Dwarf ( playable ) The dwarves of Ironforge are an ancient race of robust humanoids who live beneath the snow - capped mountains of Khaz Modan . The dwarves have always been fast allies to the humans and they revel in the prospects of battle and storytelling alike . For many long centuries , three dwarven clans — the Bronzebeards , the Wildhammers , and the Dark Irons — lived united in Ironforge under the wise rule of High King Modimus Anvilmar . When Modimus passed away from old age , tensions boiled over among the clans and war erupted for control of the city . Thus began the War of the Three Hammers , a savage conflict that raged for many years , during which time the Bronzebeard clan won sole ownership of Ironforge and expelled its rivals . The war severed relations among the clans , and they went on to forge new destinies apart from one another . After Magni Bronzebeard was turned to crystal during the Cataclysm , the three clans came together once again , albeit with a great deal of hesitation . They decided to rule jointly , and after Magni awoke from his transformation , there remained concern he and his clan would once again push their brethren out . Magni , however , accepted the new government and set out on his own , having become a herald and voice of the world of Azeroth itself . Background . The stoic dwarves of Ironforge spent countless generations mining treasures from deep within the earth . Secure in their impregnable stronghold of Ironforge Mountain , the dwarves rarely ventured beyond the wintry peaks of Dun Morogh . Even so , when the orc s invaded Azeroth and set out to conquer the human , elven , and dwarven lands , the dwarves offered to join the Grand Alliance . The resilient and ingenious dwarves proved to be the backbone of the Alliance forces and helped usher in victory after victory . The dwarves were stout allies of the humans during the Second War , joining the Alliance of Lordaeron after their homeland of Khaz Modan was invaded . Holed deep in their mountainside city - fortress of Ironforge , the dwarves have managed to weather both the Horde invasion and the plague . Still , they are long - lived , slow and careful folk , and children are a rare blessing to them . Still , their tendency to explore is impressive . If about two thirds of the surviving humans now live in the capital city of Stormwind , less than a third of the dwarves are in Ironforge . In fact , there are more dwarves in the dwarven section of Stormwind than Ironforge itself . For quite some time , Ironforge was home to the gnomish population as well after their homeland of Gnomeregan was invaded until their daring , yet successful , attempt to reclaim it . Recently the dwarves unearthed a series of ruins that held the key to the secrets of their lost heritage . Driven to discover the truth about his people ’ s fabled origins , King Magni Bronzebeard ordered the dwarves to shift their industry from mining and engineering to that of archaeology . Magni helped to create the famed Explorers ' Guild of Ironforge , a group utterly devoted to plumbing the secrets of the ancient world and delving out the truth of the dwarves ’ fabled existence . Cataclysm . When freak natural disasters began rocking much of Azeroth just prior to the Cataclysm , the dwarven lands were not spared from the calamitous upheavals . A series of violent quakes tore through areas surrounding Ironforge , reducing settlements to rubble and taking the lives of many innocent dwarves in the process . To glean answers as to the troubling state of the world , King Magni selflessly underwent a mystic ritual to commune with the earth . The archaic ceremony , however , had an unexpected effect : Magni was transformed into diamond and became fused to the depths of Ironforge itself . In the power vacuum that followed , his estranged daughter , Moira , who had married into the much despised Dark Iron clan , briefly claimed Ironforge ’ s throne and effectively locked down the city . If not for the intervention of King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind and his son , Prince Anduin , her brash actions might have sparked another civil war . With Varian ’ s guidance , control of Ironforge has since been divided equally among the Bronzebeard , Wildhammer , and Dark Iron clans through the Council of Three Hammers . Yet as bitterness and prejudice fester among the clans , the council ’ s ability to govern as one remains uncertain . Archaeology . Due to recent discoveries that uncovered fragments of their ancient origins ( for example , the Discs of Norgannon in Uldaman ) , the dwarves have undergone a remarkable transformation . The discovery convinced the dwarves that the mighty titans created them from stone when the world was young . They feel that their destiny is now to search the world for more signs of proof of their enchanted heritage and to rediscover the Titans ' hidden legacies . To this end , the dwarves have sent out archaeological teams to all ends of the world in the hopes of discovering new insights into their shrouded past . These journeys have led to dwarven excavation sites all over the known world , some of which serve as outposts . Starting info . The dwarves start in Coldridge Valley , an area of Dun Morogh closed off by mountains . Racial traits . Reasons for racial traits . Dwarves can tap into their Earthen heritage to undergo a temporary partial sclerosis , known to the layman as Stoneform . Not only does this make the dwarf more resistant to injury , it also seals open wounds and eliminates most poisons and infections . The lives of many dwarves have been saved by stoneform . Dwarves are naturally adapted to cold climates , as evidenced by their stocky build and thick hair . Experienced wizards have observed that dwarves have a slight innate Frost Resistance . Since the founding of the Explorers ' League , interest in adventure has been strong in Ironforge . In order to discover more of the world ' s history , many dwarves leave their homes , ready to explore Azeroth for artifacts of value . Reasons for Classes . Warrior : Dwarven warriors are a force to be reckoned with . They are incredibly sturdy , both physically and mentally , and many dwarves have worked on excavation or construction sites at least once in their lives . The long days of digging and wielding heavy tools have resulted in this extraordinary resilience . Rogue : While not as small in stature as their gnomish cousins , dwarves have always been excellent scouts and thieves due to their size . Also , their hardiness comes in handy when a scouting mission takes place in harsh environments . Hunter : Dwarves have always had a knack for the rifle , especially the Bronzebeards . Knowledge of survival has been crucial in the rigid plains and mountains of Khaz Modan for any clan . Additionally , the Wildhammer dwarves prefer using the bow to hunt game for their communities . Mage : Until recently , only the Dark Iron clan practiced magic , with the exception of the Holy Light , upon which the Bronzebeards also practice . However , when Moira Thaurissan was " invited " to help rule over the dwarves as a whole , she introduced her clan to Ironforge , who then introduced the magical arts and spread it to the Bronzebeard . Warlock : When the majority of the Dark Iron dwarves aligned themselves with Ironforge , they spread the secrets of different schools of magic aside from the Holy Light or shamanism , things the Bronzebeard and Wildhammer clans historically avoided . Though frowned upon by their clans , some Bronzebeards and Wildhammers have forsaken their more limited magic and embraced the powerful , chaotic forces of Shadow . Priest : The Bronzebeard clan has long practiced the arts of the Holy light , taught to them years ago by their human allies . However , when the three dwarven clans united and mixed under the banner of Ironforge , some Wildhammers set down their nomadic and shamanistic ways and began to worship the Holy Light . The Dark Irons had been practicing their own version of a priest , simply known as clerics or medics . Paladin : Only the Bronzebeards officially walk the path of a paladin . Years ago , when the dwarves befriended the humans , the humans taught them the ways of the Holy Light and introduced them to the orders of knights . A notable one is the Knights of the Silver Hand , where many humans and dwarves work together to bring justice to the scourged lands of the undead . Shaman : Originally , only the Wildhammer clan practiced shamanism . They lived alongside and worshipped the spirits of the sky and mountains , relatively uninfluenced for decades . Upon joining the trio of the dwarven clans under the banner of Ironforge , many Wildhammers attempted to spread their ways to the other clans . Today , while the majority of dwarven shaman remain Wildhammers , Bronzebeards and Dark Irons can now be found among them . Death Knight : Like so many other races of the Alliance and Horde , noble dwarves of all clans have fallen before the might of the Scourge , particularly in Northrend , only to be twisted and raised into undeath as a death knight under the control of the Lich King . Many , though , escaped his mental grasp with the rest of Ebon Blade . Jokes . This is a list of voice emote jokes for dwarves of both genders . Because of the way player characters work , these lines are accessed via the / silly slash command . Roleplaying a dwarf . Dwarves have what can be considered traditional Scottish and Irish accents . They share a common faith in The Light along with a strong belief and curiosity about the Titans . Also , they are a proud people ; the beard of a dwarven man is a matter of great pride .