Initialism. “After the dark portal.” The year the Dark Portal opened between Draenor and Azeroth marks the beginning of the Horde-Alliance conflict and of the Warcraft franchise as a whole, as seen in Warcraft: Orcs and Humans.

Al’Akir is the elemental lord of air on Azeroth. He is perhaps the most cunning of the elemental lords.

Alleria Windrunner was a high elven ranger-captain of Quel’Thalas. She was among the Alliance leaders in the Second War (year 5-8) and soon after joined Khadgar and Turalyon in their journey beyond the Dark Portal, where she and Turalyon went missing for decades after the Portal’s destruction. She re-appeared as a void elf during the Legion’s third invasion (approx. year …

The Alliance has historically been the main alliance of human kingdoms & their allies. Alliance of Lordaeron: The Alliance of Lordaeron was formed to stop the Orcish Horde’s invasion of Azeroth during the Second War (year 4). It included the high elves of Quel’Thalas (now known as blood elves). Alliance (playable faction), AKA Grand Alliance: After the fall of Lordaeron …

Aman’Thul, Highfather of the Pantheon, is the first known titan to have awakened. He has since set on a search to find other titans, and thus the Pantheon was born.

Sir Anduin Lothar from Stormwind was the last descendant of the Arathi bloodline (they founded the first human civilization on Azeroth). Anduin Lothar was an important figure and a close friend of king Llane Wrynn of Stormwind. After Stormwind’s fall in the First War, he led the survivors, including young Varian Wrynn (king Llane’s son), to Lordaeron. Varian named his …

Arcane is the magic of order, and is perhaps the school associated with the word “magic” the most frequently. Arcane can be used construct, destroy or conjure things, including frost and fire (not to be confused with shamans’ ability to call upon these elements directly from nature). It’s visually characterized by a bluish purple hue. Arcane magic is used by …

Archimonde was one of the three leaders of the eredar (others being Kil’jaeden and Velen). After Sargeras assembled the eredar into his army, Archimonde became a highest-ranking general of the Burning Legion alongside Kil’jaeden.

Arthas Menethil was the prince of Lordaeron around the start of the Third War. However, as the Scourge tore the Kingdom of Lordaeron apart, Arthas chased them until he acquired the cursed blade of Frostmourne. Lich King Ner’zhul used the blade as a conduit to manipulate Arthas and eventually turn him into a mad servant of the Scourge.

Azshara was once queen of the night elves. She and her Highborne followers reached severe extents of lust for arcane magic, which Sargeras exploited to get them on his side and try to invade Azeroth in the War of the Ancients. After their defeat, Azshara and her kin sunk to the sea floor and were mutated into naga.