Which faction do the Blood Elves belong to?

The Blood Elves belong to the Horde. They became a playable Horde race in The Burning Crusade, World of Warcraft's first expansion, which launched in 2007.

The Blood Elves were formerly known as high elves and were closely associated with the Alliance through the kingdom of Quel'Thalas. After the Scourge invasion devastated their homeland and destroyed the Sunwell, their survivors adopted the name blood elves in memory of those who had died. Their leader, Lor'themar Theron, guided them through a period of political and magical crisis.

Their decision to join the Horde was driven by several factors, including their isolation from the Alliance, their alliance with the Horde-aligned Forsaken, and their need to secure support while rebuilding Quel'Thalas. Kael'thas Sunstrider's later betrayal does not represent the entire blood elf faction; most blood elves remained loyal to their homeland and eventually restored the Sunwell.

Players sometimes confuse blood elves with the Alliance's high elves or with the Scourge. Blood elves are living members of the Horde, while the Scourge is the undead army that attacked their kingdom.