World of Warcraft’s Battle for Azeroth expansion features new additions to the game’s roster of races. Unlike the Goblin and Worgen races added in Warcraft’s Cataclysm expansion (back in 2010!), the Allied Races aren’t entirely new. They’re mostly tweaked reskins of existing race models. The Horde’s Allied Races include Highmountain Tauren, which are tauren with antlers, Nightborne which are night elves for Horde, Mag’har Orcs which are brown orcs with better posture, and Zandalari, trolls which feature dinosaur-inspired Druid forms.
As with every race in World of Warcraft, each Allied Race has its own unique racial abilities and mounts, which are usable by all characters once unlocked. Additionally, reaching level 110 on a character of an Allied Race without using any boosts (such as the 110 boost included with purchase of Battle for Azeroth) will unlock that race’s exclusive Heritage Armor. Each race has its own set of Heritage armor, which are sets of cosmetic armor that can be transmogrified by any characters of that race.
Unlike in previous expansions, you’ll have to put in some real effort before you’ll get to play as one of the new Allied Races. If you didn’t play in Legion, you’ll have a bit of catching up to do. Each Allied Race has its own achievement and reputation requirements. Once the requirements have been met for a specific Allied Race, you’ll earn access to a questline to unlock that race. Here’s everything you need to do to unlock each of the Horde Races in Battle for Azeroth!
Highmountain Tauren
Horde players are no strangers to cousins of the Tauren. Having encountered the Taunka and Yaungol in previous expansions, on top of numerous Tauren clans throughout the Warcraft leveling experience. Legion introduced an all new tauren sub-race, Highmountain Tauren, which are pretty much exactly the same as tauren save for antlers granted to their people by the Forest Lord, Cenarius. Their customization options also include war paint and they get to ride a nice moose. So that’s cool.
How to unlock the Highmountain Tauren Allied Race
Earn the achievement, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Since you’ll already be questing in Highmountain to earn reputation with the Highmountain Tribe, you should have no problem earning this achievement. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” requires completion of the Highmountain storyline. If a quest involves Tauren, it’s likely that it awards reputation with Highmountain Tribe.
Reach Exalted with the Highmountain Tribe faction
If you quested in Highmountain while leveling up during Legion, you’re in luck. The kindhearted warriors of the Highmountain Tribe showered players with reputation through their quests. Completing all of the available quests for the Highmountain Tribe will place you a good bit into Honored reputation level, but you’re on your own after that. Here’s how you can earn reputation with the Highmountain Tauren:
- Complete all available quests from the Highmountain Tribe in Highmountain
- Complete World Quests (and Emissary, if available) awarding reputation with the Highmountain Tribe
- Completing Kirin Tor Emissary when available and selecting the Highmountain Tribe reputation reward
- Earn reputation tokens by completing relevant missions at the class Order Hall table (completely luck dependant)
- Kill Naraxas (third boss) in the Neltharion’s Lair dungeon
Nightborne
Those who played through Legion are familiar with the Nightborne and their beautiful capital city in Suramar. Destination of not only numerous questlines (and later World Quests) but also home to The Nighthold raid dungeon. Despite efforts by both races to aid the Nightborne of Suramar, Suramar City’s new ruler (and well-known questgiver) Thalyssra has chosen for her people to join the Horde after becoming besties with Lady Liadrin, famed blood elf champion. If you’re keeping count at home, this brings the number of playable elf races to an impressive four. We’re still waiting on Keebler.
How to unlock the Nightborne Allied Race
Reach Exalted with The Nightfallen faction
This one’s a bit of a pain, especially if you didn’t hammer the Legion expansion. Thankfully there’s a plethora of quests in Suramar which award Nightfallen reputation. The downside is, unlike most factions, you start at Unfriendly rather than Neutral, so you’ll have a bit more work to do to earn their trust. Here’s all the different ways you can earn reputation with The Nightfallen:
- Complete all available quests in Suramar
- Complete World Quests (and Emissary, if available) awarding reputation with The Nightfallen
- Completing Kirin Tor Emissary (when available) and selecting The Nightfallen reputation reward
- Earn reputation tokens by completing relevant missions at the class Order Hall table (completely luck dependant)
- Complete the “Withered Army Training” scenario every three days
Earn the achievement, “Insurrection”
During Legion, progression through Suramar’s storyline with the Nightfallen was both time and rep-gated. These restrictions have been removed, and you are now able to consecutively proceed through the Nightfallen storyline. To unlock the Nightborne race, you’ll need to complete the achievement, “Good Suramaritan,” requiring completion of all major zone story quests. Once you’ve done this, it will unlock the quest chains required for completion of the “Insurrection” achievement.
Mag’har Orc
Players were originally introduced to the Mag’har orcs back in The Burning Crusade expansion. Ever since fans have clamored for their addition.
Mag’har orcs are known as the “uncorrupted” orcs, those who did not give in to the temptation of the Fel power gained by drinking blood of the pit lord Mannoroth, which is why the orcs turned green. Despite the fact that The Burning Crusade already featured a Mag’har reputation with which players could become Exalted, Blizzard decided to take a more sensible route than forcing players to partake in ancient content. Instead, unlocking the Mag’har Orc requires reputation with a new Battle for Azeroth faction, The Honorbound.
How to unlock the Mag’har Orc Allied Race
Earn the achievement, “Ready for War”
You’ll earn the achievement “Ready for War” upon completing the Horde War Campaign. Simply complete any and all quests given to you by Nathanos Blightcaller as he has you establish footholds on Kul Tiras and terrorize the Alliance. Progression through the War Campaign is unlocked by reaching certain reputation amounts with the Honorbound, so be sure to complete all available War Campaign quests and stay on top of Honorbound World Quests.
Reach Exalted with The Honorbound faction
Since you’ll already need to earn reputation with The Honorbound to progress through the War Campaign, you’ll want to make sure you’re completing all available War Campaign quests. You’ll need to supplement your reputation gains by completing World Quests awarding reputation with The Honorbound and completing missions at the mission table. Here’s what you can do to earn reputation with The Honorbound:
- Complete all available War Campaign quests
- Complete World Quests (and Emissary, if available) awarding reputation with The Honorbound
- Earn reputation tokens by completing relevant missions at the mission table (completely luck dependant)
Zandalari Trolls
In case you somehow haven’t noticed by now, trolls are a pretty big deal in World of Warcraft, and have been a long-time favorite of many Horde players. While we’re (unfortunately) not getting Dire Trolls, the addition of the Zandalari troll race brings some interesting alternatives to the current, lanky and slouchy troll of the Horde’s Darkspear Clan (or what’s left of it, RIP Vol’jin).
As with the Kul Tiran, players will become all too familiar with the Zandalari through completion of content across the continent of Zandalar. Fans speculate that unlocking conditions will be tied to the continent’s reputations. At this time they are not yet available to players. We’ll update this guide as soon as there’s more information to share!
