Alliance

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Alliance (联盟)
Type	Neutral Character (AI)
Species/Race	Multiracial coalition, represented by humans, Dwarves, Gnomes, Night Elves, and Draenei 554
Occupation/Role	Major Azerothian political and military coalition; principal rival of the Horde 86 370
Leadership	King Varian Wrynn served as Alliance High King before his Sha corruption; Prince Anduin Wrynn later led the Alliance Resistance 919
Status	Fragmented into three blocs during the Sha crisis 919
First Appearance	Alliance forces defend the Stonetalon Mountains against the Horde 86

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early conflict and the Mount Hyjal alliance

The Alliance first appears fighting the Horde in the Stonetalon Mountains. Its defenses were breached by a Horde offensive supported by Skyreaver air superiority and catapult bombardment. 86

When Medivh revealed his role in opening the Dark Portal and warned of the Burning Legion, Jaina Proudmoore committed the Alliance to a temporary united army with the Horde and Night Elves. The three factions assembled their forces at Mount Hyjal. 116

At Mount Hyjal, the Alliance held the frontline against the Legion and rapidly built stone fortifications from quarried mountain rock. 124

Wars with the Horde

The Alliance–Horde relationship repeatedly shifted between cooperation against existential threats and open warfare. Their second summit collapsed over Garona and stolen black dragon eggs, leaving battles active in Ashenvale, Alterac, and the Burning Steppes. 368 370

King Varian formally declared war on the Horde after Undercity was retaken, ordering Alliance attacks on Horde territory in the Burning Steppes and Badlands. 737

Guardian Med'an later failed to reunite the Alliance and Horde against Yogg-Saron; the recent war and mutual distrust prevented a new joint campaign. 746

Expansion and renewed strength

The return of Turalyon's Alliance Expedition was celebrated in Stormwind. During the ceremony, the Army of the Light, Alleria Windrunner's High Elves, Stromgarde, the Wildhammer Dwarves, and Dalaran each requested to join or return to the Alliance. 554

This expansion strengthened Stormwind's position as the Alliance's leading human power, but did not eliminate internal tensions. The Night Elves and Draenei remained allied as equals rather than unquestioning subjects of Varian's authority. 554 615

Pandaria and the Sha crisis

The Alliance dispatched an expeditionary fleet to Pandaria and established Thunder Fortress as its initial beachhead. Its forces included elite troops from every Alliance race, iron-plated warships, and Gnomish copies of Goblin cannons. 852

After the Sha corrupted Varian, Tyrande, Jaina, and Moira, the Alliance split into three factions:

• Varian's faction — held Stormwind and sought to resurrect Y'Shaarj. 919
• Alliance Resistance — led by Anduin from Lakeshire, opposing Varian's Sha-controlled rule. 918 919
• Army of the Light — remained an observing faction and did not intervene directly. 919

Composition and Organization

Major forces

Force	Composition and role	Notes
Seventh Legion	Core field army composed of the Lordaeron Guard, Gelkis Warband, Arathi militia, Kul Tiras Royal Guard, and armed refugees.	Its recruits combined the military methods of several human kingdoms, developing into a highly coordinated elite force. 127 138
Silver Hand	Human and Dwarven paladins, including Duke Leoric von Zeldig and Halford Wyrmbane.	Provided experienced commanders and powerful Holy Light combatants. 127
First Legion	Holy clerics, paladins, priests, Church forces, and Northshire Abbey reserves.	Particularly effective against Forsaken undead due to the Holy Light. 402 923
High Elf battle mages	Long-lived arcane specialists attached to Jaina's forces.	Created defensive arrays, reinforced armor with anti-magic enchantments, and performed large-scale battlefield spellcasting. 127 143
Silver Covenant	High Elf rangers and human mages under Vereesa Windrunner.	Joined the Alliance after the Blood Elves' alignment with the Horde became irreversible. 402
Alliance Fifth Legion	Dwarven and Gnomish force led by Muradin Bronzebeard.	Included upgraded Gnomish aircraft and gryphon riders. 872

Returning and incoming factions

Faction	Alliance status	Chapter
Army of the Light	Requested admission through High Archbishop Turalyon.	554
High Elves	Alleria united High Elf rangers, Scryer magisters, and the Silver Covenant as the “rightful High Elves” returning to the Alliance.	554
Kingdom of Stromgarde	Requested to return to the Alliance.	554
Wildhammer Dwarves	Returned to the Alliance under Kurdran Wildhammer.	554
Dalaran	Abandoned neutrality and requested return after its conflicts with the Blood Elves.	554

Military Capabilities

Combined-arms warfare

• The Alliance fields infantry, paladins, priests, mages, Dwarven and Gnomish engineers, musketeers, hunters, and cavalry in integrated formations. 124 127
• Its High Elf battle mages prepare large magic arrays capable of vaporizing undead formations, freezing enemy forces, and unleashing cascading arcane barrages. 143
• The First Legion's Holy Light is exceptionally lethal to Forsaken forces, making it a natural counter to undead armies. 402

Engineering and technology

• Gnomish engineers created combat tanks with thick steel plating, magic-immunity rune scrolls, energy cannons, and grenade systems for the Mount Hyjal campaign. 127
• Alliance Gnomes and Dwarves later recognized their naval inferiority to the Horde's Iron Fleet and began studying ironclad construction and Goblin steamship technology. 613 614
• The Alliance First Fleet was devastated by the Iron Fleet, losing more than a hundred ships in a few hours while failing to significantly damage the Horde's aircraft carriers. 608

Naval forces

• The Alliance First Fleet combined Stormwind, Dwarven, and Theramore naval forces. 606
• Its destruction near Stormheim exposed the Alliance's dependence on conventional sailing vessels and intensified Stormwind's effort to develop iron warships. 608 613
• The Night Elf fleet remained one of the Alliance's strongest surviving naval assets after the First Fleet's defeat. 615

Relationships

• Horde — Primary rival. The two factions fought repeatedly, yet formed temporary coalitions against the Burning Legion, the qiraji, and Kil'jaeden. 116 410 610
• Night Elves — Initially joined the Alliance and Horde at Mount Hyjal against the Burning Legion; later became a powerful but politically independent Alliance partner. 116 615
• Army of the Light — Requested entry into the Alliance under Turalyon, but later remained neutral during the Alliance's Sha-driven fracture. 554 919
• Lordaeron Alliance — Rival human coalition formed under Calia Menethil with Gilneas, Alterac, and Stromgarde; its emergence threatened Stormwind Alliance legitimacy. 644
• Alliance Resistance — Anduin Wrynn's anti-Sha faction, formed from Alliance forces unwilling to follow Varian after his corruption. 918 919

Notable Quotes

“For the Alliance!” 402 554