Warlock races

Mazar, a gnome warlock in the TCG.

This article lists the races that are able to become warlocks, along with the lore behind each. As of The War Within, every playable race may follow the path of the warlock.

According to Khadgar, some say demons come to the weak-willed in their sleep, urging them to find old spells and make sacrifices. Sometimes it is to open the way for demons to come back fully. Others say demons want worshipers and sacrifices to make this world like it once was, bloody and violent, and only then would they return. But the assumption that the demons' victims are weak-willed is in error. There are more than enough venal farmhands who invoke a demonic force for revenge against a former lover, or stupid merchants who burn an invoice from a debtor with a black candle, badly mangling the ancient name of some once-great demonic power. But just as often there are those who walk willingly to the abyss, who feel themselves safe and sure and knowledgeable that they are beyond any blandishment or threat, that they are powerful enough to harness the demonic energies that surge beyond the walls of the world. These warlocks are in many ways even more dangerous than the common rabble.

Alliance

Human

Mor'zul Bloodbringer, a human warlock.

In the human societies of Azeroth, there were legends among the populace of the First Days, where demons roamed free and great heroes arose to drive them out. Knowing the real truth, the Kirin Tor forbade demonology—any attempt to summon demons was to be found and stopped at once, often by force. As such, demons had a limited public impact on the people of the Seven Kingdoms, mostly existing through rumors and folk legends. Most situations involving demon worship ended up taken care of by local authorities, with individuals such as teenagers indulging in magicks they didn't understand or venal farmhands and greedy merchants committing sacrifices and other foul acts in the name of some old demon whose name they couldn't even properly pronounce after hearing their whispers in their sleep. Real ceremonies involving demon summoning and fel spells did happen, such as with the case of Zmodlor's cult at Jortas, but they were secretly neutralized by the efforts of the Kirin Tor and the Council of Tirisfal. In time, however, some of those mages charged with hunting demons turned to the dark arts themselves, and the Guardian of Tirisfal Aegwynn fought against some of the greatest spellcasters of her age when they fell into demonic lore.

In Stormwind City, human warlocks practice their craft in secret underneath the Slaughtered Lamb. High King Varian Wrynn was always uneasy when those who worked with demons were pressed into service for the good of the Alliance, but they had certain spells—and certain creatures in thrall—whose efficacy was undeniable.

Gnome

In times past, all warlocks in Khaz Modan were trained under the auspices of the gnome masters of Gnomeregan. However, after the fall of the city to the troggs, they were all forced to relocate into The Forlorn Cavern of Ironforge and had to send their novices to Stormwind for training as King Magni Bronzebeard decided to keep a careful watch on them.

Dwarf

According to Gakin the Darkbinder, not many dwarves choose the path of the warlock, even going so far as to call a dwarven warlock "somewhat of an anomaly".

Night elf

While Highborne night elves have long been known to cohort or use demons, such as the followers of Queen Azshara involved in the War of the Ancients, the Highborne of Shen'dralar, or the demon hunters led by Illidan Stormrage, others choose the path for the sake of their own ambition.

Draenei

While the draenei inherently exist due to their rejection of the demonic man'ari eredar, they tolerated their Broken brethren practicing the warlock arts, such as Fel-Caller Guloto and Soulspeaker Niir who act as warlock trainer in the Exodar. After the discovery of the Dragon Isles, the eredar Arzal'kal sought audience with Velen through Chieftain Hatuun, and explained that many eredar wanted to rebel after their corruption but were unable to. After Arzal'kal helped to recover the Brilliant Star, one of the Ata'mal Crystals, the Prophet agreed to let the Penitents join and serve the draenei society on Azeroth.

Worgen

Being humans afflicted by Goldrinn's curse, the worgen can also become warlocks. The gilnean Vitus Darkwalker notably became an accomplished warlock after a being named Balcephoth taught him the forbidden secrets of Corruption. According to former Lead Writer Micky Neilson, is possible that worgen warlocks might take up the warlock arts in order to trade the curse for a different curse.

Dark Iron dwarf

Hunrik Blackiron, a Dark Iron dwarf warlock.

Unlike their cousins, the Dark Iron dwarves have a long history of working with darker forces and beings, such as the Twilight's Hammer, as slaves to Ragnaros, and more dating back to Queen Modgud Thaurissan who cursed Grim Batol upon her death with her dark magic. As such, the Dark Iron clan includes among its ranks many practitioners of the warlock arts.

Void elf

While the void elves gave themselves over to the forces of the Void and risk their very sanity, some like Lady Darkglen are eager to use their new powers.

Lightforged draenei

The first known Lightforged draenei warlock was Ph'el Oman, who had become disillusioned with the Light after constant losses and sought the strength of fel magic, not in opposition to the Light but alongside it in combination. In Booty Bay, he swore to spread his newfound power along with the other survivors of Lord Banehollow's treachery, hoping one day to teach other Lightforged how to be warlocks. It should be noted this isn't the first combination of demonic corruption and the Lightforged process: Lothraxion is a Lightforged nathrezim.

Kul Tiran

While Kul Tiran society already presented void users among the Tidesages, such as Lorraine Darktide, and necromancy among the Drust affiliated witches, such as Jaxos Widdowson, some Kul Tirans chose to also summon demons and aberrations.

Mechagnome

Just like their cousins ​​in Khaz Modan, the mechagon mechagnomes are able to become warlocks, but there is no further information on this subject.

Horde

Orc

Tarn Darkwalker, an orc warlock.

On the world of Draenor, Kil'jaeden himself created a new generation of warlocks by instructing the orc shaman in the use of fel and demonic magics. The demon lord first targeted Gul'dan, a weak and crippled orc whom the elements had refused, offering him a taste of shadowy power. The orc became an avid student of demonic magic and developed into the most powerful mortal warlock in history. He then showed this new brand of magic to his brethren, a terrible new power that reeked of doom, and founded the Shadow Council, a secretive sect that manipulated the clans and spread the use of warlock magics throughout the Orcish Horde. More and more shaman volunteered for warlock training once they stopped hearing from the elements after they had started genociding the draenei.

When Thrall ascended to the position of Warchief of the New Horde, he banned the use of warlock magic and necromancy, but eventually allowed orc warlocks to operate discreetly in the Cleft of Shadow of Orgrimmar. For a time, Warchief Garrosh Hellscream also used warlocks in his army, but eventually had them executed by the Kor'kron.

Troll

Troll warlocks date back to the Zandalari demoniacs, who seek to embody power outright and not just possess it. While warlocks tread dangerous ground in dealing with demons, demoniacs take it one step further. They allow demons to enter their bodies through an ancient and arcane ritual. Rather than let demons possess them, the demoniacs enslave the demons from the inside, absorbing the power of the beast for their own command. It is a feat very few are able to master, and more than one has lost the fight, but the power they are able to unleash is worth the sacrifice.

Various tribes that worship Hakkar the Soulflayer are seen to have warlocks in their ranks, such as Hukku. Unjari Feltongue, a Darkspear warlock trainer in the Valley of Spirits, speaks of "dark an' horrid t'ings" which are "gibbering in de outer darkness".

Tauren

After several years, some tauren have become warlocks, following in the footsteps of the Grimtotem tribe, being an easier path than to control the elements.

Forsaken

Despite being freed from the Lich King' control, the undead warlock Maximillion believes that the Forsaken are still slaves but to a different master, which is a sentiment that might be shared with others. Those Forsaken who pick up the dark arts might do so in order to feel like they're in control, seeking to have creatures serve them. Many pick up the warlock arts in order to feel more alive, as even the dead might feel alive with the fel's power coursing through them.

Blood elf

Rensarth Shadowsun, a blood elf warlock.

After the Fall of Quel'Thalas, many blood elves gave in to their hatred and despair, embracing the dark side of their magical natures. They sought to expand their remaining magical powers at any cost, even if it meant courting the infernal powers of the Burning Legion. They soon turned to the darkest parts of magic, abandoning the water and frost spells of the Kirin Tor for the fire and heat of what some people fear to be demonic magic. In time, the blood elves had taken the ways of demons to fight demons—indeed, actually draining the magic from the demons like leeches. In Outland, as they became dissatisfied with the limits of arcane magic, Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider and his Sunfury followers began using and consuming fel energy to acquire even greater power.

In Silvermoon City, demons were more accepted than elsewhere, as the succubus Nimrida was walking with her master Keyanomir in the Murder Row of the city.

Goblin

Goblin warlocks pragmatically treat fel energy as a cheap, renewable, and reliable energy source, and they view the accompanying risk of losing one's soul to interdimensional horrors as a case of "risk versus reward".

Nightborne

After their isolation ended with the onset of the Legion's third invasion of Azeroth, many among the nightborne began to follow the path of the warlock, such as the felborne who fully embraced the fel energies. The astromancer Star Augur Etraeus called upon the power of fel and void corrupted worlds to amplify his own powers. However, Thalyssra has since banned warlocks from Suramar, but whether that extends to only fel magic users or all things warlock related is unclear.

Highmountain tauren

While there is evidence that some Highmountain tauren warlocks include members of the Bloodtotem tribe, such as Se'tah, others have come to be warlocks to seek every avenue to preserve Azeroth.

Mag'har orc

The Shadowmoon Mag'har orcs of alternate Draenor, such as Grimroz Darkwhisper, survived the crusade of Yrel and made it to Azeroth, where they continue their practices.

Zandalari troll

While the Zandalari trolls have a complicated relationship with their ancient demoniac traditions, due to the balance between politics and the pragmatic pursuit of power, some have chosen the warlock path all the same, as with Skodu and Awakaya.

Vulpera

Vulpera are able to become warlocks, but there is no further information on this subject.

Other warlock races

An ogre warlock in the Trading Card Game.

Dracthyr

Several dracthyr have learned to call in beings and power from beyond Azeroth, similar to how Deathwing was well-versed in the dark arts. Some are known as Dracthyr Occultists.

Earthen

Some earthen have found refuge in the tunnels of the other races, such as the Cleft of Shadow, and found familiarity and curiosity with the forlorn magic wielded in secret, comparing it to the kobold legends of "the Darkness". The earthen walk many paths, but among those limited to the likes of warlocks is walking the forbidden path of chaos and embracing the unexplored magic of the world, seeking to become a master of the unknown and a wielder of that chaos.

Eredar

The first known eredar who Sargeras whispered to and instructed in the art of summoning demons and using fel was Thal'kiel and his Wakeners. Archimonde was at this time an apprentice under him, but ultimately betrayed him to the Second Duumvirate (Kil'jaeden and Velen), guaranteeing his rise to power, and would eventually be the first to accept Sargeras among the man'ari eredar.

High elf

Several high elf warlocks once worked for Athrikus Narassin as part of the Cult of the Dark Strand, while Summoner Nolric acted as a warlock trainer in Dalaran, showing some high elves can use warlock magic but didn't join the blood elf cause.

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

Some high elves turned to this path after their glorious home of Quel'Thalas was destroyed in the Third War. This new breed of warlock seeks to control the powers that ravaged their homeland and use them for vengeance.

Ogre

Ogre magi are often seen practicing fel magic. After Gul'dan created the Shadow Council, he was intrigued by Cho'gall's confidence and lust for power, and made the ogre his foremost apprentice, teaching him fel and of the existence of the Legion.

Pandaren

Some pandaren have desired to become warlocks seemingly for fun, and others for more unclear reasons such as Haoqi the Curious, bearing Sha armor, and Lai De Emberscroll.