This… this is the post I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
Let’s do this
Death Knight
DKs rely on runes, as this thread states. Essentially there are two parts, the runes themselves and runic power.
Runes are essentially symbols of power that hold magic. The Kiron Tor, Dark Iron Dwarves, Highborne/Nightborne, Blue Dragons and many others use runes for all sort of purposes.
The runes of a death knight hold primarily death magic. In game it is explained that the weapon the DK wields has runes on it. If you watch, several spells involve the DK casting with their weapons, like with Death Coil or Howling Blast.
Runic power is not explained in lore, and it can be implied that it’s just for mechanics.
However, in Lore, some death knights have vague spellcasting.
In his fight with Kael’thas, Arthas directed an ice-based magic attack back at the elf. He used Frostmourne in the casting, but it was not necessarily a spell like the player’s death knights use. It seems that, with the runeweapon, a death knight becomes a pseudo-mage.
Demon Hunter
There are two DHs, in-game and lore.
In lore, Demon Hunters use the demonic energies they absorb to fuel their own energy and powers. Most demon hunters use arcane and fire magics, as Illidan did before he became a dreadlord. Some even use shadow.
In game, this lore has been extended… in a way. To make the class feel more unique, the game’s DHs use fel energy. Each of them has some demon onside of them that they control, and the fuel of that demon grants them their fel abilities. Ironically, unlike the lore, the ingame DHs heavily utilize shadow magics.
Demon Hunter, capitol letters, as in the class, use fel and shadow from the demon inside. But demon hunters, lowercase, people who traditionally hunt demons and the origin of he Demon Hunter class use arcane and fire like any other magi.
Druid
Here’s where it gets confusing. There is a separation of nature and druidism.
All druids use nature magic. But not all nature magic users are druids.
And as mages draw arcane from ley lines, fonts of magic, or even themselves, druids draw life magic from nature, the Emerald Dream, or from themselves.
Nelf and Tauren
Starting with Malfurion, and then spreading to nelves and tauren, Cenarius spread druidism as we know it. As a mage is to arcane, the druid is to nature, and their spellcasting is very similar. It can be learned, as any other magic. Illidan learned some druidic magic before becoming a arcanist and giving druidism up.
Trolls
Darkspear and Zandalari druids use the same magic, but their patron is Gonk instead of Cenarius. While the spells and method is the same, it is important to who the patron of the troll druids are, and how Gonk differs from Cenarius.
The difference in patrons is that Cenarius’ teaching revolve around restoration and shapeshifting, with a smaller amount of spellcasting. Gonk on the other hand prioritizes shapeshifting, especially the raptor form, and teaches the other druidic arts to a lesser extent.
Worgen
Most worgen druids started as harvest-witches. Harvest-witches were gilnean humans that had minor control over nature magics. They were by no means druids, tho many humans just called them druids. After the spreading of the worgen curse, a curse that is based in nature magics, the harvest-witches had their powers amplified. After being inducted into the Cenarian Circle, worgen harvest-witches become full fledged druids.
Kul Tirans
Kul Tiran humans learned druidism from the Drust Thornspeakers. It is unclear how the Drust learned such magics, but through them the Kul Tiran druids were formed. At present, it seems as if they are no different from any other druid from other races.
Mage
Pretty simple. Mages are spellcasters that use Arcane. They use mana to manipulate the arcane, giving them the ability to cast spells. Mana, essentially, is a transition of arcane.
Arcane is essentially an element, mana is the power of that element, and that power can be crafted by the caster into spells. Arcane can also bend other elements of the world to its will, which is how mages can use fire, ice, and other schools of magic.
Arcane usage and the practice of being a mage is the basis for almost every other magic caster in lore.
Monk
Monks use Chi, which is the pandaren word for Spirit.
Spirit is the fifth element of the WoW universe. As there is Ragnaros and Therazane, there was also a Primal of Life. However, when a planet harbors an unborn Titan, the spirit elementals of that planet are consumed. This, funnily enough, strengthens the spirit power on the planet, and gives mortals the ability to use that power.
Similarly to how paladins and priests call upon the same powers, monks use spirit in a near identical way to shaman. The largest difference is that monks use their chi to influence physical beings while shaman use it to influence elements.
A monk can use their spirit force to heal someone, use the spirit energies inside of them to enhance their movement and combat, etc etc.
The biggest difference is that monks cannot commune with the elements like shaman can.
Paladin
Kinda silly, but paladins are essentially priests with hammers.
In short, they are holy men/women who channel their faith through their weapons, though there are specific differences.
To be clear, paladins draw power from THEMSELVES, where priests draw power from other sources.
Belf
Belf pallys draw upon the Sunwell for their power. The Sunwell, once a font of arcane magics from the Well of Eternity, was ‘tainted’ by Light when Kael’thas sucked the energies out of the Naaru M’uru. How a mix of arcane and Light, the Sunwell offers belf mages and pallys power. The Blood Knights, the order of pallys all belf pallys canonically come from, use the Sunwell’s power to smite their foes. They are unique in that they do not need a patron deity or saint to give them power, but a font of magic instead.
Draenei
The draenei gain their abilities directly from the Naaru. Their faith and devotion to the Naaru grants them the abilities they poses. A touch boring and quick, but it’s arguably the most simple thing in this post.
Dwarves, Humans
Simple simple simple, they believe in the Holy Light. Strangly, they don’t call faith from an entity like the draenei, or an object like the Sunwell, but instead they prey to the literal universal power known as the Light.
Dark Iron Dwarves
Literally no one knows. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. Million dollar question.
Zandalari
The zandalari’s power comes from their faith in the loa. Specifically, their faith in Rezan gives many in their order the power to cast their spells.
Tauren
Surprise! These are actually druids.
Tauren worship the Earthmother in their druidic studies.
Many tauren noticed that the nelves worshipped Elune, the moon diety of nelf mythology. These tauren, ever seeking balance, decided to worship An’she, the Sun diety of tauren mythology. These tauren DRUIDS used their new faith in An’she to empower themselves. I need to stress, these are D R U I D S. But for in-game reasons, they are classified as paladins.
Nelf
Surprise! There’s one nelf paladin. Literally one.
Formally a priestess of Elune, Delas Moonfang joined the Silver Hand when the legion invaded, making her the first night elf paladin that we know of.
That’s it really. She draws her power from Elune and swings a hammer.
Priest
See above for Belf, Draenei, Dwarf, Human, and Tauren.
Gnome
While they acknowledge the Light to be a force in the universe, gnome priests see themselves as doctors or nurses instead of clergy. They pray on divine powers to heal others, and are granted this ability, but share no love or distain towards the Light. Many believe this separation of power and faith is why gnomes cannot become paladins.
Goblin
Similar to gnomes, goblins don’t care about the Light. They prefer things they can see, touch, and preferably, own. In this way, the powers of the Light are a more tangible gift to them, like gold or a nice dress. Again, many believe this is why they cannot become paladins.
Nelf
Night elves believe in Elune, and as such many night elves are priestesses of Elune. Their prayers for blessings and power are often answered, and this provides them their power. Most if not all priestesses of Elune are women.
Nightborne
Another mystery. Couldn’t tell ya.
Pandaren
Another mystery but with theories!
It is specifically stated that the Pandaren draw faith from the lands around them, and they practice geomancy (we’ll get there).
I suppose its possible for some of their geomancers to pull their holy powers from the earth and the faith they have in it… but… it’s…… shaky.
Trolls
As the Zandalari paladins and the troll druids do, Troll priests draw their powers from the loa. Wardruid Loti, a druid of Gonk, is also his High Priestess.
As long as the troll has faith in a loa, and that loa acknowledges their worship, they are granted their powers. Even Bwonsomdi has priests.
Forsaken
Forsaken priests are the only priests that canonically follow the Void more than the Light. While all priests may shift between the sides, the undeath of the Forsaken means that the Light naturally opposes them. A Forsaken may wield the light, but it harms them if they do. So, instead, most forsaken priests belong to the Cult of Forgotten Shadows.
They preach balance, and that for every Holy priest there must also be a shadow priest. In this way, Forsaken Priests are similar to Tauren Paladins/Priests
Velf
While it isn’t specified where the Void Elves draw their priestly powers from, it’s implied that it’s from the void, like the Forsaken. Afterall, if they used the light, they’d be torn apart.
At present, no Blood Knights defected with the void elves, meaning my dreams of void paladins must go unanswered, for now.
Worgen
Same as many other races, they believe in the Holy Light. It is implied that their curse prevents them from becoming paladins, however.
Shamanism
Shaman draw power from several sources. As mentioned before, they use the powers of Spirit to commune with the elements and heal others, similar to monks. They also know how to commune with spirits from beyond the grave using this power.
Many shaman are geomancers, a crude form of shamanism that involves heavily worshipping the earth. Tauren and Pandaren are good examples, both worshipping the Earth Mother. Funnily enough, quillboar also worship the Earth Mother in the same way.
A stable of shamanism is communing with the elements. Where a monk cannot speak to the elements, and a geomancer can only partially speak with the earth, a true shaman can commune with fire, earth, water and air. From summoning elementals, to harassing elemental power, their magic is gifted to them by the elements themselves. Shaman that fall out of favor with the elements lose their powers.
Warlock
Warlocks are recognizable instantly from their usage of Fel magics. This alone does not make them warlocks however, as Demon Hunters, mages, and some other non-playable classes also use fel. In addition to this demonic energy, warlocks are also defined by their usage of shadow and fire magics, as well as their enslavement and partnerships with demons. These demons can grant warlocks their powers, or they can learn them organically like a mage or priest. Regardless, most warlocks draw from the Twisting Nether for their pool of magic, using the chaos of that endless abyss to fuel their spells.
Warrior, Hunter
In terms of lore, these classes have no magic. In game, they require spells.
Warriors are strictly physical fighters, no magic involved.
Hunters utilize magical arrows/bullets and weapons, but have no spells themselves. Animal aspects and beast taming are considered skills, hypothetically anyone could learn them.
Rogue
Again, it’s a grey area. Stealth is not magic, and is just being sneaky sneaky. But… Shadowstep? It’s not specified anywhere. The best theory is that rogues use a small amount of shadow magic.
That was long but fun to write out. I hope that answers your questions! If not just say so, I’ll return to this post to see all the people making fun of my nerdiness ![:slight_smile:](https://d38bqls1q93fod.cloudfront.net/en/wow/images/emoji/twitter/slight_smile.png?v=6" ":slight_smile:")