With WoW Classic TBC Fresh launching on November 21st, it’s time to break down the best DPS classes for both PvE Raiding and PvP. Whether you’re looking to maximize your damage in raids or dominate the PvP battlegrounds, this WoW Classic Fresh DPS rankings will help you choose the right class. We’ll be covering the Ranged and Melee DPS specs, ranking them based on their performance in both environments. Let’s get started.

WoW Classic Fresh DPS Tier List

WoW Classic PvE DPS Ranking

In WoW Classic Fresh PvE raids, DPS performance plays a crucial role in the success of your group, as players look to optimize their damage output while providing utility and support. The meta in early raid tiers, such as Molten Core and Blackwing Lair, heavily favors certain classes due to their scalability and synergy with world buffs. However, as the game progresses into later tiers like AQ40 and Naxxramas, the gap between top and mid-tier DPS classes can widen, making class stacking and composition even more important. Below is a ranking of the best Ranged and Melee DPS for PvE raids in Classic TBC Fresh.

Melee DPS Rankings for Raid:

1. Fury Warrior
   Undisputedly the best melee DPS in WoW Classic TBC PvE. Fury Warriors excel in raw damage output, especially with world buffs that skyrocket their performance beyond any competition. Arms Warrior and 2H Slam builds are viable alternatives, but they pale in comparison to Fury.

2. Rogue
   Rogues are strong contenders, with multiple viable builds such as Sword and Dagger specs. While they can compete with Warriors at the highest level, they generally require more skill and optimization to perform at the same level. In an average raid, a Fury Warrior will usually outshine a Rogue.

3. Feral Druid
   Feral Druids bring incredible utility to raids with their crit buff and flexibility to tank or heal when necessary. While their DPS is respectable, they fall behind Warriors and Rogues in pure damage output. However, their utility makes them a valuable raid member.

4. Enhancement Shaman
   Enhancement Shamans provide useful buffs through totems, but their DPS isn’t competitive with the top melee classes. Still, they are marginally better than Retribution Paladins in terms of damage and utility.

5. Retribution Paladin
   Retribution Paladins are often brought to raids for their utility rather than their damage. They can contribute, but their DPS performance is on the lower end, often being outclassed by other melee specs.

Ranged DPS Rankings for Raid:

1. Mage
   Mages are the kings of ranged DPS, especially in early phases where Frost spec dominates Molten Core (MC) and Blackwing Lair (BWL). As the game progresses, Fire Mage becomes the top DPS in later phases like AQ40 and Naxxramas.

2. Warlock
   Warlocks are close behind Mages, offering great utility through Healthstones, Soulstones, and summoning. While their damage is slightly lower than Mages, they are still a staple in most raids and can even tank certain bosses like the Twin Emperors in AQ40.

3. Hunter
   Hunters contribute solid damage and bring valuable utility, such as kiting and pulling in raids. Although they don’t scale as well as Mages or Warlocks in late-game content, they remain a useful and consistent DPS option.

4. Shadow Priest
   Shadow Priests are highly valuable for their utility, especially boosting Warlock damage through Shadow Weaving. While their DPS isn’t top-tier, their contribution to the raid’s overall performance makes them a strong contender.

5. Balance Druid (Boomkin)
   Boomkins struggle with mana issues and lack optimal gear options in PvE, making them less effective than other ranged DPS. However, their crit buff for ranged groups can make them a valuable addition to certain raid compositions.

6. Elemental Shaman
   Elemental Shamans offer strong totem buffs and decent burst damage, but they are outclassed by almost every other ranged DPS in a raid setting. They also suffer from mana issues and lack of gear optimization.

WoW Classic PvP DPS Ranking

PvP in WoW Classic Fresh is known for its unpredictable nature, where class balance revolves around control, burst potential, and utility. Each class brings unique strengths to the battlefield, but some consistently outperform others due to their ability to control fights, deal high burst damage, or support their team in crucial moments. Whether you’re battling in 1v1 duels, large-scale battlegrounds, or arena skirmishes, knowing which DPS classes excel in PvP scenarios can give you a significant edge. Here’s a breakdown of the top melee and ranged DPS for PvP in Classic TBC Fresh.

Melee DPS Rankings for PvP:

1. Rogue
   Rogues are the masters of PvP, excelling in burst damage, crowd control, and stealth play. With abilities like Cheap Shot, Kidney Shot, and Vanish, they can control fights and take down enemies swiftly.

2. Arms Warrior
   Arms Warriors are a force to be reckoned with in PvP, especially in team settings. Mortal Strike is a game-changing ability, reducing healing on targets, and their Charge and Hamstring abilities provide excellent mobility and control.

3. Enhancement Shaman
   Enhancement Shamans thrive in PvP with Windfury Totem and Earth Shock. Their burst damage in PvP can be devastating, and they offer great support to melee allies.

4. Feral Druid
   Feral Druids offer great mobility and survivability in PvP with Cat Form for stealth and Bear Form for tankiness. They are particularly effective flag carriers in battlegrounds like Warsong Gulch.

5. Retribution Paladin
   Retribution Paladins are durable and capable of surprising burst damage in PvP. With abilities like Divine Shield and Blessing of Freedom, they can break out of crowd control and remain a threat in team fights.

Ranged DPS Rankings for PvP:

1. Mage
   Mages are top-tier in PvP with their ability to kite, control, and burst down targets. Frost Mages dominate with Frost Nova, Polymorph, and Ice Block, making them nearly impossible to pin down.

2. Warlock
   Warlocks are terrifying in PvP, with Fear, Howl of Terror, and Death Coil allowing them to control the battlefield. Soul Link Warlocks are particularly hard to kill, making them a potent PvP class.

3. Hunter
   Hunters excel in ranged combat, with abilities like Scatter Shot, Freezing Trap, and Wing Clip allowing them to control melee opponents. They are also great at kiting and picking off targets from a distance.

4. Shadow Priest
   Shadow Priests deal strong damage in PvP, with abilities like Psychic Scream and Mind Blast making them dangerous opponents. Their Vampiric Embrace also provides self-healing, giving them great sustain in fights.

5. Elemental Shaman
   Elemental Shamans bring strong burst potential with Elemental Mastery and Chain Lightning. However, they are often vulnerable due to their reliance on casting and lack of mobility compared to other ranged classes.

WoW Classic Fresh Hardcore DPS Ranking

Ranking DPS classes for Hardcore mode in games like World of Warcraft or other MMORPGs heavily depends on survivability, utility, and ease of execution, in addition to raw damage potential. In Hardcore, where death is permanent, glass-cannon builds are risky, and higher emphasis is placed on staying alive while dealing damage consistently.

• 1. Hunter (S Tier)

Hunters are the ultimate Hardcore-friendly DPS class due to their unparalleled survivability and utility. With Feign Death to escape danger, pets to tank and offload damage, and strong kiting capabilities through ranged attacks and traps, Hunters can handle a wide range of situations safely. Their ability to fight from a distance minimizes exposure to melee threats, while tools like Freezing Trap provide excellent crowd control. However, pet management and limited melee options can make them vulnerable in tight spaces or if overwhelmed.

• 2. Warlock (S Tier)

Warlocks excel in Hardcore thanks to their self-sustain and utility. With Drain Life, Healthstones, and a tanky Voidwalker pet, they can keep themselves alive even in difficult fights. Soulstone resurrection offers a second chance if things go wrong, while Fear and other crowd control options provide ways to escape or handle multiple enemies. Warlocks scale well with minimal gear, making them strong choices even early on. However, Fear can inadvertently pull additional mobs, and poor positioning can be punishing.

• 3. Mage (A Tier)

Mages bring exceptional damage potential and utility to Hardcore play, but their survivability depends heavily on proper positioning and cooldown usage. Frost Mages, in particular, shine due to their slows, roots, and Ice Block, which can save them in emergencies. Polymorph offers excellent crowd control for dangerous pulls, while ranged AoE and burst damage allow them to handle groups efficiently. However, Mages are extremely fragile, and mistakes in kiting or over-pulling can result in quick deaths, especially with limited mana.

• 4. Feral Druid (A Tier)

Feral Druids are versatile and survivable, making them a solid Hardcore choice. In Cat Form, they offer decent DPS while having the ability to shift into Bear Form for tankiness in emergencies. Their access to self-healing through Rejuvenation and Regrowth adds to their durability, and stealth allows them to bypass dangerous encounters. While they lack the raw damage output of pure DPS classes, their hybrid nature and ability to adapt to various situations make them reliable and forgiving in Hardcore scenarios.

• 5. Rogue (B Tier)

Rogues thrive in Hardcore with their ability to avoid danger through stealth, Vanish, and Evasion, which provide excellent escape tools. Their high single-target DPS makes them effective at quickly eliminating threats before they become overwhelming. However, their reliance on cooldowns for survivability and melee combat limits their ability to handle multiple enemies or ranged threats. Without proper positioning or careful planning, Rogues can be fragile and are heavily punished for mistakes.

• 6. Shadow Priest (B Tier)

Shadow Priests offer a mix of DPS, self-sustain, and utility, making them a solid Hardcore choice. Vampiric Embrace allows them to heal while dealing damage, and their access to powerful dispels and heals provides additional safety. Their damage-over-time abilities are strong and efficient, but they are heavily reliant on mana, leading to downtime in longer fights. While they lack mobility and can struggle in fast-paced or chaotic situations, their self-healing and versatility make them durable for Hardcore play.

• 7. Shaman (Elemental/Enhancement) (C Tier)

Shamans are moderately survivable DPS classes with strong utility and self-healing through Healing Surge. Elemental Shamans can deal solid ranged damage, while Enhancement Shamans provide high melee burst. Totems like Earthbind and Tremor add valuable control and utility, but both specs rely on mana for both damage and healing, which can lead to resource management struggles. Without strong cooldowns or gear, Shamans can feel squishy, but their toolkit allows for creative problem-solving in Hardcore environments.

• 8. Warrior (DPS) (C Tier)

Warriors are high-risk, high-reward DPS classes in Hardcore. Their damage potential is excellent, especially in melee, but they are heavily gear-dependent and lack self-healing, relying instead on potions and bandages. Defensive Stance and a shield can improve survivability in emergencies, but their inability to kite or deal ranged damage makes them vulnerable to certain encounters. Warriors require precise management of pulls and cooldowns, as over-committing in Hardcore can lead to disaster.

• 9. Retribution Paladin (D Tier)

Retribution Paladins offer solid utility and survivability but lack the mobility and damage output of other DPS classes. They can self-heal through Flash of Light and Lay on Hands, and their auras and buffs provide group-wide benefits. However, their slower, reactive playstyle and limited offensive abilities make them feel sluggish in Hardcore. Their survivability tools are strong, but their low mobility and weaker DPS compared to other classes make them a less optimal Hardcore choice.

• 10. Fire/Arcane Mage (D Tier)

Fire and Arcane Mages are high-risk, high-reward DPS specs, offering incredible burst damage but little survivability. Without the slows and roots of Frost spec, they rely entirely on raw damage to eliminate threats quickly. However, their fragility and mana dependency make them highly vulnerable in prolonged fights or when over-pulling. In Hardcore, where mistakes are unforgiving, Fire and Arcane Mages require precise execution and careful planning to survive.