What Are Allied Races
Allied Races are races allied with the Horde or the Alliance that you can play as once you meet specific reputations and storyline requirements. Introduced in World of Warcraft expansions, these races expand your roleplaying and gameplay options without replacing original races. Unlocking them typically involves raising a faction to Exalted, completing a multi-step quest line, and choosing a profession path. This guide explains how to unlock Allied Races, prerequisites, reputation tracks, and class-specific options so you can plan your characters and achievements efficiently.
How Allied Races Unlock in Game
To unlock Allied Races, you must first meet expansion and account prerequisites, then raise a new faction to Exalted and complete its hero quest chain. Each Allied Race has a distinct reputation track, usually introduced with a new zone or campaign. You normally start by completing introductory quests that unlock the reputation grind, then grind dailies, world events, and repeatable missions to reach Exalted. Upon reaching Exalted, you trigger the final quest that allows you to select the race at your Class Order Hall or Garrison for older systems. The process is repeatable for each Allied Race you want to unlock on the same character, provided you meet each race’s unique requirements.
General Unlocking Steps
- Reach the required expansion or account level.
- Complete introductory quest steps that unlock the new faction.
- Raise the faction to Exalted through dailies, weekly caches, world events, and repeatable quests.
- Complete the Exalted hero quest to unlock the race.
- Choose the race at your class hall or trainer when creating a new character or alt.
Notable Allied Races and Their Factions
Over multiple expansions, the game has added several Allied Races, each tied to specific factions, zones, and reputations. Highmountain Tauren and Dark Iron Dwarves were introduced early, while Void Elf, Lightforged Draenei, and Zandalari trolls arrived later with distinct reputations tied to story arcs. Some races are class-specific, while others are available to all classes. Below is a summary table of key Allied Races, the faction you must Exalt, and their typical unlock context. Note that details can change with patches, so check in-game sources for the most current requirements.
| Allied Race | Primary Faction | Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| Highmountain Tauren | Thunder Bluff | Legion |
| Dark Iron Dwarf | Explorer’s League | Legion |
| Lightforged Draenei | Army of the Light | Battle for Azeroth |
| Void Elf | Kirin Tor | Battle for Azeroth |
| Zandalari Troll (Berserker) | Zandalari Empire | Battle for Azeroth |
| Mechagon (Horde) | Mechagon City | Shadowlands |
| Dracthyr (Dragonflight) | Dracthyr Covenant | Dragonflight |
How to Raise Faction Reputation Efficiently
Raising a faction to Exalted is time-intensive but methodical. Core activities include daily quests, weekly caches, and world events tied to the zone. Some reputations offer additional reputation bonuses through quests or repeatable vendors, which can reduce grind time. Boosts such as double experience reputation tokens, guild perks, or consumable buffs can speed progress. Focus on unlocking the reputation curve early and completing weekly quests consistently, since these often provide the largest gains. If a token or event doubles reputation, prioritize those activities to reach Exalted faster and unlock the Allied Race sooner.
Class and Order Hall Requirements
Many Allied Races require you to visit your Class Order Hall or Garrison to choose the new race. In Legion, you often interacted with your Class Order Hall to unlock the race after Exalted. In Battle for Azeroth and Shadowlands, some reputations are tied to covenant progression or role orders. Certain races may also have class restrictions or unique mount achievements tied to them. Before committing, verify that your class can access the desired race in your current specialization and expansion. Check class-specific questlines and achievement requirements to avoid surprises when you attempt to create the character or change appearance.
Cross-Character and Account Considerations
Once you unlock an Allied Race on a character, you can usually create additional characters of that race on the same account without repeating the full Exalted grind, depending on patch notes. Some expansions allow you to select the race at the Class Order Hall even if you unlock it on a different character, streamlining alt creation. Account-wide unlocks, achievements, or covenant progress can also affect how quickly you can add the race to your roster. Consult the specific expansion patch notes to confirm whether reputations or quest steps are shared across characters on your account.