The arrival of the World of Warcraft expansion to Dungeons and Dragons will introduce a ton of new character options and adventure possibilities set in the world of Azeroth, now in a TTRPG setting. Of course, in the early 2000s, there was a WoW TTRPG, but this is the first time the MMORPG is being adapted to the tabletop scenario in nearly 20 years. The new WoW expansion is one of the many new additions to the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons roadmap, which also features a return to Dark Sun, as well as Greyhawk and a crossover with Star Wars.
However, following the end of the Season of Magic, which will be best represented by Arcana Unleashed, the TTRPG will enter its next period, the Season of Champions. This will be spearheaded by the release of D&D: World of Warcraft, a gameplay expansion that takes you to Azeroth. With it, you’ll be able to play with some of the most iconic races from World of Warcraft, and even options to play as the classes that are available in the MMORPG. While the understanding of WoW classes is a bit messy right now, some of the species already look promising.
Draenei
One of the most iconic Alliance races from World of Warcraft, the Draenei already seems to be one of the most promising options for D&D, too, regardless of whether you’re picking classes from the MMORPG or traditional builds from what’s available in the TTRPG. As part of the lore from this species, Draenei are naturally blessed by the light, and as part of their abilities in the online game, they have resistance to Shadow damage and are capable of healing themselves or an ally over time.
Such things can be translated into Dungeons and Dragons, in the form of Resistance to Necrotic damage, as well as a Healing Hands feature, reskinned as Gift of the Naaru, for example. Because of this natural pull towards the light, Draenei could act as a new alternative to Aasimar, for example, stepping into the role of Paladins and Clerics with perfect grace and synergy.
In the MMORPG, Draenei are great options for tanks and healers, and it’s very likely that this species will best fit into those roles within Dungeons and Dragons, too. The beauty of the TTRPG, however, is that they are not, in any way, restricted to specific classes, so you could possibly make your Draenei a Warlock, Evoker, Druid, or Demon Hunter from World of Warcraft, should the backstory you craft for them fit.
Earthen
The Earthen, which became playable as part of the new additions to World of Warcraft: The War Within in 2024, are also becoming part of the D&D: World of Warcraft Gameplay Expansion, and they bring a lot to the table in terms of possibilities. This Allied Race (meaning it can be either Alliance- or Horde-aligned) has some remarkable racial traits that could be adapted into game-breaking features in D&D.
As constructs, Earthen are not required to eat, which makes them similar to the Reborn species from D&D’s Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, for example, and you can expect that to be translated into their adaptation for D&D. They also have a regeneration trait called Quiet Contemplation, which could be adapted, too, but one of their main features is Titan-Wrought Frame. In the MMORPG, this means that base armor from equipped items gets a 10% boost.
However, when thinking in D&D’s game design philosophy, this is likely going to affect AC. Overall, Earthen could be looking at a reinterpretation of Integrated Protection, a feature owned by Warforged that gives the character +1 to Armor Class. AC bumps come by rarely in D&D, so this is a great possibility. With it, Earthen will likely thrive in tankier classes, like Paladins, Fighters, and Barbarians, for example.
Night Elf
One of the most popular races in World of Warcraft will arrive in Dungeons and Dragons in the form of a new lineage, in the same way Drow and Wood Elves are played right now. They will retain the core features provided by the Elf species, meaning they get Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, Keen Sense, and Trance. However, Night Elves will also likely see their racial traits from the MMORPG adapted to fit the rules of the TTRPG in pretty cool ways, in the form of an evolving lineage that unlocks new abilities at certain levels.
One of the core characteristics of Night Elves is that they’re naturally inclined towards sneakiness and fast movement. Because every Elf Lineage grants the character a Cantrip, it would make sense if the chosen Level 0 spell for a level 1 Night Elf were Minor Illusion. At level 3, they could potentially unlock Expeditious Retreat. At level 5, Night Elves could learn Pass Without Trace, leaning into their sneaky abilities, like Wood Elves.
The big thing about Night Elves in World of Warcraft is how fast they can move and how hard they can strike down enemies. As such, much like Wood Elves, they may have increased movement Speed, too, for example. I suspect that Night Elves could be great Rogues and Gloom Stalker Rangers, using the shadows to disappear and move around quickly before diving in for a deadly attack.
Dracthyr
The Dracthyr, present as both an Alliance and a Horde race in World of Warcraft, have also been confirmed to be arriving in Dungeons and Dragons, and they may be the most broken addition to the game in 5.5e. Without even looking at their racial traits, one thing immediately stands out: Dracthyr have natural wings as part of their anatomy. This gives them the ability to fly.
Of course, Wizards of the Coast may be looking at a way of controlling that dragonflight for leveling and balancing purposes, but there’s also an off-chance that Dracthyr will be 5.5e’s version of 5e’s Aaracokra, a species that could freely fly from level 1, which broke most low-level encounters. This possibility alone already makes them broken, but they have a lot more to offer.
Dracthyr have bonuses to Perception, which is easy to adapt, as well as a Glide trait that could be a replica of the Hadozee’s feature. Their Visage trait could also be a shapeshifting ability the character has, allowing for numerous roleplay purposes. They can also use their wings to push enemies away, and their tails to lift enemies into the air. It’s unclear how many of their abilities will make it into D&D, but they are likely the most promising new species addition in the expansion.
Troll
Most commonly used as scary monsters in Dungeons and Dragons, Trolls are a playable race from World of Warcraft, and they are being adapted into D&D with the expansion’s release later this year. Despite their off-putting looks, Trolls are actually an underestimated race in the MMORPG, and that may happen in the TTRPG, too, if their traits are adapted in the way that they seem to hint at.
Trolls have a trait called Berserking, which increases their Haste temporarily. In the MMORPG, this means a decrease in spell cast times and a buff to weapon attack speed. Translated into D&D terms, we may be looking at a new Action Surge-like feature, for example, allowing them to strike twice. They also have means of reducing movement-impairing effects, which could make them ignore Difficult Terrain. Additionally, Trolls have a passive Regeneration trait.
This could potentially mean that they get to restore HP outside of combat without the need for a Short Rest, be it spending a limited number of Hit Dice or not, for example. With these prospective feats, Trolls could make for great and speedy Monks or even Barbarians, depending on how they are built. There’s a lot to look out for with the arrival of Dungeons and Dragons’ World of Warcraft Player Expansion on November 17, and these particular species may be some of the very finest.
- Original Release Date
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1974
- Publisher
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TSR Inc., Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Player Count
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2-7 Players
