Tanks play a crucial role in World of Warcraft, putting themselves in harm’s way to divert damage from their allies. We have thoroughly tested each Tank specialization to determine which one is excelling in the latest expansion, The War Within.
The beta for The War Within brought about various modifications for all specializations in WoW. Those who participated in Dragonflight may notice significant differences in their main character, especially due to the inclusion of fresh Hero Talents.
The ranking of Tank proficiency remains largely unchanged from the end of the previous expansion, although several specs have undergone significant changes in their playstyle. In anticipation of The War Within release, we have provided a comprehensive breakdown of each of the six Tank specs.
WoW: The War Within Tank spec tier list
| Tier | Class/Spec |
| S | Vengeance Demon Hunter, Blood Death Knight |
| A | Guardian Druid |
| B | Protection Paladin, Protection Warrior, Brewmaster Monk |
Our Tiers Explained
Our tier list is organized in a straightforward manner, grouping tank specs of similar capabilities on the same level. The tiers are designated as S-B, each representing the following:
- S-Tier: The best of the best in the Tank role
- A-Tier: Excellent Tanks with a wide-ranging toolkit, though one or two weaknesses do exist
- B-Tier: Tanks with strong abilities, but may not be as well-equipped for the expansion or have the same level of threat generation, self-sustain, or damage output as others.
S-Tier
Vengeance Demon Hunter
During the previous expansion, Vengeance Demon Hunter proved to be a reliable Tank, despite facing some temporary nerfs that limited its effectiveness. With the release of The War Within, there have been mostly beneficial changes, although some may be discouraged by the nerfs to certain talents like Illuminated Sigils.
Despite this, there are still many reasons to consider the spec as one of the best. The demand for Chaos Brand remains high in both Mythic+ runs and raids, and the new tier set offers a reliable boost to damage. Additionally, the familiar strengths of the Demon Hunter class, such as exceptional mobility and strong crowd control for both single-target and AoE fights, continue to make it a formidable choice.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Aldrachi Reaver Hero Talent tree, many believe that it disrupts the class in a manner that lacks cohesion. However, the Fel-Scarred talent has emerged as the favored option due to its thematic alignment and its significant impact on the spec’s performance. Additionally, it allows for more flexibility and personalization in building and customizing, as opposed to the more restrictive nature of the Reaver talent.
Blood Death Knight PvP Guide
Despite undergoing various changes over the last few expansions, the Blood Death Knight remains one of the most reliable tanking specs, sitting alongside the Demon Hunter on the throne. Surprisingly, these alterations, including shuffling talents and adding new abilities, have not had a significant impact on the spec individually. However, they have ultimately improved the overall effectiveness of the spec and incorporated previously overlooked abilities into the rotation.
Vestigial Shell, located in the tenth talent tier, is a valuable asset for Blood Death Knights, granting significant resistance to magical attacks and extending the benefits of Anti-Magic Shell to their party members. In addition, the spec’s diverse toolkit, including abilities such as silences and other utilities, make them highly effective in handling a variety of challenges in dungeon environments.
Most likely, the majority of Blood DKs will choose to utilize the San’layn Hero Talent tree due to its significant amount of additional utility. However, it is important to not underestimate the effectiveness of Deathbringer, especially with the current success of Reaper’s Mark (which also activates regularly as a passive ability, making it easy to incorporate into the rotation).
A-Tier
Guardian Druid
Beginning the A-Tier is the Guardian Druid. While there have not been any major revamps to the specialization, there are several modifications that alter its gameplay, which may come as a surprise to current Bear players. Astral Influence now exclusively affects spells, decreasing the spec’s capacity to deal damage and hold aggro as effortlessly. On the bright side, obtaining skills like Remove Corruption has been made simpler due to adjustments in the class talent tree.
In contrast, Guardian Druid has undergone minimal changes and should continue to be a dependable Tank in the early stages of this expansion. The specialization’s abilities to reduce damage are still just as powerful, and there are still plenty of effective options for dealing damage.
The Guardian Druid possesses the Druid of the Claw and Elune’s Chosen Hero Talent trees, with the latter currently being slightly more powerful. However, neither tree significantly alters the spec’s rotation, and the Claw tree may actually have a higher potential. Nevertheless, the Elune’s Chosen tree provides a sense of ease for the spec, enhancing it in subtle yet noticeable manners.
Protection Paladin
Protection Paladins remain a valuable addition to any party with their diverse range of powerful tools. Their exceptional aptitude for handling Magic damage ensures their worth in any combat situation. Their crowd control and cleansing abilities are highly regarded, with skills such as Hammer of Justice, Repentance, and Blinding Light offering unique strengths to the group.
Although there are numerous advantages, players should also be mindful of certain weaknesses that prevent it from ranking higher on this list. One such drawback is its restricted health pool, which is comparatively weaker than other tanking options in the game. Furthermore, its limited mobility and movement capabilities can present challenges in certain Mythic+ encounters.
Despite efforts to establish its own identity, Lightsmith continues to struggle in terms of Hero Talents, making Templar the only truly viable choice for Prot Paladins. Not only does Templar align well with the theme of the spec, it also offers valuable additions to the toolkit, particularly in the form of the damage-dealing and resistance-boosting Eye of Tyr.
B-Tier
Strategies for Playing a Protection Warrior
Despite being classified as a B-Tier spec, there are many positive aspects to Protection Warrior as we enter the first season of The War Within. One major advantage is the usefulness of Spell Reflection, as there are numerous Magic damage challenges to be aware of. While the spec has not undergone major changes, the talent tree has been significantly rearranged, resulting in an overall improvement.
Despite the continued presence of its traditional drawbacks, they are significant enough to place it in the lowest tier. One such drawback is the reliance on a challenging set of defensive cooldowns for success as a Prot Warrior. Additionally, the lack of personal healing and contingency against unblockable attacks can lead to failure. However, it remains a reliable option for tanking and will likely see frequent use outside of the most competitive dungeon and raid scenarios.
The Protection Warrior has two exceptional Hero Talent choices in Colossus and Mountain Thane, each providing unique advantages to the spec. While Colossus may provide a significant increase in burst damage, it is not the main focus for this spec. Instead, the preferred choice is Mountain Thane due to its utility in the form of Storm Shield, which absorbs all damage and deals significant nature damage.
Brewmaster Monk
The Monk tree has undergone significant changes, which have had a greater impact on the overall gameplay compared to the specific changes for Brewmaster. However, these changes have resulted in a strong synergy between the two, making for a compelling spec. Additionally, there have been positive revisions to talents, with some providing extra utility such as the ability to dispel Enrage with Paralysis, while others, like Touch of Death, have simply been strengthened to increase damage output.
Stagger will remain a valuable tool for the Healer, complemented by the buffs from Shuffle and the healing effects of Celestial Fortune. Despite having the strongest mobility among all tanks, the Brewmaster spec is hindered by some notable limitations. The reliance on a limited number of abilities for self-sustain can make it challenging without a capable healer, especially considering the small health pool and unforgiving learning curve for those who struggle with rotations.
At the moment, Master of Harmony appears to be the stronger choice for the Hero Talent, surpassing Shado-Pan. Although Shado-Pan has some attractive aspects, it lacks cohesiveness and a clear purpose.
This is the entire tier list. If you’re not interested in playing Tank after seeing the options, don’t worry. We also have a comprehensive breakdown for both Healers and DPS.
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