Character classes in Warhammer Online are different from some other MMOs. In Warhammer Online race determines the class. This means, you can't be a high elf shaman since the only shamans are goblins.Your first real decision though is choosing a side - Order or Destruction. If you can't stand to be a bad guy then your choices are cut in half. If all your friends are rolling to Destruction, it doesn't really matter if you like the high elves. If you already play MMOs then its probably not that hard to recognize you prefer to blast from a distance, or prefer pet classes, or want to tank and take the beating. Warhammer classes do not vary from that mold all that much.

There are many similarities between the classes across racial bounds and some obvious distinctions between the classes. Classes or careers are divided in to four distinct categories: Tank, melee dps, ranged dps and healer. At this point there is no Empire or Dark Elf tank and no dwarf or greenskin melee dps type. Some classes are also restricted by sex. The Dark Elf Witch can only be a female while the Chaos Marauder can only be male.