How to Unlock Nightborne in WoW: Complete 2024 Guide
Image Credit: Blizzard, World of Warcraft
Unlocking the Nightborne in World of Warcraft lets you play as one of the most magically adept and refined races in Azeroth. Originally isolated within the magical barrier of Suramar, the Nightborne have an incredibly rich cultural heritage, unique abilities, and a mysterious connection to arcane power that others do not. Here’s a complete guide to unlocking the Nightborne, including their rewards, racial abilities, lore, and tips.
Nightborne Allied Race Guide
The Nightborne are one of the five Allied Races available to the Horde, alongside the Mag’har Orcs, Zandalari Trolls, Vulpera, and Highmountain Tauren. Hailing from Suramar, the Nightborne are masters of arcane magic and bring a uniquely sophisticated look and powerful abilities to the Horde.
Unlocking the Nightborne
To unlock the Nightborne as a playable Allied Race in World of Warcraft, you need a Horde character at level 40 to begin the recruitment questline—no reputation grind is required anymore. Once you reach level 40, head to the Orgrimmar Embassy to start the Nightborne recruitment quest chain.
The questline takes you to Suramar, the ancient home of the Nightborne, and lets you experience their story and reasons for joining the Horde. The embassy is the central location for recruiting all Horde Allied Races, and here, you’ll meet with various officials to kick off the recruitment.
Here are the quests in order:
The Nightborne
Begin the recruitment process by speaking with representatives at the Orgrimmar Embassy. This quest introduces you to Thalyssra, the leader of the Nightborne, as she prepares to formalize their alliance with the Horde.The Nightborne Pact
Join Thalyssra as she takes you through Suramar, revisiting significant locations that symbolize the Nightborne’s resilience and their journey out of isolation. Here, Thalyssra explains why they have chosen the Horde as allies.The Arcane Awakening
Assist Thalyssra with defending Suramar from threats that still linger. This quest highlights the Nightborne’s mastery over arcane magic and their dedication to protecting their homeland.A Battle for Suramar
Fight alongside Thalyssra to confront the final remnants of enemies within Suramar. This battle underscores the strength and unity of the Nightborne people as they secure their home and commit to their new path.Thalyssra’s Estate
In the final quest, attend a ceremonial event in Suramar where Thalyssra formally pledges the Nightborne’s allegiance to the Horde. Completing this quest unlocks the Nightborne as a playable race on your account.
Rewards for Unlocking Nightborne
Mount
Upon completing the recruitment scenario, you’ll receive the Nightborne Manasaber mount, a sleek, arcane-infused feline that perfectly reflects the Nightborne’s elegant, mystical style.
Heritage Armor
Creating your first Nightborne character grants you the Nightborne Tabard. If you level a Nightborne character to 50 without using any boosts, you’ll also earn the Heritage of the Nightborne achievement, which unlocks the Nightborne Heritage Armor. This transmog set is a beautiful, arcane-inspired outfit that captures the essence of Suramar’s magical heritage.
Nightborne Racial Abilities
Nightborne racial abilities are infused with arcane magic, enhancing their utility and effectiveness in combat:
Arcane Pulse – This racial ability deals Arcane damage to nearby enemies and slows them briefly, offering valuable crowd control in both PvP and PvE scenarios.
Cantrips – Summon an Arcane Resupply Cache that grants access to mail, making it convenient for players needing to manage their mail on the go.
Magical Affinity – Increases magical damage dealt, making Nightborne a strong choice for magic-based classes, especially for DPS roles.
Ancient History – Increases inscription skill, giving Nightborne players an edge in the Inscription profession.
Arcane Resistance – Reduces Arcane damage taken, a useful passive trait for certain encounters where Arcane damage is prevalent.
Class Options
Nightborne can choose from several classes that complement their arcane mastery and sophisticated combat style. Here are the classes available to them:
Death Knight: Tank or Melee Plate DPS.
Hunter: Melee or Ranged Mail DPS.
Mage: Ranged Cloth DPS.
Monk: Tank, Healer, or Melee Leather DPS.
Priest: Healer or Ranged Cloth DPS.
Rogue: Melee Leather DPS.
Warlock: Ranged Cloth DPS.
Warrior: Tank or Melee Plate DPS.
Lore of the Nightborne
The Nightborne, also known as the Shal’dorei, were once Highborne Night Elves who isolated themselves within the city of Suramar for thousands of years, protected by a magical barrier known as the Nightwell. This arcane font of power provided them with energy but also made them highly dependent on magic to survive. Over time, the Nightborne became insular and cautious, leading to a cultural divide between them and the rest of the world.
During the events of Legion, the Nightborne were forced to confront their isolation when the Burning Legion sought to corrupt Suramar. Many of the Nightborne, led by First Arcanist Thalyssra, rebelled against the Legion and ultimately sought allies outside their walls. Finding a kinship with the Horde, who respected their resilience and arcane mastery, the Nightborne became valuable allies, bringing their expertise in magic and dedication to their new faction.
Final Tips for Unlocking Nightborne
Focus on Suramar Storyline: The Suramar campaign is essential for unlocking the Nightborne, so prioritize these quests to progress toward the Insurrection achievement.
Use Group Finder for Assistance: Certain quests in Suramar may be challenging, so consider using Group Finder to team up with others and complete objectives more quickly.
Level Up for Heritage Armor: If you’re interested in obtaining the unique Heritage Armor, level a Nightborne character to 50 without using boosts to unlock this beautiful transmog set.
Master Arcane Pulse: Arcane Pulse is a powerful crowd control tool, making it particularly useful in PvP and dungeon scenarios. Practice using it strategically to maximize its effectiveness.
Unlocking the Nightborne opens up a gateway to one of Azeroth’s most magically adept races, allowing players to experience the arcane traditions of Suramar firsthand.
Alliance Race Guides
Horde Race Guides
Neutral Race Guides
