DPS Class Tier List (Fresh 2024)

With World of Warcraft Classic returning once again with the release of WoW 20th Anniversary servers on November 21, 2024, players are flocking back to the celebrated 2004 version of the game to take on one of gaming’s greatest MMOs in its prime form. Though we got a release back in 2019 as well, this time WoW Classic Fresh has a few changes, like Dual Spec, no buff limits, and more.

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Get started on the right foot with this guide to the best DPS classes in WoW Classic. DPS classes vary, with some classes having more specs and more versatility than others, but the best DPS class WoW Classic offers might not be right for you if the gameplay doesn’t feel right.

Ultimately, all of these DPS classes can compete in endgame content, so it’s more important to choose a class you vibe with – but if you’re just interested in topping meters, you will be more consistent if you choose one of the best DPS classes in WoW Classic over non-meta specs.

S Tier DPS Classes in WoW Classic

Mage, Warrior, Warlock

If you are looking for the straight-up best DPS class WoW Classic players can choose, in terms of endgame DPS output, you can’t go wrong choosing the Mage, Warlock, or Warrior.

Mages and Warlocks have little gear dependence (aside from Wands) and can dish out some serious DPS, the Mage especially, while also bringing a bunch of useful utility to the party with Portals, Mage Food/Water, Summoning, and Healthstones/Soulstones. Choose Mage if you want the overall best experience playing a DPS class in WoW, but Warlock if you don’t mind sacrificing some damage output for being one of the most useful classes in WoW Classic.

You almost always want a Mage or Warlock in your group, especially at level 60 when traveling the world becomes a chore.

The Warrior class is capable of dealing the highest DPS possible in WoW Classic but only if you have the gear to empower it. That’s because virtually all of the Warrior class’ power comes from gear, so they can be tough to level efficiently. But at level 60, and in future phases, the Warrior’s upper damage limits just keep getting higher and higher as the gear gets better and better, leaving other DPS classes way behind when future Raids come out.

Choose Warrior if you don’t mind a rough leveling journey, and the time it takes to get your BiS gear, to blow away the competition on the WoW Classic DPS charts.

Mage DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Easy rotations that any player can pick up and learn Excellent PvP & PvP class Great CC with Frost Nova and Polymorph Great party utility with summoned Water and Food Blink and Portals make for efficient travel
Weaknesses	Frost spec dominates meta (though Arcane and Fire are still OK) If your target gets to you before you can react, you’re dead It can be easy to run out of mana if you are firing off on all cylinders

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Warrior DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Best-scaling WoW Classic class – the further you get in the game, the better you will perform Best Tank in vanilla WoW thanks to direct Taunt ability and high defenses No reliance on Mana means Warriors can keep going through long fights
Weaknesses	Completely dependent on Gear for improvements The most difficult class to level solo efficiently thanks to low mobility and no way to avoid enemies Rage can be finicky to manage efficiently

Warlock DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Best party utility with Summoning Portals and Health/Soul stones Great solo leveler thanks to Tanking pets High, consistent endgame DPS in groups Nearly infinite mana with Life Tap
Weaknesses	Affliction is a dead spec except in high-level group content Extremely squishy if caught alone (though Demon Armor and Healthstones can mitigate this) Very low mobility

A Tier DPS Classes in WoW Classic

Rogue, Hunter, Priest

There are little to no major faults with the three best DPS classes in WoW Classic, but that doesn’t mean that classes in this A Tier and the B Tier below aren’t worth playing in the damage role. In fact, the Rogue, Hunter, and Priest classes can still do exceptional damage when played well, and bring other strengths to a party that the Mage, Warlock, and Warrior do not.

Rogues are your default Stealth class in WoW Classic, and though they scale well into the endgame and are very strong single-target melee DPS, they bring little utility to a party aside from Stealth and Sap for CC.

Hunters are a great all-around class that’s not the most powerful in the game, but far from the worst, and comes with some unique and fun class mechanics with the Pet system.

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Priests are a bit of a special case. The Shadow Priest spec is far from the best DPS in WoW Classic, but the Priest brings a lot of party utility to a group that is lacking a Healer Priest. In Shadow Spec, you can work the Off Healer role while still putting out great DPS in lengthy fights. But because a lot of their damage comes from damage-over-time effects, they can’t contribute much to short fights and can have issues with Mana regeneration.

Rogue DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	One of the best PvP classes thanks to Stealth and burst damage No reliance on Mana means consistent high DPS output in long fights Good mobility with Sprint Can exploit various game mechanics, like Dire Maul Tribute runs, with Blind and Sap
Weaknesses	No group buffs/utility aside from Stealth tricks Many enemies immune to Poisons Very squishy and extremely difficult to level solo

Hunter DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Arguably the best leveling class in WoW thanks to ranged damage and Pet taking damage High DPS ceiling in endgame WoW Classic content High mobility and customization of personal buffs
Weaknesses	Relies on Ammo for ranged damage, which is essential for two of the three specs It can be difficult, and tedious, to train new Pets to be ready for combat Notorious for ruining group runs with Pets not set to Passive during dungeons and raids

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Priest DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Good, sustained damage over time with various Shadow spells Ability to off-heal and deal good damage at the same time A variety of useful group buffs, enemy debuffs, and crowd control effects
Weaknesses	Little to no easy way to regenerate Mana, relies on Wands for most damage output Surprisingly squishy, despite so many healing spells Takes a long time for Shadow to come online (Voidform at 40, for example)

B Tier DPS Classes in WoW Classic

Druid, Shaman, Paladin

While you will have few problems playing as any of the S or A Tier WoW Classic DPS classes ranked above, the Druid, Shaman, and Paladin DPS specs don’t quite match up in terms of damage output. These lower-tier DPS classes WoW Classic offers are worth trying out, and will still get invited to groups for their unique buffs and what they bring to a party composition. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you might have a bit of trouble getting into groups at endgame.

Consider joining a guild that is in the process of putting together a Raid team to be able to raid consistently, as PUGs are much less friendly to off-meta specs.

Paladin DPS in the Retribution spec just about bottoms out the DPS meters in WoW Classic, though a well-played Ret Paladin will do better than most. You want a Paladin in your group for Aura buffs and other party utility, as they have a variety of useful Healing and Support spells in their kit. But when it comes to the combat experience itself, Ret Paladins have one of the most dull rotations and can have trouble topping meters.

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The Druid and Shaman classes, on the other hand, don’t quite match up to the other WoW classes ranked above, but they still have their uses in a party, and are strong in certain types of content.

Druids can play four specs, two of which are DPS, but Balance sits right alongside Ret Paladin at the bottom of the DPS charts in WoW Classic. But Feral is very, very good in PvP, and tends to perform pretty decently in endgame dungeon and raid content.

Shamans, on the other hand, have the Elemental and Enhancement specs, and though neither of these can push the same heights as a Warrior or Mage, they bring the most powerful single buff in WoW: the Windfury Totem. This one ability almost ensures that you will get into a Raid group lacking a shaman at endgame, but don’t expect your damage to peak the meters unless you are playing the class exceptionally well.

Druid DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Feral is arguably the best PvP class and leveling class High mobility in Feral spec Burst damage and sustained damage thanks to Energy resource instead of Mana (primarily)
Weaknesses	Balance is the worst DPS spec in WoW Classic by a wide margin, Fury dominates Druid charts “Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None” Will likely be asked to play Tank or Healer instead of DPS

Shaman DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Has the best party buff in the game – Windfury, which gives melee players a chance to strike twice while active Totems allow for customized setups for different combat needs, such as Earthbind to control a group of enemies
Weaknesses	Locked to Cloth armor until Level 40 Lowest average DPS between Enhancement and Elemental in WoW Classic Will likely be asked to Heal instead, as Restoration Shaman are among the best healers in WoW

Paladin DPS In WoW Classic

Strengths	Extremely useful party utility, like Blessing of Kings and Blessing of Might, Lay on Hands, Divine Shield, etc Strong self-sustain and armor make Retribution Paladins good for PvP
Weaknesses	Slow, monotonous gameplay – standing and hitting with buffs Extremely low average endgame group DPS Very low mobility and low burst damage potential

Systems

Released: November 23, 2004
Engine: Unreal Engine
ESRB: T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence (online interactions not rated)

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