Damage dealers are the most sought-after role in World of Warcraft, offering a wide variety of competitive specs to choose from. We’ve compiled a detailed overview of how each one stands after the full release of the The War Within expansion in our comprehensive DPS tier list.
The new expansion has kicked off its first season following extensive beta iterations, which saw each spec undergo significant changes. While the landscape was quite volatile, things have now stabilized as players engage in key pushes and tackle the initial raid tier.
In this context, we felt it essential to analyze the current standing of every spec, highlighting which Hero Talent options excel in Mythic+ and raids. The tier list below categorizes this information clearly, defining each tier to explain the positioning of each spec.
WoW: The War Within DPS Spec Tier List
Our tier list is categorized into five distinct tiers, each indicating a different proficiency level in the game’s PvE activities.
| Tier | Class/Spec |
|---|---|
| S | Arcane Mage, Augmentation Evoker, Elemental Shaman, Assassination Rogue, Frost Death Knight |
| A | Frost Mage, Havoc DH, Fury Warrior, Shadow Priest, Enhancement Shaman, Retribution Paladin, Affliction Warlock |
| B | Outlaw Rogue, Demonology Warlock, Marksmanship Hunter, Survival Hunter, Arms Warrior, Windwalker Monk, Unholy Death Knight, Fire Mage |
| C | Balance Druid, Feral Druid, Subtlety Rogue |
| D | Destruction Warlock, Beast Mastery Hunter, Devastation Evoker |
Our Tiers Explained
- S: The best DPS specs in the game
- A: Excellent DPS specs, offering ample power to progress through Mythic+ and the current raid tier
- B: Good specs that are generally viable, though may struggle to enter top-tier groups
- C: Underperforming in the DPS role
- D: Require significant changes and buffs to be competitive in the future
S-Tier
Arcane Mage
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Incredible single-target burst damage | Sometimes tricky mana management |
| Outstanding AoE and small group damage | Difficulties using Arcane Explosion |
| Numerous defensive options | |
| Excels in group utility with Augmentation |
The caster meta might not be as dominant as anticipated in the initial phase of The War Within, yet no spec is better positioned to capitalize on this than the Arcane Mage. As part of the ‘god comp’ alongside Augmentation Evoker, Arcane Mage has been solidified as one of the top damage specs post-expansion.
Previously overshadowed by its Mage counterparts, Arcane’s talent tree revamp has significantly improved its playability. The removal of abilities like Radiant Spark may appear detrimental, but has streamlined the overall rotation, enabling higher damage output. Although issues with Burden of Power slightly hinder its performance, Arcane Mage remains one of the finest damage specs available.
Moreover, players can utilize two Hero Talent trees currently excelling. Overall, Sunfury serves as a slightly more effective DPS choice, while Spellslinger offers greater defensive utility and a higher potential ceiling if Blizzard addresses their damage scaling.
Augmentation Evoker
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Top support spec in the game | Minimal cleave potential |
| Outstanding mobility | Limited range |
| High health and excellent defensive options | Dependent on teammate performance |
| Effective healing and damage buffs for the group |
Augmentation Evoker stands out as one of the most intriguing specs in terms of design, bringing a toolkit that proves highly valuable in group settings. Much of its damage relies on its allies, making it remarkably un-nerfed despite its powerful capabilities.
With unique crowd control options like Tail Swipe and Terror of the Skies, the spec provides impressive damage output, allowing Augmentation Evokers to uplift struggling allies. Recent bug fixes have shifted the most effective Hero Talent from Scalecommander to Chronowarden, which offers substantial cooldown reductions and stat buffs.
Elemental Shaman
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Among the strongest single-target damage | Requires some burst tuning |
| Great utility for individuals and groups | Limited emergency mobility |
| Simpler to play compared to other top-tier specs | |
| Solid cleave options |
Emerging as a surprise contender, Elemental Shaman has maintained its strong performance from the The War Within beta into the full expansion release. Its Skyfury talent offers a Mastery buff and a 20% chance for double auto attacks, making it remarkably effective.
While it shines in AoE encounters, its single-target damage may slip slightly, but the continuous rotation (if managed correctly) minimizes the impact. With added enhancements to its previously underwhelming defensive capabilities, the spec is in great position compared to previous expansions.
Stormbringer stands out as the most effective Hero Talent tree for Elemental Shaman at this time, although it lacks excitement. Its benefits are scattered across various Elemental Shaman abilities, making it noticeably more effective than Farseer, which fails to provide enough impact.
Assassination Rogue
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong single-target damage | Challenging to execute effective AoE damage |
| Powerful cleave | Low health pool |
| Great poison options | |
| Impressive mobility |
As the highest-performing Rogue spec in the current DPS landscape, Assassination offers thrilling gameplay. The transition from Shadow Dance and Venom Rush to passive abilities has refined its rotation without sacrificing damage.
With Echoing Reprimand now a central ability for combo point generation, the renovated Assassination Rogue feels dynamic and exciting. Despite a nerf to Kingsbane prompting a shift in talent builds, this alteration enhances the spec rather than complicating it.
However, the Hero Talent trees available for Assassination are in dire need of tuning. Deathstalker remains the preferred choice for PvE settings, emphasizing the must-have Deathstalker’s Mark. Fatebound can provide solid results, but relies heavily on RNG, leading to variability in its effectiveness.
Frost Death Knight
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Very high burst damage | Limited mobility |
| Massive cleave potential | Limited appeal in group comps for raids |
| Strong utility options | |
| Resilient as a DPS spec |
Frost Death Knight has made a strong case for being the most improved spec since Dragonflight. The addition of talents like Subduing Grasp and Osmosis provides impressive passive buffs and healing, enhancing its durability.
Although resource generation is now trickier to manage, this encourages players to utilize all their abilities, promoting a healthy rotation. The focus has shifted slightly from Breath of Sindragosa, improving the overall feel of the spec.
Currently, the Rider of the Apocalypse Hero Talents offer robust mechanical support that back the fantasy theme. Yet, Deathbringer is seen as the best choice, granting meaningful enhancements without unnecessary buffs. The reliance on RNG with the Rider of the Apocalypse tree can detract from consistent damage output.
A-Tier
Frost Mage
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Significant single-target DPS | Occasional mobility issues |
| Strong AoE toolkit | Vulnerable overall |
| Excellent for Mythic+ scenarios | |
| Great defensive options |
For Frost Mage players, excitement awaits in The War Within as Мages solidify their position within dungeon groups, enhanced by the Arcane Intellect buff, particularly in a spellcaster-heavy meta.
Moreover, they retain utility through talents like Mass Barrier/Mass Invisibility and essential defensive spells, enhancing their outgoing damage through buffs on abilities such as Ice Lance.
The spec includes two strong Hero Talent trees that broaden capabilities. Spellslinger offers various procs for abilities like Winter’s Chill, while Frostfire serves as an elemental power display. Both trees prove viable, with Spellslinger leading currently.
Havoc Demon Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Unmatched mobility | Challenging resource management |
| Strong burst damage | Often RNG reliant |
| Impressive AoE and single-target options | Difficult to play at maximum effectiveness |
| Robust toolkit with crowd control and interrupts |
Havoc Demon Hunter, the sole DPS specialization for its class, finds itself in a favorable state after a shaky beta phase. Following two seasons of Dragonflight dominance, it experienced a downturn, but recent buffs have ushered it back to the forefront.
With Chaos Brand emerging as a potent tool for groups and an emphasis on glaives enhancing the gameplay experience, movement options have never been better. However, there is still a surplus of fun abilities that are not worth building into due to their limited effectiveness.
Havoc players have access to two relatively strong Hero Talent trees: Aldrachi Reaver and Fel-Scarred. The former emphasizes glaives, serving as the most effective raiding strategy, while the latter performs slightly better in Mythic+ settings.
Fury Warrior
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Dynamic damage options | Struggles to maintain DPS in prolonged encounters |
| Ferocious burst damage | Limited AoE capabilities |
| Very resilient | Some utility deficiencies |
| Strong defensive toolkit |
The burst champion has returned, dealing incredible damage. The beta testing has helped stabilize consistency and durability within encounters, enhancing the spec’s sustained damage capabilities.
Recent talent adjustments have streamlined Fury Warrior rotations, diminishing downtime and improving overall gameplay fluidity. With enhanced flexibility for single-target or AoE damage focus, it strikes a competitive chord in the current meta.
Currently, the Slayer tree presents the best Hero Talent selection, while Mountain Thane struggles to synergize effectively within the spec’s toolkit, removing a significant portion of its potential.
Shadow Priest
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Top DoT spec in the game | DoT management can be tricky |
| Multiple viable play styles | Overwhelming to master fully |
| Strong self-healing and sustain | Average utility in Mythic+ |
| Formidable single-target damage |
As the only dedicated damage option for Priests, Shadow effectively plays to its strengths. While down from its peak in Dragonflight, it remains a solid ranged DPS option with a robust array of abilities.
Despite experiencing nerfs to output, it stands out with limited competition thanks to strong survivability from talents like Vampiric Embrace. However, potential mobility issues remain evident, irrespective of efforts made to address them.
Preceding a resurgence throughout the beta, Archon offers additional burst to parties and emerges as the best Hero Talent tree for Shadow Priests in The War Within. While Voidweaver has yet to make a significant impact, it provides additional utility and enhances overall efficacy.
Enhancement Shaman
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong single-target raid performance | Limited AoE potential in larger groups |
| Powerful cleave abilities | Lack of mobility |
| Useful off-healing in group settings | Some RNG factors involved |
| Impressive overall utility |
The changes introduced with The War Within have greatly benefited Enhancement Shaman, allowing it to establish itself confidently. It now possesses substantial damage mitigation via talents like Stone Bulwark Totem, increasing resilience in challenging encounters.
The new buffs brought by Skyfury are becoming popular, although they could use additional tuning to solidify their necessity. This replaces Windfury Totem and adds a Mastery buff, while tier-set bonuses enhance the standard DPS abilities of Enhancement Shaman.
However, the Hero Talent tree Totemic feels overly hybridized, moving away from the spec’s core strengths. In contrast, Stormbringer aligns better with the class, focusing on Chain Lightning and Lightning Bolt enhancements while boosting Nature damage.
Retribution Paladin
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Highly versatile DPS spec | Limited mobility |
| Excellent sustain and self-healing | Complexity in the toolkit |
| Equally adept at AoE and single-target damage | |
| Strong defensive cooldowns |
The Paladin class covers a wide range of abilities, often causing issues for Retribution. Despite being less dominant than in the previous expansion, Ret Paladins possess powerful utility outside of raids, showcasing impressive defense and AoE damage capabilities with builds around Divine Storm and Wake of Ashes.
Though the removal of Retribution Aura negatively impacted their necessity in raids, strong grouping utility remains buoyant. The current limitations on sustained single-target damage persist, even with talents like Crusading Strikes attempting to counteract this.
Retribution Paladin has compelling Hero Talent options. Herald of the Sun enhances rotation significantly, offering effective cooldown mitigation, while Templar currently tops the choices, offering superior damage on aerial strikes.
Affliction Warlock
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Robust single-target damage capabilities | Weak burst damage |
| Impressive AoE potential | Some cooldown issues affect performance |
| Good cleave abilities |
As the best Warlock spec currently available, Affliction has undergone improvements leading up to The War Within launch. Although it isn’t dominant in the wider DPS sphere, the spec is well-poised for gradual ascent.
It boasts significant single-target burst potential, capitalizing on Mythic+ enemy damage, with ongoing improvements in sustainability observable in lengthy encounters. The rundown on tuning positions it as a strong contender for this season and onward.
Both Hero Talent trees for Affliction compliment spec viability, differentiated by their unique focuses. Hellcaller excels in DoT management, while Soul Harvester presents a burst option with Rapture synergy.
B-Tier
Outlaw Rogue
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Solid DPS in prolonged encounters | Lacks burst after initial engagement |
| Impressive single-target capabilities | Reliant on Adrenaline Rush |
| Decent AoE potential | Can be cumbersome to optimize |
| Effective group utility |
Following a challenging beta period, Outlaw has prospered now that the expansion has stabilized. Renowned for its utility and crowd control, Outlaw features significant advancements that bolster its functionality.
Yet, this robustness is diminished by the inconsistency of damage output across various activities. In Mythic+, high mob density proves challenging, primarily due to Outlaw’s mediocre cleave and constricted rotation.
Outlaw Rogue may opt between Trickster or Fatebound Hero Talents, with Fatebound emerging as the superior choice currently. Trickster appears disjointed and lacks cohesiveness, compounding its challenges in vital gameplay aspects.
Demonology Warlock
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong single-target damage | Poor cleave performance |
| Manageable cooldowns | Resource management can be tricky |
| Great AoE burst potential | Dependence on AI behavior |
| Acceptable mobility |
Demonology and Destruction Warlocks faced bugs in beta testing, leaving the former as a solid option. Although damage output suffered, the spec redesign favored streamlined efficiency.
Demonology remains a robust choice for solo endeavors, offering solid AoE options and sustained single-target damage throughout raid encounters, though it may fall behind top-tier casters like Arcane and Frost Mages.
For Demonology, both Diabolist and Soul Harvester are strong Hero Talent options, with Diabolist enhancing spec performance across PvE scenarios.
Marksmanship Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Excellent burst damage potential | Limited utility |
| Adept at AoE damage | Fragile survivability |
| Acceptable mobility |
Marksmanship appears well-designed yet requires developer attention to reach specs above it in the tier list. The War Within beta showcased several improvements, enhancing gameplay through class tree overhauls.
Marksmanship features practical utilities such as Tar Trap, Tranquilizing Shot, Intimidation, and Wailing Arrow. Exceptional AoE capabilities shine; however, sustained single-target performance lags behind, necessitating potential cooldown tweaks for accessible rotations.
Available Hero Talent trees require further enhancement; both Dark Ranger and Sentinel suffer from expanding weaknesses. Dark Ranger is thematically intriguing but offers minimal tangible benefits, while Sentinel struggles with direction, sharing features with a dissimilar Survival Hunter tree. Dark Ranger is the marginally better choice currently.
Survival Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Excellent AoE damage | Challenges against melee competition |
| Engaging rotation | Squishy in nature |
| Decent self-sustain | Cooldown inconsistencies |
| Viable playstyle in the current era |
For the first time in WoW history, Survival Hunter has remained competitive and is now joining the top ranks overall in PvE content. Buffs to both survivability and damage output have elevated the spec significantly.
Past concerns regarding encounter length impacts have begun to fade, while exciting talent tree reworks have bolstered overall playability.
While Pack Leader remains the more effective choice, Sentinel has certain merits, improving cooldown management while maximizing damage and coordination of burst phases. This results in more consistent DPS across different activities.
Arms Warrior
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Versatile and adaptable across scenarios | May still experience downtime issues |
| Resource management improved | Underwhelming talent design |
| Tanky with strong defensive abilities | Not ideally suited to raids |
| Provides valuable buffs |
Arms Warrior has evolved significantly during the beta phase and is now one of the most reliable specs across various game areas. Its non-burst damage capabilities shine in prolonged engagements or AoE battles.
Changes to Rage generation have positively impacted the spec, creating a seamless rotation with diminished downtime. While a lack of utility persists, it may lead to disfavor in Mythic+ settings.
Two solid Hero Talent trees await Arms players. Slayer amplifies everything about the Arms Warrior, introducing crowd control, procs, and additional mobility. Alternatively, Colossus reshapes playstyle significantly, offering unique bonuses. At present, Slayer remains the more favorable choice for Mythic+ play.
Windwalker Monk
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Impressive burst damage | Lacks defensive measures |
| Top-tier mobility | Insufficient emergency utility |
| Excellent gear scalability | Subpar AoE toolkit |
| Offers good talent customization |
Windwalker gained drastic improvements with recent talent adjustments, making it a formidable contender with strong AoE options and single-target efficiency alongside notable survivability.
Even with minor nerfs affecting progress, Windwalker remains a competitive option, balancing utility with effective playstyle.
The Shado-Pan Hero Talent tree emphasizes martial arts fantasy, granting stat boosts around Flurry Strikes. Although exciting, it is currently outperformed by the Conduit of the Celestials, which offers even more in raiding and Mythic+ contexts.
Unholy Death Knight
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Remarkable AoE burst | Limited mobility |
| Solid single-target potential | Challenging setup required |
| Simple cooldown management | Minimal group appeal |
| Highly resilient | Restricted performance in Mythic+ |
There was a moment during The War Within’s beta when Unholy DK outperformed peers exceptionally. Though those days have passed, it still serves as a competent choice overall. A greater focus on DoT mechanics would be appreciated, but the recent shifts provide necessary cohesion.
Yet, unholy’s complexity in maximizing damage potential remains steep. Interruptions can negatively impact damage output during critical encounters. Nonetheless, it maintains impressive AoE burst and improved single-target damage.
In terms of Hero Talents, players may select between Rider of the Apocalypse and San’layn. While the former offers impressive mounted combat thematic integration, its performance in comparison to San’layn is currently lacking, particularly in Mythic+.
Fire Mage
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Exceptional single-target damage | Subpar AoE performance compared to peers |
| Good mobility among spellcasters | Minimal group cleave options |
| Decent defensive capabilities | Requires further tuning |
| Usable single-target cleave |
Fire Mage encountered significant setbacks at the beginning of The War Within, but new buffs to abilities like Flamestrike and Living Bomb signal a turn for the better.
While Frost and Arcane specs continue to outshine it, Fire Mage proves viable for solo efforts and performs well in Delves. Yet, players seeking to tackle the game’s hardest content require developer attention for further buffs.
Hero Talent decisions now hinge on thematic preference versus effectiveness. The Frostfire tree brings an engaging visual and thematic flair, though it lacks tangible impact. Conversely, the Sunfury talent enhances the compromised spec and is the go-to choice for maximizing Fire Mage’s capabilities.
C-Tier
Balance Druid
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Well-rounded with solid utility | Movement mechanics hinder DPS |
| Good small group damage output | Weak single-target damage |
| Strong priority damage | Little scope for playstyle experimentation |
Balance Druid continues to struggle in distinguishing itself as a top choice, often underperforming in less complex activities. Nevertheless, numerous essential damage-dealing abilities deliver competitive output in Mythic+.
Despite this, the need for buffs prevails, as compelling alternatives exist in both the Druid realm and elsewhere, leading players to prioritize other similar classes. Well-developed survivability and utility options exist, yet improved overall performance remains necessary.
The game’s favor seems to favor Elune’s Chosen over Keeper of the Grove for Hero Talents, as they generate Astral Power more efficiently and center around key rotation abilities, like Fury of Elune, resulting in a more cohesive experience.
Feral Druid
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Excellent single-target damage performance | Specializes too heavily in AoE or single-target damage |
| Strong sustained AoE damage potential | Weak presence in raids |
| Robust group utility and CC options | Resource management can be complex |
| Highly mobile | Competes against strong melee options |
Long past the peak of the beta, the Feral Druid’s capabilities have diminished within The War Within. It still retains its potency through single-target bleeds and DoTs while maintaining consistent pressure with advantageous burst moments.
Recent cooldown reductions have streamlined its rotation, making it more natural, with Ferocious Bite receiving a substantial 15% boost from reworked talent trees.
Hero Talent options appear cohesive and integral to the spec. While Wildstalker enhances the Feral Druid fantasy, it is slightly outdone by Druid of the Claw, providing greater burst potential and overall versatility.
Subtlety Rogue
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Impressive burst damage potential | Complex to play effectively |
| Prolonged AoE damage | Limited cleave capabilities |
| Excellent defensive cooldowns | Struggling with uptime |
| Strong overall utility |
The cunning Subtlety Rogue falls short of expectations, consistently trailing weaker specs. Its stagnation across incredible changes remains frustrating for players eyeing improvement.
The focus on Secret Technique benefits from the tier set bonus, enabling remarkable single-target damage alongside recent buffs helping push it forward.
Unfortunately, both Hero Talent trees lack solidity right now. Trickster necessitates more adjustments to improve functionality, while Deathstalker performs better but still remains below expectations regarding efficiency.
D-Tier
Destruction Warlock
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong cleave potential | Weak AoE burst abilities |
| Excellent AoE options overall | Subpar mobility |
| Adequate priority damage | Inferior performance in single-target scenarios |
| Versatile gameplay approaches available |
Destruction Warlocks experienced turbulent times throughout the beta phase. Though the spec faced extensive balancing challenges, it has now slipped into the depths of D-tier.
Ultimately, Destruction’s current standing lacks the competitiveness exhibited by fellow class options. Its durability for solo play remains discernible, but identifying areas of merit in Mythic+ and raiding proves difficult.
Both Hero Talents have improvements to offer, with Diabolist offering connectivity with core abilities and potential synergies, while Hellcaller allows for single-target boosts, especially in raid environments.
Beast Mastery Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong single-target potential | Limited AoE effectiveness |
| Reliable DPS in high-mobility scenarios | Weaknesses in Mythic+ environments |
| Excellent survivability through pets | Unpredictable pet behavior |
| User-friendly mechanics | Narrow toolkit overall |
Beast Mastery Hunter appears to be a case where thematic elements overshadow practical gameplay. Pets contribute significantly to damage output, which can leave players feeling disconnected from their character’s impact.
Despite improvements to overall defense and maximum single-target burst, concerns relating to maintaining DPS over longer fights remain apparent.
Devastation Evoker
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Acceptable AoE options | Lacks range |
| Strong utility overall | Surprisingly fragile |
| Exceptional mobility | Prone to aggro issues |
| Secondary to Augmentation spec |
While it may seem harsh to rank Devastation at the bottom tier, the spec desperately yearns for tuning adjustments to elevate competitiveness. The rapid fluctuations during its initial launch left the spec feeling purposeless and disconnected.
Capable of delivering solid burst damage, its potential fades in long encounters as its peers outshine it. Additionally, competition arises with Augmentation, as the latter currently outperforms Devastation across pivots.
For Hero Talents, choice depends on individual objectives in gameplay. Scalecommander enhances cleave effectiveness, while Flameshaper complements burst damage techniques. Overall, Scalecommander is the preferred option at present, despite recent nerfs evening the playing field.
That wraps up our tier list! For a detailed analysis of The War Within and insights of what’s to come at launch, as well as an overarching class tier list performance review, check out our resources. Engaging in the pre-patch? Be sure to leverage our comprehensive guide to the Radiant Echoes event.
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