Forever's class changes reach beyond the talent trees. Blizzard has described new race choices, revised racial abilities, broader gearing options and a detailed Paladin preview, while keeping the deliberate combat that makes an extra enemy pull or a missed taunt matter. This guide brings those announcements together and explains how to read them alongside the opening beta.

How combat is meant to feel

The developers are preserving recognizable class strengths and weaknesses. Threat, careful target selection and crowd control still belong in dungeon play; the stated expectation of roughly 10–15 seconds for an ordinary solo enemy describes the intended pace, not a benchmark every character must meet.

For a returning player, the useful starting point is to revisit familiar tools rather than assume that every specialization has acquired the same answers. Gear and talents may change what a character can do, but the announced goal still leaves room for classes to solve encounters differently.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

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Forever · combat design preview

Claim · combatDesignPreviewClassic-paced combat retains class distinctions, threat management and crowd control; ordinary solo enemies are expected to take roughly 10–15 seconds.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

What changes in the talent trees

The trees keep their Classic structure and number of rows. One-point milestone talents at 11, 21 and 31 points are joined by a new milestone at 16. Some patch 1.12 talents survive unchanged; others are revised or replaced.

Divine Spirit, Blessing of Kings and Improved Mark of the Wild are examples of buffs becoming baseline. Those examples explain the direction of the redesign; they are not a complete list of every moved ability. A milestone announcement also does not establish every prerequisite or allocation threshold in the finished beta trees.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

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Forever · talent structure

Claim · talentStructureTalent trees retain the familiar Classic rows and structure.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · talent milestones

Claim · talentMilestones11 points, 16 points (new), 21 points, 31 points

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · talent revision

Claim · talentRevisionSome patch 1.12 talents remain unchanged, while others are adjusted or improved.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · baseline buff examples

Claim · baselineBuffExamplesDivine Spirit, Blessing of Kings, Improved Mark of the Wild

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Examples of former talent buffs becoming baseline, not a complete list.

New race and class choices

These are the six announced additions. Blizzard has mentioned further combinations for future updates without publishing a complete future list.

RaceNew class
GnomePriest
HumanHunter
DwarfShaman
OrcMage
TrollWarlock
UndeadPaladin

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

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Forever · new race class combinations

Claim · newRaceClassCombinationsGnome Priest, Human Hunter, Dwarf Shaman, Orc Mage, Troll Warlock, Undead Paladin

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Six announced additions; no other combinations inferred.

Racial abilities and character identity

Each race is described as having two active and two passive abilities. The aim is comparable offensive value with distinct utility, so a race choice still affects how a character feels.

Dwarves keep Stoneform's removal of Bleeds, Poisons and Diseases and its immunity to those effects, while its defensive bonus becomes Physical damage reduction. Find Treasure can coexist with other tracking. Mace Specialization improves critical chance with all spells and abilities while a mace is equipped, and Big Game Hunter increases damage against Beasts.

For Undead, Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep without granting immunity afterward. Cannibalize restores Mana as well as Health, Touch of the Grave adds a life-drain chance to attacks, and Underwater Breathing remains unchanged.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

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Forever · racial design

Claim · racialDesignEach race is planned to have two active and two passive racial abilities.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · racial examples preview

Claim · racialExamplesPreviewDwarf Stoneform retains removal of and immunity to Bleeds, Poisons and Diseases; its defensive component reduces Physical damage instead of increasing armor., Find Treasure can run alongside other tracking., Mace Specialization increases critical chance with all spells and abilities while a mace is equipped., Big Game Hunter increases damage against Beasts., Undead Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep without subsequent immunity., Cannibalize restores both Health and Mana., Touch of the Grave gives attacks a chance to drain life., Underwater Breathing remains unchanged.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

The Paladin preview

These are Blizzard's preview descriptions. The illustration below belongs to that announcement and should be read in its original context.

ChangeAnnounced behavior
Holy StrikeLearned at level 6: an instant Holy-damage weapon strike with a 12-second cooldown.
Judgment and SealsJudgment no longer consumes the active Seal.
Seal of FuryA tanking Seal favoring fast weapons, with small absorbs and a Judgment taunt.
ConsecrationBaseline at level 20, with higher damage and threat on the first four targets and reduced output beyond them.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

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Paladin · holy strike level

Claim · holyStrikeLevel6

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · holy strike behavior

Claim · holyStrikeBehaviorHoly Strike is an instant weapon strike dealing Holy damage.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · holy strike cooldown

Claim · holyStrikeCooldown12 seconds cooldown

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · judgment seal

Claim · judgmentSealCasting Judgment no longer consumes the active Seal.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · seal of fury preview detail

Claim · sealOfFuryPreviewDetailSeal of Fury favors fast weapons, supplies small absorb shields, and makes Judgment taunt.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · consecration level

Claim · consecrationLevel20

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · consecration preview targets

Claim · consecrationPreviewTargetsConsecration deals its higher damage and threat to the first four targets, with reduced output beyond them.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Blizzard's announcement preview of the Paladin Holy, Protection, and Retribution talent interface.
Blizzard’s announcement Paladin interface displays Holy, Protection, and Retribution together. It is preserved here as a historical design preview, separate from the latest staged talent data.Official screenshot© Blizzard Entertainment

Holy, Protection and Retribution

SpecializationSelected announced tools
HolyImproved Holy Strike shortens its cooldown. Voice of Truth protects against silence and interruption; Reverence supports Spirit-based Mana regeneration while casting. Infusion of Light rewards Holy Shock and Flash of Light critical heals with faster Holy Lights. Holy Shock moves to 10 seconds, Consecrated Ground makes enemies in Consecration take more Holy damage, and Light's Vigil offers an expensive Holy Shock reset with offensive or party-healing follow-up.
ProtectionImproved Seal of Fury and Shield Specialization return Mana. Swift Judgment can reset Judgment once per minute. Templar's Bulwark adds a Health-based absorb with Forbearance interaction; Reckoning can trigger from blocks, and Iron Creed rewards timed Holy Strikes with brief damage reduction.
RetributionVindication changes Attack Power on both sides of the fight. Sacred Arbiter improves Holy Strike and refreshes Judgments; Champion of the Light adds an Intellect-based spell-damage route. Instrument of the Law reduces threat and makes Holy Wrath instant. Twist of Light supports Seal Twisting, with Holy Shock available for a more spell-oriented approach.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

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Paladin · holy preview mechanics

Claim · holyPreviewMechanicsImproved Holy Strike shortens its cooldown; Voice of Truth temporarily protects against silence and interruption., Reverence allows Spirit-based Mana regeneration while casting., Infusion of Light turns Holy Shock or Flash of Light critical heals into faster Holy Lights., Holy Shock has a 10-second cooldown., Consecrated Ground increases Holy damage received inside Consecration., Light's Vigil can reset Holy Shock and supports offensive or party-healing follow-up.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · protection preview mechanics

Claim · protectionPreviewMechanicsImproved Seal of Fury and Shield Specialization return Mana from absorbed damage and blocks., Swift Judgment can reset Judgment once per minute., Templar's Bulwark creates an absorb based on maximum Health and interacts with Forbearance., Reckoning can trigger from blocks., Iron Creed rewards timed Holy Strikes with a brief damage-reduction window.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Paladin · retribution preview mechanics

Claim · retributionPreviewMechanicsVindication lowers enemy Attack Power while raising the Paladin's., Sacred Arbiter improves Holy Strike and refreshes Judgments., Champion of the Light converts Intellect into spell damage., Instrument of the Law reduces threat and makes Holy Wrath instant., Twist of Light carries a newly cast Seal into the next melee swing., A Holy Shock route supports a more spell-oriented alternative.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

The limits remain part of the class

The preview still leaves Paladins without a conventional interrupt and with limited slowing and ranged tools compared with some other classes. Their taunt is attached to the Seal of Fury and Judgment interaction. That matters when choosing a role: new tools do not remove the need to understand how that particular class handles a pull.

The Forsaken Paladin story follows the Warcraft III campaign Forsaken Kingdom. Mistrusted by other Forsaken, they are learning to channel the Light in undeath, with Bandarion Keep in the Whispering Wood of Tirisfal Glades anchoring that journey. Their level-60 epic mount quest invokes Retribution, while the Alliance charger quest invokes Redemption.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment

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Paladin · design limitations

Claim · designLimitationsno normal interrupt, limited slowing and ranged access relative to other classes, taunt through the Seal of Fury and Judgment interaction

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Official design-preview limitations, not a balance judgment.

Paladin · forsaken story preview

Claim · forsakenStoryPreviewThe Forsaken Paladin story follows the Warcraft III campaign Forsaken Kingdom, with mistrust from other Forsaken and a struggle to channel the Light in undeath. Bandarion Keep in Tirisfal's Whispering Wood anchors their story. Their level-60 epic mount quest invokes Retribution, while the Alliance charger quest invokes Redemption.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

What changes when you choose gear

Old gearing lists need a fresh look. These changes describe the announced item system, not a recommendation for a finished best-in-slot set.

AreaAnnounced change
Hit and critical chanceEach is combined across spell, melee and ranged uses.
Healing gearBonus healing also supplies one third as much bonus damage.
Weapon skillThe mechanic remains, with smaller bonuses on individual items.
New item optionsSome effects reduce dodge or parry; caster weapons gain spell damage and healing.
Drops and rewardsDungeon drops gain new items and improved set bonuses; quest rewards add role choices. World-drop epics and rare-creature drops have also been expanded or improved.
Caster quest rewardsMor'ladim's quest adds the Ladimore Heirloom Ring; Nesingwary quests add the Master Hunter's Spellsword.
Situational gearSome effects depend on terrain or creature type.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

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Forever · itemization stat preview

Claim · itemizationStatPreviewHit chance is combined across spells, melee and ranged attacks., Critical chance is likewise combined., Bonus healing also grants one third as much bonus damage., Weapon skill remains, with smaller bonuses per item., New item effects can reduce enemy dodge or parry chance., Caster weapons grant spell damage and healing.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · itemization reward preview

Claim · itemizationRewardPreviewDungeon drops have been reviewed, with new drops and improved set bonuses., Unique boss drops use rare quality., Quest rewards offer more choices for different roles., Mor'ladim's quest adds the Ladimore Heirloom Ring for spellcasters., Nesingwary quests add the Master Hunter's Spellsword., World-drop epics and rare-enemy drops have been expanded or improved., Some item effects depend on terrain or creature type.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Using the talent planners now

Hearthside now has experimental point planning for all nine classes, with icons, floating talent details, saved plans and sharing. Those tools help compare ideas while prerequisite ranks and other gameplay rules remain unresolved. The historical Paladin announcement view remains available separately.

What the opening beta can establish

Blizzard's opening test caps characters at level 20, with a later level-30 phase planned. A talent shown farther down a full tree is not necessarily something a tester can reach today. Use the beta issue report for current caveats and the dated talent-data report for the snapshot behind Hearthside's planners.

Sources[3] Blizzard Entertainment

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Forever · current beta level cap

Claim · currentBetaLevelCap20 levels

BetaConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · planned later beta level cap

Claim · plannedLaterBetaLevelCap30 levels

BetaConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Planned for a later testing phase; no date is stated.

Explore your class

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