One would think that they would be unpleased, but in reality they probably don’t care, and it likely was not thought of due to their status as just an NPC member-race of the Horde.
The Taunka after all have been part of the Horde since Wrath of the Lich King, and are a conglomerate of different tribes united by a High Chieftain- just like the Highmountain and Mulgore Tauren. Arguably even more important due to their status as one of the few Horde strongholds in Northrend.
I do think Blizzard just focused on the playable races over thinking of the NPC faction members. Though perhaps it could turn into a plot point with any of them becoming playable. Like say a seat on the council being discussed in a renewed allegiance to the Horde thing.
I could totally envision this. Itd essentially be the same as they did with the Dark Iron- where they said they just “never did the paperwork”
https://warcraft.wiki.gg/wiki/Taunka
So I was on the Taunka wiki page and noticed that in the class section, there is Druid. This surprised me, but it turns out the Taunka Windfury NPCs at the Kor’kron Vanguard in Dragonblight are Druids.
I still hope for Taunka Paladins (and would just race change my Tauren), but if they can’t be Paladins, then Druid is something to consider as I don’t have one.
Here is how I see the classes right now.
100%: Hunter, Warrior, Monk, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, Mage
Maybe (Makes sense lorewise): Death Knight(Actually the class of my Taunka), Druid, Paladin (Via Sunwalkers), Priest (Via Seers),
No: Demon Hunter, Evoker.
The “Maybe” classes will likely depend on how far along they get on adding those said classes to other races. Priest seems the most likely out of them because it does not require unique assets, and they already expanded them to all other races.
Paladins have an easy lore story with the Taunka learning from the Sunwalkers (and while we are at it, add them to the Highmountain as well). Death Knights are also easy because Taunka realistically could’ve been raised as them since Wrath, it is more whether they can be added to the AR starting zone or what. Druid also I am doubtful on because of the unique assets required, though they do make sense lorewise as you said.
Death Knight for Taunka should happen. They were here when the Scourge where in Northrend.
The Scourge killed many soldiers of the Horde and the Alliance and we got death knights between these deads, same thing for the Drakkari. So we should have Taunka between the death knights like we can have Tauren and Ice Troll death knights.
They should belong to the third generation of death knights, the one created by Arthas when he was the leader of the Scourge.
Every race can be priest now, so Taunka will have priest as class for sure.
While I can see it, I do think its more likely to include them in the Allied Race Death Knight intro. The original Death Knight intro has that quest in which we are confronted with someone we knew in life as an Argent Dawn prisoner.
To be honest since Bolvar was robbing Horde and Alliance graves, I feel its an easy way to explain the likes of Death Knight Taunka, Ogres, and Forest Trolls without having to create another Death Knight intro. Though I do wonder if that would happen if Blizzard decides to make Death Knight Dracthyr.
They will be in the Bolvar area for sure because they will be an allied race. But in the lore, they should be death knights from Arthas.
Just give them a new face tho and the HM body model and horns that reflect which Bovine they represent. Idk if it should be an entirely other race entry or just an offshoot Barbershop customization from the T -HM screen
We will get the Midnight announcement at Gamescom 2025, which runs from August 20 to August 24.
While I still find The Last Titan a more likely reveal for playable Taunka, I wouldn’t object to be surprised with them shown off as apart of a new wave of allied races in the Midnight trailer.
Yup! And it is always important to keep voicing out hopes for the future! They are watching what people hope for, and maybe it can influence the future. The next two expansions- Midnight and the Last Titan, are perfect for adding both the Forest Trolls (Midnight) and Taunka (The Last Titan) for the Horde!
Taunka have been part of the Horde since Wrath of the Lich King (Longer than a majority of playable races and NPC races!) and it would be lovely to finally be able to play them, see more of Roanauk Icemist and the other Taunka characters and so on. I have always loved the tauren storylines- Baine’s united tribes in mulgore, the Highmountain tribes in the Broken Isles, and even the Yaungol in Pandaria.
So I hope we can finally see the Taunka join their brethren in being playable in the Horde!
Since Blizzard revealed that we are getting the Midnight announcement at Gamescom, I figure that its a safe bet that we will start getting “leaks”.
I can’t help but wonder if some of them could include the Taunka as a new playable race. Like in a new wave of allied races thing.
They really are.
To be honest seeing it typed out makes it feel surreal on how long time members like the Taunka have been underused. Though out of the non playable races, they seem to have the most focus.
After all in contrast in one (Revantusk tribe) or two (Stonemaul Clan) zone base questing, the Taunka were spread throughout Northrend, we saw them become apart of the Earthen Ring in Cataclysm (ex: Toshe Chaosrender), and a few even joined us on Draenor. With Exploring Azeroth: Northrend making it clear that they didn’t seem particularly interested in making friends beyond the Horde.
With The Last Titan being a return to Northrend, the Taunka will definitely feature, and it will add to their presence in the story, hopefully as a playable race.
I suppose in comparison to others that is true. Wish it was more though! I still wish we wouldve gotten the Highmountain zone story that involved Baine and Roanauk Icemist!
To be even more specific; I just looked again. He is the second longest reigning Horde leader- after Lor’themar.
Same. To be honest its kind of weird that the Horde Vanguard in Dazar’alor had Hozen among its ranks, but not other NPC races like the Taunka and Forest Trolls.
Meanwhile a Tauren, Taunka, and Highmountain Tauren team up has been a missed opportunity. Though I suspect The Last Titan will remedy that.
That would have been cool.
That is crazy to think about it.
So it has recently come to my attention that when the Earthen were added to the capital cities, one was also added to Vashj’ir. For those that want to see for themselves, Leikaroc can be directly found in the Lightless Reaches of the Shimmering Expanse.
Now since an Leikaroc was added to an old zone, it did make me wonder if playable Taunka would arrive with Taunka NPCs added to old world areas beyond a presence in the capitals.
I rather like the idea of seeing a Taunka added to Highmountain and in Ashenvale. Establish a Highmountain - Taunka connection, build upon the connection made between the Warsong Offensive and the Taunka when they met in Northrend. It would also be neat to see a Taunka in Winterspring and have them remark how “the goblins didn’t know cold.”
Just reaffirming my desire for Taunka.
We will get the Midnight reveal August 19th, with the cinematic followed by “an exciting deep dive into the zones, mechanics, new features, and story”.
It is likely any playable race announcements, like Taunka, would be announced here. However we did get the Mag’har reveal in an interview reveal, after Battle for Azeroth had been announced. Which is something to keep in mind.
With that said, I still feel that playable Taunka are more likely with the return to Northrend in The Last Titan. Though I wouldn’t object to them becoming playable in Midnight.
As we will get the Midnight reveal this month, I thought it would be fitting to do a recap of what we last know of the Taunka.
Per Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, that the Taunka are not interested in making friends beyond the Horde and that Camp Oneqwah had been greatly expanded. Though Taunka’le Village and Icemist Village remained in ruins, controlled by the Scourge.
I really would like to get Taunka playable.