Mage races This page is a discussion of the racial traits of the races that can play as the mage class , and how much they can offer a mage . Alliance . Humans . While human s have not wielded arcane magic for as long as high elves , they have a strong tradition of it . When high elf magi brought the secrets of arcane magic to humans , the younger race showed a natural predilection for it . Human mastery of arcane energy was instrumental in vanquishing the ancient troll empire that threatened human and high elf civilization . Humans and high elves recognized the danger arcane magic posed , and so created the Guardians of Tirisfal — powerful arcane casters who guarded against demonic invasion . Since that time , human ability with the arcane has continued and evolved ; humans established the Kirin Tor , a council of archmagi who ruled Dalaran , an arcane city . Even with the destruction wrought in the Third War , humans remain consummate magi , eager to use flame and ice to scour their enemies . Many human magi are creative , creating spectacular new spells or new ways to use existing spells . The iconic human mage , however , is a powerhouse of arcane energy . She summons creatures to her aid while pounding her foes with blasts of fire or rains of slashing ice . Most of the remaining mages are human . This is mostly due to the fact that Dalaran was essentially a human nation , and naturally it culled a great majority of its members from humanity . Humans are also the most populous out of all races who study the arcane arts . When the quel ' dorei trained the first batch of one hundred humans in the most rudimentary of arcana , they were surprised to find the young race had great natural affinity . The sheer , raw power they could summon up even surpassed what high elven casters were capable of mustering , but they lacked control . This trait became what forever characterized the typical style and approach of human mages . Most human mages prefer using fire and arcane spells , as they allow for the caster to dish out salvos of raging energy , which become bigger , powerful and more varied streams as the mage gains experience . However , humans still find it difficult to concentrate and focus their attacks for more precise and subtle effects . For example , while a human mage might find incinerating a cadre of gnolls child ' s play , lighting the tip of a candle or precisely bombarding a target without harming those around the target may be difficult . Gnomes . In a community as eccentric as mages , for other mages to regard gnomish mages as outlandish is really a statement . Gnome mages are characterized by their bizarre and bold ( some would say ' whimsically suicidal ' ) probing into just how many things they can get their spells to do . The insatiable curiosity of gnomes is legendary , and all gnomes of all walks of life tinker . Gnomes as a race hold no general preference for any particular tree of magic or school of thought , but all are highly individualistic , and their idiosyncratic spells are evidence . Gnomes have the most creative spell repertoire of all the practicing races by far , and home - made gnomish spells either end up as fabulous successes or extremely dangerous failures . Draenei . The Eredar were natural magic users , and this tradition continued when they became the Draenei . They are one of the oldest races in the universe and therefore have had a lot of time to research and improve their knowledge of the arcane arts . Since they have had so much knowledge passed down and live such long lives to practice it , the draenei are among the most powerful mages in the known universe . Night elves . One of the new race - class combinations from " Cataclysm " was the night elf mage . These were returning Highborne attempting to make amends , as foreshadowed by Mordent Evenshade . Horde . Trolls . Many may wonder how the troll s , a race performing primitive rituals based around a spiritual religion , could wield the arts of the arcane . Yet the recent alliance between the Darkspear Tribe and the Horde showed that the trolls are quite a perceptive race , willing to learn new ways if it is for the best of the tribe , much like the humans back in their primitive days . The arcane arts were once exclusively elven and human , governed by the mages of Quel ' thalas and the Kirin Tor of Dalaran . However , the fall of these organizations during the Third War resulted in many scattered mages across Azeroth searching for a place to settle . It is not unlikely that the trolls might have adapted their arcane knowledge from these scavengers , as well as from their recent allies , the Forsaken , who still possess knowledge of the arcane arts in undeath . Undead . Forsaken mages are mostly fallen former human mages ; they might as well be affected by their proximity to Dalaran , ancient minions of Archimonde who could roam the ruins of the fallen city and understand the complex science of magic . As all their un - life is affected by the cold of their bodies , many Forsaken mages are starting to share the virtues of high elves ( because they , too , have a long lifespan ) , using the frost school for the same reasons . A Forsaken mage has the willpower only a man that has abandoned all hope may have . Blood elves . Blood Elves present a significant force of Arcane mastery in the world of Azeroth , even before their fall , the Elves were noted for their mastery over Arcane magic . Now , that mastery has been infused with the dark desire for vengeance . Most , if not all Blood Elves have rudimentary knowledge in the Arcane arts and many choose the path of the mage . The main difference between a blood elf mage and their high elven cousins is in their preference of spells . While most high elves choose the frost school , blood elves instead practice fire magics . " The Burning Crusade " brought blood elves to the Horde . After the Highborne forsook the night elves , they have learned how to master the arcane arts . They have casting classes bonus , which is excellent for mages . Tauren are the only race in the game unable to be a mage , thought by users to be a tradeoff for the lack of gnomish hunters . Other mage races . High elf mage . High elves are the most arcane - imbued race in the Alliance . Many credit them with discovering arcane magic , and it is a matter of historical record that high elves taught arcane magic to humans many thousands of years ago . High elf magi are unparalleled masters of the craft . They usually focus their efforts on shaping and changing their spells and expanding their repertoires ; they do not let the distractions of familiars , of summoning elementals , or of excessive focus on fire and ice distract them from their chosen path . The iconic high elf mage is a dark and haughty individual , claiming knowledge of arcane secrets that never fell into human hands . Elven mages tend to have more control over magic than other races . Magic is not just a craft to them , it is the way of life . Having a long lifespan affords several advantages , including plenty of time to study , hone , and discover all manner of spells and different ways of applying them . As a result , elves are extremely flexible casters and can handle themselves in all manner of situations . The long - lived casters are also famed for their concentration , precision and control . Because of this , many high elves prefer using frost spells , which reward accuracy and timing . Frost spells are also highly flexible , being equally useful defensively and offensively , manifesting in various forms such as attacks , armors , and cages . Blood elves , upon their self - proclaimed rebirth as a new race , have since embraced fire as their mainstay tree of study . Because of the aforementioned ability to experiment and tweak their spells throughout their long lifetimes , high elves are much more knowledgeable of magic than mages of other races and often possess exclusive knowledge on secret and obscure arcana - sometimes , even forbidden and dangerous . They also take no humility in constantly reminding other races of that fact . Naga mage . The naga are powerful arcane spellcasters . Night elves invented the art , after all , and the naga have had 10 , 000 years to refine it . Indeed , one of the greatest mortal mage ever to live is the naga ' s queen , Azshara , who still lives . In fact , she may no longer be mortal . Naga women are their race ’ s spellcasters , and over the millennia they have developed a number of talents and techniques related to their art . Through intense study they learn to expand their repertoires to include other , unrelated spells . Their spells strike with the fury of the sea , whipping and crushing their opponents . Naga magi receive some military training as well . The iconic naga mage is called a siren , and she slithers forward with her brethren , glaives clutched in two of her arms . The other two weave arcane energy , and she protects her allies and decimates her opponents with her spells . She is assured and arrogant , and with good reason .