Skyborne detailed: a level 1 to 12 start on Zephras Isle, Horde Shamans or Alliance Mages, and a 29.99 unlock

The What's Next panel detailed the Skyborne, the new race announced at the opening ceremony. Their home, Zephras Isle, is a brand new starting experience from level 1 to 12. The Skyborne are elemental hybrids and they are not neutral: a Skyborne character joins the Horde or the Alliance from the start.

Class access differs by faction. Horde Skyborne can be Shamans and Alliance Skyborne can be Mages, and both factions can play Warriors, Hunters, Rogues and Druids.

The race is paid. Wowhead reports that the lowest tier that unlocks the Skyborne, the Skyborne Heroic Pack, is listed at 29.99 US dollars or 29.99 euros on the Battle.net shop, and also carries beta access, early name reservation and in-game cosmetics. Blizzard's official Forever page states the same requirement: access to the Skyborne race and the Zephras Isle starting questline requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition. Forever itself stays included with an active subscription.

Wowhead's first look adds detail from the models shown in the auditorium: Skyborne Druids get special sky-blue Bear, Cat, Travel and Boomkin forms, with no Tree form shown so far, Alliance Skyborne Mages follow the Kirin Tor's teachings, and customization runs deep, with numerous skin tones, hair styles, eyes and markings.