With WoW Forever moving away from traditional realms and introducing broad rulesets, choosing a faction works a little differently than it does in Classic WoW. The ruleset you choose will affect whether you can create characters from both the Horde and Alliance or only one. Here is all you need to know about whether you can change factions in WoW Forever.
Can You Change Factions in WoW Forever?
There is currently no faction change service that lets you switch an existing character from Horde to Alliance or vice versa in WoW Forever. Also, your ability to play both factions on the same account depends on the ruleset they are on.
On the PvP ruleset, Blizzard has confirmed that players can only create characters for one faction. If you create an Alliance character, you cannot create a Horde character in the PvP ecosystem, and the same applies in reverse.
This restriction is tied to the way WoW Forever’s new rulesets work. Since each ruleset functions as a large player ecosystem rather than a collection of traditional realms, Blizzard is using faction restrictions to help maintain the gameplay integrity of all players.
Can You Play Both Factions in WoW Forever?
Yes, but it depends on your ruleset. Players on the Normal, Roleplaying, and Hardcore rulesets can create characters from both the Horde and Alliance. The PvP ruleset is the exception, as you’re restricted to one faction there.

This means someone playing on Normal could have both Horde and Alliance characters, while someone who chooses PvP needs to pick one faction for that ruleset. All other PvP characters they create after that will be locked to the same faction as their first created PvP character.
Another thing to note is that Blizzard explicitly stated that the PvP restriction is intended to help keep the two faction populations closer together. Character creation can be limited for one faction when additional balance support is needed.
Can Skyborne Change Factions in WoW Forever?
Skyborne have a unique faction choice because they can align with either the Horde or Alliance when creating their character. The Horde-aligned Skyborne follow the Windshaper path, while Alliance Skyborne follow the High Order path. Your choice determines which faction your Skyborne belongs to.
However, choosing one path does not give you a way to switch that character’s faction later. If you want to experience the other side, you’ll need to create another character, subject to the faction restrictions of your chosen ruleset.
WoW Forever Faction Change FAQ
A: No, there is currently no faction-change service for switching an existing character between Horde and Alliance.
Q: Can you play Horde and Alliance on the same account?
A: Yes, on the Normal, Roleplaying, and Hardcore rulesets. The PvP ruleset is the only one that restricts you to one faction.
Q: Why does WoW Forever restrict factions on PvP?
A: Blizzard says the restriction is intended to help maintain Horde and Alliance population balance on the PvP ruleset. Also, it prevents players from hopping between characters and factions and abusing that to gain an advantage in PvP or to abuse other players.
For most players, the important thing is to understand the ruleset before creating your characters. If you want the freedom to experience both Horde and Alliance, Normal, Roleplaying, and Hardcore allow that, while PvP requires you to commit to one faction.
For more helpful content, including one on how to reach Zephras Isle and the city of Valanaar in WoW Forever, visit the Guides category here at Gamepur.
Published: Sep 22, 2026 11:50 pm