Paladin races

This article lists the races that are able to become paladins, along with the lore behind each.

Humans


From the Alliance Player's Guide:
 * "Humans began the Knights of the Silver Hand, and they remain the bulk of its membership. They are proud of the paladins' contribution to the Second and Third Wars, though they are shamed at Arthas' betrayal. After such an enormous breach of trust, the paladins have resolved anew to eliminate all traces of corruption in their ranks. Many see humans as the quintessential paladins. The iconic human paladin marches into combat, cloak flowing, hammer pounding, and faith unwavering. "

The first paladins in existence were humans. They originally started out as clerics under the Holy Order of Northshire Clerics, carrying the mission of spreading the wisdom of the Holy Light across Azeroth. When the Horde invaded the Eastern Kingdoms through the Dark Portal during the First War, the clerics rushed to the battlefield to fend off the beasts. Although wielding powerful magic, the clerics were unprepared for war and suffered heavy losses. At the end of the war, Archbishop Alonsus Faol and his apprentice Uther Lightbringer founded the Knights of the Silver Hand. This order trained clerics and knights in both the ways of war and divinity. They were crucial in the Alliance of Lordaeron's victory in the Second War, both healing friends and crushing foes on the battlefield.

The Silver Hand suffered heavily during the Plague of Undeath and were nearly wiped out. Uther himself was killed by his own apprentice, Arthas Menethil, who had become a Death Knight. In the order's destruction, the Scarlet Crusade and the Argent Dawn was born. The Silver Hand slowly recovered, aiding the Alliance (and slightly the new Horde) against the Burning Legion during the Third War. Eventually it joined forces with the Argent Dawn to form the Argent Crusade, led by the veteran Tirion Fordring, traveling to Northrend to finish off the Lich King and his Scourge once and for all. The Argent Crusade further teamed up with the Knights of the Ebon Blade to form the Ashen Verdict and were ultimately successful in their mission.

New human paladins serve the Knights of the Silver Hand.



Dwarves


Ironforge dwarves, closely allied with the Humans (who were the ones that introduced them to the Holy Light), have developed strong bonds, and some of them joined the Knights of the Silver Hand. Part of their introduction into the Silver Hand was also the order's need to replace paladins lost during the Third War (although they had previously accepted a few dwarven paladins as far back as the Second War, it was uncommon). It was also the dwarves' leader King Magni Bronzebeard who forged the Ashbringer.

One of the most distinctive features of an Alliance-paladin is his weapon; a large, two-handed war hammer. This "paladin hammer" was once the favored weapon of the Silver Hand, being wielded by both humans and dwarves : From the Alliance Player's Guide:
 * "Bows and guns are for cowards, and the human paladin disdains them. He is not proficient with any ranged weapons. However, paladins have a long history of hammer fighting, and they respect the dwarves' progress in this area. Human paladins are proficient with the dwarven battle hammer. "

The paladin hammer fell out of favor as the primary paladin weapon after Uther's death.

Wildhammer Clan paladins and priests of the Holy Light may exist, but are about as rare as Ironforge druids.

New dwarf paladins serve the Knights of the Silver Hand just like the human paladins.



Draenei


The draenei were introduced to the Light by the naaru while sailing across the cosmos on board Oshu'gun. Fleeing from the Burning Legion that consumed their original home, Argus, they were blessed with Light-given knowledge and power by the naaru. Planning to join the draenei with other forces in the cosmos that would stand against the Burning Legion, the naaru planned to create a a single unstoppable army of the Light. The draenei vowed to honor the Light and uphold the naaru's altruistic ideals. The power of the Light is embedded in the draenei so deeply that all of them can call upon it through Gift of the Naaru, regardless of class. Today, draenei paladins become Vindicators of the Hand of Argus.

Because of their strong connection to the Burning Legion, in addition to having landed on Azeroth after the Plague of Undeath gushed across Lordaeron, draenei are likely more acquainted with demons rather than undead. This is probably slightly differing them from human and dwarf paladins, which are used to fight the Scourge instead.

Draenei paladins are also using paladin hammers, but with a twist. While the hammers wielded by humans and dwarves are made of metal, draenei ones are made of crystals. In art, most draenei paladins are using a hammer similar to Hammer of the Naaru.

Blood elves


Blood elves were once high elves allied with the humans like the dwarves. Like the two others, high elves also believed in the Holy Light. A few were members of the Silver Hand, such as Mehlar Dawnblade, but the majority of high elves became paladins after becoming blood elves.

The first blood elf paladins came to be by using the divine energies of M'uru, a naaru. M'uru was the sole guardian of Tempest Keep after it landed in Netherstorm and brought most of the naaru present in Outland there. After illidan Stormrage's failed attempt at destroying the Frozen Throne, Kael'thas Sunstrider returned to Outland in order to create a new haven for his magic-addicted people. He and his forces assaulted Tempest Keep and seized M'uru, sending it back to Silvermoon City for the elves to feed on its powers. This created the Blood Knights, a military force of blood elf paladins similar to the Silver Hand.

Kael'thas later stole M'uru yet again after joining forces with Kil'jaeden and his Burning Legion. The blood elves, desperate for a new source of power, traveled to Shattrath to negotiate with the naaru leader, A'dal. After agreeing to join forces with him and his draenei against the Burning Legion, they named themselves the Scryers. Together with the Aldor, they formed the Shattered Sun Offensive which eventually defeated Kil'jaeden. They also managed to reclaim and reignite the Sunwell which had been destroyed in the Third War. It is today believed that the Sunwell acts as the blood elf paladins' source of holy power. New blood elf paladins also become members of the Blood Knights (initiation begins at level 12).



Tauren


With the Cataclysm expansion, tauren are also able to become paladins. Their order is known as the Sunwalkers, and is made up of tauren who worship An'she, the sun. Apparently, their order came to be when some of them wondered if it was possible to drain the power of light from the sun, similar to how druids and night elf priests get their power from the moon. Aponi Brightmane seems to be the first tauren paladin.

High elf
High elves paladins are rare, but do exist. The few high elf paladins and priests proved invaluable in the Third War. Rulen Lightsreap and Champion Isimode are two such Paladins serving the Silver Covenant, in Dalaran's Silver Enclave and the Argent Tournament Grounds respectively.

Half-elf
Half-elves may become paladins, although the only well-known example is the half-quel'dorei named Arator.