World of Warcraft gives you the opportunity to be a variety of different classes. Since not all classes are open to all races, it is important to choose a race that can play the desired class.

Alliance races include humans, dwarves, gnomes, night elves, and, with the Burning Crusade expansion, Draenei.

Horde races include orcs, trolls, undead, taurens, and, with the Burning Crusade expansion, Blood Elves.

Here’s who can play which classes, and a bit about what they do:

Warrior: All races except blood elves. Great at taking and dealing damage, these are good tanks and deal damage. They can wield the most powerful melee weapons available and wear plate mail. Good in PvP. Talents include Weapons, which allows you to deal more damage and wield two-handed weapons, Fury, which allows you to wield two weapons at once, and Protection, which reduces the amount of damage you take.

Wizard: Humans, Gnomes, Draenei, Undead, Trolls, and Blood Elves. Mages deal massive amounts of damage, transform opponents, teleport across the world, and do other amazing tricks. The bad news is that your armor stinks. It is best to hide in the back rows and cast high damage spells at long range. Great in PvP. Talents include Frost, which slows down opponents, Fire, for massive damage, and Arcane for more mana and increased damage.

Priest – Humans, Dwarves, Night Elves, Draenei, Trolls, Blood Elves, and Undead – By far the best healers, Priests are always needed in a battle or dungeon exploration. It’s fine in PVP, better with a partner. Talents include Holy to improve healing, Discipline to improve general abilities, and Shadow to improve damage.

Rogue: Everyone except Draenei and Taruen can play Rogue. These are better at sneak attacks with the ability to stealth and surprise your enemy. Great in Player vs. Player. His talents include Subtlety, which improves stealth and sneak attacks, Combat, which increases damage with swords, and Assassination, which increases overall damage.

Paladin – Races include Human, Dwarf, Draenei, and Blood Elf – Paladins are a mix of healer and tank. They can wear plate armor at higher levels and can heal themselves. They are good at PvP and enhance dungeon parties with auras. Probably the best adventuring class, capable of taking on multiple opponents, but battles tend to take a long time. Talents include Holy, which improves healing, Protection, which reduces damage taken, and Retribution, which damages attackers.

Warlock: Humans, Gnomes, Undead, Orcs, and Blood Elves. Warlocks, like mages, are better at dealing long range damage. However, they can summon pets (Ok, demons) to attack for you. It can be great in PvP if played well. These are also very quick to level up, as they can use their pets when they go on quests. Talents include Affliction, which increases damage per second, Destruction, which increases spell damage, and Demonology, which makes your pet even stronger.

Druid – Tauren and Night Elves. Combining the abilities of a healer, mage, fighter, and rogue all into one, druids can shapeshift to become tanks or serve as good healers. Good in PvP. Talents include Feral Combat to increase damage in beast form, Balance to increase spell damage, and Restoration to improve healing.

Shaman – Tauren, Draenei, Troll and Orcs. Shamans summon totems to aid them in combat, they can heal, cast spells, and also assume an animal form to travel faster. Good in PvP. Talents are Enhancement, which increases melee damage, Elemental Combat, which increases spell damage, and Restoration, which improves healing.

Hunter: Dwarves, Draenei, Night Elves, Taurens, Orc Trolls, and Blood Elves. Hunters have ranged weapon attacks, traps, and of course, pets. They are good at PVP and have a good level, but some experience points always go to your pet. The talents are Beast Mastery, which increases the effectiveness of pets, Marksmanship, which increases the damage of ranged weapons, and Survival, which improves traps and specialization damage to different creatures.

Death Knight: Will be introduced with the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. All races can play it, as long as you have a level 55 or higher character on that realm. His talents will be Unholy, Frost and Blood. These seem to be the most formidable class available.