World of Warcraft constantly updates its diverse range of classes and specializations to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the game. Staying up-to-date with the top-performing roles can be challenging, but our tier list has you covered before The War Within.
It is common knowledge among players that WoW offers thirteen unique classes, each with 2-4 specializations that can be developed after playing for at least five minutes.
The release of The War Within is significantly changing the dynamics of the game from the Dragonflight era. The addition of Hero Talents provides players with more options to strategize around specific abilities, while other previously common features are being phased out.
As The War Within beta comes to an end, here is an update on how the classes are currently arranged.
WoW: The War Within Class Tier List
Our tier list for the class is categorized into four distinct tiers, each representing a varying level of overall strength.
To compile this list, we have considered every specification and calculated a collective ranking for the class. As certain specifications outperform others by a significant margin, we have provided a detailed explanation for the placement of each class below. The ranking system ranges from S-Tier at the top to C-Tier at the bottom, with S-Tier being the highest performing and C-Tier being the lowest.
| Tier | Class/Spec |
| S | Warlock, Death Knight, Mage |
| A | Demon Hunter, Paladin, Rogue, Warrior, Druid |
| B | Evoker, Monk, Shaman |
| C | Priest, Hunter |
WoW Class Tiers Explained
Our tier list is structured in a straightforward manner, clearly explaining the reasoning behind the placement of each class. Each tier is defined as follows:
- S: The best classes in the game
- A: Very good classes offering more than enough prowess in difficult activities
- B: Decent classes that are viable if built very efficiently
- C: Underperforming in their current roles
S-Tier Classes
Warlock
Throughout Dragonflight, Warlocks were a consistently strong choice and the recent release of The War Within has only reinforced this reputation. In fact, the class has been elevated to even greater heights with Destruction and Demonology showcasing some of the most impressive DPS specs in the entire game, excelling in both raiding and Mythic+ content.
The previous version underwent a significant overhaul in Patch 11.0, and it’s safe to say that it has seen a significant improvement. Destruction currently reigns supreme in terms of DPS for both single-target and AoE, boosted even further by the powerful Hellcaller and Diabolist Hero Talent trees. Demonology is also not far behind, surpassing many of the other class options in terms of performance.
Despite its previous struggles, the Affliction spec has seen a significant increase in popularity due to recent updates. While it may not excel in all areas like the other two specs, Affliction players have the option to focus on either extensive AoE or high single-target damage without falling behind. The Warlock class as a whole is currently very strong, leading to speculation that there may be some minor nerfs in the future.
Death Knight
The story of the Death Knight in Patch 11.0 remains consistently impressive across all three of its specs, possibly even surpassing the Warlock. Beginning with Tanking, Blood DK stands out as one of the top choices in the game, rivaling other popular picks such as the Vengeance Demon Hunter and Guardian Druid.
The recent adjustments to Grasp talents have provided Blood DKs with increased versatility, resulting in improved survivability for both themselves and their party. Additionally, the class remains strong in terms of damage output, with both specs performing well. However, Frost appears to have an advantage over Unholy in the current state of the game.
Despite not experiencing any significant changes to its toolkit, Frost has made significant improvements towards the end of Dragonflight and with the recent release of The War Within. As a result, it is currently in its best state in a long time. The overall synergy within the spec has greatly improved, and the added utility from the Death Knight talent trees only enhances its strength.
The Unholy Death Knight may be considered the weakest among the three, but it still holds its own in the tier below. Its impressive damage-over-time and solid single-target attacks contribute to its strong area-of-effect capabilities. Despite recent nerfs, the spec remains a viable and effective choice.
Mage
The Mage continues to be a class of extremes, with two specs excelling and the other remaining a reliable option. Its position in the top tier is well-deserved. As WoW’s staple spellcaster, the Mage has consistently performed well throughout the game’s history, and this trend continues with the recent expansion, Dragonflight. The latest update, The War Within, has further enhanced the Mage’s toolkit and the class greatly benefits from the addition of new Hero Talents.
Arcane began as a strong spec and continued to improve throughout the previous expansion. With the latest changes implemented in this expansion, it has become one of the top ranged DPS choices in the game. Its impressive crowd control abilities and overall utility in group compositions will likely make it a popular pick for raids and Mythic+ during the initial season.
As the preferred spec for Mages, Frost often takes second place to Arcane. However, there are certain scenarios where Frost can still shine. Its single-target damage output remains impressive, and the addition of new Hero Talents has only strengthened this. One such talent, Frostfire, appears to be especially beneficial in the early stages, despite the potential challenge of accumulating Fire Mastery stacks in AoE situations.
The end of the beta was quite unusual for Fire Mages as they were met with a series of modifications that have resulted in a noticeable decline in their performance. Whether in single-target or AoE damage, they are currently at the bottom compared to other specialist roles such as Healers and Tanks. It is expected that there will be further adjustments as time goes on, but it is difficult to understand why top groups would choose this spec over the other two.
A-Tier Classes
Demon Hunter
The overall perspective is that Demon Hunter is currently in a strong position, but it would benefit from some direct damage buffs in order to reach the same level as Warlocks, Mages, and other top tier classes.
Despite fluctuating wildly in output during Dragonflight, Havoc Demon Hunters have started to show improvement due to the aforementioned buffs. While resource generation remains a challenge, the spec has become highly competitive once again. This is further supported by the Tier Set bonuses for DH in this iteration, which increase damage and have the potential to reset cooldowns for essential parts of the damage rotation.
The Vengeance Demon Hunter stands out as the top tank in the game, with strong evidence to support this claim. Its greatest strength lies in its ability to work seamlessly with high-performing DPS specs. As a result, it is likely to be a favored choice for competitive team compositions, thanks to the added benefit of increasing group damage through Chaos Brand.
Paladin
Despite the numerous Paladin reworks during the game’s beta phase, their consistency has remained impressive without causing major changes. Capable of fulfilling all three roles, Paladins are likely to attract players who enjoy having diverse options available. All three specializations are viable for most tasks, except for Protection in PvP.
Despite its shiny new setup, Retribution still requires some overall damage buffs in order to rank higher on this list. The recent improvements to Mastery: Highlord’s Judgement have greatly benefited the spec, resulting in significant boosts to Holy damage and an increased chance of procuring Judgement during combat.
The Protection Paladin class appears to be in excellent condition, boasting powerful defensive and offensive strategies that make it a valuable choice for competitive play. Additionally, its exceptional group utility enhances survivability in dungeons and raids whenever a Protection Paladin is part of the team.
The Holy Paladin has remained the top-performing Healer in the game for a while now, making it the most thrilling of the three specs available. Avenging Wrath has regained its importance, boosting healing and damage output by 15%. The Tier Set bonuses are a welcomed inclusion, increasing the potency of Holy Shock, reducing its cooldown, and providing a stacking buff for Word of Glory and Light of Dawn.
Rogue
The Rogue’s different specializations each offer their own unique story, but overall, the class is currently in a good state. With only one role to focus on, the new Hero Talents work together seamlessly, making them especially appealing to both veteran and novice players of the class.
The recent adjustments to Assassination Rogue have greatly enhanced its versatility and transformed it into a formidable force in battles against high-health individual targets. The spec boasts an unparalleled damage output, thanks in part to the powerful damage boost provided by the tier set, which is among the most impactful and effective in Season 1.
The current state of Subtlety Rogue presents some challenges, as its damage output appears to be average. However, its ability to debuff and interrupt multiple targets makes it a valuable asset. Furthermore, the tier set bonuses for Secret Technique seem to be quite promising. The class also excels in crowd control and stuns, and with continued practice and experience, it is likely to perform even better during the initial weeks of The War Within.
Despite being a class with strong crowd control abilities, Outlaw has always struggled with AoE damage and this continues to be a challenge for the spec. While it does have decent single-target damage, it falls behind the other two specs in terms of competitiveness. While crowd control remains a strength for Rogues in general, it is currently difficult to justify choosing Outlaw as a top choice for competitive players.
Warrior
The landscape for Warrior is currently quite intriguing, as the class is excelling in both DPS and Tank roles. As WoW’s classic melee option, it has achieved impressive balance in the early stages of The War Within, making it a reliable choice for many groups.
It is challenging to distinguish between Arms and Fury Warrior when it comes to performance, as both are ranked within the top ten for raw DPS. Fury provides a more thrilling gameplay experience, with its impressive burst damage that can even be comical at times. However, in Mythic+ situations, it may not perform as well as other classes. Additionally, prolonged battles can be fatiguing, but the upfront damage is a valuable trade-off.
The Warrior specialization Arms has been significantly improved due to some positive changes in the talent tree and added enhancements from Hero Talents. It offers a well-balanced skillset, excelling in AoE, dual, and single-target damage, although it may slightly fall behind Fury in the latter aspect.
Despite being considered one of the weaker tank options alongside Prot Paladin, Protection Warrior has a history of being one of the strongest choices. Its current perceived weakness is due to the exceptional abilities of its fellow tanks in the current patch. However, there are still many reasons to favor Protection Warrior, such as its valuable Spell Reflection ability which is particularly useful in dungeons with numerous spells to handle. Additionally, Battle Shout is poised to have a significant impact.
Class Description: Druid
Offering four unique specs, the Druid class stands out for its versatility. However, its strengths lie more in areas other than DPS at the moment. Specifically, Feral remains the superior damage spec compared to Balance, which is facing difficulties in finding its place in the current environment.
The overall abilities of the class have been enhanced in The War Within, resulting in a positive impact. Feral has received buffs that have greatly improved its performance in both single-target and AoE situations, with additional rotational choices that make it feel much more forgiving compared to its previous versions.
Despite not being the top choice for DPS in the game, Balance Druid is still a viable option. However, its damage output is currently restricted and could benefit from some enhancements to match the performance of other top spellcasters. While the lack of talent options has been somewhat improved, the addition of new Hero Talents should further alleviate this issue. Nevertheless, the spec faces challenges as some of its core rotation abilities lack sufficient impact.
Restoration Druid remains an immensely impressive option for healers, excelling in both individual and group healing. Significant potency buffs have been applied to many of its core abilities, placing it on par with Holy Paladin as one of the top contenders in this role. With a wide range of tools for cleansing, removing curses, and dispelling, Restoration Druid will likely continue to be a formidable choice for the foreseeable future.
Despite some peculiarities in its setup, the Guardian Druid is proving to be a formidable tank, standing out among the best in its class. Its ability to dish out significant damage while still being the most resilient tank is an impressive feat, making it a common sight in both Mythic+ dungeons and raid groups.
B-Tier classes
Hunter’s Journal
Currently, Hunter finds itself in a peculiar position as it appears to be on the verge of reclaiming its status as an A-Tier class. However, it is currently still ranked towards the lower tier due to its exceptional ability to dish out damage in the current iteration of the game.
Over the past few months, there has been a much-needed overhaul of the class, resulting in Beast Mastery emerging as a clear standout. Its practicality in combat has greatly improved, as evidenced by the affordability and effectiveness of many talents, such as Explosive Shot. Additionally, significant enhancements to Survival of the Fittest and Natural Mending have made them more valuable additions to the damage rotation.
Regrettably, the class requires a significant increase in damage in order to rank higher on this list. While the developers have made commendable efforts to enhance the class’s functionality and gameplay experience, its lower output makes it challenging to endorse over other ranged DPS options, regardless of the chosen specialization.
Despite the other two needing some improvement, for the first time in a long while, Survival Hunter has emerged as the top-performing spec due to its unique combination of melee and ranged abilities, showcasing its success as a flexible hybrid.
Evoker: Master of Illusions
The latest class in WoW has once again left one specialization overshadowing the other two. Evokers offer three choices, two of which focus on DPS while the third is designed for healing in dungeons and raids.
Augmentation was undeniably the most favored and widely used strategy during the previous expansion, and it is unlikely that this will change. This is primarily due to its dual ability to provide strong support for allies and deliver impressive damage on its own.
Despite the focus shifting towards individual damage output rather than buffing others, the numerous changes made during The War Within’s beta have proven to be effective. This class is currently excelling in the rankings, even rivaling the two Warlock specializations as the top performers in the game. While there may be a slight decrease in support abilities, it is still a highly valuable specialization to have in group compositions and remains a well-rounded choice overall.
Despite some added depth and improved defensive options through new Hero Talents, Devastation Evoker still feels incomplete and tacked on as a third specialization. While there are signs of a more cohesive and unique identity emerging, it will require more development and time before many players will choose it over Augmentation.
The Preservation Evoker is a skilled healer with many positive qualities, but it falls short of other more conventional healing specializations. While its Hero Talents have increased its healing capabilities, the class still lacks in offensive and defensive abilities. In its current state, it is best suited for specific group compositions.
Monk
During the release of WoW Remix, Monks were a favored option and this may continue in the main game, providing players with a reliable class. While not significantly surpassing other classes in any specific area, it remains a respectable choice that offers a diverse and enjoyable playstyle.
The Windwalker specialization is known as the go-to for high damage output in its class, and has undergone major changes from its original Dragonflight form. These revisions to its talent tree have greatly improved its performance, allowing for increased area-of-effect damage and greater burst potential. Additionally, it has the advantage of being able to adapt well to endgame gear, although recent damage reductions have slightly diminished its effectiveness.
Despite not being able to rival Guardian Druid and Vengeance DH, Brewmaster Monk in The War Within still has many appealing qualities. It boasts one of the strongest damage potentials among tank specs and pairs well with melee classes, although it may not be as popular as spellcasters in Mythic+. Additionally, the recent reworks have made it more user-friendly and accessible for newcomers.
The Mistweaver healing option offers a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses. While it excels in certain areas, it may fall behind other healing specs in others. Despite this, there are many appealing aspects to this choice and it requires strategic use of abilities. However, its lack of buffs and support for other party members may cause it to be overlooked in favor of other healing options. Nevertheless, it is a forgiving choice and is well-suited for those new to healing.
Shaman
The Shaman class is currently facing challenges, as both damage specializations are struggling to work together effectively. This has led to frustration among players who believe that the Shaman’s toolkit has not received as many significant and beneficial updates during The War Within’s beta phase compared to other classes and specializations.
The current state of Restoration Shaman makes it the top choice for players looking to run as a Shaman, as it is on par with other top healing specializations in terms of overall healing potential. Mastering Resto involves consistently maintaining the health of all party members through frequent and cost-effective healing, which can be challenging to grasp at first. However, once you become accustomed to the flow of the spec, it becomes one of the most instinctive and rational healing specializations available.
Currently, the Enhancement spec is the preferred choice for DPS due to its specialized talents and overall improvements that greatly enhance the gameplay experience. One standout feature is the Stormbringer Hero Talent tree, which offers valuable AoE capabilities that become even more effective against larger groups of enemies.
Despite being a beloved spec among World of Warcraft players, Elemental is currently facing challenges at the beginning of The War Within. While the updates to Enhancement have been well-received, Elemental has undergone a major revamp that has left it lacking in many aspects. In terms of both single-target and area-of-effect damage, Elemental falls short compared to other specs, making it unappealing for players to revisit.
Classes in the C-Tier
The Role of Priests in Religious Practice
Despite being designed for healing, Priests in all three of their specializations are currently struggling in the bottom tier. Both healing specs are falling behind, while the damage spec is also facing difficulties in keeping up with other similar classes.
Despite its potential, Discipline Priest is currently struggling as the worst healing spec in the game and is underperforming in most competitive settings. The lack of changes for the spec in preparation for the expansion has contributed significantly to the problem, with many of the issues from Dragonflight still persisting. The spec’s poor performance in Mythic+ healing cannot be compensated by its limited utility, and the lack of an interrupt ability is becoming increasingly problematic.
Despite the advancements made in many other specs, Holy Priest has unfortunately not received many changes. Its rotation remains the same as it was during Dragonflight and it performs adequately, but it falls short compared to its Paladin counterpart due to a lack of crowd control and mobility.
During Dragonflight, Shadow Priest was recognized as one of the most impressive spellcasters in World of Warcraft. However, its effectiveness has decreased due to recent updates. Despite this, the spec still possesses a versatile toolkit that allows it to excel in both AoE and single-target situations. To regain its top position, it must improve its resource management and cooldown usage.
This is our comprehensive tier list, which will be regularly updated throughout The War Within’s progression to provide an in-depth analysis of the ranking of your chosen class and specialization. To stay informed about the items available in the Trading Post this month, be sure to refer to our guide or browse through the offerings in the latest expansion.
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