Horde

Biodata

Name	Horde
Alias(es)	部落 (original); Old Horde; New Horde; Iron Horde
Species/Race	Multi-racial faction, principally including Orcs, Trolls, Tauren, Blood Elves, Goblins, and Forsaken allies at different points
Occupation/Role	Military and political coalition
Status	Active
First Appearance	30

History

First invasion of Azeroth

The Horde launched a coordinated Orcish invasion that destroyed Stormwind City, occupied Elwynn Forest, killed King Llane, and forced Anduin Lothar to evacuate surviving refugees, including Prince Varian. Its Orc warriors were described as green-skinned, physically powerful, intelligent, and capable of coordinated siege tactics. 30 34 37

Orgrim Doomhammer became Great Chieftain and proclaimed victory from the ruins of Stormwind, where Horde warriors searched for survivors. Under his command, the Horde began its conquest of the northern kingdoms. 34

The Horde expanded its forces through alliances and dark magic:

• Forest Trolls — supplied maps, mountain-climbing support, and forces for the northern campaign. 55 71
• Death Knights — Gul'dan created mounted undead warriors from the souls of Shadow Council warlocks placed in dead bodies; they served as cavalry, vanguard, and dark-magic support. 47
• Ogre mages — Gul'dan used a Rune Stone altar to transform ogres into stronger, two-headed spellcasters. 75 78
• Dragonmaw Clan — worked on further support for the Horde and later employed Red Dragons in its campaigns. 47 79
• Human collaborators — Alterac's ruler negotiated non-resistance in exchange for the Horde sparing his territory. 55 81

Following a surprise attack at Hillsbrad, Doomhammer ordered a withdrawal once the Horde had secured a forward position rather than pursuing total annihilation of the Alliance force. The Horde then exploited timber, stone, and other resources in the Hillsbrad Foothills while preparing further offensives. 53 55

Defeat and fragmentation

The Horde reached and surrounded Lordaeron, aided by Alterac's betrayal, but its campaign collapsed after Gul'dan fled with two clans and the fleet. Doomhammer abandoned the battle's wider objective to punish Gul'dan's betrayal while Alliance forces pursued the retreating Horde. 83 88

After Doomhammer's defeat and capture, surviving Orc forces fractured. Rend and Maim Blackhand declared their intention to rebuild the Horde, while Ner'zhul later gathered surviving clans behind his own plan to save their people through new portals. 100 102 104

Ner'zhul reunited the Warsong, Burning Blade, Skullsplitter, and Bonechewer clans, with Death Knights and ogres under Bloodmaw's command. His attempt to open multiple portals ultimately devastated Draenor and left Grommash Hellscream leading stranded Horde survivors in a struggle to survive. 106 124 125

Thrall's Horde

Thrall later led a re-formed Horde in Kalimdor. He favored avoiding unnecessary battles and moving his people safely north, though Grommash Hellscream repeatedly challenged this restraint through unauthorized attacks. 217

By this period, the Horde had become a broader coalition rather than an Orc-only war host. Thrall identified himself as “leader of the Horde” when meeting Night Elf leaders alongside Jaina Proudmoore. 228

Garrosh's militarization

Garrosh Hellscream's rise as Great Chief transformed Orgrimmar into a militarized capital. Grommash Hold was moved from the Valley of Wisdom to the Valley of Strength, while steel spikes, workshops, forges, and expanding Kor'kron patrols reshaped the city around conquest. 553 686

Garrosh rejected Thrall's policy of restraint and declared an “all-out assault” against the Alliance. His plans included simultaneous attacks on Ashenvale, Stonetalon Mountains, Northwatch Hold, Andorhal, and Gilneas. 554 555 612

His leadership generated severe internal opposition:

• Baine Bloodhoof objected to wars that endangered the Horde's recovery and forced Tauren participation. 554 612
• Vol'jin openly challenged assaults on the Night Elves and Theramore. 554 612
• Alleria Windrunner complied with orders to protect Quel'Thalas but feared Garrosh's intentions toward the Sin'dorei. 553 555
• The Dragonmaw Clan attacked Blue Dragons while operating under the Horde banner, undermining the Horde's former reputation as an ally of the dragonflights. 614

Garrosh's campaigns captured Northwatch Hold and assembled a major siege force against Theramore. He delayed the attack while awaiting a powerful bomb and intended to use the war to secure his control over the Horde. 620 621

Rebellion and Forsaken diplomacy

As war against Garrosh approached, Vol'jin, Thrall, and Baine sought Forsaken reinforcements. Nathanos agreed to send 3,000 troops and supplies, while the Horde's anti-Garrosh leaders acknowledged both the value and risks of Forsaken involvement. 731

After Garrosh's fall, the Horde pursued a formal arrangement with the Forsaken rather than immediate absorption. The proposed terms included mutual military aid by consent, non-aggression, and trade; Vol'jin compared the arrangement to the Horde's earlier relationship with Theramore. 759 761

Iron Horde

An alternate-timeline Horde emerged after Garrosh returned to Draenor before Orcish demonic corruption. This Iron Horde retained uncorrupted Orcs, shamans, steel armor, firearms, tanks, tamed Gorons equipped as artillery platforms, and a rebuilt Dark Portal. 777

Led by Grommash Hellscream, the Iron Horde sought to conquer Azeroth. It demanded that independent clans such as the Frostwolf either submit or perish. 784 805

Leadership

Leader	Position and actions
Blackhand	Warchief during the early Orcish uprising; Grommash Hellscream's victories and popularity threatened his position. 30
Orgrim Doomhammer	Great Chieftain during the conquest of Stormwind and the Second War-era northern campaigns. 34 47
Ner'zhul	Reunited surviving clans after Doomhammer's defeat and led the portal project intended to save the Horde. 104 106 124
Thrall	Re-formed Horde leader who emphasized survival, restraint, and cooperation among allied peoples. 217 228
Garrosh Hellscream	Great Chief who militarized Orgrimmar and pursued expansionist war against the Alliance. 553 554
Vol'jin	Darkspear leader who coordinated opposition to Garrosh and negotiated with the Forsaken. 731 759

Member Peoples and Forces

Group	Role within the Horde
Orcs	The Horde's original core and largest military contingent during both the Old Horde and Garrosh's rule. 34 624
Forest Trolls	Early allies who provided intelligence, routes, and manpower during the northern invasion. 55 71
Death Knights	Gul'dan-created cavalry and vanguard units capable of dark magic. 47
Ogres and Ogre Mages	Heavy combatants, later enhanced through Gul'dan's two-headed-ogre ritual. 75 78
Tauren	Joined the New Horde; Baine later represented their interests against Garrosh's policies. 295 553
Blood Elves / Sin'dorei	Joined after Quel'Thalas rejected an Alliance alignment; their forces were later assigned to Garrosh's campaigns. 367 378 555
Goblins	Recognized members of the Horde whose machinery and weapons were vital to large-scale warfare. 370 721
Dragonmaw Orcs	A Horde-associated Orc clan that used dragons and later fought under Garrosh's banner. 47 575 614

Military Organization and Methods

• Combined-arms warfare — the Horde fields infantry, cavalry, shamans, warlocks, Death Knights, ogres, naval forces, siege engines, and specialized scouts. 47 214 621
• Strategic deception — Doomhammer used misinformation, hidden deployments, and surprise attacks to keep Alliance commanders uncertain of his position and intent. 48 54
• Forward positions — Horde forces established resource-gathering footholds in Hillsbrad and used captured territory to sustain future campaigns. 53 55
• Siege warfare — Garrosh's armies deployed nearly a hundred siege engines against Theramore and maintained large-scale military production in Orgrimmar. 621 686
• Kor'kron — elite Horde guards who served as the Great Chief's personal troops and enforced military order across Horde-held areas. 654 686

Relations

• Alliance — the Horde's principal enemy during its invasions of Stormwind, Lordaeron, and later Garrosh's campaigns in Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms. 34 83 554
• Forsaken — the Horde attempted to bring the Forsaken into its ranks; later negotiations instead produced a formal alliance framework based on trade, non-aggression, and voluntary military support. 667 759 761
• Quel'Thalas — the Sin'dorei joined the Horde because joining the Alliance was politically unacceptable to Prince Kael'thas, despite the deep historical hostility between Orcs and Elves. 367 378
• Dragonflights — the Old Horde enslaved Red Dragons, while Garrosh-era Dragonmaw forces attacked Blue Dragons, leaving the Horde's relationship with dragons deeply hostile. 79 614
• Frostwolf Clan — refused the Iron Horde's demand to join its conquest, rejecting a war that violated the clan's values. 784 797

Notable Quotes

“Lok'tar! For the Horde.” — Orgrim Doomhammer rallying his warriors after establishing a forward position in Hillsbrad. 53

“For every provocation from the Alliance, we shall retaliate in kind!” — Garrosh Hellscream declaring his war policy. 554