Magic Magic or Magik ( plural magics or magiks ) is an ambient field of energy that pervades the world . It is stronger in some locations than others , but it is ever - present . Few forces are as potent as magic . It can even bring about the destruction of entire worlds . The forms of magic found in Azeroth derive from different , ever - present energies . The nature and uses of magic are vigorously debated , but the magnitude of what it can accomplish cannot be doubted . Cosmic Forces . Light and Shadow . Light and Shadow are the most fundamental forces in existence . Although contradictory by their very nature , they are bound together on a cosmic scale . One cannot exist without the other . Pure Light and Shadow dwell in a realm outside the borders of reality , but shades of their presence are found in the physical universe . Light manifests as holy magic , while Shadow ( also referred to as " the Void " ) appears as shadow magic . Before life began , before even the cosmic took shape , there was Light . . . and there was Void . Unfettered by the confines of time and space , the Light swelled across all existence in the form of a sea . Great torrents of living energy flitted through its mirrored depths , their movements conjuring a symphony of joy and hope . The ocean of Light was dynamic and ever shifting . Yet as it expanded , some of its energies faded and dimmed , leaving behind pockets of cold nothingness . From the absence of Light in these spaces , a new power coalesced and came to be . This power was the Void , a dark and vampiric force driven to devour all energy , to twist creation inward to feed upon itself . The Void quickly grew and spread its influence , moving against the waves of Light . The mounting tension between these opposing yet inseparable forces ignites a series of explosions , rupturing the fabric of creation and birthing a new realm into existence . In that moment , the physical universe was born . The energies released by the clash of Light and Void raged across the nascent cosmos , raw matter merging and spinning into primordial worlds without number . For long epochs , this ever - expanding universe — the Great Dark Beyond — broiled in a maelstrom of magic and fire . Life and Death . In the physical universe , the forces of life and death hold sway over every living thing . The energies of life known commonly as nature magic , promote growth and renewal in all things . Death , in the form of necromantic magic , acts as a counterbalance to life . It is an unavoidable force that breeds despair in mortal hearts and pushes everything towards a state of decay and eventual oblivion . Entropy , as it can be defined , is lack of order or predictability - a gradual decline into disorder . Order and Disorder . Order , in reality , is most commonly perceived as arcane magic . This type of energy is innately volatile , and wielding it requires intense precision and concentration . Conversely , disorder is manifested as highly destructive fel magic . This brutal and extremely addictive energy is fueled by drawing life from living beings . Life , it seems , cannot be destroyed by the highly destructive fel magic because destruction is the process of destroying structures , breaking them down into the parts that they ' re constructed of . Life is a construct if it can be destroyed and constructs are not living things , so how can animate beings be alive if the thing that animates them is not a living thing ? It is stated that only life can give life and if the thing that animates an animate being isn ' t a living thing and therefore has no life , the study of magic involving an animate being can definitely be considered necromancy . One thing to consider is the fact that necromancy can be viewed as animancy ( or a form of it ) and that studying magic used to animate inanimate objects is studying magic one can use to animate the dead . After Micky was asked if life can be destroyed , Micky stated that it seems like just a change of energy and in most - if not all - fantasy settings , death ( or necromantic ) magic is considered to be a form of life magic ( it ' s a form of magic and it ' s the opposite of life magic ) . Presumably , this is because if life can be converted ( or transformed ) into another state , the state that life can be converted ( or transformed ) into would not be animate or living . And when regarding to World of Warcraft lore , warlocks ( according to how Dave Kosak describes it ) convert life into fel , draining the victim as a source of power . Fel is the primal force of chaos and can pool into a green goop when it ' s in physical form . It is described as a substance and it can be animated ( is that substance alive when animated ? ) . Prior to being animated , fel is inanimate and so one can , presumably , animate - or fuel - the fel by drawing life from living beings and be considered animancers or necromancers . In the physical universe , the forces of order and disorder govern the cosmic systems of the physical universe . The Elements . In the physical universe , the elements of fire , air , earth , and water serve as the basic building blocks of all matter . Shamanic cultures have long sought to live in harmony with , or assert dominion over , the elements . To do so , they call upon the primordial forces of Spirit and Decay . Decay is the tool of shaman seeking to subjugate and weaponize the elements themselves . Those who seek to bring balance to the elements rely on Spirit ( sometimes referred to as the " fifth element " by shaman , or " chi " by monks ) . This life - giving force interconnects and binds all things in existence as one . Sacrificial magic was considered the greatest violation of life . Despite that fact , it is treated as different from the energies of life , which are known commonly as nature magic . Technically , Spirit is nature magic . Gods . Gods are neither omniscient nor omnipotent and there are no hard and fast rules to define what it means to be a god in Warcraft , save that all gods are immortal . Gods can be fundamentally incorporeal or they may have physical bodies . It is possible for a god to exert influence over several locations simultaneously yet the power of a god is limited . Can one ever truly destroy a god , putting a lasting end to its existence ? Unfortunately that question has departed the realm of philosophy and become a matter of vital concern . The following below this section can be viewed as gods as they are immortal . Demigods . Demigods in Warcraft are immortal , but they are neither omniscient nor omnipotent . Unlike gods , most demigods have never been the objects of worship . Few demigods have temples built in their honor . Priesthoods based on the worship of a demigod are extremely rare . Nevertheless , demigods been revered in the past , and some of them continue to be respected today . Demons . Demons are evil immortals who feed upon magic and life . Immortals . Many immortal and near - immortal creatures exist in Warcraft . A number of these creatures are fundamentally incorporeal beings , but others lead a primarily physical existence . The Nature of Immortality . " Immortality can be a great boon . It can also be agony the likes of which you have not yet begun to fathom . . . " - Ner ' zhul Immortals in Warcraft are generally resistant to sickness and injury , but immortality does not confer invulnerability . Immortal beings can still be wounded and even killed . It is stated that the death of an immortal is just as real as any mortal death and , barring a few extraordinary cases , just as permanent . What , then , does the term immortality mean in Warcraft ? Immortal creatures essentially stop aging when they reach adulthood , and thus , they cannot die merely from old age . In addition , they tend to be more powerful than most mortal creatures , although this tendency does not always hold true . Even godhood itself is no guarantee of superior might . Immortals are the opposite of mortals — living beings that die . As such , immortals cannot truly be considered living beings . If immortals are living beings , they can die . And if living beings can die , they can become dead . And if they can become dead , they can become undead . Immortals can ' t become undead — not if they ' re already undead . Undead . " Death is for the living . " - Bolvar Fordragon The undead are former mortals who have died and become trapped between life and death . If immortals can ' t become undead , they can ' t be considered living beings that die ( mortals ) by any sense of the term . If immortals are merely living beings that can die , they merely seem to be mortals who can cheat death . The Professions of the Cosmos . Death Knights . In undeath , some death knights find a special affinity for the blood and bone of the living . They carve into their enemies , sustaining themselves with deadly sanguine strikes , while using the bloody , shattered remains of the dead to fortify their own defenses . These crimson - soaked knights bend the very rules of mortality to control the frontlines of the battlefield . Combining martial prowess with supernatural cold , frost death knights leave their enemies chilled to the bone — and broken of the will to fight . Unlike mages who learn to harness frost magic to great effect , these death knights are born of it , rime gripping their decaying hearts . These frozen undead warriors wield dual blades to strike with ferocity and inflict deathly cold upon anyone who would stand against them . While free from the Lich King ’ s grasp , some death knights still embody the ever - corrupting nature of the Scourge plague that once threatened to consume Azeroth . No matter their allegiance or cause , they remain defilers of life ; and nowhere is their callousness more on display than when threatened . Inflictors of the most aggressive of diseases — and masters of raising unhallowed minions from the ground — these unholy death knights are vicious melee combatants , capable of striking with the force of an undead legion and unleashing pestilence that would bring their foes to ruin . Druids . Guardians of nature who seek to preserve balance and protect life , druids have unmatched versatility on the field of battle . This is in part because druidism is much more than a fighting discipline — it ’ s a way of life steeped in traditions so ancient that even the origin of their kind is preserved largely in mythology passed on through millennia . The elements that carve form into the universe are fluid forces of nature . Some beings seek to bend the power of these natural elements to their will . Druids , however , worship the protecting spirits of nature . Long ago , nature ’ s equilibrium was thrown out of balance , leaving the world vulnerable to catastrophic events , including the first invasion of the Burning Legion . By leveraging the sacred powers of the moon , the sun , and the stars , balance druids access arcane and nature magics — made more potent still through shapeshifting , when the spellcaster takes the form of the moonkin — to aid in the fight against imbalance that threatens the natural order of all things . The many gifts provided by nature must sometimes be reciprocated . Restoration druids seek order in the world by tending directly to its many life forms . Friend to flora and fauna alike , restoration druids celebrate birth and growth . Where there is decay , they bring rejuvenation . Where there is abatement , they summon regrowth . Life not only needs protection — it needs nourishment . To foster this harmony , the restoration druid builds a bond with the things that grow , gaining inspiration from the flower ’ s bloom , the seed ’ s sprout , the mushroom ’ s spores , and the tree ’ s growth . Like nature , the restoration druid perseveres through patience and persistence , the foundation upon which all life is built and sustained . They use this power to mend wounds and provide persistent remedies that keep their allies from falling . Mages . Of the arcane , mages are diviners of secrets , balancing the ebb and flow of incredible mystic energies . Unparalleled skill is required to manipulate the volatile forces of the universe . These practitioners push their magical knowledge to its very limits — often to the brink of their own exhaustion , and at great risk to the world around them . Those who master this craft are capable of releasing a barrage of unrelenting power upon their enemies , drawing upon replenishing energies to maintain their assault for as long as the battle demands . While any worthy mage is an unparalleled expert in the use of magic and heavily dedicated to their craft , those who master the forces of fire tend to be a little more audacious than their peers . If a threat stands before them , the answer is always to neutralize it in a glorious blaze . A lifetime dedicated to the study of fiery forces only fuels their pyromania , and these mages take pride — even pleasure — in igniting their enemies in wild bursts of flame . Mistake their affinity for watching things burn as a lack of self - control at your own peril . Frost mages stand apart from their colleagues , in that their chosen school of magic focuses on maintaining supreme control over the capabilities of their enemies . Mages who command frost perform chilling displays on the battlefield , rendering foes immobile as they bombard them with ice . Often , the blade never reaches the caster before the bitter cold takes hold . The frost mage exudes frigid power as icicles form around them , foreshadowing the wintry demise of those who stand opposed on the field of battle . Rogues . Rogues have always employed a bit of minor mysticism in their trade - some slightly less minor . Subtlety rogues are the masters of the shadows , and they strike unseen . They don ’ t have the lethal poison - tipped daggers of the assassin or the brawling prowess of the outlaw , but their acumen on the battlefield and ability to hide in plain sight are unrivaled . Some claim the art of subtlety looks like malevolent shadow magic — but no matter from where their power is derived , these rogues are capable of performing devastating assaults on their enemies , slipping away unharmed to strike again without detection . Most rogues train their entire lives to learn how to walk in the shadows — subtlety rogues were born there . Shamans . For millennia , since the primitive tribal cultures of Azeroth and Draenor , the natural elements of the physical universe have been celebrated , feared , and even worshipped . Mystics sought communion with the earth , air , fire , and water , and learned to tap into their raw power . In time , these spiritual guides came to understand that nature ’ s elemental forces aren ’ t wholly benevolent , but have , in fact , been locked in an unending conflict of chaos and primal fury that once consumed the physical realm . So began the calling of the Shaman , to bring balance to these volatile energies , leveraging their intensity to mend wounds . . . or inflict them . Certain shaman have dedicated themselves above all else to forging a deep bond with the elements . They have peered beyond the Elemental Plane , gleaning visions of an ancient past where manifestations of volatile energies once raged unimpeded across primordial Azeroth . Through careful study and dedication , the elemental shaman is able to channel such power into destructive magical surges . Through the body of the shaman flows bolts of lightning , as if from storm , and bursts of fire , as if from molten earth . They manipulate the land itself and summon spirits of earth , fire , and storm to their aid . To battle an elemental shaman is to taunt the very forces of nature . Intense communion with fire , earth , air , and water isn ’ t exclusive to the elemental shaman . In many ways , enhancement shaman similarly bond with nature and leverage its power on the battlefield . What distinguishes them in their training — and in their connection with the elements — is their combat methodology . These shaman favor empowering their physical attacks with elemental energies and facing their adversaries up close . They don ’ t shy from the frontlines , wielding magically augmented weapons , potent elemental attacks , and totems that shape the tide of battle . Some shaman find a serene affinity for the restorative properties of water . These shaman do not necessarily seek the Light or turn to the divine , yet they feel a profound spiritual connection with the source from which all mortal life took root . So strong is their connection with water that the shaman is able to restore life and heal afflictions . They balance this with a command of the other elements , finding harmony in nature and purifying their allies as a tidal surge washes across a sandy shore . Warlocks . Warlocks are magical practitioners who seek to understand darker , fel - based magics , including destructive spells . The RPG . Arcane . Arcane is the most common form of magic . Used by mage s , wizard s , and other sorcerer s , such as those of the Kirin Tor , arcane magic is ever present in the atmosphere and accessible to any who are capable of drawing upon its energies . Arcane magics were discovered by the Kaldorei and later refined by the high elves of Quel ' thalas and the human nations , and are most commonly practiced by mages . Arcane magic comes from the Well of Eternity , which itself draws from the Twisting Nether . Arcane magic is very powerful , but if not used carefully can cause corruption and great destruction . Geomancy . Geomancy is a practice of divination and elemental combat native to several humanoid races of Azeroth . It is similar to shamanism in that disciples of geomancy wield the powers of the earth and encourage respect of earth ’ s spirits . The main difference between a geomancer and a shaman is the method through which the trust of the elements is gained . A shaman speaks directly with the elemental spirits , whereas a geomancer uses rituals , songs , and sacrifices to appease and propitiate the spirits . Necromancy . Necromancy is similar to the magics used by warlock s , however , instead focuses on the study of death rather than demonology . They are capable of reviving living creatures from death to do their bidding as undead servants . Fel . Fel energy , which most commonly manifests itself as ghastly , green - yellow flame , is arcane magic at its most corrupt , for it employs the blood of demons . Runic . Runic magic was created by the titans . Their creation , the dwarves , quickly mastered the mysteries of the runes taught to them . However , as generations passed , the dwarves forgot their heritage and lost all knowledge of runes and their hereditary powers . Tauren in Kalimdor rediscovered the power of runes . An ancient race as well , the tauren remembered the myths of runecasting and revived interest in this nearly lost art . The dwarves that came to Kalimdor with Jaina Proudmoore ' s Alliance Expedition learned tauren runecasting techniques . Tauren and dwarves do not share good relations , but they were eager to share knowledge of runes and titan myths . The Vrykul practice a runic magic that even the most experienced wizards find unfamiliar . Shamanism . The shaman ' s power is drawn from spirits , both of ancestors and of spirits found in natural surroundings . Shamanism is also practiced by some of the draenei who learnt shamanism on Draenor . In modern history , shamanism is common among orcs , tauren , troll s and draenei . Voodoo . Voodoo is a strange tribal mix between the power of arcane and divine magic , practiced by witch doctor s and shadow hunter s . They often combine reagents in a cauldron to create strange brews that most often result in bizarre transformations when consumed . They are widely known for placing hex es to morph victims into various creatures or placing curses . The majority of voodoo users are trolls , although other races of the Horde have taken up the craft . Other forms of magic . Enchanting . Enchanting was the art of interaction with magical objects and their effects . Specifically , Enchanting was the art of adding , removing and using magical objects . Enchanting on Azeroth was quite complicated , involving sophisticated work and many different ingredients , materials and other objects . In order to learn an enchantment , an enchanter had to disenchant a magical object in order to learn it . After that , the knowledge of the enchantment could be written down or even memorized . After that , an enchanter could add the magical effects of the previously disenchanted object to a new , unenchanted object . Besides enchanting pieces of gear , equipment , armor and weapons , enchanters can also create Wands , Oil s , Rod s and Scrolls . Enchanting ingredients were components used in the process of crafting a new magical object . Some of these types of ingredients included Dust , Essence s , Shard s and Crystals . Enchanting recipe s , also referred to as formulas , were codes used by Enchanters to learn to enchant and craft items .