You asked
Who Are the Skyborne? WoW Forever's New Race Explained
Willo
The Skyborne are WoW Forever's new race: elves whose ancestors, Highborne exiles, made a pact with the wind spirits thousands of years ago and built a civilization tied to Skywall, the plane of air. Now those spirits have vanished, and the Skyborne are split in two: the High Order joins the Alliance, the Windshapers join the Horde.
Updated
Where do the Skyborne come from?
Their story reaches back thousands of years to the Highborne, the ancient magic-loving nobles of the night elves. Some of their descendants, Highborne exiles, made a pact with elemental wind spirits, and with the spirits' help they built a civilization connected to Skywall, the elemental plane of air.
They're also called the shen'dorei.
What's going wrong on Zephras Isle?
Every Skyborne starts on Zephras Isle (levels 1–12). The spirits that protected the homeland have vanished. Ancient structures are failing, communities are cut off from each other, and the people are divided about what to do. You play through that crisis.
High Order or Windshaper: what's the difference?
| High Order | Windshapers | |
|---|---|---|
| Faction | Alliance | Horde |
| Descended from | The Highborne scholars of Eldre'Thalas | The first shen'dorei to receive the wind spirits' gift of skysight |
| Their gift shows as | Arcane study: they can be Mages | Elemental bond: they can be Shamans |
| Shared classes | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid | Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid |
| Leaving the isle | Airship to the outskirts of Dalaran | Airship to Mulgore, near Thunder Bluff |
Same people, same ancestry, two very different answers to "what do we owe the spirits, and who should we stand with?"
Are the Skyborne in the main Warcraft story?
No. They exist in WoW Forever only, which Blizzard treats as its own story apart from modern WoW. So everything you learn about them, you learn here, firsthand.
How do I unlock them?
The Skyborne come with the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition. They aren't unlocked by leveling another race. What do I need to play?
Can Willo help with the Skyborne story?
The Skyborne story is brand new, so even veterans have questions. Ask me "Why did the wind spirits leave?" while you're on Zephras Isle, or target a Skyborne and ask them which side they'd choose. They answer as themselves. Talking to characters.
FAQ
Who are the Skyborne in WoW Forever?
A new elf race descended from Highborne exiles who made a pact with wind spirits and built a civilization tied to Skywall, the elemental plane of air.
Are the Skyborne Alliance or Horde?
Both. The High Order Skyborne join the Alliance and the Windshapers join the Horde.
Where do the Skyborne start?
On Zephras Isle, a new starting zone for levels 1 to 12.
What classes can the Skyborne play?
Both sects can be Warrior, Hunter, Rogue or Druid. The High Order can also be Mage, and the Windshapers can also be Shaman.
Are the Skyborne in modern World of Warcraft?
No. They exist only in WoW Forever.