The Human Alliance of Lordaeron has existed since the Orcs first came through the Dark Portal. Resilient and courageous, they face their enemies clad in imposing armor and armed with sharp steel. The Warcraft III: Reforged art team took inspiration from many sources to capture the human spirit and tenacity, including cinematic trailers, original and new concept art, and more.

HEROES

Arthas Menethil (Paladin)

Empowered by the Light, the mighty Paladins brandish both warhammer and holy fire in battle against all who would trample the meek and innocent.

When the Undead Scourge threatened to destroy his homeland, Prince Arthas Menethil was willing to pay any price to save it—but he never looked this good. Arthas and other paladins you played in Warcraft III® are amplified by keeping the aesthetics just like you remember: imposing shoulder pads, towering war mauls and bulky librams. Glorious!

Jaina Proudmoore (Archmage)

Hailing from the magical kingdom of Dalaran, the Archmagi represent the pinnacle of arcane power.

Though all she wanted to do was to study, Jaina Proudmoore found herself embroiled in a war against an enemy she was woefully unprepared to deal with. The reforged Jaina sports flowy, elaborate robes, her signature staff (inspired by World of Warcraft®’s rendition), and some new surprises.

In multiplayer, the erstwhile “Antonidas” Archmage received an updated model that brings out the small details we could only imagine displaying with ~700 polygons. The new model boasts 15,000 polygons and detailed aged skin, a long, flowy beard, an ornate circlet adorning his head, and much more. Not into that? Don’t worry. In multiplayer matches, your archmagi may very well end up being someone else entirely.

Muradin Bronzebeard (Mountain King)

The Mountain Kings, or ‘Thanes’ as they are known in Khaz Modan, live to test themselves against worthy opponents.

A founding member of the Explorer’s League, Muradin Bronzebeard went to Northrend searching for Frostmourne, a mythical runeblade with a terrifying history. Muradin’s imposing beard and distinct helm are heavily inspired by his Heroes of the Storm™ rendition.

The stout Mountain King redesigns for multiplayer draw inspiration from World of Warcraft®’s iconic dwarven look. Clad in scale armor and furs, these Thanes sport large, intricate dwarven shields while keeping their undeniable Alliance troth evident and intact.

Kael’thas Sunstrider (Blood Mage)

Refugees seeking to increase their remaining magical powers at any cost, the Blood Mages’ passions lead them close to the darkest depths of madness.

Long before he had any setbacks in Outland, Kael’thas was already determined to save his people at any price. His updated model reflects his regal status and terrifying arcane might.

While the aesthetics of High Elven civilization weren’t yet clearly established when Warcraft III was released—the High Elves used mostly Human architecture buildings—years of characterization in World of Warcraft guided the art team in recreating the Blood Mage’s look. This undeniably elven spellcaster now has the slender gait that you’d expect from a Quel’Thalas native, and the intricate, ornate, and monumental shoulder pads you’d expect from members of the Alliance.

UNITS

Sorceress

As terrifying as they are vain, elven sorceresses whimsically turn the tide of battle by slowing the fabric of time around their enemies, or turning them into helpless sheep. Baaaa!

The new Sorceress proudly displays her allegiance and the Eye of Dalaran on her cloak, and wears stylish, beautiful armor. But a Sorceress isn’t just content with manipulating space-time; it’s important to do so while looking fabulous. She goes as far as checking her nails while idling to ensure that her fashion sense is as devastating to her enemies as her spells.

Mortar Team
The fearless Dwarven Mortar Teams are masters of explosive devices, and they all share a common passion: pounding fortified enemy emplacements to dust.

To reforge the Mortar Team, the developers looked at concept art that was drawn by Samwise Didier for the original release of Warcraft III. These concepts showcased what the Mortar Team was supposed to look like—a crack commando unit specialized in demolitions—and the new model can finally bring that concept art to life, from the thick mortar shells to heavy artillery pieces and safety equipment.

Gryphon Rider

The Wildhammer clan of Aerie Peak, armed with lightning-powered Stormhammers, ride proud and implacable gryphons into battle and instill fear in the Alliance’s enemies.

While the mount half of the original model was much more prominent in order to keep it unambiguous on a chaotic battlefield, the reforged Gryphon Rider affords much more detail on the dwarf. Zoom in close enough, and you’ll recognize the Wildhammer clan’s unmistakable tattoos on the shirtless rider. A small buckler and awe-inspiring hammer complete this fearsome warrior’s look.

We hope you enjoyed this look at the Humans. Join us soon for the next installment of this series, where we’ll be giving you a closer glimpse at the reforged Orcs. Want to see more of the new models? Check out our previews of the Night Elves and Undead!

Warcraft III: Reforged launches January 28, 2020, and there’s still time to prepare to join the fight on launch day. Pre-purchase now and gain instant access to the multiplayer beta!

The demonic armies of the Burning Legion might lack subtlety, but none can deny their status as the most ruthless killing machine Azeroth has ever seen. When reanimating the Scourge, the Warcraft III: Reforged game team used bone, torn flesh, and burial wraps to maintain a consistent, hellish identity across a diverse army of necromancers, demons, beasts, and reassembled monstrosities.

Tread with Caution: Spoilers for the Warcraft III Story Campaign Below!

HEROES

Arthas (Death Knight)

With vampiric runeblades and shadowy steeds, Death Knights serve as the Scourge’s mightiest generals.

By the time Arthas Menethil first appeared in-game as a Death Knight, he had committed several atrocities, completing his transition from noble paladin to sneering villain. With this model, the Warcraft III: Reforged art team strove to capture Arthas’s newfound darkness, along with the wear and tear his cape and armor sustained whilst butchering innocents.

While all Death Knights in the original game shared the same model, Warcraft III: Reforged introduces an additional, female Death Knight model, supported by a suite of new voice lines.

Tichondrius, Mal’Ganis, Varimathras, and Detheroc (Dread Lord)

Dread Lords are incredibly powerful demons, tasked by Kil’jaeden to watch over the Lich King Ner’zhul.

Warcraft III’s original Dread Lords were differentiated mainly by color. Because Tichondrius, Mal’Ganis, Varimathras, and Detheroc have such varied personalities, the Warcraft III: Reforged art team added a unique model for each one. Tichondrius has an imposing beard and green-tipped horns befitting of his immense power. Scheming Mal’Ganis has a hairless face with a wrinkle for every treachery he’s committed.

“Detheroc seems the schemer of the three brothers,” says Lead Producer Pete Stilwell, “waiting in the wings for opportunity. That sloth over thousands of years resulted in him… putting on a few ‘eL Bees.’”

What about Varimathras?

“Varimathras was the vainglorious brother,” says Pete. “His pride keeps him in shape. Definitely not a demon to skip leg day. There was also a trading card version of him with an exquisite pair of mutton chops that we couldn’t keep off his face.”

In addition to their single-player campaign appearances, all reforged Dread Lord models will be available in multiplayer.

Kel’Thuzad (Lich)

Immortal, undead liches serve the iron will of Ner’zhul with frost magic and necromantic spells.

The sardonic necromancer-turned-lich Kel’Thuzad, beloved by Warcraft fans everywhere, proves that you can be evil and still have a sense of humor. In addition to amping up Kel’Thuzad’s horns, tusks, and ornate armor, the art team iterated extensively on the chains that float around him, altering their flow and fine-tuning their size, ensuring that they augment his intimidating appearance without detracting from visual legibility.

Anub’arak (Crypt Lord)

These ancient behemoths ruled the subterranean kingdom Azjol-Nerub before their defeat and resurrection by the Scourge.

Anub’arak’s many eyes and teeth have been modeled in meticulous detail, along with the spines, wings, and armor that adorn his carapace. As with many hero units, multiple Crypt Lord models will be playable in multiplayer.

UNITS

Meat Wagon

The Meat Wagon strikes fear and woe into the hearts of even the most resolute defenders.

It was hard to make out what the original Meat Wagon flung from its patented Meat-A-Pult™. For better or worse, the reforged Meat Wagon boasts much greater fidelity, allowing you to view its arm-flopping corpse-projectiles in all their gory glory.

Crypt Fiend

These aberrant creatures summon swarms of vile insects and expel webs to incapacitate their enemies.

Technical limitations prevented Warcraft III’s modelers from replicating the eight-limbed design depicted in the original Crypt Fiend concept art. The reforged Crypt Fiend regains its missing legs, along with burial wrappings to represent its mummified origins, and a truly terrifying visage.

Frost Wyrm

Skeletal dragons that radiate cold power and think of nothing other than serving their dark master.

Initially, the Warcraft III: Reforged art team modeled the Frost Wyrm with realistic (aka massive) wingspan. The model looked great by itself, but gameplay testing revealed that several Frost Wyrms now obscured view of everything beneath them. As with Warcraft III’s other flying units, the artists ultimately sought to strike a balance between winged majesty and visual clarity.

We hope you enjoyed this look at the Undead. Join us soon for the next installment of this series, where we’ll be giving you a closer glimpse at the reforged Humans. Want to see more of the new models? Check out our preview of the Night Elves!

Warcraft III: Reforged launches January 28, 2020, and there’s still time to prepare to join the fight on launch day. Pre-purchase now and gain instant access to the multiplayer beta!