Damage dealers are the most popular role in World of Warcraft, and there are a lot of competing specs to choose from. We’ve broken down exactly where each one stands following the expansion’s full release in our War Within DPS tier list.
The new expansion has just entered its first season, after a lot of iterations defined each spec during the beta period. This led to a landscape that fluctuated wildly, though things have now settled down as players push keys and conquer the first raid tier.
With that in mind, we thought it appropriate to analyze exactly where each spec stands at this time, including which Hero Talent option is playing the best in Mythic+ and raids. The tier list below organizes this information clearly, with a definition for each tier to clarify why each spec appears where it does.
WoW: The War Within DPS spec tier list
Our tier list is divided into five distinct layers, each of which represents a different level of prowess 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 more than enough to progress through Mythic+ and the current raid tier
- B: Good specs that are viable generally, though they may struggle to get into very high-level groups
- C: Underperforming in the DPS role
- D: Need significant changes and buffs to be viable in the future
S-Tier
Arcane Mage
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Insane single-target burst damage | Sometimes difficult to manage mana |
| Excellent AoE and small group damage | Arcane explosion can be challenging to use |
| Myriad defensive options | |
| God comp with Augmentation due to group utility |
The caster meta may not be quite as pronounced as predicted in this first period of The War Within, and no spec is better able to take advantage of that than the Arcane Mage. As one-half of the supposed ‘god comp’ alongside Augmentation Evoker it was always going to prove popular, but Arcane is now a spec that stands on a more solid foundation than ever before.
So often playing second fiddle to the other Mage specs in the past, Arcane’s talent tree underwent a complete overhaul that has done wonders for its playability. The removal of abilities like Radiant Spark may seem like a negative, but it has actually served to streamline the overall rotation and make it easier to hit high numbers. Issues with Burden of Power are holding it back slightly, but it’s still one of the best damage specs in the game.
Happily, the spec can also take advantage of two Hero Talent trees that are performing well right now. Overall, Sunfury is the marginally more effective DPS solution, though Spellslinger has a higher potential ceiling and better defensive utility if Blizzard rebalances how their outgoing damage hits.
Augmentation Evoker
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| The best group comp spec in the game | Minimal cleave |
| Excellent mobility | Poor range |
| High health and great defensive options | Reliant on other players efficacy |
| Potent group healing and damage buffs |
WoW’s most interesting spec, in terms of design, is also one of its most broadly effective. As the only true support specialization in the game, it brings a toolkit that makes it instantly appealing for group comps in difficult activities. Much of the class’ damage comes from allies, and it has remained remarkably un-nerfed despite its immense prowess.
In addition to its already unique appeal, the spec includes a myriad of crowd control options in the talent tree, like Tail Swipe and Terror of the Skies. It also puts out impressive damage, while abilities like Blistering Scales allow Augmentation Evokers to elevate specific allies who may be lagging behind.
In terms of Hero Talents, Scalecommander was the play, but recent bug fixes have seen Chronowarden become the best option. Though the Warp play style won’t be to everyone’s taste, it’s the best-performing choice thanks to the cooldown reduction and stat buffs that it offers.
Elemental Shaman
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Some of the strongest single-target in the game | Needs some burst tuning |
| A ton of utility individually and in a group | Emergency mobility is limited |
| Easy to play compared to other top tier specs | |
| Solid cleave options |
Coming slightly out of left field, Elemental Shaman worked wonders throughout The War Within beta, and it’s carried that momentum through to the full release of the expansion. Skyfury is bizarrely strong, offering a Mastery buff and a 20% chance at double auto attacks.
The spec is also particularly effective in AoE encounters, but, though it has the potential to suffer slightly in single-target, the lack of downtime in the rotation (if managed correctly) means it isn’t too noticeable. With some nice additions to its previously underdeveloped defensive kit, it’s in excellent shape and more cohesive than in the last expansion.
Stormbringer is the best Hero Talent tree available to the Elemental Shaman right now, though it isn’t particularly exciting or fitting in its current form. It’s all over the place in the way it addresses Elemental Shaman abilities, but it is noticeably more effective than Farseer, which ironically doesn’t go anywhere near far enough in what it offers.
Assassination Rogue
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Excellent single-target damage | Difficult to execute AoE damage effectively |
| Strong cleave | Low health pool |
| Nice poison options | |
| Impressive mobility |
The best-performing Rogue spec in the DPS charts is also the most thematically exciting, making for a thrilling combination for players. The replacement of Shadow Dance and Venom Rush with passive abilities has removed parts of the rotation that really weren’t necessary without sacrificing damage or cohesive move combinations.
Echoing Reprimand is now one of the focus abilities thanks to its combo point generation, and it slots nicely as a natural part of this revitalized Assassination Rogue. The nerfs to Kingsbane have also led to an altered talent build, but this diverted focus actually makes the spec feel more exciting rather than convoluted.
Sadly, both Hero Talent trees are in a bit of a sorry state for those looking to play Assassination. Deathstalker is the better choice right now in any PvE setting, bringing Deathstalker’s Mark to the fore and offering an exciting new power level. Fatebound is also a solid option overall, though the reliance on good RNG means it can be anything from great to just good.
Frost Death Knight
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Very high burst damage | Very limited mobility |
| Immense cleave potential | Limited group comp appeal in raids |
| Strong Utility options | |
| Very tanky for a DPS spec |
Frost Death Knight has a solid claim to being the most improved spec from its Dragonflight version. The developers hilariously thought the defensive capabilities of yesteryear were not enough, with new talents like Subduing Grasp and Osmosis granting impressive passive buffs and healing.
Resource generation is a little more tricky to manage but this has actually encouraged players to take full advantage of all of their abilities, rather than locking into a spammy rotation. The emphasis has also been taken away from Breath of Sindragosa somewhat, again making for a healthy overall feel for the spec that significantly outperforms its earlier versions.
The Rider of the Apocalypse Hero Talents now have some of the mechanical clout required to back up the fantastic theme. Despite that, Deathbringer is still the best option for Frost DK right now, adding meaningful boosts to how the spec plays without tacking on buffs that feel out of place. Rider of the Apocalypse’s reliance on RNG is also an issue, and your damage will be much more consistent when specced into the Deathbringer tree.
A-Tier
Frost Mage
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Impactful single-target DPS | Occasional mobility issues |
| Very strong AoE toolkit | Squishy overall |
| Fantastic Mythic+ toolkit | |
| Brilliant defensive options |
Frost Mage players, the ever-reliable crowd control kings (alongside Demonology Warlocks), have plenty to be excited about in The War Within. Mages are at home in dungeon groups at the moment anyway, with the Arcane Intellect buff particularly useful in a meta that features spellcasters so heavily.
The spec also retains a ton of utility via talents like Mass Barrier/Mass Invisibility, as well as cleanses through Remove Curse and other staple defensive spells. Outgoing DPS is also in a great state, thanks to enhanced damage on abilities like Ice Lance and several buffs throughout its iteration period for this expansion.
The spec also benefits from two impressive Hero Talent trees that bring different things to the table. Spellslinger brings new ways to proc abilities like Winter’s Chill, while Frostfire serves as the ultimate elemental power trip for the class. Both are absolutely viable, though Spellslinger is stronger at the time of writing.
Havoc Demon Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Unparalleled mobility | Tricky resource management |
| Excellent burst damage | Sometimes RNG dependent |
| Good AoE and single-target options | Tough to play at maximum effectiveness |
| Great toolkit with CC and interrupts |
The only DPS spec for Demon Hunters is also in a very strong state right now, after a period of deep uncertainty during The War Within’s beta. The first two seasons of Dragonflight saw the spec dominate the competition before it faded from the top of the podium as the expansion wore on. After initially seeming like the developers had taken the spec too far, several buffs have brought Havoc back to the fore.
Chaos Brand is looking to be a very effective tool for groups and a new emphasis on glaives has served to make the class very enjoyable and thematically appropriate. Movement is better than ever and there are more ways to play the class, even if there are still too many cool abilities that simply aren’t worth building into thanks to their relative weakness.
Happily for Havoc players, they have two relatively strong Hero Talent trees that they can viably dip into in Aldrachi Reaver and Fel-Scarred. The emphasis that the former places on the glaives may not be for everyone, but it’s the most effective strategy for raiding, with Fel-Scarred marginally better in Mythic+.
Fury Warrior
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Dynamic damage options | Struggles to maintain DPS in lengthy encounters |
| Vicious burst damage | Limited AoE options |
| Very tanky | Some Utility frailties |
| Solid defensive toolkit |
The burst champion is back and it still packs a hell of a punch. The beta for this latest expansion also saw it nail down some consistency and longevity within encounters, improving the spec’s sustained damage profile.
Moreover, the recent talent changes in The War Within have streamlined Fury Warriors’ rotations, reducing downtime and enhancing the spec’s overall fluidity. The talents also offer more flexibility, whether focusing on maximizing single-target damage or enhancing AoE capabilities for Mythic+. The updated tree also provides better defensive options, making them a well-rounded and competitive choice in the current meta.
The Slayer tree is the best Hero Talent selection for Fury Warriors at the moment, as Mountain Thane currently revolves around abilities that just don’t fit as well in this spec’s toolkit. Thunder Clap is not at home in a Fury setup and that eliminates a huge part of what is otherwise a very cool tree. The procs, additional movement, better CC options and overall tuning all serve to make Slayer the clear choice.
Shadow Priest
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Best DoT in the game | DoT can be tough to manage |
| Several different ways to play effectively | Overwhelming to learn completely |
| Strong self-healing and overall sustain | Average Mythic+ utility |
| Powerful single-target damage |
The only true damage option for Priest players, Shadow is a spec that continues to play to its strengths. Though they are a little down on their absolute zenith in Dragonflight, they are a strong ranged DPS with a broad set of skills that should be at home in most activities.
There have been some nerfs to the raw numbers that the spec can produce, but only some can compete with the full range of abilities it has at its disposal. Additionally, survivability is also in great shape thanks to talents like Vampiric Embrace and Purify Disease, while Leap of Faith does little to mitigate the spec’s historical issues with maneuverability.
Despite lagging behind throughout the beta, Archon brings extra burst damage to the party, and it’s the best Hero Talent tree for Shadow Priests in The War Within. Voidweaver could be accused of being slightly bland and it needs more tuning, but it does improve the spec in most areas, offering additional utility, efficacy, and class fantasy, for those looking to get more involved in the game’s lore.
Enhancement Shaman
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong raid single-target | Limited AoE options for larger groups |
| Potent cleave | Poor mobility |
| Off-healing is useful in group activities | Some RNG |
| Impressive overall Utility |
The changes brought about by The War Within have undoubtedly proved to be a net benefit for Enhancement Shaman, and it’s now a spec that has finally found its feet. To start with the positives, there is a ton of damage reduction available to the spec via talents like Stone Bulwark Totem, making it highly resistant to the game’s more bruising encounters.
The new buffs offered by Skyfury will be popular in raids, though it could do with being dialed up somewhat to truly make it a must-have. This replaces Windfury Totem and adds an extra Mastery buff on top, while the tier-set bonus provides a much-needed damage boost to many of the staple DPS abilities in the Enhancement Shaman’s arsenal.
When it comes to Hero Talent trees, Totemic still feels like it has gone too far into the territory of necessitating a hybrid build that doesn’t play to the strengths of the spec. Stormbringer is a much more cohesive approach centered around improving Chain Lightning and Lightning Bolt, while also buffing Nature damage overall.
Retribution Paladin
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| One of the most well-rounded DPS specs | Limited mobility |
| Brilliant sustain and self-healing | Bloated toolkit with unnecessary abilities |
| Equally strong in AoE and single-target situations | |
| Brilliant defensive cooldowns |
The Paladin is a noticeably broad class and that has, at times, led to issues for Ret Paladin when so many of the basic elements seem more geared towards Prot and Holy. That said, the end of Dragonflight saw Retribution putting out huge numbers and, although they haven’t been quite as busted in the first season of The War Within, there’s still plenty to like.
The removal of Retribution Aura was definitely a negative and it has made the spec less of a necessity in a raid setting. The strength of the spec currently comes in its group-wide utility outside of that, as well as its immense prowess defensively and excellent AoE cleave, if built correctly around Divine Storm and Wake of Ashes. That said, there are some issues with sustained single-target, despite Crusading Strikes attempting to fill in the gaps.
Retribution Paladin is another spec with impressive Hero Talent tree options. Herald of the Sun does a lot for class rotation, with excellent mitigation for otherwise annoying cooldowns. Templar is currently the better choice, purely down to the extra damage it offers when players rain down hammers from above.
Affliction Warlock
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong single-target damage | Poor burst damage |
| Excellent AoE | Cooldowns can be an issue |
| Some cleave options |
The best Warlock spec in the game right now has also been through a renaissance during the iterations in the run-up to The War Within. Though it isn’t truly dominant in the wider DPS landscape, there is plenty to like as the spec continues to improve and find its feet. Starting with the good, it has great single-target burst that’s capable of obliterating enemies in Mythic+.
Sustained damage has also improved, though you may find some downtime and periods of lower damage output during particularly lengthy fights. The additional tuning it has received has turned it into an immensely promising option for the rest of the season, and, with some solid AoE to add to the overall equation, it’s in a great spot to rise even higher.
Both Hero Talent trees slot in well as part of the wider landscape for Affliction, with each designed to do markedly different things. Hellcaller’s focus on DoTs is the marginally better play at the moment, though the insane burst boost offered by Soul Harvester’s relationship with Rapture will certainly have its place.
B-Tier
Outlaw Rogue
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Excellent DPS in longer encounters | Poor burst after initial salvo |
| Impressive single-target | Dependency on Adrenaline Rush |
| Solid AoE options | Difficult to play effectively |
| Appealing group Utility |
After enduring a particularly tough time during the beta, Outlaw is in a surprisingly strong position now that the expansion has settled. Starting with the positives, it continues to enjoy all of the great utility and crowd control that Rogues are so often defined by. Though it hasn’t been through any kind of marked revolution, subtle advancements in how the spec functions have been cogent and logical.
Unfortunately, some of that is undercut by a slight inability to output punchy damage that can prove frustrating across different activities. In Mythic+, high mob density continues to be an issue, due in most part to Outlaw’s average cleave and the difficulty in getting the most out of its rotation.
Outlaw Rogue is able to choose between using the Trickster or Fatebound trees for their Hero Talents. Happily, this is quite an easy choice at the moment, with Fatebound well clear in almost every way. Trickster is struggling for a cohesive cause and an overall theme (as well as being bugged), while Fatebound is locked into lowering the reliance on Crackshot, and Outlaw is all the better for it.
Demonology Warlock
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Powerful single-target | Very poor cleave |
| Easy cooldown management | Awkward resource management |
| Amazing AoE burst | Reliance on AI behaving properly |
| Decent mobility |
Both Demonology and Destruction Warlock were bugged in the beta, but, now that the dust has begun to settle, the former still looks like a solid option. The general damage output did take a hit, but the spec redesign has proved to be a net positive, streamlining precisely its purpose.
For solo players, it remains a highly durable option that shouldn’t be caught lacking in too many situations. It has great AoE options and the toolkit to maintain single-target damage across the course of a raid encounter, though it will likely be a less popular caster when compared to the two high-performance Mage specs.
For Demonology, both Diabolist and Soul Harvester are good options for Hero Talents, with the former serving as the best way to augment the spec in most PvE activities.
Marksmanship Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Amazing bursty damage setup | Poor Utility |
| Specialist in AoE ouput | Weak survivability |
| Decent mobility |
Marksmanship feels well-designed at the moment but it needs a little nudge from the developers to bring it up to the level of the specs above. The War Within’s beta period saw MM get several redesigns that have left it in a much better state than during Dragonflight, with the class tree overhaul proving to be a real boon.
Marksmanship has a nice set of utilities that should cover most instances, thanks to abilities like Tar Trap, Tranquilizing Shot, Intimidation, and Wailing Arrow. It also excels at AoE output, though it does lag behind the competition for sustained single-target, and it may need some further reworks to cooldowns to make the rotation more accessible.
Both of the available Hero Talent trees feel like they need to offer a little more, playing into the wider problem of the spec. Dark Ranger is awesome thematically but, aside from allowing the player to use more Aimed Shot, it doesn’t do a lot else that provides a tangible benefit.
Sentinel is in a similar position, only with less direction, thanks to it being a shared tree with the vastly different Survival Hunter. Dark Ranger is the better DPS choice at the moment, by a relatively small margin.
Survival Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Excellent AoE damage | Struggles against some of the melee competition |
| Fun rotation | Still uncomfortably squishy |
| Decent self-sustain | Some cooldown issues |
| Workable playstyle in the current expansion |
For once in WoW history, Survival Hunter is remaining highly competitive and I, for one, am delighted. Forever the ugly duckling of the Hunter specs, it’s now the joint-best option overall and highly competitive in most of the game’s PvE content. Buffs to both survivability and overall outgoing damage really have put the spec in its best spot for years.
Historical issues surrounding the class’ ability to keep up, regardless of the length of the encounter, are starting to become a thing of the past, and exciting reworks to the talent tree have increased its overall playability.
While Sentinel does have some merits, most players will want to choose Pack Leader. It provides better and easier management of cooldowns, increasing overall damage and aligning your burst windows more effectively. Pack Leader also offers a more consistent DPS profile across different activities instead of Sentinel’s focus on a more fluid, AoE-based approach.
Arms Warrior
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Well-rounded and flexible to fit many scenarios | Still can struggle with downtime |
| No longer resource-starved | Poor talent setup |
| Tanky with impressive defensive abilities | Poorly suited to raiding generally |
| Great buffs |
Arms Warrior progressed a long way during the beta and it’s now one of the most consistent performers in all areas of the game. Though they aren’t able to hit bursty DPS to the same level as many, Arms really finds its feet in long engagements or during AoE encounters with groups of any size.
The changes to Rage generation have proved to be a net positive for the spec and there’s a cohesive rotation with little downtime. The spec does suffer with a distinct lack of utility and it may prove unpopular in Mythic+ for that reason, as the lack of contingency can leave both the Arms Warrior and the wider group exposed.
Happily for Arms players, there are two solid Hero Talent trees to work with. Slayer takes everything about the Arms Warrior and dials it up to eleven, adding CC, procs, and additional movement. Colossus changes things on a more fundamental level, altering the playstyle of the class significantly and providing some nice bonuses. Slayer is still the best choice at the time of writing, particularly if you’re heading into Mythic+ and need the extra utility.
Windwalker Monk
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Brilliant burst damage | Lack of defensive options |
| Equal best mobility with DH | Poor emergency utility |
| Excellent gear scaling | Weak AoE toolkit |
| Good talent customization |
Windwalker talents had been in a really poor state for a while before they finally got the overhaul they desperately needed. Alongside Haste scaling, the spec is now in a good state, offering impressive AoE and single-target alongside immense survivability that does sometimes set it apart from its immediate peers.
The only thing holding it back from the tier above is a series of small nerfs that have stunted the spec’s previously relentless progress. Despite that, it’s still competitive enough and may serve as the ultimate Jack-of-all-trades for those looking to fill gaps in their party with a spec that brings a lot of utility to the group.
The Shado-Pan Hero Talent tree leans heavily into the martial arts fantasy of the class, with some nice stat buffs and much of the benefit centered on Flurry Strikes. Though it is fun to play, it’s being outperformed by Conduit of the Celestials. Both are able to excel in this new world where Windwalker isn’t a confusing and bloated mess, though for both Mythic+ and raiding, Conduit continues to offer more.
Unholy Death Knight
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Brilliant AoE burst | Poor mobility |
| Decent single-target potential | Tough to setup |
| Easy cooldown management | Lack of group appeal |
| Very tanky | Restricted in Mythic+ |
There was a time during The War Within beta when the Unholy DK was outperforming the competition by a serious margin. Though those heady days are behind it, it remains a well-rounded option. It would be nice to have more of a focus on DoT again but the changes have done a lot to tie the spec together as part of its wider class.
The main problem that Unholy has right now is how difficult it is to play to its full potential. A major emphasis on managing cooldowns leaves public groups at a disadvantage, and interrupting the rotation can be disastrous for Unholy damage in any given encounter. That said, the AoE burst alongside buffs to single-target have done wonders for its overall profile.
Here again, Hero Talents are a bit of a choice between thematically spectacular and mechanically impressive. Rider of the Apocalypse is one of the coolest options in the game, offering mounted combat that fits well with the Death Knight aesthetic. Unfortunately, it just isn’t performing as well as San’layn right now, particularly in Mythic+. Proc chance for Vampiric Strike is still too low but the tree itself is very cohesive overall.
Fire Mage
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Spectacular single-target damage | Poor AoE compared to peers |
| Great mobility for a spellcaster | No group cleave |
| Solid defensive options | Needs more tuning |
| Easy-to-use single-target cleave |
Fire Mage went through some very, very tough times at the start of The War Within, but finally there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Big damage buffs to Flamestrike and Living Bomb, as well as in other staple areas, have finally brought the spec up to snuff.
Though Frost and Arcane continue to outperform it in most areas, it’s finally viable in solo activities and actually does very well in Delves across the board. Further Buffs are needed to elevate it any further than the B-Tier, so Fire Mage players looking to play the game’s most difficult content are somewhat beholden to the broader machinations of the devs.
In terms of Hero Talents, it may come down to a decision between theme and efficacy. Frostfire is the coolest Hero Talent set in the game, but it doesn’t make a tangible difference to the spec’s rotation, aside from adding some nice buffs and visual effects. Sunfury is another matter entirely, offering a huge boost to this ailing spec and serving as the clear choice for those looking to maximize Fire Mage’s potential.
C-Tier
Balance Druid
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Well-rounded with impressive Utility | Movement mechanics significantly harm DPS |
| Good small group output | Poor single-target damage |
| Strong priority damage | No room for experimentation in playstyle |
Balance Druid can’t seem to find exactly where it excels at the moment, often underperforming in easier activities. In Mythic+, many of the staple damage-dealing abilities are actually doing pretty well, with plenty of single-target and AoE to keep the spec competitive.
That said, it does need some buffs, as it’s difficult to see why players would run Balance over the other Druid specs when they are performing noticeably better. The spellcaster meta helps slightly but there are much more potent options out there that do many of the same things. With better survivability and great utility options, all of the ingredients are there, but the whole spec needs more.
When it comes to Hero Talents, the game has made the decision for you, with Elune’s Chosen well clear of Keeper of the Grove. It’s almost a necessity based on how easily it generates Astral Power, and the fact that many nodes center on staple parts of the rotation, like Fury of Elune, makes it feel like a cohesive addition. Though it does have some awkward nodes, it’s vastly outperforming Keeper and feels a lot better to play overall.
Feral Druid
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Excellent single-target damage | Specializes in AoE or single-target |
| Good sustained AoE | Poor in raids |
| Solid group Utility and overall CC | Difficult to manage resources |
| Highly mobile | Strong melee competition |
With the high point of the beta now long gone, the prowess of Feral Druid is considerably less impressive in The War Within proper. The spec is still able to drop significant bleeds and DoT, allowing the spec to maintain consistent pressure while also capitalizing on strong burst windows.
The addition of several cooldown reductions have helped the class’ rotation and it feels more intuitive than ever. Ferocious Bite gets an impressive 15% buff thanks to the reworked talent trees, while Tiger’s Fury offers a more generic damage buff in the same amount.
As far as Hero Talent options go, both available trees are complete and cohesive in their purpose. Wildstalker leans further into the spec fantasy of Feral Druid, but it’s just edged out by the excellent burst potential, increased versatility, and better defensive options provided by Druid of the Claw.
Subtlety Rogue
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Great burst damage | Difficult to play effectively |
| Long-term AoE damage | Poor cleave |
| Excellent defensive cooldowns | Uptime issues |
| Strong overall Utility |
The sneaky Subtlety Rogue is sadly uninspiring at the moment, though it still manages to outperform the weakest specs pretty consistently. Subtlety is in need of more changes, with much of it the same as it was throughout Dragonflight. Players may find that lack of evolution frustrating, but there is still a decent spec here if you look in the right places.
The emphasis on Secret Technique is bolstered by the tier-set bonus and Subtlety is very capable of laying down excellent single-target damage. Recent buffs have furthered this prowess and it’s now in great shape to move forward. Whether Blizzard will give it the buffs it needs to allow it to do so remains to be seen.
Both Hero Talent trees are unfortunately lacking for Subtlety as well. Trickster needs a lot of work to become effective, with some significant node changes and buffs needed across the board. Deathstalker is much better, though it still falls a little short of where it needs to be, despite the solid theme and logical direction in its design.
D-Tier
Destruction Warlock
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Great cleave | Poor AoE burst |
| Brilliant AoE options | Relatively bad mobility |
| Decent priority damage | Lacking in single-target damage |
| Many ways to play |
Destruction Warlocks were the biggest losers after the bug issues during the beta were resolved. Before that, it had already been on a mad balancing journey, appearing throughout tier lists as either the best option in the game, a mid-tier pick or downright awful at AoE and single-target DPS.
In its current state, it’s relatively poor and has some way to go to catch up to the other options in the class. While it is also durable and impressive enough for solo play, it isn’t easy to name an area in either Mythic+ or raiding where it manages to excel in any way truly.
The only potential silver lining for would-be Destruction players is that both of the available Hero Talent trees do a lot for the class. In most scenarios, the Diabolist tree works better thanks to the ability to line it up with core abilities via nodes like Ruination. That said, Hellcaller may slightly have the edge in raids, purely for the single-target focused buffs it offers.
Beast Mastery Hunter
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Strong single-target | Very poor AoE |
| DPS consistent in high movement fights | Weak in Mythic setting |
| Great survivability with pet | Pet behaviour is unpredictable |
| Easy to pick up and play | Limited toolkit |
Beast Mastery Hunter feels like a spec where the core theme has overridden the practicalities of playing the game. Pets make up a huge portion of the outgoing damage, which is fine in principle, but it leaves the actual character and rotation feeling ineffectual at best.
Despite some general improvements to their defensive capabilities and decent single-target burst, the struggle to maintain DPS for extended periods or against larger groups really exposes its shortcomings. More iteration is needed on the talent tree as well as general buffs to damage and even changes to resource generation.
Devastation Evoker
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Decent AoE options | Poor range |
| Strong overall Utility | Surprisingly squishy |
| Excellent Mobility | Steals aggro regularly |
| Overshadowed by other Evoker DPS spec |
Though it might feel slightly harsh to include Devastation in the bottom tier, it’s absolutely a spec that still needs a lot of positive tuning to make it competitive. It’s the most changed of the Evoker specs by far, and unfortunately, it has been left with little to no direction and several disparate abilities with no real connection or purpose.
The spec is still capable of outputting decent burst damage, but lengthier engagements will quickly see it fall behind its immediate peers. The other problem the spec has is that it’s technically in direct competition with Augmentation for those looking to play Evoker, and, at the time of writing, it is being vastly outperformed in almost every way.
As far as Hero Talents go, it’s a case of deciding your priorities heading into an activity. Scalecommander adds brilliant cleave potential, while Flameshaper leads further into Devastation’s bursty nature. Overall, Scalecommander will likely be the preferable option, but recent nerfs have rendered the two trees pretty even.
That’s the list! We’ve also got a full breakdown of The War Within and what to expect when it goes live, as well as a class tier list for an overarching view of how all specs are performing. Currently, playing the pre-patch? We’ve also got a full guide to the Radiant Echoes event.
