Despite many fantasy settings featuring worlds completely removed from reality, they often retain some elements familiar to people from the real world. The presence of humans is a common example. While not a universal rule, it is a common thread to see humans among the most explored and highlighted groups in fantasy settings. Even in the wildest worlds, they are familiar to the audience and can make the rest of the setting easier to explore.
The famous Warcraft universe is no exception. Humans are one of the first two races introduced into the game with the franchise's first release of Warcraft: Orcs and Humans. They became the foundation of the Alliance during the Second War and comprise Seven Kingdoms with unique cultural elements and customs. Among the human realms, beloved personas hail from each one.
World Of Warcraft: Best Orc Characters, Ranked
In the Warcraft franchise, these Orc characters remain some of the most memorable to fans. Here's how they rank up.
10 Taretha Foxton
A Compassionate Friend
- First appearance: Lord of the Clans
Taretha Foxton is far from the most popular or well-known human character, yet she plays an important role in Warcraft lore. She was a peasant woman who met Thrall, the orc who would soon become the Warchief of the Horde. She was his first close friend and helped him keep hope while he was suffering as a slave under Blackmore.
Taretha helped Thrall escape Durnholde, which later allowed him to meet with other orcs and set him on the path of becoming the Warchief that Warcraft fans know today. Despite his attempts, however, Thrall was unable to save Taretha from a gruesome death, a failure he still regrets.
9 Bolvar Fordragon
The Martyr
- First appearance: World of Warcraft
Bolvar Fordragon is a character that evokes a lot of nostalgia in Alliance WoW players who have been there since vanilla. He was the regent of Stormwind and a father figure to young Anduin Wrynn, and did his best to guide the young Prince towards growing into a good, noble ruler. He also played an important role in freeing Stormwind from Onyxia’s influence.
In Wrath of the Lich King, Bolvar met a tragic fate, as he was weakened by the plague and then had his skin scorched by red dragons. Despite his survival, Bolvar refused to return to the realm of the living, instead taking on the mantle of the new Lich King. After remaining in the background for multiple expansions, Bolvar returned to become a central figure in Shadowlands.
8 Jaina Proudmoore
The New Grand-Admiral
- First appearance: Reign of Chaos
One of the most recognizable human characters in Warcraft is Jaina Proudmoore, a talented mage and a disciple of Antonidas introduced in Warcraft 3. She was a diplomatic and level-headed figure who managed to persist despite suffering tragedies and trauma, such as her lover, Arthas, becoming a mass murderer.
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Her story continued in World of Warcraft as well. Jaina was mostly bound to her city of Theramore until it was destroyed by Garrosh Hellscream. Following this event, Jaina took a more aggressive and militaristic approach to the Horde. Eventually, though, she managed to find a balance when she became the Lord Admiral of Kul-Tiras, as well as becoming a boss in Battle for Azeroth.
7 Daelin Proudmoore
A Grizzled Veteran
- First appearance: Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness
Daelin Proudmoore is one of the famed Alliance heroes of the Second War. He was the naval commander of the Alliance and was known for commanding powerful resistance to the Orcish fleet, making him one of the key figures in the conflict. He was also the Lord Admiral of Kul-Tiras and the father of Jaina Proudmoore.
He returns during Warcraft 3, though, as a far less heroic figure. Daelin came to Kalimdor after Archimonde’s defeat in an attempt to finish off the remaining orcs, as he thought orcs could not change. His daughter, Jaina, sides with the orcs against him, and when Daelin rejects a peaceful resolution, he meets his demise.
6 Anduin Lothar
The Hero Of Stormwind
- First appearance: Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness
While the founding of the Alliance can’t be attributed to a single individual, Anduin Lothar can be considered its spiritual founder. He was a warrior of the Kingdom of Stormwind, and one of the first humans to face the orc threat. He saw the flames consume Stormwind and helped people evacuate to Lordaeron.
Later, Lothar rallied the forces of other kingdoms to form the Alliance and led their forces against the orcs. He forced the orcs to retreat back to the dark portal, but was eventually killed by Orgrim Doomhammer. His influence on the Alliance and human kingdoms in general cannot be overstated.
5 Khadgar
The Disciple Of The Guardian
- First appearance: The Last Guardian
Unlike many humans, Khadgar does not retain any particular loyalty to the Alliance. His journey started as a student of Medivh, the Guardian, who ended up helping orcs enter Azeroth. Khadgar played a key role in stopping him, but due to a powerful magical blast, he was forcefully aged by decades.
Khadgar got lost in the Outland until finally being found in The Burning Crusade, returning to the spotlight in Warlords of Draenor. Khadgar remained a neutral and powerful ally to both factions against threats such as Legion and the Iron Horde, relying on his magical powers that he learned from Medivh.
4 Genn Greymane
A King Without a Kingdom
- First appearance: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Genn Greymane is among the oldest human characters still present in the story of World of Warcraft. During the Second War, the Gilnean king ordered the building of a wall around his kingdom's border to isolate himself from the war. This allowed Gilneas to avoid major conflicts such as the second war and the Scourge’s onslaught.
IHowever, in the Cataclysm expansion, Gilneas was invaded by Forsaken forces, which forced the Gilneans to leave their home. Many were infected with the Worgen curse, and Genn was no exception. He did his best to make up for his absence and participated in the current war, serving as a loyal advisor to both Varian and Anduin.
3 Turalyon
The Prodigal Knight
- First appearance: Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness
Turalyon is another of humanity's iconic heroes. During the Second War, he stood by Lothar’s side as one of his most trusted advisors. Eventually, after Lothar's death, he took charge of the Alliance armies and led a dangerous expedition into the depths of the dark portal. He remained missing for many years after that expedition.
Turalyon resurfaces in the Legion expansion, where he is revealed to be focusing on a threat that is larger than the orcs ever were. He became an Exarch in the Army of the Light and took the battle directly to the Burning Legion. After the Legion’s defeat, Turalyon returned to the Alliance and, after Anduin’s exile, became its new leader.
2 Varian Wrynn
The High King
- First appearance: Warcraft comics
None of the people who led the Alliance did it for as long as Varian Wrynn. His initial story was told in the comics and side content, and he grew to become a prominent figure. He was away from the Kingdom of Stormwind when his memory was lost, and he was brought in by an orc slave owner to fight in the pits.
Eventually, however, Varian reclaimed both his memory and his throne. He led the Alliance during their war against the Lich King and the following conflict with the Horde. Varian met his tragic demise during the Battle of the Broken Shore in the Legion expansion, a loss that the Alliance mourned.
1 Arthas Menethil
The Corrupted Prince
- First appearance: Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos
The most well-known character in the Warcraft franchise, who was considered the main icon of the series for a while, is Arthas Menethil. A major character in Warcraft 3, players got to know the young Prince before gradually witnessing his descent and downfall. Despite his good intentions, Arthas could never recover from Ner’zhul’s influence once he picked up Frostmourne.
In World of Warcraft, Arthas returns as a major antagonist of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion as the heroes of Azeroth storm Northrend, the continent home to his undead army. Eventually, he falls to Tyrion Fordring in a climactic battle atop Icecrown Citadel, ending the story of the titular character of the Warcraft universe.
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
