Ethan Crossfield 
World of Warcraft: Forever, Blizzard's newly announced take on the vanilla era, may be preparing one of the most consequential class changes in its design: a Shaman tank role. The possibility is especially notable because Forever will expand classic WoW without raising the level cap beyond 60, making new class functions a potential part of its long-term horizontal progression.
What happened
Announced at BlizzCon for a November 4 launch, World of Warcraft: Forever will revisit the original game's era while adding more than 1,000 quests, new dungeons and raids, a new Skyborne race, additional race-and-class combinations, and a realmless structure. The factions will also gain combinations that were unavailable in vanilla WoW, including Undead Paladins and Orc Mages for the Horde, plus Priest Gnomes and Shaman Dwarves for the Alliance. Both sides will therefore have access to Paladins and Shamans. The class lineup has prompted speculation that Blizzard could go further by giving Shamans a genuine tank specialization or toolkit.
Why it matters
The Enhancement talent tree already contains several pieces that point toward a defensive Shaman build. Anticipation can increase dodge chance by up to 6%, Toughness can provide up to 10% more Stamina, and Spirit Weapons allows parries while improving threat generation when Rockbiter Weapon is active. Those tools do not confirm a complete tank role, but they could support Shaman tanking in five-player or six-player groups. A dedicated taunt, defensive item sets, or other additional mechanics would be needed to make the role reliable across more demanding content. The idea also has precedent: tank Shamans appeared in World of Warcraft Classic's Season of Discovery. Existing options such as Stoneskin, Windfall Totem, and Guardian Totems further support the possibility that the class could be built for greater resilience.
What to watch next
Forever's beta begins on September 17 and runs until October 21, giving players a chance to determine whether the Shaman has hidden tank features before launch. Blizzard has described the project as community-driven, and player interest in tank Shamans could influence additions that are not revealed immediately. Beta access requires either the $59.99 Skyborne Epic Pack or the $79.99 Warcraft Forever Collection. The less expensive base Skyborne Pack does not include beta access, although it provides early name reservation, the Skyborne race, and its starting zone. Forever's influence may already extend to modern WoW as well, with Midnight Season 3 set to introduce Night Elf, Troll, and Undead Paladins.
Key takeaways for players
- A Shaman tank is possible, but Blizzard has not confirmed the role.
- Enhancement already includes dodge, Stamina, parry, and threat-related talents.
- The September 17 beta should reveal whether dedicated tank tools are present.
- Tank Shamans have a recent precedent in Classic's Season of Discovery.
- Beta access is tied to the Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection.
Forever access options mentioned in the source
| Pack | Price | Beta access | Included features noted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyborne Epic Pack | $59.99 | Yes | Beta access |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | $79.99 | Yes | Beta access |
| Base Skyborne Pack | Not stated | No | Early name reservation, Skyborne race, starting zone |
Expert View
A Shaman tank would give Forever a meaningful identity beyond simply adding more vanilla-style content. It could also make horizontal progression feel more substantial by changing how existing classes function rather than only extending the quest and dungeon pool. Blizzard should avoid treating a few defensive talents as proof of a finished role, but the beta is arriving at exactly the right time to test whether this is a deliberate design direction or merely an intriguing possibility.
