World Of Warcraft: Best Female Characters (2024)

World of Warcraft has decades worth of exciting, ruthless, and captivating female characters. Many of them are both loved and hated for their actions throughout the game. Whether they are heroes, villains, or somewhere in the gray area, there are some that certainly stand out.

Some have in-depth stories spanning most of the series' existence. Other female characters are more subtle, with less information about them, yet they’re still fascinating. Multidimensional characters are often entertaining and entice you to guess at their motives and what they'll do next. It's also a relatable aspect that can make characters so interesting. Fleshed out female characters are abundant in Warcraft, and are one of many reasons why so many players are invested in Warcraft lore.

Updated on June 21, 2024, by Alfredo Robelo: The World of Warcraft universe is vast, filled with powerful and interesting characters all around. With so many iconic choices to choose from, we've decided to update this list to include even more powerful examples of female characters, covering almost every era of the game.

12 Vanessa VanCleef

Assassination Runs In The Family

Vanessa VanCleef is the daughter of a well-known character, Edwin VanCleef. Her father was a member of the Stonemason’s Guild that rebuilt Stormwind after it was sacked by the horde. Mistreatment by the nobles resulted in the formation of the Defias Brotherhood which rose up against Stormwind’s nobility.

Edwin was slain by player characters in front of his daughter, who was only a child. She survived and planned to continue her father’s work in Westfall in secret. A master of poisons, she briefly led the Defias until forced to fake her death. Years later, she returned, but the Defias turned against her and no longer cared for the innocents of Westfall. She concludes that she must stop trying to fulfill her father’s legacy, as the Defias were no longer made of those who wanted justice for their mistreatment.

11 Lilian Voss

A Troubled Forsaken

The Forsaken race is a troubled one at heart, since most of them used to be Humans who were horrified by the Undead, and are now one of those same horrific monsters. Lilian Voss had a journey much like that, since she used to be part of the Scarlet Crusade, and on her death was raised as a Forsaken.

In time, Lilian grew to accept her role in the world, and even became a leader to her Forsaken brethren. Even for Forsaken players, Lilian is a character that is easy to relate to, since she even looks like one of them, as opposed to Sylvanas, who barely looks Undead at all. Lilian Voss remains a key figure for the Forsaken, and is now part of the Desolate Council that leads them.

10 Lady Liadrin

The Greatest Paladin Of The Horde

The matriarch of the blood elf paladin order, the Blood Knights, is a fierce and hardened soldier. Liadrin was once a devout priestess but lost faith after the light failed to protect her people from the Scourge. She began to build her combat abilities with ruthless aggression to subdue her guilt.

When the blood elves seized a Naaru, Liadrin used it as a source of empowerment. She didn’t want to serve the light, but master it, eventually becoming one of the most powerful paladins. Liadrin formed the Blood Knights and gradually built a better relationship with the light. She has fought valiantly for the Horde and Azeroth, facing personal devastation. Despite losing mentors and students, facing magic addiction, and betrayal, she continues to teach paladins the way of the light.

9 Draka

The Mother Of Thrall

Draka was born into the Frostwolf clan of Draenor as a sickly child. She was discriminated against by most orcs as they believed she brought dishonor to their race. Draka sought out a cure for her sickness by going on a hunt. However, it was the journey of the hunt that had defined her. She grew strong and determined, catching the eye of Durotan, who became her mate.

Together, they had a child named Go’el, known more famously as Thrall. However, they were betrayed and killed by their own guards. Draka’s soul would then pass on into Maldraxxus of the Shadowlands. She was trained as a spy and adapted well to her new environment.

8 Lady Vashj

From Elven Royalty To Naga Warrior

Vashj was born as the daughter of Lestharia Vashj, ruler of the Highbourne city, Vashj’ir. She served as a handmaiden to Queen Azshara and displayed obsessive devotion to her. She believed it to be her birthright to serve the queen. When Azshara offered Tyrande Whisperwind a place as a handmaiden, Vashj felt so threatened that she attempted to kill Tyrande. After The Sundering, she was turned into a Naga.

She joins Illidan’s forces in Outland and reigned over Serpentshrine Cavern before being defeated by players. Her soul then went to Maldraxxus to become a spymaster. Vashj kept her naga appearance as she felt her Highbourne elven form was only ever appreciated for her beauty instead of her cunning. She loyally served the House of Eyes, determined to become a Margrave through her skill and relentlessness. In Maldraxxus, she also grew interested in the hobby of fishing. You can bring her items from places in her past to create a fishing lure. She is grateful for the memories associated with the items.

7 Tess Greymane

Heir To The Gilnean Throne

Tess is the daughter of Genn Greymane, the king of Gilneas, a realm that was assaulted by feral Worgen who turned most of the people there into more Worgens. Tess is one of the few Gilneans that isn't herself a Worgen, but due to the fondness she has for her people, she sees little distinction between a Worgen and a Human. This even led her to try and become a Worgen herself (to better understand her people), but was ultimately dissuaded from doing so by her father.

This all makes her a great political leader, but she's also more than capable of fending for herself. During the Legion crisis, Tess was part of the Uncrowned, a secret organization of Rogues where their leaders, Tess among them, were the deadliest assassins you could find in all of Azeroth.

6 Alleria Windrunner

One Of The Few Remaining High Elves

Alleria Windrunner is a character as old as Warcraft itself, having been a part of the wars that transpired even before the original game. She ended up tangled in the war against the Legion far before the events of the Legion expansion, and her connection to the Void will certainly have big repercussions in the plots to come.

We are yet to see how her plot will play out, if she'll be corrupted by her power like her sister Sylvanas was, or if she will stand tall against this challenge alongside Azeroth to face the Void threat. Either way, she remains one of the strongest female characters, and possibly one of the most powerful in the story overall.

5 Valeera Sanguinar

Allied To No Faction

Valeera lost her parents at an early age when they were killed by bandits. She learned to survive as a thief but was eventually caught and sold as a gladiator. For a time, she trained with Broll Bearmantle and an amnesiac, Varian Wrynn. They grew fiercely close as a team and eventually escaped their bonds. After Varian regained his memory, they aimed to win back the throne of Stormwind. During their travels, Valeera was accursed with fel addiction and demon possession.

Despite the torture she faced, she remained strong. Regaining her strength and mind, she reunited with her companions and served Varian loyally as a guard and spy. She also grew protective over Varian’s son, Anduin, and served him once he became king. Despite being a blood elf, Valeera neither stands with the horde nor the alliance. Her allegiances are to those she cares for most.

4 Alexstrasza

Leader Of The Red Dragonflight

The Queen of Dragons has proven to be one of the most resilient women of the Warcraft series. She was one of the five proto-drakes to defeat Galakrond and became the dragon Aspect of all life on Azeroth. She strives to protect all life, fighting various foes over several millennia. Alexstrasza’s strength has been proven time and time again. She fought Deathwing one on one, and he barely survived.

She has suffered greatly in her service to Azeroth, facing enslavement, torture, betrayal, and loss. Yet her heart has never been tainted, and she claims to love all life. Her compassion is one of her most defining traits. She even goes as far as to state she would forgive her torturers if they genuinely wanted her forgiveness.

3 Tyrande Whisperwind

The Night Warrior Of The Moon

Tyrande Whisperwind is a character involved in many stories across the Warcraft universe, mostly due to the long lifespan of elvenkind. While she was, at first, mostly used as an object of obsession for Illidan, she has grown into her own self, able to fight for her people and becoming the avatar of the moon goddess.

Throughout the years, we've seen her soft and protective side when caring for Malfurion, and her wrathful side when facing Sylvanas. She's one of the most complex characters of the franchise, and at the same time, one of the most powerful, with her Night Warrior side being so overwhelming that she could get lost in her rage.

2 Sylvanas Windrunner

The Banshee Queen

Sylvanas is one of the most well known female characters of the Warcraft universe. She is either loved or hated by players, but is without doubt one of the most interesting characters in the game. Sylvanas began as a dedicated Ranger-General who died defending her homeland from the Scourge. She was risen into undeath as a banshee and tormented by the Lich King. Eventually, she regained her body and built the Forsaken. Undead characters grew fiercely loyal to her due to her saving them from enslavement.

Sylvanas would later join forces with The Jailer, becoming immensely powerful and even more ruthless. Her goal was to remake the universe so that no one would suffer an afterlife they didn’t want. The Jailer, in fact, planned for everyone to serve him and Sylvanas refused. He then reunited the two halves of her soul that were split when she died as a punishment. Sylvanas awoke and would face justice for her war crimes.

1 Jaina Proudmoore

One Of The Most Recognizable Characters Of The Franchise

One of the most powerful mages of Azeroth, Jaina is an iconic female Warcraft character. Her lengthy story features a student of magic who wanted nothing more than peace. She chose to betray her father in an effort to avoid war, resulting in his death. Jaina also refused to stand beside Arthas during the Culling of Stratholme. These acts weighed heavily on her heart. One of her greatest losses was the destruction of Theramore at the hands of the horde.

Driven mad with a lust for vengeance, Jaina almost destroyed Orgrimmar. She returned home to Kul’Tiras and faced her family, her people, and herself. Learning to forgive herself was a satisfying arc for her character and easily makes her one of the best female characters in World of Warcraft.