Alliance characters learn Swords in World of Warcraft: Forever from Woo Ping in Stormwind, and Horde characters learn them from Archibald in the Undercity, the only weapon master on each side who teaches them. One-Handed and Two-Handed Swords are separate skills at about 10 silver each at launch, and each class has its own list of which it can learn.
That single trainer per faction is what makes Swords a trip. An Orc Warrior who picks up a two-handed sword has to cross an ocean to use it. Below is where to go for your race, which classes can learn which sword, and how the skill works. Trainers are as of launch, checked November 8. Our weapon skills guide covers every weapon master and every weapon.
Who Teaches Swords
| Faction | City | Weapon master | Where to find them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Stormwind | Woo Ping | Weller’s Arsenal in the Trade District |
| Horde | Undercity | Archibald | War Quarter, about 57, 33 on the map |
They also teach Crossbows, Daggers and Polearms, and Woo Ping teaches Staves, so buy anything else you need while you are there. City guards offer a Weapons Trainer option if you get lost.
Where to Go for Your Race
Alliance:
- Human: Woo Ping is in your home city.
- Dwarf and Gnome: take the Deeprun Tram from Ironforge to Stormwind.
- Night Elf: take the boat from Rut’theran Village to Auberdine, then the ship to Stormwind Harbor. Our guide to getting to Darnassus from Stormwind covers that route and the way back.
Horde:
- Undead: Archibald is in your home city.
- Orc and Troll: take the zeppelin to Tirisfal Glades from the towers just outside Orgrimmar’s main gate. Our guide to getting to the Undercity from Orgrimmar has every step.
- Tauren: there is no zeppelin or portal from Thunder Bluff to Orgrimmar, so reach Orgrimmar first, as our Thunder Bluff route guide explains, then take the same zeppelin.
Skyborne characters use the weapon master for whichever faction they chose. Once you have been to a city, our flight paths guide can shorten the trip.
Which Classes Can Learn Swords
| Class | One-Handed Swords | Two-Handed Swords |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Yes | Yes |
| Paladin | Yes | Yes |
| Hunter | Yes | Yes |
| Rogue | Yes | No |
| Mage | Yes | No |
| Warlock | Yes | No |
| Shaman, Druid, Priest | No | No |
Before you make the trip, press C and check your character sheet, since it lists every weapon skill you already know.
What It Costs and How the Skill Works
- The price: about 10 silver per skill at launch, once each, so both sword skills run about 20 silver. Good reputation with the city’s faction lowers it a little.
- They are two skills. Training One-Handed Swords does not let you equip a two-hander, and leveling one does not raise the other.
- Your starting skill: a new weapon skill starts at 1, and its cap is five times your level, so 300 at level 60.
- Raising it: every hit has a chance to raise the skill. Low skill means more misses and glancing blows, so start on easy mobs. Blizzard’s Deep Dive panel recap says weapon skill “still works as it always has.”
- Gear helps less. The same recap says items with weapon skill “offer less of it per item so they are not always the obvious best choice.”
Are Swords Worth the Trip?
For Warriors, there is a real reason: the new Weaponmaster talent gives swords a chance at an extra attack, and Two-Handed Weapon Specialization adds up to 6% more damage with any two-hander. Our Warrior leveling guide lays out when to take them.
For Rogues, the Hack and Slash talent rolls the old weapon specializations into one, and swords and axes share the extra-attack chance. Blizzard’s Rogue and Warlock deep dive also says “Rogues can now learn to equip one-handed axes,” so you no longer need swords to get that bonus. Our Rogue leveling guide covers it.
For Humans, note that your race no longer pushes you toward swords. Forever replaced the old racial weapon specializations, as our racial changes story explains.
For Mages and Warlocks, one-handed swords are a caster option now that Blizzard says spellcaster-oriented weapons “now grant spell damage and healing.” If you need staves as well, our Staves guide has those trainers. Every Forever guide we have is on our World of Warcraft hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Horde players learn Swords in WoW Forever? From Archibald in the Undercity’s War Quarter. He is the only Horde weapon master who teaches One-Handed and Two-Handed Swords.
Where do Alliance players learn Swords? From Woo Ping at Weller’s Arsenal in Stormwind’s Trade District. No other Alliance city teaches them.
Where do I train Two-Handed Swords? From the same two weapon masters, Woo Ping and Archibald. It is a separate skill from One-Handed Swords, at about 10 silver.
Can Hunters learn Swords in WoW Forever? Yes. Hunters can train both One-Handed and Two-Handed Swords.
Can Paladins learn Swords? Yes. Paladins can train both. Alliance Paladins go to Stormwind, and Horde Paladins go to the Undercity.
Can Rogues use two-handed swords? No. Rogues can only train One-Handed Swords.
How much does it cost to learn Swords? About 10 silver per skill at launch, paid once. Good reputation with the city’s faction lowers it a little.