Gnome

This article is about the gnomes' lore. For the Gnomeregan playable race, see Gnome (playable). For the language, see Gnomish (language). For the Mechagon gnomes, see Mechagon mechagnome. For the goblin NPC, see Chancellor Gnome.

Gnomes
Faction/Affiliation	Kingdom of Gnomeregan, Alliance, Independent, Kirin Tor, Argent Crusade, Cult of the Damned Formerly: Alliance of Lordaeron
Character classes	Death knight, Hunter, Mage, Monk, Priest, Rogue, Warlock, Warrior Ace, Assassin, Archmage, Bombardier, Commoner, Engineer, Knight, Necromancer, Sapper, Sorcerer, Techno mage, Tinker Flying machine, Inventor Dead shot, Gunman, Potion doc, Steam warrior
Racial capital	Gnomeregan (partially) Mechagon City
Racial leader(s)	King Gelbin Mekkatorque
Formerly	King Mechagon †
Racial mount	Mechanostrider
Homeworld	Azeroth
Area(s)	Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend, Outland, Mechagon Island
Language(s)	Gnomish, Common

The gnomes (collectively referred to as gnomanity, gnomekind or gnomefolk) are a race of diminutive and highly intelligent humanoids, known for their mastery of technology. They originally descended from mechagnomes, metallic titan-forged created by Keeper Mimiron, who were afflicted with the Curse of Flesh. The early gnomes eventually found their way to Khaz Modan, where they founded the capital of Gnomeregan and its kingdom, and became allies with their nearby dwarven cousins. After King Mechagon's exodus four hundred years ago, the gnomes resorted to democratically elect their High Tinkers.

For years, the gnomes were based in Gnomeregan, providing technological support to the Alliance during the Second War, until a trogg invasion and treachery from within irradiated their capital and killed as much as eighty percent of the gnomish population. The gnomes were then forced into exile in the Tinker Town-district of Ironforge, until they launched a partially successful Operation: Gnomeregan and have since been based in New Tinkertown. After reconciling with the long-isolated mechagnomes of Mechagon Island, Gelbin Mekkatorque became the king of all gnomes, finally reuniting their people after centuries apart.

Introduction

The clever, spunky, and oftentimes eccentric gnomes present a unique paradox among the civilized races of Azeroth. Brilliant inventors with an irrepressibly cheerful disposition, this race has suffered treachery, displacement, and near-genocide. It is their remarkable optimism in the face of such calamity that symbolizes the truly unshakable spirit of the gnomes.

The eccentric, often-brilliant gnomes are one of the most peculiar races of the world. A race of diminutive beings, gnomes have made their mark on Azeroth through the application of collective intelligence and ambition overshadowing that of their larger peers. Gnomes are renowned mechanics, engineers, and technicians, widely respected for their knowledge of the scientific facets of the world and their ability to transform said knowledge into surprising tools, vehicles, armor, and weapons. Much of gnomish philosophy is focused on forward-thinking, inventive concepts; little thought has ever been given to history or non-scientific records. With their obsession for developing radical new technologies and constructing marvels of mind-bending engineering, it is a wonder that any gnomes have survived to proliferate.

History

Origins

Mechagnomes, the ancestors of the gnome race created by Keeper Mimiron.

The first gnomes that came into existence were "mechagnomes", small, metal clockwork-creatures created by the Watcher Mimiron, apparently as servants and caretakers, much like the earthen.

After the betrayal of Loken, the mechagnomes in Uldaman watched over and maintained the facility alongside a small number of earthen that remained out of stasis. As Archaedas and Ironaya became obsessed with curing the Curse of Flesh and retreated into the lower chambers of Uldaman and settled into long periods of hibernation, the mechagnomes and earthen were left to manage Uldaman themselves. With the Great Sundering, the remaining active earthen went into stasis, and only the mechagnomes remained. Yet they too succumbed to the Curse of Flesh, and the affliction had them degenerate into beings later known simply as gnomes. They lost all sense of purpose and abandoned Uldaman 3,000 years before the opening of the Dark Portal.

The first generation of gnomes carved out an existence in the snowy mountains west of Uldaman. They struggled to survive against the harsh elements, ice trolls, and other dangers that roamed the land. As generations passed, they dedicated themselves to technological advancement; these would be the means of sustaining themselves in a savage world. In only a few generations, the gnomes lost all knowledge of their titan-forged heritage. What they gained was a new society. The gnomes carved out a series of highly fortified dwellings deep within the cold mountains of what would become known as Dun Morogh.

Early history

The mage Indus, one of the first recorded gnomes in history.

Around 2,500 BDP, when the transformed earthen from Uldaman, now being fleshy creatures called dwarves, arrived in Khaz Modan, they discovered the gnomes in their mountain caverns. Enthralled by their technological knowledge and sensing a kinship between the two species, the dwarves aided the gnomes in carving into the stony foothills in western Dun Morogh, thus laying the foundations for what would later become the marvelous subterranean techno-city of Gnomeregan. Based in Gnomeregan, the gnome kingdom was founded and evolved in seemingly eternal industrialization. Unlike many other races such as the dwarves, orcs, and humans, the gnomes had no history of internecine violence prior to the fall of Gnomeregan. The alliance between the gnomish and dwarven kingdoms proved highly beneficial for both parties, as they were sharing the resources of Dun Morogh and worked in unison to improve their mechanical constructs for generations.

Gnomes are remarkably adept arcanists. Pound for pound, they are some of the most potent casters the world has ever known, and have always had a presence in the Kirin Tor. Their society was already in contact with the humans of Arathor and high elves of Quel'Thalas as early as 2,600 BDP. A notable gnome of this time period was Indus, a mage of Dalaran and member of the Council of Tirisfal. She was followed much later by another gnome named Erbag, also a member of the Council of Tirisfal, during the early days of Aegwynn. He was already inducted eight hundred and forty-four years prior to the Battle of Mount Hyjal. Erbag was described as being highly talkative as well as rather impatient with Aegwynn.

King Mechagon was the last king of the gnomes, who 400 years ago led his followers in search of a mystical land of technology. He left no clues where he was headed, and over time his tale became a legend. Gnomes have not had kings or queens since; although Gelbin Mekkatorque has the title "King of Gnomes" since the Fourth War, he was at first elected and his position was officially called High Tinker.

Decades before the First War, while Azeroth enjoyed a time of relative peace, the gnomes were engaged in rigorous trade with the human of the Seven Kingdoms.

Second War and aftermath

Main article: Defense of Gnomeregan

A gnome during the Second War.

Prior to the Second War in 5 ADP, the Orcish Horde of Draenor launched an invasion of Khaz Modan, seeking metal and fuel to supply their armada. When King Magni Bronzebeard appealed to Gnomeregan for aid, dwarves and gnomes combined their resources to establish defensive positions throughout Khaz Modan. Despite these efforts, they were unable to halt the advance of the orcish forces. The Horde pushed deeper into Dun Morogh, laying siege to both Ironforge and the city of Gnomeregan. At each location, however, the attackers were stalled by the ingenuity of the gnomish inventors. Their elaborate traps and rigged explosives inflicted heavy losses on the orcs, while Gnomeregan itself remained sealed behind an impenetrable iron gate. After weeks of fruitless assaults, Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer abandoned the sieges and ordered the main Horde army to march north to confront the humans of Lordaeron. He left Kilrogg Deadeye and the Bleeding Hollow clan behind in Khaz Modan, tasking them with containing the dwarves and gnomes in their capitals, hoping Kilrogg would eventually conquer both cities while Doomhammer dealt with Lordaeron's armies.

The defenses of Gnomeregan and Ironforge held long enough for Supreme Commander Anduin Lothar to strike the Bleeding Hollow from the rear, freeing both dwarves and gnomes. In response, both races pledged their full support to the Alliance of Lordaeron. Gnomeregan proved an invaluable contributor to the Alliance war effort, supplying advanced weaponry, vehicles such as submarines and flying machines, and highly motivated troops. In many respects, the gnomes mirrored the inventive goblins of the Horde, and these technological clashes ignited a racial rivalry that endures to the present day.

In the war's aftermath, the victorious allied nations assisted one another in rebuilding. Frustrated by the slow travel between Ironforge and Stormwind, King Magni sought a faster solution from Azeroth's most renowned engineer, Gelbin Mekkatorque. Working from his office in Sector 17, the High Tinker designed the Deeprun Tram, a subterranean railway linking Tinker Town in Ironforge to Stormwind City. Even after its completion, gnomes continued to maintain the tram on a daily basis to ensure its operation.

Around Year 18 ADP, when the Alliance of Lordaeron fractured, High Tinker Mekkatorque and several other leaders reaffirmed the gnomes' loyalty to King Terenas Menethil II.

Fall of Gnomeregan

Entrance to Gnomeregan, capital of the gnomes.

At the onset of the Third War in 20 ADP, as the kingdom of Lordaeron fell to the Scourge, the gnomes supplied the Alliance with armaments but contributed few soldiers. This led some allies to question their loyalty. In truth, Gnomeregan itself was under siege. Brutish troggs had erupted from beneath the city, awakened by dwarven excavation efforts around the titan complex of Uldaman. Drawn to gnomish machinery, the creatures burrowed extensive tunnel networks that breached the city's lowest levels.

High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque deployed soldiers and war machines to critical choke points in an effort to contain the invasion. Despite their technological superiority, the Gnomeregan Army was simply too small to repel the endless trogg assaults. Although Mekkatorque briefly considered appealing to the Alliance for aid, he ultimately chose not to divert resources from the desperate defense of Lordaeron. Instead, he resolved to keep the crisis in Gnomeregan hidden from the other allied nations.

Before the Siege of Dalaran, Lady Jaina Proudmoore worked tirelessly to gather refugees after being persuaded by the mysterious Prophet that sailing west to Kalimdor offered humanity its only chance of survival. When her fleet departed, it carried members of nearly every Alliance race, including dwarves and gnomes drawn from the Alliance military forces.

For five years, the gnomes continued to fight the troggs, but were steadily overwhelmed. The invaders tunneled around defensive positions and eventually broke into the city's engineering quarters. During this time, Mekkatorque's trusted friend and advisor, Sicco Thermaplugg, became consumed by his ambition to seize the title of High Tinker. His obsession culminated in a catastrophic betrayal. Thermaplugg devised a plan to eradicate the troggs by flooding the city's lower levels with toxic radiation, secretly intending to kill roughly thirty percent of the gnomish population and place the blame on Mekkatorque.

Fully aware of the potential loss of life, Thermaplugg nonetheless lied to the High Tinker, claiming he had tested the gas and verified its lethal effects on troggs. He presented falsified data concerning its radiation levels, density, and volumetric weight. According to his calculations, the gas would remain confined to quarantined thoroughfares and lower sections of Gnomeregan, poisoning the troggs as they emerged from below, while the gnomes waited safely sealed within the upper tunnels. Thermaplugg assured Mekkatorque that his Kleen Wind Domiclic Filters would protect the population from exposure.

Pressed by the urgency of the invasion and reassured by the confidence of his trusted advisor, Mekkatorque approved the desperate plan. He ordered the pressure valves of Gnomeregan's massive grinding machines opened, releasing the toxic radiation throughout the lower levels of the city in what he believed to be their last viable option for survival. The plan failed catastrophically. Gelbin Mekkatorque could only watch in horror as the gas proved far deadlier than even Thermaplugg had anticipated. Rather than exterminating the troggs, many endured the radiation, emerging enraged, while others were seemingly empowered by it. Worse still, the filtration systems failed, allowing the radiation to pass directly into gnomish residences. Thousands died in their homes, believing themselves to be safe. Within days, nearly eighty percent of the gnomish race had perished.

Mekkatorque's attempt to save the city ended in tragedy, marking the fall of Gnomeregan and the near-annihilation of its people. Unable to stem further losses or repel the troggs, the High Tinker finally conceded defeat and led the surviving gnomes to seek refuge with their longtime dwarven allies in Ironforge. King Magni Bronzebeard granted them asylum, clearing out the entirety of the Tinker Town district to serve as their new home.

World of Warcraft

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

Main article: Gnomeregan (kingdom)

King Gelbin Mekkatorque, ruler of Gnomeregan and Mechagon.

With the ruling council reassembled in the Tinker Town district of Ironforge, the gnomes convened to determine their future. Some argued for an immediate attempt to retake Gnomeregan, but Gelbin Mekkatorque refused, instead urging his people to focus on developing new technologies to strengthen the modern Alliance. In his view, the destinies of the gnomes and the Alliance were inseparable; should the faction fall, the gnomes would lose the allies necessary to ever reclaim their homeland.

The full extent of Mekgineer Thermaplugg's treachery emerged only gradually, as details of his schemes came to light. During the evacuation, Thermaplugg sealed himself within the deepest sections of the city, exposing himself to the same irradiation that afflicted much of the remaining population. Mekkatorque initially believed his former friend had perished, but subsequent expeditions and surveillance of Gnomeregan revealed otherwise, along with the grim fate of those left behind. The survivors were twisted by radiation into monstrous, mindless leper gnomes, including Sicco himself. The affliction warped their minds, allowing a mutated and unhinged Thermaplugg to seize control of the leper gnomes and rule them through terror and madness.

Declared a traitor and condemned to death, Thermaplugg became the target of an Alliance operation to eliminate the self-proclaimed "King of Gnomeregan". The strike team returned claiming success, but upon reviewing the account, Mekkatorque concluded that the mechanized tyrant destroyed deep within the city was likely a sophisticated decoy rather than Thermaplugg himself. It was increasingly evident that reclaiming Gnomeregan would require far more than a small elite force, instead demanding the combined strength of gnomish ingenuity and the full might of the Alliance. Having served as High Tinker for seven years by that time, Mekkatorque continued to refine his plans, even as the gnomes' long isolation gradually faded and his people became ever more integrated with the wider Alliance.

Across Azeroth, gnomes could be seen living in numerous Alliance and neutral cities such as Darkshire and Gadgetzan. Some could also be found at the Mirage Raceway in the Thousand Needles, competing with their goblin rivals. One can also spot the occasional gnome hovel in places like Tanaris, the Hinterlands, and Azshara.

The Burning Crusade

This section concerns content related to The Burning Crusade.

During the invasion of Outland in 26 ADP, Toshley and his gnomish followers departed the kaldorei settlement of Sylvanaar in the Blade's Edge Mountains and founded Toshley's Station, where they could conduct experiments without restriction. After relocating to Outland, Toshley hired the Razak's Roughriders—led by Razak Ironsides—to protect his scientists. The mercenaries successfully defended the station against local threats, including ravager attacks and the Ridgespine Stalkers that preyed upon gnome travelers. When Nexus-Prince Razaan and the Razaani imprisoned gnome souls within Razaani Light Orbs, Toshley enlisted Alliance adventurers to destroy the ethereals, recover their Collection of Souls, and end their disturbing fusion of magic and technology.

Wrath of the Lich King

This section concerns content related to Wrath of the Lich King.

By the war against the Lich King in 27 ADP, gnomes from Gnomeregan under the leadership of Fizzcrank Fullthrottle had established Fizzcrank Airstrip in the Borean Tundra, aiding the Valiance Expedition in securing a forward base in Northrend. During their operations, they discovered a massive gnome-shaped construct that identified itself as Gearmaster Mechazod and claimed to have been created by the titans. Declaring gnomes to be flawed mechagnomes corrupted by the Curse of Flesh, Mechazod began abducting them in an effort to convert them into cybernetic beings.

After Airman Skyhopper secured assistance from Valiance Keep, Jinky Wingnut and Alliance adventurers managed to reverse the transformation of several Fizzcrank Mechagnomes using the Re-Cursive Transmatter Injection. Despite these successes, many gnomes were lost before Mechazod was ultimately defeated by the heroes. Due to its strategic importance, Fizzcrank Airstrip remained operational even after the Lich King's fall.

As Gnomeregan's Grand Champion, Ambrose Boltspark later represented his people at the Argent Tournament and faced the heroes during the Trial of the Champion.

Operation: Gnomeregan

Main article: Operation: Gnomeregan

The Gnomeregan Army in Dun Morogh.

Following the Northrend campaign, Gelbin Mekkatorque launched Operation: Gnomeregan, an Alliance-backed assault aimed at reclaiming the gnomes' lost capital. After staging preparations at Steelgrill's Depot, the High Tinker led a coordinated offensive to seize the city's airfield and surface command post before mounting a raid into the lower tunnels of Gnomeregan. Despite early successes, Sicco Thermaplugg detonated a radiation bomb deep within the city, forcing Mekkatorque's forces to execute an emergency evacuation to escape renewed irradiation. While the operation secured a foothold, it fell short of full liberation. The gnomes subsequently established a tenuous base at New Tinkertown near the city gates, continuing their efforts to reclaim Gnomeregan from Thermaplugg and his followers.

Cataclysm

This section concerns content related to Cataclysm.

After the Cataclysm in 28 ADP, the Survivor Assistance Facilitation Expedition (S.A.F.E.) was placed under the command of Nevin Twistwrench to evacuate survivors trapped within Gnomeregan and eliminate the remaining leper gnomes infesting the irradiated city. In response, Sicco Thermaplugg dispatched Razlo Crushcog and his forces to sabotage the rebuilding efforts. With aid from their dwarven allies, the gnomes eventually slew Crushcog, while the G-Team was tasked with eliminating Thermaplugg and his lieutenants once and for all.

Following the invasion of Gilneas, Mekkatorque represented Gnomeregan at a summit in Darnassus, where the gnomes voted to admit the kingdom of Gilneas into the Alliance.

Elsewhere in Kalimdor, a gnomish expedition inadvertently uncovered Uldum and triggered an ancient curse that drove its members insane. Believing Azeroth to be fundamentally flawed, the afflicted gnomes sought access to the Forge of Origination to initiate re-origination. With assistance from A.I.D.A., adventurers ultimately destroyed the cursed gnomes using the M.A.C. Diver, preventing further catastrophe.

Sometime after the Third War, Fizzle Brassbolts independently traveled to Kalimdor to reconcile the long-standing goblins versus gnomes rivalry by co-founding Mirage Raceway in the Thousand Needles alongside the goblin Pozzik. By this period, Fizzle's crew aboard the Speedbarge was formally recognized as representatives of Gnomeregan and participated in races sponsored by the MEGA.

Mists of Pandaria

This section concerns content related to Mists of Pandaria.

During the Invasion of Pandaria in 30 ADP, Lion's Landing was placed under the command of High Marshal Twinbraid. Acting on orders from High King Varian Wrynn, he wielded the combined military strength of Stormwind, Ironforge, and Gnomeregan to counter the Dominance Offensive and safeguard Pandaria.

The gnomish A.C.E. unit joined the 7th Legion during assaults on Domination Point, clashing with the Bilgewater S.H.A.R.K.. Despite their efforts, A.C.E. was ultimately defeated by Horde champions.

Legion

This section concerns content related to Legion.

At the start of the third invasion of the Burning Legion in 32 ADP, Dun Morogh was invaded by Legion forces, with the Gnomeregan Covert Ops among its defenders. Anticipating the coming conflict on the Broken Shore, Mekkatorque ordered his people to prepare for war by any means available, resulting in the emergence of gnomish hunters. Encased in his steam armor, Mekkatorque personally led a contingent of Gnomeregan Tinkerers as part of High King Varian Wrynn's vanguard during the Battle for the Broken Shore. In the aftermath, gnomes joined various class orders to repel the Legion across Azeroth.

Battle for Azeroth

This section concerns content related to Battle for Azeroth.

Main article: Mechagon mechagnome

High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque in steam armor during the Battle of Dazar'alor.

Before the Fourth War in 33 ADP, a gnome population residing in Boralus on Kul Tiras vanished without explanation. Investigating the mystery, Parin Tinklocket examined the Abandoned Junkheap in Tiragarde Sound, uncovering a sealed Forgotten Vault and numerous malfunctioning gnomish machines. Although Alliance adventurers aided his investigation, no evidence surfaced regarding the missing gnomes' fate. Parin forwarded the recovered serial plates to Ironforge for further study.

As the war escalated, Alliance leadership formally requested Gnomeregan's aid and funded an elite gnomish task force. A gnome hero was selected to lead the unit's test team, assembled in New Tinkertown by Captain Tread Sparknozzle. Known as the Gnomish Elite Aerial Rangers (G.E.A.R.), the team—including Herk Winklespring, Emaedi Autoblast, and Fizzi Tinkerbow—represented the pinnacle of gnomish innovation and combat prowess. Their inaugural mission thwarted the schemes of the leper gnome Telzo Sparkspanner.

During the Battle of Dazar'alor, Mekkatorque accompanied the Alliance navy on a covert mission to sabotage the Golden Fleet. After Horde forces were drawn away to Nazmir, he detonated the charges, annihilating the Zandalari fleet and enabling the Alliance assault. In the ensuing battle, Mekkatorque defeated Gallywix but was gravely wounded and placed into suspended animation. Despite attempts by Jaina Proudmoore and Stormwind's priests, his condition remained critical, with some—such as Halford Wyrmbane and Nathanos Blightcaller—believing him dead.

During the parallel Nazjatar Campaign in 34 ADP, Tinkmaster Overspark and Gazlowe led Alliance and Horde forces to Mechagon Island using coordinates recovered from the mysterious vault. There, they allied with Prince Erazmin and the Rustbolt Resistance to overthrow King Mechagon. During Operation: Mechagon, the resistance liberated Mechagon City, defeated the Arcforged, and destroyed the Mechoriginator, preventing the reversal of the Curse of Flesh across Azeroth and reuniting the mechagnome society.

Mekkatorque is proclaimed King of the Gnomes.

After the armistice, a Spark Reactor recovered from King Mechagon's Annihilo-tron 5000 was used to revive Gelbin Mekkatorque. Grateful to Prince Erazmin and his people, the High Tinker and his allies teleported into Mechagon City, where they cleared out the last of the Arcforged's loyalist machines. With the city liberated, the prince asked Gelbin to lead them; the latter accepted on the condition that Erazmin stood with him as both counselor and friend. Addressing the crowd at the High Tinkertory, Kelsey Steelspark announced the reunification of Gnomeregan and Mechagon and proclaimed Mekkatorque king of a united gnome people, with Prince Erazmin serving as his advisor. In gratitude, the mechagnomes later formally joined the Alliance.

Dragonflight

This section concerns content related to Dragonflight.

With the return of the Dragon Isles in 40 ADP, several gnomes joined the Dragonscale Expedition, including Addie Fizzlebog and Wulferd Fizzbracket among many others.

The War Within

This section concerns content related to The War Within.

During the war in Khaz Algar in 42 ADP, gnome forces participated in the Alliance fleet's expedition to the Isle of Dorn to oppose Xal'atath. Tinkmaster Overspark and other gnome engineers prepared siege engines along the Tranquil Strand, while Captain Tread Sparknozzle oversaw gnomish units among the Alliance ranks.

Appearance

Gnomish heritage armor in World of Warcraft.

On average, female gnomes are 3'4" tall while males aren't much larger, typically standing at close to 3'6" in height. Some gnomes do not grow to more than a "shortish" height of 2'6". They have four fingers (three fingers, one thumb) on each hand, and five-toed feet. Although it can and has been a bit nebulous in Warcraft art throughout the years, in World of Warcraft, the gnome model is noted to have large, rounded ears in proportion to their head.

While it's unknown exactly how long gnomes can live, the 22-year-old Kinndy Sparkshine was considered to be a teenager by her people's reckoning of age. While preparing to enter the Rusted Vault, Tinkmaster Overspark imagined that he might end up rescuing King Mechagon himself, expecting there was a good chance that the last king of the gnomes was still alive 400 years later.

Gnomes have a high metabolism. Despite the gnomes' size, they exude great resilience and survivability both in and out of combat.

Before the Gnomeregan incident, some gnomes (such as Gnoarn) had earned a reputation for themselves by wearing an eccentric hairstyle known as a "gnomefro".

Mechagon mechagnome

Main article: Mechagon mechagnome

The gnomes of Mechagon Island and Mechagon City are now calling themselves mechagnomes, like their titan-forged counterparts, because of their mechanical augmentations.

They descended from the regular gnomes of Gnomeregan. They span a variety of different types. The higher-caste gnomes lived in an advanced, aristocratic society inside a huge vault, where they had dedicated themselves to their ruler King Mechagon and his vision to turn anyone of flesh into more pure robotic parts. In this society, the more robot parts one had, the higher one's social standing was.

Due to these replacements, mechagnomes are virtually immortal, or at least ageless. Lynnish Hardmode notably considered herself "80 years young".

Culture

Icon of Technology, the racial icon of the gnomes. The Mechagon mechagnome crest.

Gnomes are a race of ambitious folk who celebrate creativity and craft and whose lives are validated by a masterful command of the scientific laws of the universe. This outlook on life makes them feel that to be pitied is unbearable, even insulting, though they know their allies do not do this intentionally. They have been more of a race of scholars throughout their history, generally focused on escaping and avoiding conflict, being also known to offset their lack of physical strength with ingenuity and daring. Much of gnomish philosophy is focused on forward-thinking, inventive concepts, and little thought has ever been given to history or non-scientific records. According to Muradin Bronzebeard, no gnome can turn down a puzzle.

However, the loss of Gnomeregan and years of hardship and survival amongst increased association with the dwarves have made the gnomes stronger and more comfortable with their physical prowess, giving them a combatant edge. Gnome melee fighters have become more common, and are in general more willing to talk back to Tall Folk than ever before.

Unlike many other races such as the dwarves, orcs, and humans, the gnomes had no history of internecine violence prior to the fall of Gnomeregan. Generally speaking, gnomes simply do not fight gnomes. In a world of hostile creatures and Tall Folk, it goes without saying that gnomes have to rely on each other. This is why gnomes don't need primogeniture and why they once abandoned monarchy centuries ago, instead electing their leaders by common consent based on their work's benefit to the race as a whole. It is unthinkable for a gnome to act in a selfish manner in spite of the cost to their people, which made Sicco Thermaplugg's betrayal all the more shocking.

It is not known what social norms may exist for gnomish marriages, though Marvin and Tamara Wobblesprocket provide at least one example of humans and gnomes intermarrying.

Gnomes have recently started to venture into the field of brewing. Examples include Gnomenbrau, "a light beer with a big head", and the upstart Short and Stout Brewery in Brewnall Village.

Languages

See also: Gnomish (language)#Naming

They speak Gnomish and Common. Hearing them talk in their native tongue will help one realize why no one takes the time to learn it. As such, gnomes teach common to their children to make communication with other races more productive.

Technology

Main article: Gnomish technology

Gnomish Experimenter in Hearthstone.

Gnomes are renowned mechanics, engineers, and technicians, widely respected for their knowledge of the scientific facets of the world and their ability to transform said knowledge into surprising tools, vehicles, armor, and weapons. Much of gnomish philosophy is focused on forward-thinking, inventive concepts; little thought has ever been given to history or non-scientific records. With their obsession for developing radical new technologies and constructing marvels of mind-bending engineering, it is a wonder that any gnomes have survived to proliferate. They are the most actively involved in the production and development of military technology, whether in the fields of weaponry, artillery, or communication. They supply the Alliance army with its most advanced weaponry and war machines, such as the siege engines and transport vehicles.

Faith

The gnomes have had an interest in the Light since they joined the Alliance, but they were so focused on technology and, later, the retaking of Gnomeregan that studying the Light didn't feel necessary to them; the dwarven priests and paladins of Ironforge served as the only connection to the Light they needed. However, having reclaimed a foothold in Gnomeregan and in the process of rebuilding their culture outside of Ironforge, they recognized the need of Light followers in their own ranks, notably to research new methods of purifying irradiated gnomes with Light-based technology.

Just like the dwarves of Ironforge, some gnomes have now adopted the values ​​and philosophy of the Church of the Light, becoming followers and practitioners of the Holy Light. They are able to become priests, and while priests among the other races may play the roles of clerics and prophets, gnome priests refer to themselves as doctors, medics, and surgeons. In fact, the gnomes practice holy magic as a form of first aid.

Many gnomes are oppositely dark enough to become rogues or even warlocks, having no problem with ordering around minions which are several times larger than themselves.

Relations

A gnome priest resurrecting her comrades.

Ever since their first meeting, gnomes and dwarves have been strong friends and allies, with dwarves having taught construction and stoneworking to the gnomes, helping them to lay the foundations of Gnomeregan, while gnomes taught them sciences and engineering in return. During the Second War, the two races worked together to defend themselves against the Orcish Horde's invasion, until they were forced to take refuge in their respective capitals. After the loss of Gnomeregan, King Magni Bronzebeard welcomed the gnomes in Ironforge, and the dwarves have been the gnomes' main support into taking their capital back.

They had, however, an antagonistic relationship with Dark Iron dwarves who were enemies of their Bronzebeard allies, and who seem to have been allies with Sicco Thermaplugg at some point, with an ambassador and several agents being found in Gnomeregan. Even after the Dark Iron's reunion with their Bronzebeard and Wildhammer cousins, relations still seemed to be tense as Gelbin Mekkatorque, and his men had a fight with Drukan and other Dark Iron envoys during an Alliance summit at Darnassus, though things seem to have cooled off since.

During the Second War, the gnomes became close allies with the humans who repelled the Bleeding Hollow clan, vowing a debt of gratitude toward the Alliance of Lordaeron for their liberation. They have since equipped the Alliance army with their inventions and weapons such as cannons, gunships, tanks, or gyrocopters. Gnome mages have also worked with humans for a very long time with many gnomish mages having come to live in Dalaran, where they always had a presence in the Kirin Tor. Several gnomes joined the Council of Tirisfal, including Indus who was one of the founding members of the council.

Despite their work with arcane and love for technology, gnomes are still tolerated in night elf territories, such as gnome engineers and sappers from Tinker Town who came in Ashenvale to help create cannons and bombs for the Sentinels in their fight against the Horde.

Gnomes usually get along well with the draenei and have also expressed great interest in and fascination with the technology of the draenei.

Like their human and dwarven allies, gnomes have been victims of the Old Horde's invasion of Azeroth and as such still strongly distrust the orcs and their allies to this day.

Ever since the Second War, gnomes have had a rivalry with goblins who supplied the Horde with their technology and weapons, similarly to the gnomes with the Alliance, a rivalry that has been only refueled when the Bilgewater Cartel joined the New Horde. The two races are in competition with each other over which race is the smartest and most advanced technologically, with gnomes generally seeing goblin technology as crude and inferior, though the degree of seriousness of this competition varies according to the individual, with some gnomes being hostile to goblins while others are friendlier to them. Isaac Blastimov and Bamm Megabomb notably invented the mechanical wolves together.

Notable

Silas Darkmoon, founder and manager of the Darkmoon Faire.

Name	Occupation	Status	Location
Gelbin Mekkatorque	High Tinker of Gnomeregan and King of Gnomes.	Alive	Various
Sicco Thermaplugg	Self-proclaimed king of the gnomes.	Deceased	Tinkers' Court, Gnomeregan
Bizmo	Operator of Bizmo's Brawlpub.	Alive	Bizmo's Brawlpub, Deeprun Tram
Brink Spannercrank	Assassin and SI:7 agent.	Alive	Unknown
Spitzpatrick	Crusade Engineer of the Argent Crusade.	Alive	Valley of Echoes, Icecrown
Erbag	Member of the Council of Tirisfal.	Deceased	Unknown
Pip Quickwit	Inventor and explorer once eaten by the Beast.	Alive	Various
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle	Designer and builder of Fizzcrank Airstrip.	Alive	Fizzcrank Airstrip, Borean Tundra
Indus	Member of the Council of Tirisfal.	Deceased	Unknown
J.D. Collie	Researcher studying the power crystals.	Alive	Marshal's Stand, Un'Goro Crater
Kelsey Steelspark	Gnomeregan Covert Ops agent.	Alive	Various
Linken	Hero of Un'Goro Crater.	Alive	Sethria's Roost, Mount Hyjal
Millhouse Manastorm	Powerful mage of questionable loyalty.	Alive	Various
Narain Soothfancy	Retired engineer, now a master soothsayer.	Alive	Bootlegger Outpost, Tanaris
Oglethorpe Obnoticus	Exiled mekgineer and Gnomish Engineering trainer.	Alive	Booty Bay, The Cape of Stranglethorn
Silas Darkmoon	Founder and manager of the Darkmoon Faire.	Alive	Darkmoon Island
Tinkmaster Overspark	Chief Architect of Gnomish Engineering.	Alive	Various
Toshley	Leader of Toshley's Station.	Alive	Toshley's Station, Blade's Edge Mountains
Wilfred Fizzlebang	Master summoner of the Argent Crusade.	Deceased	Crusaders' Coliseum, Icecrown
Doctor Weavil	Leader of undead "drudge gnomes".	Undead	Alcaz Island, Dustwallow Marsh
Zelifrax Wobblepox	Warlock of the Council of the Black Harvest.	Deceased	Dalaran, Broken Isles

Other gnome races

•  Mechagnomes - Titan-forged ancestors of modern gnomes, those mechagnomes afflicted with the Curse of Flesh resulted in the modern gnomish race.
•  Mechagon mechagnomes - Partially mechanical gnomes, that were normal gnomes but have replaced much of their original body parts. Their ancestors left Gnomeregan and founded a new society on Mechagon Island.
•  Leper gnomes - Normal gnomes that have been corrupted by the irradiation of Gnomeregan. Most of them have lost their sanity.
•  Sand gnomes - An elusive race of gnomes only seen in a single location in Outland. Many even doubt their existence.
• Jungle gnomes - Strange, scary creatures that only appear when affected by Jungle Madness after drinking  [Stranglethorn Brew].

In the RPG

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

A gnome sapper as seen in the Alliance Player's Guide.

Gnomes are a diminutive, wiry race of tinkers who live underground. In the Second War, they built gadgets and vehicles, such as submarines and flying machines, for the Alliance to combat the Horde. They are great mechanics and inventors, renowned for their knowledge and eccentric natures. The gnomes had a city, Gnomeregan, built into Ironforge Mountain, but invading troggs destroyed it and slaughtered its citizens. Many survivors now live with the Ironforge dwarves, a few traveling with their dwarven friends to Kalimdor. The gnomes are still reeling from the destruction of their home city and are loath to leave the safety of the dwarven tunnels.

History

Upon the destruction of Gnomeregan, they traveled to Theramore and were invited to Bael Modan by the Ironforge dwarves.

Most gnomes on Kalimdor remain secluded in Bael Modan. Even after the decimation of their race and the destruction of their city, gnomes are an amiable and kindhearted lot. They make and keep friends easily; other races often find disliking a gnome to be difficult. Gnomes are long-lived and take a fatherly approach to other races, particularly humans. Gnome society is loosely organized, with most living in Khaz Modan and mixing freely with the dwarves, sending representatives to speak to the dwarven king on their behalf. Those few gnomes who traveled to Kalimdor live in a similar fashion in Bael Modan. Gnomes are gifted tinkers and have a penchant for creating radical technology and innovative designs. They often work together with Ironforge dwarves, developing the blueprints and concepts from which the dwarf smiths draw their inspiration.

No one knows much about the gnomes' history before dwarves discovered them; not even the gnomes know much of their own history prior to the Second War.

The first widely recorded interaction between gnomes and dwarves occurred a little over 200 years prior to The Burning Crusade. As the story goes, a dwarven explorer came across a small gnomish village. He was shocked to discover that while dwarves had just discovered gunpowder, the gnomes already had a fully automated village with such novelties as mechanical chickens. Contact between the two races grew, and soon, they became quick allies, and the dwarves allowed the gnomes to build their capital city, Gnomeregan, in the foothills of Dun Morogh, near the Dwarven capital, Ironforge.

Appearance

Gnomes are small, slight, and nifty. They somewhat resemble dwarves, but are even shorter, not as stocky, and have large heads in proportion to their bodies. They have large noses and ruddy skin, their ears are large and rounded, and their hair color varies wildly, some even having pink or green hair. They are often seen with goggles, tool belts, and other items related to their technological inclinations.

Relations

Gnomes are great friends of the Ironforge dwarves. They have been allies for generations and often exchange ideas and inventions. Their bond is so great that they live in many dwarven settlements including Ironforge itself. Gnomes have fought and died alongside human soldiers and have been readily welcomed in Stormwind City with open arms. They are wary of the high elves, but so is everyone else, so they don't feel too bad about that. They battled the Horde in the Second War and have a bit of a grudge against orcs, but gnomes are a kindly and forgiving lot and are willing to give the orcs a second chance. Gnomes and goblins have always been rivals — though whether this rivalry is friendly or brutal depends on the individuals involved. Gnomes have not been on Kalimdor long enough to form proper opinions about its denizens. Tauren and night elves both seem rather rustic for gnome sensibilities — but they can make friends with anyone.

Gnomes know the languages of their friends and their goblin rivals.

Faith

Gnome bombardier as depicted in Magic & Mayhem.

Gnomes place their loyalty in themselves, in their friends, and in their inventions. A few follow a loftier path and pay their respects to the Holy Light. Since the Ironforge dwarves' recent discovery of their titanic origins, the gnomes think that they too may be products of the titans. Some female gnomes have been known as members of the Sisters of Steel that have shown abilities to turn their flesh to stone or steel.

Gnome magic

Main article: Horde & Alliance magic#Gnomes

Technology

See also: Alliance technology#Gnomes, Goblins versus Gnomes

Gnomes tend to design fairly complicated devices that are relatively safe. Gnomes are in many ways commensurate organizers: a gnome can spend as much time (or more) organizing and planning a project as they do actually working on it. If the design fails, they try to learn why and fix it if they can. If they meet with success, they will continue to tinker with it and improve the design, often for years afterward. Thus, many gnomish designs feature a high degree of complexity and a low chance of failure, the exceptions being those that dabble with chaos energy — but even then, they take steps to ensure the worst that could happen is a brief, non-fatal failure.

Gnomes overplan new projects, producing blueprints and schematics that can take longer to make than the device itself. While this cautious attitude results in higher quality products and a greater success rate, it often takes so long that cost overruns creep in. While a goblin would scream and flee at the mere thought of a cost overrun, a gnome simply shrugs and presses on. If a project fails to work correctly the first time, a gnome will continue to tinker with it, while a goblin would usually give up and move to something else. Thus, gnomish items have very low failure rates compared to goblin items.

Gnomes are innovative thinkers and are responsible for a vast variety of inventions, including more than a few that are commonly attributed to dwarves. Although a diminutive people, gnomes think big, often producing designs far too complex to ever be realized. To gnomes, technology is a way of life. Even gnomes who take on other trades often tinker in their spare time. Because of their innate curiosity, they produce a wide variety of devices that are interesting or amusing but otherwise useless or impractical. While others might shake their heads at such folly, the gnomes value all invention, no matter how unimportant it might seem. Among the well-known gnomish devices are the world enlarger, net-o-matic projector, and harm prevention belt.

As a companion pet

•  [Gnomelia Gearheart] is rewarded from playing the intro levels of Warcraft Rumble.

Notes and trivia

A card back themed after gnomes in Hearthstone: Goblins vs Gnomes.

Lore

• Gnome hair is great for blood elf wigs.
• Gnomes sometimes broadly refer to the other sentient races that are not close to their own stature as "Tall Folk".
• It appears the position of High Tinker could be held by one person indefinitely, so long as they are re-elected each time their term ends.
• Interestingly enough, because Mimiron is still very much active and alive in Ulduar, gnomes are one of the few races who can actually meet and interact with their own creator.
• At first it was said that half of the gnomish race was killed during the trogg invasion, but later it was specified that it was actually eighty percent.

In-game

• Gnomes are the only playable race where males and females share the same animation skeleton.
• Thanks to their extremely small size, in World of Warcraft gnomes can be a hard target to click, making it harder for enemies to target you using their mouse. This is especially helpful in the event the gnome is a warrior or rogue. Gnomes who specialize in melee weapons are also particularly hard to target due to their acrobatic fighting styles combined with their small size. Their small size can also be advantageous to people who like to explore; gnomes are the shortest race and can go to certain places where character height keeps other races from going.
• Most male gnome NPCs are voiced by Dino Andrade. The "young" voice set is voiced by Johnny Cash.
• The unique model for undead gnomes, used by Surgical Assistants and Leprous Servants, is a leper reskin of the gnome player character model used in the WoW Alpha.
• There are a number of undead gnomes that use the same skin as leper gnomes.
  • Several in-game characters Ganoosh, Apprentice Crispin and Jennings work with the Forsaken, but it's unclear if they are leper gnomes or possibly undead gnomes.

Other

• Gnomes were, until March 2014, the only original race not to appear in a World of Warcraft cinematic or in any trailer. Tom Chilton had explained that gnomes were added to World of Warcraft "pretty late in its development, when the cinematic was already ... in full production" stating that "since then, there hasn't really been a great opportunity to showcase gnomes," due to factors such as storylines. This was finally rectified when a male gnome was chosen as the main character for Blizzard's "Wish You Were Here" Warlords of Draenor character boost trailer. As well as the gnomes' noted absence in trailers until that point, this model may have been chosen due to being one of the most advanced at the time the trailer was created.
• In the Second War, gnomes are allied with the Alliance of Lordaeron, but they aren't mentioned in the book Tides of Darkness. However, High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque plays a role in the follow up (Beyond the Dark Portal), as he is in charge of building the transportation system between Stormwind City and Ironforge.
• The gnomes were originally planned to be their own faction in Warcraft III, but were later rolled into the Alliance (though no actual gnomes appear in the game).
• In Hearthstone, the gnomes card back was rewarded for achieving Rank 20 in Ranked Season 9, which took place during December 2014. The flavor text reads: "This multifunctional device also works as a gnomish army knife, a shoe horn and a pass to the Deeprun Tram. Gnomish ingenuity!"
  • In Hearthstone: Rise of Shadows Commander Rhyssa appears to be a gnome paladin even sporting a unique mechanostrider mount.
• Referring to the non-canon RPG race life spans chart, a gnome can actually live for quite some time, becoming mature at the age of 40, middle-aged at 100 and old aged only at 150 and higher. (This is most likely just in speculation, and not completely by Lore.) Alternately, in the book Tides of War, Kinndy Sparkshine is mentioned to be a teenager at 22.
• The RPG-only Sister of Steel class hinted two years before the actual release of Wrath of the Lich King that humans, dwarves and gnomes shared a common "metallic" ancestry.
• In the canceled Warcraft Adventures, the gnomes were responsible for creating the black ale that kept the orcs pacified.

Inspirations

• Gnome cultural inspirations draw from Medieval folklore that led to their Renaissance invention, motifs from some semitic tropes, Romani elements, and terms and concepts borrowed from various branches of science.
  • Gnome, word invented by medieval natural philsopher and physician Paracelsus, possible derived from the Greek genomos that he misspelled.
  • Gelbin Mekkatorque's post Battle for Dazar'Alor mechanization based on Iron Man.
  • Inland Northern American English accent.
  • Them serving as an Alliance parallel to Goblins, in turn based on "Goblin banker" tropes (see Goblin#Notes and trivia), with parallel engineering, may relate to the overlapping stereotype seen in Gnomes of Zürich that in turn developed into antisemitic tropes; this is also reinforced due to historically Jewish peoples being forced to wear special clothing (including pointed hats in some of Europe) during the Middle Ages.
  • The above is reinforced by the gnome king being named "Gelbin", similar to "Goblin".
  • The use of the phrase tinker within gnome culture in their engineering capacity is similar to its real-world use as a traveling mender of tools through metalworking, especially among Romani and Irish Travelers, that today survives but applying to more technological repair efforts.
  • Many gnomish names are references to concepts in physics or gestures to technology or engineering, such as Mekkatorque (Torque) or Overspark. Others are Irish or Germanic, such as Crusade Engineer Spitzpatrick (Ftizpatrick (surname)). Some are references to famous inventors, scientists, and thinkers, as Prince Erazmin (Erasmus).

Gallery

World of Warcraft

• 

  Original gnome male model.
• 

  Original gnome female model.
• 

  Gnome male model after 6.0.
• 

  Gnome female model after 6.0.
• 

  Female mechagnome
• 

  Male mechagnome
• 

  Fully mechanical mechagnome.
• 

  NPC undead model.
• 

  Undead gnome with the same skin as a leper gnome.
• 

  Gnome skeleton
• 

  Gnome baby
• 

  Playable mechagnomes in heritage armor.
• 

  Gelbin in the Battle of Dazar'alor's in-game cinematic.
• 

  Early gnome player models as seen from the official website.

Art

• 

  Gnome artwork from the World of Warcraft manual.
• 

  Gelbin by Wei Wang.
• 

  Male gnome engineer art by Glenn Rane.
• 

  Female gnome warlock art by Glenn Rane.
• 

  Male gnome mage art.
• 

  Female gnome death knight concept art.
• 

  Gnome male concept art for Warlords of Draenor.
• 

  A group of heroes that includes a gnome in Alliance & Horde Compendium.
• 

  A gnome steam warrior in More Magic and Mayhem.

Trading Card Game

• 

  Abbie Whizzleblade, a gnome rogue.
• 

  Apprentice Teep, a gnome mage.
• 

  Babagahnoosh the Grumpy, a gnome mage.
• 

  "Black Ice" Fizzlefreeze, a gnome mage.
• 

  Bladehands Spigotgulp, a gnome rogue.
• 

  Blaize Brightspark, a gnome mage.
• 

  Chloe Mithrilbolt, a gnome warrior.
• 

  Crusade Engineer Spitzpatrick
• 

  Dimzer the Prestidigitator, a gnome warlock.
• 

  Errzig Cogflicker, a gnome mage.
• 

  Hazlow Mudshuggle, a gnome rogue.
• 

  Izza Spindleflame, a gnome warlock.
• 

  Krunkle Deathspark, a gnome death knight.
• 

  Mazar, a gnome warlock.
• 

  Millhouse Manastorm
• 

  Mya, Dragonling Wrangler
• 

  Narmak Doomratchet, a gnome warlock.
• 

  Parvink, a gnome warrior.
• 

  Razak Ironsides
• 

  Tinker Art Seaclock, a gnome tinker.
• 

  Tinker Bixy Blue, a gnome rogue.
• 

  Tinker Casey Springlock, a gnome warrior.
• 

  Tinkmaster Overspark
• 

  Tonks the Tenacious, a gnome mage.
• 

  Weeble, a female gnome warrior.
• 

  Arcane Power
• 

  Burgle
• 

  Divine Fury
• 

  Fel Domination
• 

  Tricks of the Trade

Hearthstone

• 

  Chromie
• 

  Commander Rhyssa
• 

  Wilfred Fizzlebang
• 

  Jepetto Joybuzz
• 

  Maxima Blastenheimer
• 

  Rin, the First Disciple
• 

  Salty Dog
• 

  Toki, Time-Tinker
• 

  Whizbang the Wonderful
• 

  Abyssal Summoner
• 

  Arcane Adventurer
• 

  Blood Witch
• 

  Blowtorch Saboteur
• 

  Bomb Wrangler
• 

  Bug Collector
• 

  Cogmaster
• 

  Deeprun Engineer
• 

  Eccentric Scribe
• 

  Glowstone Technician
• 

  Marrow Manipulator
• 

  Microtech Controller
• 

  Pen Flinger
• 

  Potion Vendor
• 

  Scabbs Cutterbutter
• 

  Shady Dealer
• 

  Shrinkmeister
• 

  Spammy Arcanist
• 

  Spellbook Binder
• 

  Spellward Jeweler
• 

  Stormwind Freebooter
• 

  Tinkertown Technician
• 

  Twilight Elder
• 

  Wand Thief
• 

  Combustion
• 

  Lock and Load
• 

  Bertie in Hearthstone animated shorts.
• 

  Key art of the Goblins vs Gnomes expansion.

Other

• 

  Gnomish inventors from the canceled Warcraft Adventures.
• 

  Sketches created for a book prop for the Warcraft movie, including a depiction of a gnome.
• 

  Chromie in Heroes of the Storm.
• 

  Gelbin in Warcraft Rumble.

See also

• Gnomeregan Gnews Gnetwork