Orc (playable)
| Core races | |||
| Allied races | |||
- This article is about the playable race. For the orc lore, seeOrc. For the in-game faction, seeOrgrimmar (faction).
 Orcs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Character classes | Hunter,Rogue,Shaman,Warlock,Warrior, Death knight, Mage, Monk, Priest |
| Main language | Orcish |
| Starting zone | Valley of Trials,Durotar Exile's Reach |
| Racial leader |  Thrall |
| Capital | Orgrimmar |
| Racial mount |  Wolf |
Theorcs ofOrgrimmar are one of the playableHorde races inWorld of Warcraft. Once a peaceful race from theworld ofDraenor, the orcs weredemonically corrupted by theBurning Legion forming theOrcish Horde andwaged war on thedraenei they shared Draenor with, and then they came through theDark Portal toAzeroth as conquerors. After having conquered thehuman kingdom ofStormwind in theFirst War, the orcs were eventually defeated in theSecond War, after which they becameprisoners of theAlliance of Lordaeron. Under the leadership ofThrall, the orcs wereliberated from the camps and formed the New Horde, and after yet anotherwar, the orcish people were able to settle the land ofDurotar inKalimdor.
Orcs start their journeys in theValley of Trials within this new homeland. Their capital city isOrgrimmar, which is also considered the main base of the entire Horde itself. The chosen orc mount is theworg, and their main language isOrcish. Being the leaders of the Horde, their allies have learned this language from them as well.
Background[]
- Main article:Orc#History
Creation screen description[]
The orc race originated on the planet Draenor. A peaceful people with shamanic beliefs, they were enslaved by the Burning Legion and forced into war with the humans of Azeroth. Although it took many years, the orcs finally escaped the demons' corruption and won their freedom. To this day they fight for honor in an alien world that hates and reviles them.[1]
- The orc race originated on the planetDraenor. A peaceful people withshamanic beliefs, they were enslaved by theBurning Legion and forced into war with the humans ofAzeroth. Although it took many years, the orcs finally escaped the demons' corruption and won their freedom. To this day they fight for honor in an alien world that hates and reviles them.
Classic guide[]
The once-peaceful Orcs came to Azeroth from the planet Draenor after falling victim to the corruption of the demonic Burning Legion. Now, the Orcs fight to survive in a world that hates them, prizing blood and honor above all things.[2]
Classic opening cutscene[]
Long ago, the orcish horde was corrupted by theBurning Legion and lured to the world ofAzeroth. For generations, the orcs made war upon thehuman kingdoms ofStormwind andLordaeron. Though the Horde was ultimately defeated, a visionary youngwarchief namedThrall rose to lead his people in their darkest hour. Under Thrall's rule, the orcs freed themselves from the chains of demonic corruption and embraced their shamanistic heritage. After years of wandering, the orcs founded their own kingdom in the harsh wastelands of Durotar. Based in the warrior city ofOrgrimmar, they stand ready to destroy all who would challenge their supremacy. As a proud defender of Durotar, it is your duty to crush the enemies, both seen and unseen, for the nefarious agents of the Burning Legion still wander the land.
Cataclysm opening cutscene[]
The Great Cataclysm has shattered more than just the world. Warchief Thrall, arguably the most powerful living shaman has left his people behind so that he might stop the Cataclysm at its source. Yet, in his absence, the Horde champion Garrosh Hellscream has become the Horde's new Warchief. Though popular amongst the orcs for his victories against the Lich King, Garrosh's reckless leadership has begun to cause a rift between himself and the other leaders of the Horde. With Durotar's natural resources nearly depleted, Garrosh seeks to take whatever his people need to survive regardless of who stands in his way. A dangerous new era for the Horde has dawned and it falls to brave orcs like you to uphold the will of the new Warchief and assure the dominance of your people.
History[]
Long ago, the noble orcish race was corrupted by theBurning Legion and transformed into the merciless, destructiveHorde. Lured to the world ofAzeroth, the orcs were forced to make war upon thehuman kingdoms ofStormwind andLordaeron in what would become known as theFirst andSecond Wars. Though the Horde nearly succeeded in annihilating humanity, it ultimately devoured itself from within and collapsed. The defeated orcs spent many years within guarded prisons, unable to function without the prospect of conquest and warfare. After many years, a visionary youngwarchief rose to lead his people in their darkest hour. Fittingly enough, the young orc’s name wasThrall. Under his rule, the orcs freed themselves from the chains of demonic corruption and embraced their shamanistic heritage.
At the behest of a strange prophet, Thrall led his people to the ancient lands of Kalimdor. There, Thrall and the Horde came face to face with their old oppressor, the Burning Legion. With the aid of the humans andnight elves, the orcs defeated the Legion and set out to find their own path in their adopted world. The orcs claimed the harsh wastelands of Durotar as their kingdom in Kalimdor.
Now based in the warrior city ofOrgrimmar, the orcs look forward to a shining new future for their people. Though they are no longer driven by dreams of conquest, they stand ready to destroy all who would challenge their sovereignty or their supremacy. It is your duty to crush the enemies of Durotar, both seen and unseen, for the nefarious agents of the Burning Legion still wander the land.[3]
Appearance[]
Male orcs are large, hunched and frightening, wielding axes and hammers as well as massive fists the size of a small child. They have flat, wide noses and beady red eyes. Female orcs have tiny, squashed noses and angry, slanted eyes. Female orcs have very shapely bodies and very exotic hairstyles with either messy hair poking out in every direction or thick braids—or no hair at all. All orcs have some variation of green skin.
Male orcs average 7' in height, while females average 6-6.5'.[4]
Character[]
Eitrigg, an olive-skinned orc
The orcs start in theValley of Trials, an area located in southernDurotar.
Starting attributes[]
| Base |  Hunter |  Rogue |  Shaman |  Warlock |  Warrior |  Death knight |  Mage |  Monk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 111 | 23 | 24 |
| Agility | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 70 | 17 | 18 |
| Stamina | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 100 | 22 | 23 |
| Intellect | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 26 | 20 | 19 |
| Spirit | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 44 | 25 | 23 |
Classes[]
Racial traits[]
 [Blood Fury] - instant - 2 min cooldown | |
|---|---|
| Increases attack power by (Level*4)+2 and your spell power by (Level*2)+3. Lasts 15 seconds. | |
 [Hardiness] - passive | |
| Duration of Stun effects reduced by an additional 20%. | |
 [Command] - passive | |
| Damage dealt by Death Knight, Hunter and Warlock pets increased by 1%. |
- Removed from game
 [Axe Specialization] - passive | |
|---|---|
| Expertise with Axes, Two-Handed Axes and Fist Weapons increased by 1%. |
Quotes[]
- Main articles:Jokes#Orc male,Jokes#Orc female
- Main articles:Flirt#Orc male,Flirt#Orc female
Followingpatch 7.0.3, orc characters who use the/whoa emote also say "Thrall's balls!".
Trivia[]
- The male orc dance is a reference toMC Hammer's dance in the music video for "U Can't Touch This".
- The male orc are voiced bySteve Blum.
- The female orc are possibly voiced byLani Minella.[5]
- They are the only race to have a racial leader step down and later step up for leadership.
- When approached or attacked by members of the Alliance, both orc and troll NPCs say: "[Orcish]: Grunts! Attack!"; causing additional guards for that town or city to summon in aid of that NPC. Troll and orc NPCs are the only two races that share a common language when making such calls-to-arms, reflecting their close loyalty and friendship.
- The orcs were without a racial leader for two periods of time withinWorld of Warcraft.
- The first being from theDarkspear Rebellion and theSiege of Orgrimmar in which they rejected and aided in the defeat ofGarrosh Hellscream up untilWorld of Warcraft: Legion revealedVarok Saurfang as their new leader.
- The second was following the death of Saurfang in theReckoning up until
[50] Warchief of the Horde revealed that Thrall, was once more, their racial leader.
Gallery[]
Early orc models
An orc hairstyle that did not make it out of the alpha stages.
Models before and after thepatch 6.0.2player character revamp- Models before and after the patch 6.0.2 player character revamp
- Orc with straight back posture added inpatch 8.0.1
- Orcshaman totems frompatch 3.3.
- Before patch 3.3 shaman totems were same for all Horde races.
- Orc on the character creation screen as seen beforepatch 9.0.1.
Videos[]
Patch changes[]
- Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Orcs now have access to thepriest class.
- Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): New straight back posture for male orcs added.
- Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14):
- [Axe Specialization] racial removed.
- Model updated.
- Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Orcs now have access to themonk class.
- Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Orcs now have access to themage class.
- Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Orcs now have access to thedeath knight class.
References[]
- ^World of Warcraft: Classic race description
- ^Taking Your First Steps in World of Warcraft Classic
- ^Blizzard Entertainment.World of Warcraft manual, 180.
- ^https://twitter.com/Loreology/status/459393031519469569
- ^Lani Minella resume (scroll down toWorld of Warcraft)
External links[]
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