-like ability that can be used in combat, this is especially beneficial on classes with very little mobility such as Death Knights, giving them some much needed movement speed.

• Aberration — Increases your resistance to harmful Nature and Shadow effects by 1, increased by character level.
• Enable Worgen Altered Form — Enables Worgens to switch between human and Worgen forms.
• Flayer — Skinning skill increased by 15 and allows you to skin faster.
• Viciousness — Increases critical strike chance by 1%.
• Darkflight — Activates your true form, increasing current movement speed by an additional 40% for 10 sec.
• Running Wild — Drop to all fours to run as fast as a wild animal. This is a mount.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Worgen

The main racial ability for Blood Elves is Arcane Torrent. This is mainly useful for the silence in PvP situations, but can also be used to interrupt NPC mobs and restore a bit of resources.

• Arcane Affinity — Enchanting skill increased by 10.
• Arcane Resistance — Increases your resistance to harmful Arcane effects by 1, increased by character level.
• Arcane Torrent — Silence all enemies within 8 yards for 2 sec and resources. Non-player victim spellcasting is also interrupted for 3 sec.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Blood Elf

Goblins are 1 of the 2 races added in Cataclysm. Goblins are an extremely powerful race choice, having multiple benefits that any class can benefit from. While Time is Money is nice for the increased haste, the main attraction of Goblin is Rocket Jump, allowing you to jump forward a short distance. For fights where movement is not a concern, you can use Rocket Barrage instead for some extra damage.

• Best Deals Anywhere — Always receive the best possible gold discount, regardless of faction.
• Better Living Through Chemistry — Alchemy skill increased by 15.
• Time is Money — 1% increase to attack and casting speed.
• Pack Hobgoblin — Calls in your friend, Gobber, allowing you bank access for 1 min.
• Rocket Barrage — Launches your belt rockets at an enemy, dealing 171 fire damage, increased by Attack Power or Spell Power.
• Rocket Jump — Activates your rocket belt to jump forward. Other effects which slow the rate of falling cannot be used within 10 sec after using this ability.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Goblin

Orcs have been and continue to be one of the best races to choose for their many benefits. Axe Specialization remains still for melee DPS, and Orcs still have Blood Fury, an on-use Attack Power or Spell Power trinket-like cooldown. Lastly, pet classes will benefit from 5% increased pet damage via Command, making Orc a powerful option for any Axe users and pet classes.

• Axe Specialization — Expertise with Fist Weapons, Axes and Two-Handed Axes increased by 3.
• Command — Increases damage dealt by pets by 5%.
• Hardiness — Duration of Stun effects reduced by an additional 15%.
• Blood Fury — Increases your Attack Power or Spell Power for 15 sec.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Orc

Tauren has no real racial benefits anymore after Endurance was nerfed to base health instead of total health.

• Cultivation — Herbalism skill increased by 15 and you gather herbs faster than normal herbalists.
• Endurance — Base Health increased by 5%.
• Nature Resistance — Increases your resistance to harmful Nature effects by 1, increased by character level.
• War Stomp — Stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yards for 2 sec.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Tauren

Trolls have very little benefits; Beast Slaying is great when fighting Beasts, but will be very infrequently active. Berserking still remains a strong DPS cooldown, increasing Attack and Cast speeds by 20%.

• Beast Slaying — Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
• Bow Specialization — Your chance to critically hit with Bows is increased by 1%.
• Da Voodoo Shuffle — Reduces the duration of all movement impairing effects by 15%. Trolls be flippin' out mon!
• Regeneration — Health regeneration rate increased by 10%. 10% of total Health regeneration may continue during combat.
• Throwing Specialization — Your chance to critically hit with Throwing Weapons is increased by 1%.
• Berserking — Increases your attack and casting speed by 20% for 10 sec.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Troll

Undead offer no benefits for PvE players, but Will of the Forsaken is a good cooldown while PvPing.

• Shadow Resistance — Increases your resistance to harmful Shadow effects by 1, increased by character level.
• Underwater Breathing — Underwater breath lasts 233% longer than normal.
• Cannibalize — When activated, regenerates 7% of total health and 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.
• Will of the Forsaken — Removes any Charm, Fear and Sleep effect. This effect shares a 30 sec cooldown with other similar effects.

Classes
	Death Knight	Druid	Hunter	Mage	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Undead