Elemental spirit The elemental spirits , also known as the spirits of nature , nature spirits , or elementals , are tied to shaman ism and a few other professions . Elemental spirits are the source of shaman s , geomancer s , trancendents , and pandaren brewmaster s powers and the origin of much of their knowledge . The spirits of the elements are the shaman ' s to command . The Spirits are neither patron deities , such as Elune , nor are they a force to be tapped , such as the arcane . Rather , they are cosmic partners . Every world has its own elements , its own powers to call upon . Elemental spirits are by nature chaotic and destructive , but also capable of reasoning and clever actions . The Earthen Ring was actually formed to keep the elemental spirits in check . They work to prevent the elemental forces from wreaking havoc on Azeroth , otherwise , the world would be in danger . The group works hard to keep the elementals pacified , by talking to and dealing with them , thus ensuring they do not cause trouble in the world . Its main goal is to maintain the balance between the world and the elementals that dwell upon it . In this manner , the Earthen Ring prevents elementals from engaging in the chaotic destruction that would otherwise ensue . The Twilight ' s Hammer venerate the Old Gods and study the elemental spirits under them . They work to anger the elementals and embolden them . The Earthen Ring believes they are not only unwise but also a great threat to Azeroth and their most dire enemy . Anyone who seeks to maintain the fragile balance of nature by keeping the elemental forces in check an ally . They also take similar actions on Outland eliminating or pacifying agitated or corrupted elemental spirits . Nature . Range . As related by Nobundo , the Spirits are universal , existing upon all worlds which bear life . They stretch across the Void to these worlds , connecting them in ways unperceived by mortals . There are however , many worlds where the Spirits have no power , because true life does not exist on those worlds that have been consumed by the Burning Crusade . Alignment . The Spirits care nothing of the battle between order and chaos , and have only a passing interest in the conflict of good and evil . Their role is one of cosmic balance , and the shamans are the mortal maintainers of that balance . Recently , however , the Spirits appear to have taken sides : With the Burning Legion rampaging across the universe , the Spirits have revealed the secrets of shamanism to races who oppose the Burning Crusade ; of Azeroth ' s inhabitants , the orcs , the trolls , the tauren , and the draenei , amongst others , may become shamans . All of these races hold a sense of balance and are dedicated to stopping the Legion from consuming their world . Orcs and tauren take a more symbolic approach to spirits . The spirits they encounter on the wild plains of Kalimdor are less specific , cover a wider range , and are more likely to be spirits of earth and fire than the essences of trees or animals . Orcs and tauren believe that plant - spirits , nature - spirits and earth - spirits exist , and that everyone must treat these spirits with respect . One who denies the reality of nature spirits severs her connection with the earth . Tauren culture . Tauren live in careful balance with their environment . They worship the spirits and elements of the plains on which they live . Instead of negotiating with individual spirits , tauren carve representative imagery on their totems and draw power from acting in a particular spirit ’ s name . Earth Mother . . Tauren revere a spirit they call the Earth Mother . The Earth Mother is the tauren ideal of all the spirits of nature . The Earth Mother lives in the rivers , trees , plains and mountains of Azeroth . She is the embodiment of nature . All lesser nature spirits come from the Earth Mother , and return to her upon death . While individual spirits represent a particular location , animal or object , such as the spirit of a single tree , or the spirit of a valley , the Earth Mother represents the land . River - spirits , sea - spirits , tree - spirits , rock - spirits and animal spirits all reflect one facet of the Earth Mother . She is everywhere life and nature is . The only spirits separate from the Earth Mother are the spirits of sentient creatures . When a tauren says life is sacred , he ’ s talking about a kind of spiritual energy that permeates the natural world . The Earth Mother represents that big spirit , and little spirits all inhabit rocks , trees and the like . That ' s why the tauren don ' t like mining and deforestation ; it disrupts all those spirits and disrupts the Earth Mother . Dwarf and orc culture . Wildhammer clan dwarves have very close ties to nature and thus the Elements . Shamans are common in their culture many trying to understand the elements true role in the world . They are actually the only clan of Dwarves to hold the elements and shamanism close . Orcs have a less organized philosophy than tauren ; they see all spirits as individuals connected in a greater whole , like members of a great clan . The shamans of the orcs find their power in the spirits of nature , forming an intimate connection with the very world that surrounds them . This awareness has led to even more revelations of their race ’ s true nature , as the orcs realize that they live more in harmony with the world itself than many of the races of the Alliance who would claim otherwise . The orcish spirits of the wilds work in harmony with the magic of wind , water , sky , and land . The earth and elemental spirits desire to aid and protect those who speak to them . Orc shamans have the power of nature in their fists , and earth , wind , and fire come to their call . Shamans call upon the power of the elements , which will only be granted if it suits the purpose . The Spirit of Earth . The Spirit of Earth is called upon to help crops grow and destroy enemy strongholds . It is warm and nurturing in personality , as well as a firm and persistent presence . Its voice is deep and slow . The Spirit of Air . The Spirit of Air ( also known as the Spirit of the Air , and the Spirit of the Wind ) may grant a gentle breeze to a trading ship or a violent tornado . It was the wind who answered the prayers of Nobundo . Personality - wise , Wind is generally calm and talkative , endlessly whispering in the ears of the Shaman . At other times it can be as forceful and powerful as Fire . The Spirit of Fire . The Spirit of Fire is the most outwardly destructive though it has lighter sides such as a hearth or candle . Under its domain , shamans can call on the aid of heat , flame , and lightning . The Fire is also the granter of visions , thus Far Seer s scry using campfires . Fire tends to be the most unpredictable and undisciplined of the elements , barely deigning to speak to even seasoned Shamans unless it wishes to . Its voice is usually loud , passionate and rumbling , prone to outbursts . The Spirit of Water . The Spirit of Water is a nourishing element that can quench the thirst of a weary traveler or drown an army . Water tends to be least affected by severe cataclysms , adapting quickly . Water is perhaps the most personable of the Elements ; calm , clear and possessing a wry sense of humor and mirth . The Spirit of the Wilds . The Spirit of the Wilds is most nebulous and complex of the spirits of the wilds . In fact , no one is entirely certain of what the Wilds represent . It seems to embody the living souls of all living things , from the most humanoids , to animals to plants and even stones . The Wilds is by far the best friend and greatest enemy of the shaman ; the Wilds can heal broken bodies and even restore beings to life . . . but only if it suits the balance . It is the Wilds that can make the shaman think he is a god - and show him that he ' s still mortal . Pandaren culture . Pandaren veil their beliefs in the trappings of a mystical and ancient method called geomancy . Geomancy is shamanistic . Geomancy teaches that the land is a reflection of the spirits , but that spirits are also a reflection of the land . The fierce powers of the elemental spirits are for the transcendents and brewmasters to gain and command . They learn to channel the power of elemental spirits . Tales say that spirits and energies are at work in the cosmos — spirits and energy that define the essence of reality , and from these vital sources all things are formed . This is one of the central philosophies of pandaren geomancy , and no one is more intimate with these energies than the pandaren transcendent . When the pandaren transcendent uses one of these abilities , her appearance changes to match the spirit she channels . For example , when she uses channel earth , her clothing becomes brown and she moves with slow and stately grace ; when she uses channel wind , her clothing turns light blue and her movements are swift and airy . Many other possibilities exist . Upon attaining the power of the transcendent body , the pandaren transcendent finally learns to master the elemental spirits and energies under her control . Transcendents swear no loyalty other than to serve the pandaren and the spirits of their people . Spirit of wisdom . The spirit of the universe . Pandaren revere transcendents as embodiments of wisdom made flesh , residing in the shell of a pandaren host . Spirit of earth . The power of earth is that of resilience and malleability . A transcendent channels the spirit of earth to become an invulnerable juggernaut against all but the most potent weapons . Spirit of metal . The power of metal is also resilient and malleable like the spirit of earth . A brewmaster channels the spirit of metal to become invulnerable against most weapons . Spirit of fire . By summoning the spirit of fire to her breast , the pandaren is wreathed in flame . Spirit of thunder . By calling on the spirit of thunder the pandaren gains uncanny reflexes and can charge the air around her with voltaic energy . Spirit of water . The healing properties of water are well known to the pandaren , for this is the spirit of regeneration and well - being . Spirit of wind . Elevating her speed to an uncanny level , the pandaren wreathes herself in a vortex of living air . Quilboar culture . Quilboar thornweavers call upon vengeful spirits of nature , eschewing the peaceful spirits and the gentle side of the Earth Mother that most tauren revere . Elemental spirits in World of Warcraft . The " Furies " . All these elemental spirits reside in Nagrand , Outland .