WoW Season of Discovery Phase 6 is just around the corner, and it’s time to rethink your approach. In this ultimate WoW SoD Phase 6 DPS tier list, we’re not just focusing on raw numbers—we’re also factoring in the crucial element of survivability. Let’s break down and rank the strongest DPS classes to ensure you're ready for the challenges of the new Season of Discovery.

WoW SoD Phase 6 Tier List - DPS Ranking for PvE & PvP

Phase 6 of WoW Season of Discovery (SoD) is on the horizon, and it’s time to shift your mindset in a big way. Phase 6 of World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery brings significant changes to the DPS meta with new content and mechanics. AQ40 is now reimagined as AQ20 and AQ10, with the introduction of a Mythic mode that allows players to gamble on their loot—risking everything for greater rewards. This phase emphasizes survivability alongside damage output, as players will need to navigate increasingly difficult encounters and the new Descent into Madness system, where losing could cost all your loot. This shift in gameplay will see certain classes rise in utility and importance, while others may struggle to adapt to the new demands of Phase 6.

We're about to enter a legendary battle where you either seize glory and loot or face humiliation and watch all your precious epics slip away. This isn't just about maximizing raw damage anymore. In Phase 6, survivability will be just as crucial. Let’s strategize and rank the very best DPS classes in Phase 6 to prepare you for an epic showdown.

1. Warrior DPS (S Tier)

First up, warriors are still the kings of PvE and PvP in Phase 6. Whether you’re tearing through enemies in PvP with a pocket healer or dominating the damage meters in raids, Warriors scale better than anyone else with world buffs and gear. While they may not double everyone’s DPS like they did in 2019, they’ll still be top contenders on the meters. The only downside is their survivability in the new Descent into Madness system, but if you can manage that, Warriors are a top-tier choice.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★★★

• Warriors are among the best DPS specs in Phase 6. They scale extremely well with gear and world buffs, and their damage is near the top in most encounters. Survivability is their only concern.

For PvP: ★★★★★

• Warriors are the strongest PvP class in Phase 6 when paired with a healer. They dominate both battlegrounds and world PvP, with incredible burst damage.

2. Rogue DPS (S Tier)

Rogues are dominating World PvP, battlegrounds, and they’re going to shine in AQ40 as well. They have chart-topping damage, and their ability to keep world buffs longer than anyone else makes them incredibly valuable. Not only will they stay alive longer in Descent into Madness, but they’ll also maximize loot for your raid. This is the perfect time to level a Rogue if you haven’t already—S Tier all the way.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★★★

• Rogues are top-tier DPS in raids. They can consistently stay at the top of damage meters and have excellent survivability. They will be key players in AQ40.

For PvP: ★★★★★

• Rogues are dominant in PvP, with high burst damage, stealth, and crowd control. They excel in both battlegrounds and world PvP, making them a top choice for Phase 6 PvP.

3. Balance Druid (S Tier)

Balance Druids have made a huge comeback. While they were laughed at in earlier phases, they are now one of the best classes in both PvP and PvE. They offer unparalleled utility with Battle Res, Innervate, and consistent damage output. The only question is whether they will face nerfs in Phase 6. For now, though, Balance Druids are solidly in the S Tier.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★★☆

• Balance Druids have made a big comeback. They bring excellent utility with abilities like Battle Res and Innervate, making them valuable in raids. Survivability is also a strong point, which is critical in Phase 6.

For PvP: ★★★★★

• One of the best PvP classes, Balance Druids are incredibly strong, with great utility and survivability. They are highly reliable in PvP environments.

4. Warlock DPS (A Tier)

Finally, we have the Warlock. Warlocks are dominating right now, and it’s no surprise. While they are extremely gear-dependent, once they get their full Tier 2, Black Book, and other key pieces, they become a force to be reckoned with. Felguards are doing up to 30% of a Warlock’s damage, making them similar to a better Beastmaster Hunter. Warlocks are easily an A Tier class in Phase 6.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★★★

• Warlocks are top-tier in Phase 6. They are gear-dependent but have finally reached their potential, especially with pets like Felguard contributing significantly to their damage output.

For PvP: ★★★★☆

• Warlocks are strong in PvP, with powerful DoTs and crowd control. They can be a nightmare to deal with, but they require good gear to truly shine.

5. Feral Druid (A Tier)

Feral Druids are loved by many in the community, and for good reason. In Phase 6, they’ll become even more valuable, especially if the meta leans toward physical melee-heavy compositions. Their survivability and utility, including Battle Res and Innervate, make them indispensable. Expect to see more Feral Druids taking up raid spots, firmly placing them in the A Tier.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★★☆

• Feral Druids are highly valuable in Phase 6 raids. With strong utility and survivability, they are in demand, especially in physical melee-heavy raid comps. Their damage is solid, and they bring essential raid buffs.

For PvP: ★★★★☆

• Feral Druids are strong in PvP, with high mobility and survivability. While not as dominant as Balance Druids, they are still a formidable PvP spec.

6. Hunter DPS (A Tier)

Hunters are another A Tier class. In Phase 6, Hunters will continue to be reliable, offering above-average damage and utility like Tranq Shot, which is essential on fights like Huhuran. They also bring Aspect of the Pack for raid-wide movement speed boosts. With the new Descent into Madness system, where loot maximization is key, Hunters will be a staple in raids.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★★☆

• Hunters are reliable DPS in Phase 6. While not the absolute top, they provide good utility with abilities like Tranquilizing Shot and Aspect of the Pack. They are expected to perform well in AQ40.

For PvP: ★★★☆☆

• Hunters are decent in PvP, particularly in battlegrounds and world PvP. However, they don't dominate the competitive PvP scene as much as other classes.

7. Retribution Paladin (B Tier)

Lastly, we have the Retribution Paladin. While they are one of the most overpowered classes in PvP, capable of one-shotting opponents while under bubble immunity, their PvE performance is middle-of-the-pack. However, their survivability is excellent, which will make them more valuable in Phase 6 content. Expect to see more Retribution Paladins in raids, but they remain in the B Tier.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★☆☆

• Retribution Paladins are middle-of-the-pack in terms of DPS. However, their survivability and utility make them valuable, especially in Phase 6's survivability-focused meta.

For PvP: ★★★★★

• Retribution Paladins are overpowered in PvP. They can one-shot opponents while being immune due to abilities like Divine Shield, making them one of the best PvP specs in the game.

8. Mage DPS (A Tier)

Starting with Mages, they find themselves in an odd position. While they’ve fallen into the middle of the pack in terms of DPS, they still bring solid utility to any raid. Issues like trash mobs dying too quickly or abilities like Living Bomb not going off reduce their overall effectiveness. While Mages may not top the meters, they are still a reliable choice for Phase 6, earning them a spot in the A Tier.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★★☆☆

• Mages have fallen to the middle of the pack in terms of DPS. They face issues like trash mobs dying too quickly for their AoE spells to take effect. Their overall raid utility is still decent.

For PvP: ★★★★☆

• Mages are still strong in PvP, though they are not as dominant as in earlier phases. They have strong burst damage and crowd control abilities but are somewhat gear-dependent.

9. Enhancement Shaman (B Tier)

Enhancement Shamans also land in B Tier. While they are nearly unkillable in PvP, with their ability to tank 10-man or even 20-man content, their PvE damage is lackluster. Raiding with an Enhancement Shaman means dealing with lower DPS compared to many other specs. While they bring useful utility, their overall damage keeps them from rising beyond the B Tier.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★☆☆☆

• In PvE, Enhancement Shamans are considered weak DPS, even though they can tank smaller raid encounters. They fall behind other DPS specs significantly.

For PvP: ★★★★☆

• In PvP, Enhancement Shamans are extremely durable, making them very strong. They have good survivability and can abuse mechanics like extra HP in Battlegrounds.

10. Shadow Priest (B Tier)

Next in the B Tier is the Shadow Priest. There’s a lot of discussion around Shadow Priests, with some raids seeing them top the meters, but the data doesn’t fully support this. While they may not excel in raw DPS, they offer excellent survivability - a key factor in AQ40. If survival is paramount to maximizing loot, Shadow Priests become more valuable in certain situations, but their overall damage output keeps them in the B Tier.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★☆☆☆

• Shadow Priests are inconsistent in raids. While they can top meters in some raids, overall, their performance doesn't match the best DPS specs. However, their survivability is a strong point.

For PvP: ★★★★☆

• Shadow Priests are solid in PvP, though not as dominant as in earlier phases. They bring utility and survivability, but are not top-tier in duels or battlegrounds.

11. Elemental Shaman (B Tier)

Finally, we have El shaman. There’s a bit of a misconception around Elemental Shamans, especially among Alliance players, where they have become the "boogeyman" of sorts. However, in PvE, they don’t live up to the hype. Elemental Shamans in PvP hit like a "wet noodle" with their Lava Burst, largely because of players running Molten Core fire resistance gear. In PvE, their ceiling isn’t that high, and they are incredibly gear-reliant. Even with top-tier gear, you’re looking at middle-of-the-pack DPS. Still, they offer desirable utility in AQ40, such as mana regen from Shamanistic Rage. Sorry, Alliance players, but Elemental Shamans are no higher than B Tier in Phase 6.

For Raid (AQ40 and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj): ★★☆☆☆

• Elemental Shamans aren't performing well in PvE, even with good gear. They are gear-dependent and only do middle-of-the-pack damage. Mana regen is a plus, but overall, they aren't top-tier DPS.

For PvP: ★★☆☆☆

• Elemental Shamans are underwhelming in PvP. They "hit like a wet noodle" due to opponents running fire resistance gear, limiting their effectiveness.

Phase 6 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in World of Warcraft’s Season of Discovery. Whether you’re focusing on raw damage or survivability, understanding which classes will thrive is crucial. Whether you’re a Warrior, Warlock, Hunter, or one of the other S and A Tier classes, you’ll want to prepare for the challenges ahead.