Ghost

For the Warcraft III creep, see Ghost (Warcraft III).

A human ghost in Hearthstone.

Ghosts (also known as phantoms)^[1] are tortured spirits who writhe in the agony of undeath. Mortal souls usually go to the Shadowlands, but ghosts roam the Veil, the trackless wastes between the Shadowlands and the physical world, trapped between the realms of the living and the dead, seeking release from their eternal suffering.^[2] They are made of ectoplasm.^[3]

Usually unable to realize that they are no longer alive, they are not necessarily evil, but their hunger for physical contact often causes great harm to any living beings they touch.^[2] Spirits do not usually become ghosts, as the normal death process is the soul's release to the realm of the dead. However, following a traumatic event, or suffering from a magical spell, or a curse, or else, it is possible for spirits to return as ghosts.

The term "ghost" is sometimes applied to any undead incorporeal being.

In World of Warcraft

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

A ghost model (shared with the wraith) introduced in Battle for Azeroth.

This is also the name of the form you turn into after death in-game. Night elves turn into wisps.
Sometimes it is easily possible to see which race a ghost belonged to while it was living because it appears as a see-through, often bluish, but clearly identifiable example of its race, but this is not always the case. The ghost of a fellow party member can be seen if the player is in a party.

Ghostly beings

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

A ghost in Monster Guide.

A ghost in Manual of Monsters.

Ghosts are the spectral remnants of intelligent beings who, for one reason or another, cannot rest easily in their graves. A ghost greatly resembles its corporeal form in life, but in some cases the spiritual form is somewhat altered.^[4]

Ghosts are the spectral impressions of individuals who died due to the plague or due to some incredibly traumatic incident. Often, those who contract the plague attempt to end their own lives rather than join Ner'zhul's armies; this attempt is not always successful and often results in the creation of a spirit which is independent of Ner'zhul's influence, but not completely dead.

Ghosts are often angry spirits, robbed of their lives through circumstance or will. They resemble their corporeal shape, but are completely intangible. These creatures haunt the site of their death or some other location integral to their past and are often violent and dangerous. They hate life, and the feeling of having warmth and hope near them is enough to drive ghost into a murderous frenzy. Because most ghosts are completely insane, it has not proven worth Ner'zhul's time to capture and enslave them for his own uses. Ner'zhul no doubt has some ghosts in his employ — singular creatures that are powerful enough to be useful but not powerful enough to cause Ner'zhul followers any trouble keeping them dominated. These creatures are extremely vengeful, expending their rage upon any opponent they can find and using their ghostly powers to shred any opposition and break any unfortunate soul that crosses their path.^[5]

A phantom weapon appears translucent and occasionally fades partially into non-existence, allowing it to sometimes penetrate armor with great ease.^[6]

"Ghost" is an acquired template in the Warcraft RPG and World of Warcraft RPG.

Notes

For living beings, graveblooms grant the ability to see spirits.^[7]
Nathanos Blightcaller described ghosts as being a mockery of the dead, holding on although they have no hope.^[8]
Many visions seen in Karazhan were described as phantoms, as well as; time-lost visions, timelost wraiths, ghosts, ghosts of the past, specters, and illusions. These visions were said not to be capable of causing physical or magical harm.^[9]
It was initially said that ghosts go to the Twisting Nether.^[10]
There are toys that allow the player character to appear as a ghost version of themselves: [Death's Door Charm], [Spectral Visage], and [Scroll of Aeons].