Orcs vs Elves: Choose Your Side in a Free Online War

In Valdoria Online there's no middle ground: you fight for the orcs or for the elves. It's a free orcs vs elves MMORPG for Windows where two factions fight over a frontier, each with its own capital, allied races and five classes. Here you'll see what sets each side apart, where they clash and how to pick yours, though nothing stops you from playing both.

• 2 warring factions
• 10 races, five per side
• 5 classes per race
• 60 levels
• 916 m between the two capitals

Two Realms, One Disputed Frontier

Valdoria is a 1,400 by 800 meter fantasy world split in two. In the south, the orc war clans rule the red moors; in the north, the elves guard the forest and the moon. Between them lies the Twin Roads Frontier, disputed territory where, outside Crossway, PvP rules.

Each side starts in its own lands, for levels 1 to 15, and the two capitals are about 916 meters apart as the crow flies. Beyond them, both factions share the Eastern Lands and the Peaks and Ash region up to level 60, with Windharbor as a haven for both, a shared auction house and six world bosses for groups from both sides. One catch: the other faction's travel portals won't answer you.

Play as an Orc: Redfang Bastion

Looking for a game where you can play as an orc? Here orcs aren't just the next enemy to kill: they're half the world. They live in the Fang Moors, a red land of gnolls, bandits and ogres, and their capital is Redfang Bastion: a fortress, barracks and watchtowers around the clan bonfire, behind a palisade no one crosses without permission. Among the dunes wait a drowned temple, a graveyard, a fallen tower and the Jackal Mine, their cave.

As a race, orcs are tough and built to attack. War Blood gives them +1% maximum health, and Orcish Grit makes stuns from other players 10% shorter on them. Their active racial, Clan Fury, adds 5% damage and healing for 15 seconds, although the healing they receive is halved while it lasts.

Play as an Elf: Moonveil Sanctuary

If you'd rather play as an elf online, head north to Moonwood, among groves of satyrs, skeletons and werewolves. The elf capital is Moonveil Sanctuary: walled, with the arcanists' tower, its inn and the great moonspring beneath the Fullmoon Temple. Through the forest you'll find a stone watchtower, a ruined village taken over by creatures, a dock on the lake and Trickster's Grotto, their cave.

As a race, elves dodge and endure. Elven Agility gives them +1% dodge chance, and Lunar Spirit +2% mana and energy regeneration. Their active racial, Moon's Gift, reduces the damage they take by 5% for 15 seconds.

Ten Races, Five per Side

Orcs and Elves are the free races, but they don't fight alone. The Undead, Gargoyles and Crowfolk fight for the Orcs; the Tigerfolk, Mantis and Tauros fight for the Elves. And each side has a race you can't buy: the Veteran Orcs and Veteran Elves, which your account earns forever when any of your characters in that faction reaches level 60.

The six allied races are optional and don't give levels, gear or items: they create new characters from level 1, with the same classes and their own racials, worth the same as the orc and elf ones. You can try them all for free in the Training Grounds, at any level, and meet them one by one in our guide to the ten races.

They're coming to Steam as one-time-purchase DLC; in the meantime, you can see them in the Store.

Five Classes on Each Side

Both sides have the same five roles, each with its own name, its own weapon, a racial and 21 talents in three trees of seven:

• Tank: Bulwark (Orcs) and Sentinel (Elves). Takes the hits and draws the enemies' attention.
• Warrior: Warrior (Orcs) and Lunar Arcanist (Elves). Melee fighting with rage and finishing blows.
• Rogue: the Stalker, on both sides. Combos, crits, stealth and stuns.
• Healer: Priest (Orcs) and Druid (Elves). Heals and protects allies at range.
• Caster: Warlock (Orcs) and Mage (Elves). High-damage spells and crowd control at range.

The tank, warrior and rogue share almost all their abilities on both sides; the healer and caster get different spells. The Priest heals with light and faith, the Druid with the forest; the Warlock commands shadow, with Fear and Umbral Leap, and the Mage wields frost, fire and arcane magic, with Polymorph and Arcane Step. It's all in which class to play.

Where the Sides Clash: the Twin Roads Frontier

Between the two realms lies the Twin Roads Frontier, disputed territory for levels 6 to 16. In it stands Crossway, a neutral town whose merchants serve both sides and whose inn lets you rest; beside its streets is the gate to the Dusk Fortress, the five-player dungeon. Outside the town, PvP rules.

There you turn on faction combat and earn honor, and one rule protects newcomers: players more than five levels apart can't attack each other. We cover it in depth in PvP in Valdoria. Two world bosses also live there, the Magma Giant (level 12) and the Scaleborn (level 15); you'll find both, and their loot, in the database.

And in Hardcore Mode, whoever falls loses everything: the victor can take their loot, and their name is added to the Hall of the Fallen.

Orc or Elf? Which Side Should You Pick?

Neither side is stronger: racial advantages are small, +1% health against +1% dodge, 5% more damage against 5% less damage taken. Go with what appeals to you:

• Moors or forest? Red earth, dunes and bonfires, or groves, walls and the moonspring.
• Which healer or caster? The Priest and the Warlock are orcs; the Druid and the Mage are elves.
• Who are you playing with? If you're joining friends, pick their side: on the frontier, the other side is the enemy. More tips in playing with friends.

And if you can't decide, that's fine: your account keeps one character for each class of every race you have, so you can have an orc and an elf at the same time. Check out other players' profiles in the community and take your first steps with the beginner's guide.

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