WoW Forever Skyborne: Unlock, Classes & Racial Traits

The short answer

The Skyborne are a new elven race in WoW Forever available to both factions: High Order Skyborne for the Alliance and Windshaper Skyborne for the Horde. They start on Zephras Isle and need the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher. High Order can be Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Mage, Druid; Windshaper can be Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Druid.

High Order Skyborne (Alliance)

Classes

WarriorNEWTank · Damage HunterNEWDamage RogueNEWDamage MageNEWDamage DruidNEWTank · Healer · Damage

Racial abilities

Read Ley Line

Attempt to tap into the power of a nearby ley line, increasing your Health and Mana regeneration by 100%. Lasts 15 sec if no ley line is nearby, and 15 min if one is found.

Walk on Air

Glide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.

Elemental Insight

Damage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.

Wind Blessed

Increases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 1%.

Skysight

Attempt to draw power from a convergence of elements and receive its blessing, increasing your movement and mounted movement speeds by 10%. Lasts 30 sec if no elemental convergence is nearby, and 15 min if one is found.

Windshaper Skyborne (Horde)

Classes

WarriorNEWTank · Damage HunterNEWDamage RogueNEWDamage ShamanNEWHealer · Damage DruidNEWTank · Healer · Damage

Racial abilities

Read Ley Line

Attempt to tap into the power of a nearby ley line, increasing your Health and Mana regeneration by 100%. Lasts 15 sec if no ley line is nearby, and 15 min if one is found.

Walk on Air

Glide downward through the air for 10 sec while controlling your direction of travel.

Elemental Insight

Damage dealt versus Elementals increased by 5%.

Wind Blessed

Increases your spellcasting, melee, and ranged Haste by 1%.

Skysight

Unlock conditions

Skyborne access and its starting experience are listed among Heroic-or-higher upgrade benefits. Ordinary subscription access to the full game does not by itself include that optional unlock. Compare the upgrade benefits before choosing a product.

Choose your faction branch

Choice	Faction	Shared class choices	Branch-specific class	Distinct utility
Windshaper	Horde	Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid	Shaman	Skysight movement blessing
High Order	Alliance	Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid	Mage	Read Ley Line recovery

The official matrix does not list Skyborne Priest, Paladin or Warlock. Choose the class first if that is your priority, then use the complete racial comparison to find compatible alternatives.

Both branches share a short glide through Walk on Air, a haste passive and extra damage against elementals in the official overview. A glide is not unrestricted flight or evidence that flying mounts are available. Check current tooltips and the latest notes for exact restrictions.

Zephras Isle and the starting journey

Blizzard describes Zephras Isle as a level 1–12 starting experience; the in-game Group Finder lists it for levels 1–14. It introduces an elemental, skybound setting and the two groups’ different responses to their history. That announced range describes the starting journey; it is not the overall beta level cap.

The opening beta announcement includes this starting content. Individual quest availability and bugs can change during testing. If a quest behaves differently from an older video, compare the latest patch notes before assuming you missed a permanent requirement.

The story without major spoilers

The Windshapers are tied to elemental traditions and missing wind-spirit mentors. The High Order seeks to recover arcane knowledge and become less dependent on those elemental patrons. Both belong to the shared Skyborne background described by Blizzard, while choosing different paths toward their future.

Before creating your character

Confirm your unlock, faction and desired class, then coordinate the same faction and ruleset with friends. If you want Shaman, select the Horde branch; if you want Mage, select the Alliance branch. For the four shared classes, compare the branch-specific utility and the group you intend to join.

Names use the two-part system; the name reservation guide covers the October 27 to November 3 window, and the name generator has an elven style.

Next steps

All races comparedRace and class matrix with every racial. Choose a classFilter by role and play style. Talent calculatorPlan your build for all 9 classes.