Azeroth magic Azeroth magic , plural Azeroth magiks or Azeroth magics , has existed on Azeroth since the titans created the Well of Eternity . The Well ’ s energies evolved the nearby kaldorei , who harnessed its power . Disagreements over magic divided the ancient kaldorei empire , and magic was at the heart of the Burning Legion ’ s invasion , which caused the first major war and split Kalimdor into the continents that cover Azeroth today . Magic has played a role in every major conflict in Azeroth , and was instrumental in the creation of not only the Burning Legion but also the Horde and the Scourge . Does this mean magic is evil , however ? Does it mean the Alliance stands against all magic ? Not at all . The Alliance recognizes that magic is a tool . It can be misused , as it has been many times throughout history . But it can also be used wisely , to aid people and to minimize dangers and combat evil . Indeed , against foes like the Scourge and the demon s magic is one of the only weapons available . The Alliance would be foolish not to recognize that and take advantage of it when their enemies are so willing to grasp the same power for their own purposes . At the same time , the Alliance is wary of magic , particularly arcane magic . Divine magic is far more benevolent , coming as it does from well - intentioned gods or directly from nature . But arcane magic draws from the Well of Eternity , which was not part of Azeroth until created by the titans , themselves outsiders . And arcane magic is far more vulnerable to corruption . Of course , the Alliance is not a unified front . It is a loose collection of like - minded races and individuals , each with their own beliefs and convictions . Each of the Alliance races has a different attitude toward magic , based upon history and hard experience . Ironforge Dwarves . Dwarves traditionally had little use for magic . They are creatures of earth and stone , and understand the physical far better than the mystical . The fact that elves are more prone to magic use ( and abuse ) may have something to do with the dwarves ’ antipathy toward both that race and that realm — magic is strange and elusive and impossible to grasp and hold and measure , just as elves are sly and slippery . This attitude has changed recently , however . As the dwarves discover more about their own heritage , they are re - evaluating their stance on the world around them . The titans were clearly masters of magic , having created the Well of Eternity . They also created the dwarves , which means the dwarves and the source of Azeroth ’ s arcane magic share a common ancestor . Does that mean dwarves might possess an innate gift for magic as well , thanks to this shared heritage ? Perhaps . The dwarves ’ newly rediscovered history is also causing new interest in divine magic . The titans were majestic creatures , akin to gods , and supposedly they personally fashioned and breathed life into the dwarven people . That gives the entire race a direct connection to their creators , something that can easily inspire belief . More Ironforge dwarves have become religious recently as a result , either in efforts to communicate with their progenitors or as a way of following their footsteps . Of course , many Ironforge dwarves still frown on magic , both arcane and divine . This is particularly true with older dwarves . These elders still favor steel and stone over magic , and disapprove of their children ’ s new fascination with such strange rituals . Over time , however , as more and more young dwarves not only study magic but grow proficient with it , this attitude will shift farther , until the race as a whole at least tolerates its presence . Wildhammer Dwarves . Wildhammer dwarf culture is different from that of their cousins in Ironforge . Wildhammers live out in the world , residing in forests and mountains rather than in caves . They spend their days out under the sky and surrounded by animals . Though no less pragmatic , this lifestyle has left Wildhammers with a greater appreciation for nature , and a greater admiration for natural beauty , majesty and freedom . As a result , Wildhammers have always been more religious than their cousins , though their religion is nature - worship . Divine magic is well known and highly respected , particularly any magic involving animals , weather and air . Arcane magic is less common , and most Wildhammers are wary around magi . Study is not a common practice among these dwarves , who prefer climbing and riding to reading , and any dwarf who buries himself in books is a matter for concern . At the same time , Wildhammers are more accepting of individual quirks and so more tolerant when one of their own wants to do something unusual . They may not understand why anyone would spend his days buried in dusty tomes rather than riding gryphons , but they will not force him to abandon his own interests . The Wildhammers know their true heritage but they show no interest in pursuing it . To them , the titans are still only legends and myths ; the world is their home , the sky their parent . This means the Wildhammers ’ attitudes toward magic may not shift as much as the Ironforges ’ , but they are already more tolerant toward the arcane and more attuned to the divine ; so the cousins may grow closer in their views rather than farther apart . High Elves . The high elves have a lot to answer for , particularly when it comes to magic . Some blame them for the Burning Legion gaining entrance to Azeroth , and thus for Kalimdor being shattered and the various races being dragged into war . If not for the elves ’ obsession with the arcane , they say , none of this would have happened . Demons would not have gained a foothold in this world , the Scourge would never have existed . However , these people misunderstand the high elves . High elves long knew that arcane magic was dangerous , and built runestones around Quel ’ Thalas to hide their arcane magic from the Legion . High elves also helped establish the Guardians of Tirisfal to further protect the world from arcane magic ’ s dangers — though , as all know , the Legion insinuated itself into the world anyway . In ancient times , the Highborne simply didn ’ t believe that arcane magic could be bad . Today high elves are particularly susceptible to ( arcane ) magical addiction because of their magic withdrawal subsequent to Arthas ’ s pollution of the Sunwell . High elves created the Sunwell shortly after founding Quel ’ Thalas ; since that time , all high elves everywhere could draw upon that powerful arcane magic . They were bathed in power every second of every day . Some high elves never knew anything else : they had the Sunwell all their lives , up until recently . Now that the Sunwell is befouled , every single high elf suffers acute pangs of withdrawal and having a hard time of it . Some of them know why . Some of them don ’ t . This feeling inspired the schism that created the blood elves , who far outnumber the high elves . Blood elves have a different set of priorities and behaviors than high elves and no longer consider themselves high elves . Still , an arcane tradition links the two races , and arcanists appear often among both . High elves have held a long association with the Holy Light , as well . Though few become paladins , their priests proved invaluable in the Third War . High elves understand the importance of both arcane and divine magic . Some high elves practice nature magic , such as the ranger s and elven druid . Night Elves . The night elves are the opposite of their cousins , the high elves , in many ways , but particularly in their attitudes toward magic . After the War of the Ancients , the night elves recognized the magical addiction of their kin and pulled away from it , resisting magic ’ s lure and maintaining their discipline despite its temptation . They urged their brethren , the Highborne , to resist as well ; but the Highborne surrendered to the magic , trusting their own intellects to control its flow . This sundered the race . Ever since , night elves have viewed arcane magic as , if not evil itself , at least as something too powerful for anyone to control . Those who study the arcane do so at not only their own risk but the risk of everyone around them , and it is sheer arrogance to think anyone could tame such a force and bend it to her will . The night elves turned to nature and their Eternals for protection instead , and over the centuries they developed a deep and abiding love for the world and all its creatures . Night elves commune with the world , seeking to understand it , and as a result it is common for a night elf to become a healer , particularly a druid or priestess of the moon . This occupation is a high calling , and night elves revere their druids and their priestesses of the moon . Druids comprise about 8 % of the night elf population ; though some outsiders believe they rule the race , that is not the case . The Sentinels command the rest of night elf society ( not including druids ) . Priestesses of Elune , who answer to Tyrande Whisperwind , direct the Sentinels . Every race has its rebels , of course , and so some night elves believe they have been removed from the Well long enough to have overcome its lure . These young night elves believe they can study the arcane arts without fear , and finally master the skills that overwhelmed their ancestors , using the Well ’ s magic to repair the damage done so long ago . Most night elves consider this preposterous , and believe their kin have become high elves in all but name , falling into the same trap those cousins do and thus heading toward the same dire fate . Many night elf elders believe these misguided children should be shown the error of their ways by any means necessary , to save not only them but the rest of the race and even the world . Recent events in the wake of the forthcoming Cataclysm , however , signal a " change in the wind " . Furbolgs . Despite their size and strength the furbolg s are a quiet , unassuming race . They live in small tribal villages and keep to themselves . Because they keep their lives uncomplicated and live so close to nature , furbolgs are closely attuned to the world around them , particularly animals . Every furbolg tribe has its shaman , and they are held in high regard . Because of this furbolgs have great respect for any divine spellcaster , but particularly for druids and shaman . They believe the world speaks to its people through every plant and animal ; those who learn that language are simply more blessed because they can communicate more directly with nature and thus better understand its needs and desires . Furbolgs have little understanding of arcane magic , however . Arcane magic involves bending the world to one ’ s will , and that concept is antithetical to furbolg philosophy . As a race , furbolgs believe in living within nature , adapting to its demands and thus finding harmony with the world around them . Arcanists destroy that harmony , wresting control from nature and forcing it to serve them instead , and in many ways this is a gross violation . Because of this belief furbolgs do not trust arcanists , seeing them as either fools with delusions of control or madmen meddling with forces they cannot comprehend and should not touch . They also see arcane magic as a tool of the Legion , which corrupted many of their people . Those few furbolgs who study the arcane learn to do so quietly lest their tribes find out and punish them for such arrogance . Gnomes . Gnome s are bright , curious , friendly people . They love questioning , love inventing , and love exploring — all of which makes them oddly suitable for arcane study . Yet most gnomes have too much humor and humility to become enamored of their own power , or to look down upon others . This attitude is a great relief to those who have seen gnome magi in action , because if they had the same arrogance as blood elves or ambition as humans , gnome spellcasters could pose a serious threat to the world . Gnomes are far less likely to follow the path of divine magic . Most of them are too grounded in earthly desires and too distracted by spiritual pursuits to become devout , or even to pay much attention to the various Eternals and religious philosophies . Gnomes revere creature comforts and creativity more than nature or any particular being , no matter how grand . Gnomes do not look down upon healers , however . In many ways the gnomes respect such people because they cannot imagine following such a path themselves . They can see the merits of a devout life , and the clear results of divine favor , but have no interest in pursuing such activities . Many gnomes feel that way about arcane magic as well — they admire the results , and respect the dedication , but are not willing to spend all their time in such pursuits . The gnomes tolerate magic , perhaps more than any other Alliance race , because they are content to let others follow their own interests . Most gnomes are not concerned about the risk of magi creating another magical cataclysm , especially since they are always ready to interrogate each mage , get his advice , and then deflate his ego and help keep him from becoming power - mad . Humans . Members of the other races sometimes feel that human s could be their salvation — or their destruction . Humanity has demonstrated time and again its capacity for overpowering passion , levels of emotion far beyond what their allies consider seemly or even approachable . Coupled with this passion is a burning ambition , not just of an individual but of the race as a whole — humans wish not just to survive but to improve and to win . This makes them incredibly useful , incredibly strong , and incredibly dangerous . Nowhere is human potential more evident than in the realm of magic . The high elves taught humans arcane magic and were astonished to discover their short - lived students ’ capacities . Many human magi succeeded where others failed — and not because they were wiser or smarter , but because they would not surrender control . Yet despite this , humanity does not have the arcane addiction the high elves suffer . Some humans become obsessed with the arcane , but many want nothing to do with it and are perfectly happy avoiding all signs of magic . In the same way , some humans have no use for religion but others show a religious fervor unmatched by the most devout night elf or the most reverent furbolg . Druidism is more difficult for humans , because it involves quiet contemplation and a sense of one ’ s own inferiority compared to the needs of the whole ; but some humans have the necessary concentration , consideration and calm and have become exemplary wardens of the wild . As a race , humanity is fascinated by magic . More people want it than don ’ t , and even those who want no part of magic love hearing tales of its use and seeing demonstrations of its might . Humanity ’ s gift and curse is its youth . Many claim the race is young compared to its allies , and so humans as a whole have not learned caution . They listen to the tales of magi corrupted by their studies , and believe such a disaster could never happen to them . They hear about healers who lost faith and pity the other races for being weak or losing discipline . Humans believe they can overcome any obstacle , and do not understand that some obstacles are insurmountable by their nature . This arrogance gives humans a great advantage when daring some new feat , or striving against a powerful foe , but it also makes them overconfident and easily lured into bad situations . Contact with the other races has slowly changed humanity ’ s attitude . As more humans learn both arcane and divine magic , and hear the advice and experience of their older friends , they see their true place in Azeroth and their true importance in the grand schemes of the world and its major powers . This may some day temper human enthusiasm with wisdom , and human ambition with responsibility . The other races continue to hope for this outcome , and continue to watch human arcanist s and healer s with a mixture of awe and dread .