WoW Classic Fresh Tier List - Best DPS, Healer, Tank Ranking in WoW Classic TBC Fresh

With the release of WoW Classic: Fresh on November 21st, many players are wondering which class and spec they should play for PvE, particularly in raiding. This guide will provide a high-level breakdown of the best classes for each role: Tank, Healer, Ranged DPS, and Melee DPS. Keep in mind that this guide focuses exclusively on PvE raiding. Some classes that may rank lower here could excel in other areas like PvP or open-world content. Without further ado, let's dive into the rankings for WoW Classic Fresh.

WoW Classic Fresh Best DPS Tier List

1. Warrior (Fury)

Fury Warriors remain the top melee DPS choice in WoW Classic Fresh. Their ability to scale with gear and benefit immensely from world buffs makes them dominant throughout all phases of Classic. They also provide flexibility in both tanking and DPS roles. Dual-wielding Fury is particularly strong, and while they may be slow levelers, their performance in raids is second to none. Horde Warriors also benefit from Windfury Totem, adding even more to their already strong performance.

2. Mage

Mages continue to be the best ranged DPS option. Their ability to AoE farm during leveling, create food and water, and provide portals makes them extremely self-sufficient. In raids, they start with Frost spec in early phases and transition to Fire spec in later phases like AQ40 and Naxxramas. Their consistent damage output and utility (Polymorph, Decurse) make them an essential part of any raid team. Even in highly competitive guilds, Mages always secure multiple raid spots.

3. Rogue

Rogues are strong DPS contenders, especially in the early to mid phases of Classic. With multiple specs (Sword, Dagger), they can adapt to different playstyles. While they are often outshined by Warriors in later phases, Rogues remain efficient levelers and are highly effective in PvP. Their ability to stealth and pick their battles also gives them an edge in world PvP and certain raid mechanics that require crowd control (Sap) or utility (Kicking casters).

4. Warlock

Warlocks bring excellent utility and consistent DPS to raids. They excel in solo play due to their ability to summon pets that tank for them and their self-sustain through abilities like Life Tap and Drain Life. In raids, they provide crucial debuffs like Curse of Elements and Curse of Recklessness, which boost the damage of the entire raid. While their DPS doesn't scale as well as Mages in later phases, they are still highly valued for their utility (Soulstones, Healthstones, Banish) and certain encounters where they can tank (e.g., Twin Emperors in AQ40).

5. Hunter

Hunters are fantastic levelers, known for their ability to kite and solo difficult content with their pets. In the early phases of Classic, they provide solid DPS and utility, particularly for pulling and kiting in raids. However, as the game progresses, Hunters fall behind other DPS classes in terms of scaling. By later phases like Naxxramas, they are typically only brought in small numbers (one or two per raid) due to their diminished raid performance compared to Warriors or Mages. Their niche playstyle can also be a deterrent for some players, as managing the "dead zone" (the range where they can’t shoot) can be frustrating.

6. Feral Druid

Feral Druids offer decent DPS and bring a lot of raid utility, including Battle Res, Innervate, and Leader of the Pack (crit buff). However, their DPS is not comparable to Warriors or Rogues, and they have a high skill ceiling to perform well. They are often brought for their utility rather than their raw damage, and most raids will only bring one or two Ferals.

7. Shadow Priest

Shadow Priests provide supportive DPS with abilities like Shadow Weaving, which increases the raid’s Shadow damage output. They are often brought in very limited numbers (usually just one per raid) because their mana issues and threat generation can be problematic. They are not a top-tier DPS class but can still contribute meaningfully when paired with Warlocks, who benefit from the Shadow damage buff.

8. Elemental Shaman

Elemental Shamans bring solid utility with totems and Chain Lightning but fall behind in DPS compared to many other classes. Their mana efficiency is a significant issue, and they are often outclassed by Resto Shamans in terms of raid utility. Elemental Shamans are more viable in PvP, but in raids, they are generally a bottom-tier DPS.

9. Boomkin (Balance Druid)

Boomkins are a rare sight in raids due to their mana problems and poor scaling. While they provide a 3% crit buff to ranged DPS, their own damage output is not competitive. Most raids will only bring a Boomkin if they have a significant number of Mages or Warlocks to benefit from the crit buff, but otherwise, they are not a top DPS contender.

WoW Classic Best Tank Tier List

1. Fury/Prot Warrior

The Fury/Prot hybrid is the best tanking spec in WoW Classic Fresh. Warriors are the only class that can handle tanking all content effectively, whether it's raid bosses or trash mobs. Their versatility and damage output allow them to generate threat while still contributing to DPS.

2. Deep Prot Warrior

A Deep Prot Warrior is also a viable tank, prioritizing survivability over damage output. This build is preferred in guilds that need more mitigation for their tanks, especially in harder-hitting encounters.

3. Bear Druid

Bear Druids can tank every encounter in Classic, but they are often overlooked due to threat generation and gear scaling issues. However, a well-played Bear can still perform admirably, particularly as an off-tank.

4. Warlock (Situational Tank)

In rare cases, Warlocks can tank certain encounters, such as Twin Emperors in AQ40, though this is highly specialized and not a general tanking option.

WoW Classic Best Healer Tier List

1. Priest

Priests are the best healers in WoW Classic Fresh. They have multiple viable specs (Holy and Disc) and bring incredible utility with buffs, Fear Ward, and strong single-target and AoE healing. Priests are a must-have in any raid.

2. Holy Paladin

Exclusive to the Alliance, Holy Paladins are top-tier tank healers. Their mana efficiency and scaling with gear make them excellent for long fights. They also bring invaluable buffs like Blessing of Kings and Salvation.

3. Resto Shaman

For the Horde, Resto Shamans are essential. Their Chain Heal is unparalleled for raid-wide healing, and their totems bring immense utility. While their single-target healing isn't as strong, their overall raid contribution is significant.

4. Resto Druid

Resto Druids excel at HoTs (healing over time), but these are less effective in Classic's fast-paced raid environment. They are often brought for their Battle Res and buffs, rather than their raw healing output.

Remember, while some classes dominate in raiding, others may shine in different aspects of the game like PvP or leveling. Choose the class that fits your playstyle and enjoy the journey into WoW Classic: Fresh!