Alliance

• Dwarves

The stoic dwarves of Ironforge are an ancient race of robust humanoids who live beneath the snow-capped mountains of Khaz Modan. The Dwarves have always been fast allies with the Humans, and they revel in the prospects of battle and storytelling alike. In past ages, the Dwarves rarely left the safety of their mountain fortresses.
However, whenever the call to battle sounded, they rose up to defend their friends and allies with unmatched courage and valor. Due to a recent discovery that uncovered fragments of their ancient origins, the Dwarves have undergone a remarkable transformation. The discovery convinced the Dwarves that the mighty Titans created them from stone when the world was young. They feel that their destiny is now to search the world over for more signs and proof of their enchanted heritage and to rediscover the Titans’ hidden legacies. To this end, the Dwarves have sent out their Prospectors to all ends of the world in the hopes of discovering new insight into their shrouded past.
These journeys led to Dwarven excavation sites all over the known world, some of which serve as outposts and some of which serve as potential hunting grounds for enemies of the Dwarven race.

Start Location: Dun Morogh
Home City: Ironforge
Racial Mount: Rams

Starting Stats:
23 Strength, 19 Agility, 24 Stamina, 19 Intellect, 19 Spirit, 40 Armor, 85 Health

Racials:

• Stoneform - active
  While active, grants immunity to Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects. In addition, Armor increases by 10%.
  Lasts 8 sec. - 3 min cooldown

This racial for a rogue can be very, very nice. It basically lets you remove bleed effects and poisons at your own whim, including enemy rogue Blind while blinded. This allows you to remove things such as Rupture, Deep Wounds and Rend in order to restealth without worrying about being brought out by the DoT damage. Also helps clear Devouring Plauge.

• Gun Specialization - passive
  Dwarves get +5 to Gun Skill

  This is pretty much an irrelevant racial for you as a Rogue.

• Frost Resistance - passive
  All Dwarves get +10 Frost Resistance

  Not a huge deal, since 10 Resistance isn’t much, however its a microscopical advantage against Hunters traps and Mages.

• Treasure Finding - passive
  Activate to see treasure chests on mini map - lasts until canceled - no cooldown

  Finding treasure! Its a cute thing to have indeed, but nothing to base your race choice on.

• Gnomes

The eccentric, often brilliant Gnomes are one of the most peculiar races of the world. With their obsession for developing radical new technologies and constructing marvels of mind-bending engineering, it’s a wonder that any Gnomes have survived to propagate the species.
Thriving within the wondrous techno-city of Gnomeregan, the Gnomes shared the resources of the forested Dun Morogh Peaks with their Dwarven cousins. Though the dwarves of Ironforge also have a propensity for technology and engineering, it is the gnomes who provide the critical, visionary designs for most of the dwarves’ weapons and steam vehicles.
The Gnomes served the Alliance well during the Second War, but strangely, they refused to send any personnel to aid their allies during the Burning Legion’s recent invasion. Though their designs helped turn the tide against the Legion, the Dwarves and Humans were shocked by the Gnomes’ decision to withhold their courageous troops and pilots.
When the war ended, the Alliance discovered the reason for the Gnomes’ sudden withdrawal. Apparently, an ancient, barbaric menace had risen from the bowels of the earth and invaded Gnomeregan. Knowing that their allies’ priority was defeating the Burning Legion, the Gnomes decided to make their stand alone. Though they fought valiantly to save their beloved city, Gnomeregan was irrevocably lost.
Nearly half of the Gnomish race was wiped out during the fall of Gnomeregan. The ragged Gnomes that survived fled to the safety of the Dwarves’ stronghold of Ironforge. Committed once again to the Alliance’s cause, the Gnomes spend their time devising strategies and weapons that will help them retake their ravaged city and build a brighter future for their people.

Start Location: Dun Morogh
Home City: Ironforge
Racial Mount: Mechanostrider

Starting Stats:
16 Strength, 26 Agility, 20 Stamina, 24 Intellect, 20 Spirit, 54 Armor, 45 Health

Racials:

• Escape Artist - active
  Activate to break out of a Root or Snare effect - Instant
  cast - 1 min cooldown

  This racial is a powerhouse. It removes, among other things, Hamstring, Crippling poison, Wingclip, Frost Nova and Frostbolt slowing effect. For a rogue, this racial is very strong, meaning that you can save your vanish/clos/impsprint for a later time instead of using it on a slow.

• Expansive Mind - passive
  Increase Intelligence by 5%

  For a rogue, this is pretty much an irrelevant racial.

• Arcane Resistance - passive
  All Gnomes get +10 Arcane Resistance

  Microscopical chance of resisting that dreadful Sheep! Very ignoreable racial.

• Technologist - passive
  15 skill bonus to Engineering

  Well if you are an engineer, you stay 15 points ahead. Nothing special here either.

• Humans

The Humans of Stormwind are a resilient breed, having survived an invasion by the savage Orcs during the First War. During the Second War, the armies of Stormwind rallied with the Alliance to reclaim their homeland of Azeroth. After the success of the Second War, Stormwind was rebuilt and Human civilization began to flourish once again throughout the southlands. With the recent invasion of the Burning Legion - which left the northern kingdom of Lordaeron in ruins - Stormwind now stands as the last bastion of human civilization. Following the heroic examples of the legendary Sir Lothar and King Llane, the defenders of Stormwind are considered to be among the fiercest warriors in the land. They stand resolute in their charge to maintain the honor and might of humanity in an ever-darkening world.

Start Location: Elwynn Forest
Home City: Stormwind
Racial Mount: Horses

Starting Stats:
21 Strength, 23 Agility, 21 Stamina, 20 Intellect, 21 Spirit, 48 Armor, 55 Health

Racials:

• Perception - active
  Activate to dramatically increase stealth detection - Lasts 20 sec - 3 min cooldown

  This is a nice talent for when you enter locations where you suspect stealthers would be, like for instance around nodes in Battlegrounds, or in Arenas. And as a rogue, you remain stealthed while using it, making you detect them, but staying undetected yourself.

• The Human Spirit - passive
  Increase Spirit by 5%

  Not a big deal for a rogue, it does help the health regen a tiny bit. Nothing noticeable.

• Diplomacy - passive
  10% bonus to faction point gain

  This is a great racial no matter your class selection. Reputation gain is quite important in this game, as it leads to great rewards most of the time. Definately a worthy racial.

• Sword Specialization - passive
  Humans get +5 to Sword skill
• Mace Specialization - passive
  Humans get +5 to Mace skill

  Both of these used to be very strong, until Weapon Skill was changed. Nowadays this racial, while being a small boost in PvE, isn’t as strong as it once was.

• Night Elves

The reclusive Night Elves were the first race to awaken in the World of Warcraft. These shadowy, immortal beings were the first to study magic and let it loose throughout the world nearly ten thousand years before Warcraft I. The Night Elves’ reckless use of magic drew the Burning Legion into the world and led to a catastrophic war between the two titanic races. The Night Elves barely managed to banish the Legion from the world, but their wondrous homeland was shattered and drowned by the sea.
Until recently, the Night Elves closed themselves off from the rest of the world and remained hidden atop their holy mountain of Hyjal for many thousands of years. The Legion’s invasion brought the Night Elves out of their long period of slumber. They now have renewed interest in shaping the world, and for the first time are allying themselves with other races to insure the continued survival of Azeroth.
As a race, Night Elves are typically honorable and just, but they are very distrusting of the ‘lesser races’ of the world. They are nocturnal by nature and their shadowy powers often elicit the same distrust that they have for their mortal neighbors.

Start Location: Teldrassil
Home City: Darnassus
Racial Mount: Nightsabers

Starting Stats:
18 Strength, 28 Agility, 20 Stamina, 20 Intellect, 20 Spirit, 58 Armor, 45 Health

Racials:

• Shadowmeld - active
  Activate while immobile and out of combat to enter stealth mode - lasts until canceled - no cooldown

  For a rogue, this actually double as a passive +1 Stealth level racial. To put this into perspective for you, 1 talent point in Master of Deception equals 3 points of Stealth, while this racial grants you 5 points of Stealth. In addition, Shadowmeld can be used in its active form to stealth prematurely while waiting for your Stealth cooldown.

• Quickness - passive
  Dodge chance increased by 1%

  Very insignificant racial, but nice none the less. Dodge is always a nice thing to have.

• Wisp Spirit - passive
  Become a wisp when dead with movement speed increase of 50% (25% faster than normal ghost)

  Very very soothing when youre wiping on a boss in an instance alot and have to corpserun, and while PvPing to get a headstart over others for resurrecting.

• Nature Resistance - passive
  All Night Elves get +10 Nature Resistance

  As all the other Resistance talents, the protection it grants at lvl 70 is minimal.

Horde

• Blood Elves

For nearly seven thousand years, the high elves cultivated a shining magical kingdom deep within the forests of northern Lordaeron. But five years ago, the undead Scourge invaded Quel’Thalas and drove the elves to the brink of extinction. Led by the evil death knight Arthas, the Scourge destroyed the mystical Sunwell, thereby severing the elves from the source of their arcane power. Though the scars of that conflict are evident, the remaining elves have banded together and retaken much of their homeland. Calling themselves "blood elves", these grim survivors are committed to regaining the vast powers they once commanded.
Inspired by the leadership of their beloved prince, Kael’thas Sunstrider, the blood elves now seek out new sources of arcane magic and the means of defending their land against the undying horrors of the Scourge.

Start Location: Eversong Forest
Home City: Silvermoon City
Racial Mount: Hawkstrider

Starting Stats:
18 Strength, 25 Agility, 19 Stamina, 24 Intellect, 19 Spirit, 54 Armor, 100 Health

Racials:

Arcane Affinity - passive
Enchanting skill increased by 10.

Obviously only beneficial if you are an enchanter.

• Arcane Torrent - active - (Hunters/Paladins/Mages/Priests/Warlocks only)
  Silences all enemies within 8 yards for 2 sec. In addition, you gain 5 + 1/Level Mana restored per Mana Tap charge currently affecting you - Instant - 2 min cooldown.

  This obviously does not apply to you as a rogue.

• Arcane Torrent - active - (Rogue only)
  Silences all enemies within 8 yards for 2 sec. In addition, you gain 10 Energy for each Mana Tap charge currently affecting you - Instant - 2 min cooldown.

  This is, as it says, an instant AOE silence effect. Used properly this can be VERY powerful. There is no Deathcoil if the Warlock is silenced. Very nice racial, especially if you take the time to Mana Tap for the energyboost it grants you.

• Magic Resistance - passive
  All resistances increased by 5.

  I can only repeat myself here: resist racials have no real impact due to the small boost they give.

• Mana Tap - active
  Reduces target’s mana by 51 and charges you with Arcane energy for 10 min. This effect stacks up to 3 times. Amount of mana reduced is 50 + 1/Level - 30 yd range - Instant - 30 sec cooldown.

  Obviously a nice way to stack for the energygain given once you release the Mana Taps during Arcane Torrent.

• Orcs

The savage, green-skinned Orcs are one of the most prolific races of Azeroth. They are commonly believed to be brutal and mindless, possessing no humanity or empathy for other races. Born on the hellish world of Draenor, the Orcs were brought into the kingdom of Stormwind through the dimensional gateway known as the Dark Portal and manipulated into waging war on the Humans.
Although few are aware of their history, the Orcs once cultivated a noble, Shamanistic society on the world of Draenor. Tragically, the proud Orc clans were corrupted by the Burning Legion and used as pawns in the Legion’s invasion of Azeroth. The Orcs managed to rebel, however, and they were ultimately able to help turn the tide against their demon masters.
Led by the young Warchief, Thrall, the Orcs have reclaimed their strength and honor. Now, the Orcs stand ready to fight not for the sake of conquest, but for their right to survive in their adopted world.

Start Location: Durotar
Home City: Orgrimmar
Racial Mount: Wolves

Starting Stats:
24 Strength, 20 Agility, 23 Stamina, 17 Intellect, 23 Spirit, 42 Armor, 75 Health

Racials:

• Blood Fury - active
  This one… is nice. It basically lets you powerup your attacks without needing a trinket for it. For a rogue, this is a very nice racial indeed.
• Hardiness - passive
  25% resistance to stun and knockout effects.

  Now this is yet another great racial. 25% chance to resist stun effects makes other rogues cry in their sleep, makes Paladins find their happy place, and makes you feel like making love explosion in pants. Very cute racial, this is, especially if you combine it with the talent Nerves of Steel in the Combat tree, boosting the resist by yet another 10%.

• Command - passive
  Pet melee damage increased by 5%.

  Well as a rogue, you don’t have a pet. Useless for you.

• Axe Specialization - passive
  Orcs get +5 to Axe skill.

  Since rogues can’t use axes, this is also an ignorable racial.

• Trolls

The vicious Jungle Trolls, who populate the numerous islands of the South Seas, are renowned for their cruelty and dark mysticism. Barbarous and superstitious, the wily Trolls carry a seething hatred for all other races.
One tribe, however, was forced to overcome its prejudices when it encountered the Orc Warchief, Thrall, and his mighty Horde. The Trolls of the Darkspear tribe, long since exiled from their ancestral lands in Stranglethorn Vale, were nearly destroyed by a band of aquatic Murlocs, but Thrall and the Horde managed to save them. In return the grateful Trolls swore an oath of eternal allegiance to the Horde.
Led by the cunning Shadow Hunter, Vol’jin, the Darkspear Trolls now make their home in Durotar along with their Orcish allies. Their village, named after their fallen tribal elder, Sen’jin, lies along the eastern coast of the harsh, rocky land. The Darkspear tribe also occupies tracks within the nearby jungles of the Echo Isles.
As part of the Horde, the Trolls have extended their loyalty to the mighty Tauren, but they have little trust for the manipulative Forsaken, whom they believe will visit only misery and strife upon their allies.

Start Location: Durotar
Home City: Orgrimmar
Racial Mount: Raptors

Starting Stats:
22 Strength, 25 Agility, 22 Stamina, 16 Intellect, 21 Spirit, 49 Armor, 52 Health

Racials:

• Berserking - active
  Increases your attack speed by 10% to 30%. At full health the speed increase is 10% with a greater effect up to 30% if you are badly hurt when you activate Berserking. Lasts 10 sec.

  This is a cool racialfor a rogue, as it basically ups your DPS by quite a bit. While strongest for PvE, it has its undeniable use in PvP as well.

• Regeneration - passive
  10% health regen bonus, 10% active in combat

  Regenerating health in combat can be a lifesaver, allthough mostly insignificant, in longer fights, regenerating could prove to be valuable.

• Beast Slaying - passive
  5% damage bonus to Beasts

  Well… the cool thing about this is that you get a 5% damage bonus to Druids in beastforms :P . Other than that, its fairly insignificant.

• Throwing Weapon Specialization - passive
  +5 to Throwing Weapon skill

  Very little use for this racial, as it grants nothing in PvP and ridicolously little in PvE unless you Deadly Throw a LOT .

• Bow Specialization - passive
  +5 to Bow Weapon Skills

  Same as the previous skill, fairly useless.

• Undead

Having broken free from the tyrannical rule of the Lich King, a renegade group of undead seek to retain their own free will while destroying all those who oppose them. Known as the Forsaken, this group is dedicated to serving its leader, the banshee queen Sylvanas Windrunner. These dark warriors have established a secret stronghold beneath the ruins of Lordaeron’s former capital city. Situated deep beneath the cursed Tirisfal Glades, the labyrinthine Undercity is a sprawling bastion of evil. Within its shadowy confines, Sylvanas’ royal apothecaries scramble to develop a devastating new plague - one which will not only eradicate their hated Scourge rivals, but the rest of humanity as well.
To further their dark aims, the Forsaken have entered into an alliance of convenience with the primitive, brutish races of the Horde. Holding no real loyalty for their newfound comrades, the Forsaken have duped them into fighting against their common enemy - the Lich King. Only time will tell how these disciples of doom will fare in their mission of vengeance.

Start Location: Tirisfal Glades
Home City: Undercity
Racial Mount: Skeletal Horse

Starting Stats:
20 Strength, 21 Agility, 22 Stamina, 18 Intellect, 25 Spirit, 44 Armor, 65 Health

• Will of the Forsaken - active
  Activate to become immune to Fear, Sleep, and Charm effects. Can also be used while already afflicted by Fear or Sleep - lasts 5 sec - 2 min cooldown

  This racial is very strong, en par with Escape Artist for a Rogue. This basically lets you pre-emptively discard an enemy fear/charm if you know its coming. Lets say a Warlock tries to break your lockdown with a Seduce, and you see it coming. If you use Will of the Forsaken before it lands, you can carry out your lockdown sequence uninterrupted. As it also works during the Fear/Sleep/Charm, meaning you can also use it much like the PvP trinket by breaking the effect while under it.

• Cannibalize - active
  Activate to regenerate 7% of total health every 2 sec. by consuming Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yds - lasts 10 sec - 2 min cooldown

  This talent is awesome. If your bandage is on cooldown and there is a corpse nearby (skeleton or fleshy), you can Cannibalize it for health. Very nice racial for PvP and solo PvE grinding, allthough slightly situational for both purposes. This talent benefits from the Quick Recovery talent in Assassination.

• Underwater Breathing - passive
  Underwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal

  This is… not exactly a groundbreaking racial, but its not totally useless either. Its handy for certain situations, and definately beats racials such as Gun Specialization.

• Shadow Resistance - passive
  All Undead get +10 Shadow Resistance

  Again, resistance racials have an ignoreable impact on the game.