The Skyborne in World of Warcraft: Forever have four racials on each faction. Both Windshaper (Horde) and High Order (Alliance) Skyborne get Walk on Air, Wind Blessed and Elemental Insight; Windshapers add Skysight, a movement speed boost, and High Order Skyborne add Read Ley Line, a health and mana regeneration boost.
Blizzard changed most of these numbers between the race’s reveal and the November 4 launch, so the figures in its original Skyborne post are out of date. Below is every racial in Blizzard’s own wording with its launch values, the Attuned and Charged buffs that power up the two active racials, and the full history of changes. Values come from Blizzard’s Meet the New Skyborne post and its development notes, the last set before launch, and are checked against the hotfixes as of November 7.
Every Skyborne Racial at Launch
| Racial | Who gets it | Type | Launch effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk on Air | Both | Active | Glide downward through the air for 10 seconds; 90-second cooldown |
| Wind Blessed | Both | Passive | 2% increased melee, ranged and spellcasting Haste |
| Elemental Insight | Both | Passive | Damage to Elementals increased by 5% |
| Skysight | Windshaper (Horde) | Active | 15% increased movement speed for 15 seconds; 30% while Charged |
| Read Ley Line | High Order (Alliance) | Active | 50% increased Health and Mana regeneration for 15 seconds; 100% while Attuned |
Blizzard’s notes spell two of these differently in places, “Wind-Blessed” and “Read Leyline,” but they are the same abilities.
The Shared Racials
Walk on Air. Blizzard’s description is “Glide downward through the air for 10 seconds.” It works like a short slow fall: jump off a ledge, use it, and float down instead of dropping. The October 15 build cut its cooldown to 90 seconds (was 2 minutes). Blizzard’s Hunter and Druid deep dive adds that racial abilities are “now usable while shapeshifted,” and names Walk on Air, so a Skyborne Druid can glide in animal form.
Wind Blessed (passive). “Increased melee, ranged, and spellcasting Haste,” always on. It launched at 2%, after starting the beta at 1% and spending a week and a half at 3%. Haste speeds up attacks and casts for every class the Skyborne can play, which makes this the racial that matters most in combat.
Elemental Insight (passive). “Damage to Elementals increased by 5%.” It only applies against Elementals, which fits a race whose story is built around wind spirits.
The Windshaper Racial: Skysight
Blizzard first described Skysight as “Receive an Elemental Blessing increasing run speed by 10%.” At launch it is a 15% movement speed increase lasting 15 seconds, and the October 15 build made it castable while moving.
The bigger change is Charged. Per Blizzard’s notes: “Using Skysight at an elemental convergence now also grants ‘Charged’ for 1 hour. While Charged, the benefit of Skysight is a 30% movement speed increase.” Charged “persists through death, and is removed upon entering a raid.” So the routine for a Windshaper is to use Skysight whenever you pass an elemental convergence, then enjoy a stronger speed burst for the next hour.
The High Order Racial: Read Ley Line
Blizzard’s original wording was “Activate a ley line to gain 100% increased Health and Mana regeneration.” At launch, Read Ley Line “increases Mana and Health regeneration by 50%, with a 15-second duration,” and the October 15 build made it castable while moving.
The 100% figure now comes from Attuned: “Using Read Leyline at a Ley Line now also grants ‘Attuned’ for 1 hour. While Attuned, the benefit of Read Leyline is increased to 100% regeneration increase.” Like Charged, Attuned “persists through death, and is removed upon entering a raid.”
One catch for Druids: Read Ley Line “cannot be used while Innervate is active, and will be replaced by Innervate as a more powerful effect.”
Where to Find Ley Lines and Elemental Convergences
Both are spots in the open world. The October 15 notes “increased the number of spawn locations of Elemental Convergences and Leylines in most Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor zones,” so you will pass them while questing on either continent. Because Attuned and Charged last an hour and survive death but are removed when you enter a raid, they matter most while leveling and out in the world. Blizzard has not published a cooldown for Skysight or Read Ley Line.
How the Skyborne Racials Changed Before Launch
| Racial | At reveal | October 15 build | Launch (October 26 final pass) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Blessed | 1% Haste | 3% Haste | 2% Haste |
| Walk on Air | 2-minute cooldown | 90-second cooldown | 90-second cooldown |
| Skysight | 10% run speed | Castable while moving | 15% for 15 seconds; 30% while Charged |
| Read Ley Line | 100% regeneration | Castable while moving; minimum duration 30 seconds | 50% for 15 seconds; 100% while Attuned |
| Elemental Insight | 5% vs Elementals | No change | No change |
The November 2 notes also corrected the base stats of every race, including “High Order and Windshaper Skyborne base stats.” Our racial changes story covers what the October passes did to every other race.
Are the Skyborne Racials Good?
They are solid all-rounders rather than standouts. Wind Blessed’s Haste helps every class the Skyborne can play, and Walk on Air is a handy travel and escape tool, but the Skyborne have no stun, fear break or stealth like the strongest PvP racials. Their actives shine while leveling, when you pass convergences and ley lines all day. For class-by-class picks, see our best race and class combos and best Druid race guides.
The Skyborne can be Druids, Hunters, Rogues and Warriors on both sides, plus Shamans for the Horde’s Windshapers and Mages for the Alliance’s High Order. Our guide to unlocking the Skyborne covers the purchase that includes the race, and our guide to getting to Zephras Isle covers their starting zone. Every other guide is on our World of Warcraft hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Skyborne racials in WoW Forever? Walk on Air, Wind Blessed and Elemental Insight for both factions, plus Skysight for Horde Windshapers and Read Ley Line for Alliance High Order Skyborne.
What does Wind Blessed do? It gives 2% increased melee, ranged and spellcasting Haste at all times.
What is Charged in WoW Forever? A one-hour buff a Windshaper gets by using Skysight at an elemental convergence. While Charged, Skysight gives 30% movement speed instead of 15%.
What is Attuned in WoW Forever? A one-hour buff a High Order Skyborne gets by using Read Ley Line at a Ley Line. While Attuned, Read Ley Line gives 100% regeneration instead of 50%.
Can Skyborne use Walk on Air in Druid forms? Yes. Blizzard says racial abilities, Walk on Air included, are usable while shapeshifted.