A passive ability is an ability that is always active and doesn't require user interaction to use. Usually, they are not shown in your spellbook or tooltips, but some are. Many talents and racial traits are passive abilities. They are sometimes known as an innate ability. Passive abilities on items or mobs are sometimes called powers.
- Non-racial ability examples
- Most item bonuses and buffs are passive abilities like "+5 Strength" or "Improves your chance to hit with spells by 1%".
- Many talents add passive abilities like the
[Improved Wrath] druid talent (reduces the cast time of your Wrath spell by 0.1 seconds per rank) or the 
[Safe Fall] rogue talent (reduces damage from falling).
- Profession ability examples;
- Miners get Toughness (adds HP based off of the skill level).
- Skinners get
[Master of Anatomy] (increases critical strike based off of the skill level).
- Class ability examples
- Paladins, Warriors, Hunters, and Rogues get Parry at various levels.
- Paladins, Warriors, Shamans get Block (must have a shield equipped).
- Racial ability examples
- Dwarves have [Gun Specialization] (increase Gun Skill by 5) and [Frost Resistance] (increase Cold Resistance by 10).
- Gnomes get [Expansive Mind] (increase intellect by 5%, Arcane Resistance (increase Arcane Resistance by 10), and Engineering Specialist (15 point skill bonus to Engineering).
- Humans have [The Human Spirit] (increase spirit by 5%, [Diplomacy] (10% bonus to faction point gains), Every Man for Himself (Removes all movement impairing effects and all effects which cause loss of control of your character), [Sword Specialization] (increase Sword skill by 3, and [Mace Specialization] (increase Mace skill by 3).
- Night Elves get [Quickness] (dodge chance increased by 1%), [Wisp Spirit] (become a wisp when dead with 50% movement speed increase), Nature Resistance (increase Nature Resistance by 10), and [Elusiveness] (Reduces the cooldown of your Vanish and Blind abilities by 60 sec and your Cloak of Shadows ability by 30 sec).
- Orcs have [Hardiness] (increase resistance to stun effects by 25%), [Command] (pet melee damage increased by 5%), and [Axe Specialization] (increase Axe skill by 5).
- Tauren get [Endurance] (max Health increased by 5%), [Cultivation] (15 point skill bonus to Herbalism), and Nature Resistance (increase Nature Resistance by 10).
- Trolls have Regeneration (increase health regeneration bonus by 10%; also allows 10% of normal health regen during combat), Beast Slaying (5% damage bonus to Beasts), Throwing Weapon Specialization (increase Throwing Weapon skill by 5), and Bow Specialization (increase Bow skill by 5).
- The Forsaken get [Underwater Breathing] (underwater breath duration increased by 300%) and Shadow Resistance (increase Shadow Resistance by 10).
- Everyone gets Dodge (Gives a chance to dodge enemy melee attacks).
