In World of Warcraft Raiders come from many races, they are usually mounted warriors, but some are capable of fighting on foot as well. Many are employed by murlocs, orcs, and pirates. They are known for raiding villages for plunder.[1]
Horde Raiders
A raider in the Burning Steppes
Raiders are the official title of the class of wolf-riding orc warriors that served the Horde, primarily during the First War. As an organized group, they were referred to as the Sythegore Arm. Notable Raiders in the Sythegore Arm included the first Warchief, Blackhand the Destroyer, as well as his two sons, Rend and Maim.
It is unknown whether the Frostwolf Clan, also known for their Raiders, were a part of the Sythegore Arm or a rival organization. The Frostwolves were exiled by Gul'dan for refusing to submit to demonic corruption.
Later the second orc Warchief, Orgrim Doomhammer ordered the remaining Raiders of the Sythegore Arm to disband, fearing they might rally under Rend and Maim and rise against him. The majority of the remaining wolf-riders were sent back to Draenor, where they fell under the dominion of Fenris the Hunter and the Thunderlord Clan. By the beginning of the Second War, Raiders were extremely rare within the ranks of the Horde armies.
Raiders gained a renewed presence in the world during the Third War under the newest Warchief, Thrall. This new generation of wolf-riding orc warriors are separate from the Raiders of the past, cultivated solely out of Thrall's own clan, the Frostwolves.
It could be argued that any orc warriors in World of Warcraft that acquire a wolf to ride are taking their place in the legacy of the Raider class.
Raiders of the First War
Raider from WarCraft: Orcs and Humans
During the first war, the raiders were the most vicious of the orcish hordes. They were minions of Blackhand who were trained to show no mercy. Riders of the darkwolves, the savage warriors used the speed and ferocity of their mounts to make themselves a deadly enemy. Faster than those who attacked them on foot, they perfected the tactics of tearing through columns of enemy soldiers like a hot wind.Template:Cite
Raiders of the Third War
The marauding, wolf-riding raiders were once considered to be the most honored warriors of the horde. Yet, just prior to the Second War, Gul'dan disbanded the raiders. Now, after many long years, the young warchief Thrall has decided to train a new generation of wolf riders. These mighty warriors carry hefty warblades into combat and rely greatly upon the cunning and ferocity of their faithful dire-wolf mounts to defeat their enemies.Template:Cite
Note: The Warcraft II manual says that it was Orgrim Doomhander that disbanded the "Wolfriders".Template:Cite