With the upcoming launch of WoW: Classic 20th Anniversary Edition, players are eagerly awaiting the return to the Burning Crusade era of Azeroth. Which classes will reign supreme on the damage meters, and which ones may struggle to keep up? To help guide your class selection, we've compiled a comprehensive WoW Fresh Classic Raid Tier List for DPS (Vanilla & TBC), drawing insights from the community's feedback and a deep analysis of each class's strengths, weaknesses, and overall viability.
WoW Classic Fresh Raid DPS Tier List 2024 - Best DPS Classes Ranking in TBC & Vanilla
Which DPS class should you use in the World of Warcraft Classic Fresh? Consistent and high damage output across all phases of the expansion, both in single-target and AoE scenarios; strong scaling and performance as the content becomes more challenging; valuable utility abilities that benefit the raid or group, such as crowd control, mana manipulation, or raid buffs; and overall raid/group viability, with classes that offer a desirable and reliable DPS option being prioritized. The best DPS class choices for the raid in WoW Fresh TBC servers are Warlocks, Warriors, and Mages, which are placed in the S-Tier. They excel at maintaining top-tier damage throughout the entire expansion, offer unique utility tools, and scale exceptionally well into the later phases.
1. Warrior - S Tier
Warriors are the undisputed kings of DPS in Vanilla WoW, consistently topping damage meters throughout all raid phases. As Fury, they can deal massive damage, and their Fury Prot spec makes them the best threat and mitigation tank. Warriors shine in raid environments when properly geared and buffed, but they are highly dependent on world buffs and consumables, which makes maintaining peak performance costly and time-consuming. In TBC, however, Warriors fall off in the early phases as other classes outshine them until later gear phases. Despite their high skill ceiling and gear competition, they remain a popular choice due to their sheer damage potential in Vanilla.
2. Mage - S Tier
Mages are incredibly versatile, with high DPS output in both PvE and PvP. Frost mages dominate early raids with a simple yet effective rotation, and they are invaluable for AoE farming and leveling. Mages are a resourceful class, providing utility through portals, food, and crowd control. In TBC, Arcane Mages become top-tier DPS, making them highly desirable throughout the expansion. Although mana management and threat issues can be problematic, Mages are a consistent and powerful DPS class throughout Vanilla and TBC.
3. Warlock - S Tier
Warlocks are somewhat underplayed in Vanilla but still boast solid DPS, especially from AQ40 onwards. They excel in PvP and are excellent at farming with their ability to solo content and manage multiple enemies. Warlocks also have unique raid utility, such as tanking the Twin Emperors. In TBC, they ascend to the top-tier DPS ranks, with their Shadowbolt spam rotation becoming a staple in raid environments. Their free mount at level 40 and cost-efficient playstyle make them a strong choice for players looking to DPS without the consumable burden of other classes. The only downside is their reliance on pet management and soul-shard farming.
4. Hunter - A Tier
Hunters are the fastest levelers in the game, capable of soloing many elite quests and farming efficiently once Dire Maul opens. In the early phases of Vanilla, they are decent DPS but fall off in AQ40 and Naxxramas due to poor scaling. However, in TBC, Hunters become one of the top DPS classes, especially with Beast Mastery and Survival specs. While pet micromanagement can be tedious, and they suffer from dead zone issues in PvP, skilled Hunters can perform well in both PvE and PvP. Their ability to farm gold, especially with tribute runs, and their strong utility in dungeons make them a solid A-tier choice.
5. Shaman - A Tier
Shamans are versatile and highly desirable in TBC due to the power of Bloodlust (Heroism) and party-wide buffs. In Vanilla, they are the second-best healers, with Restoration Shamans excelling in both dungeons and PvP. Elemental Shamans are fun to play and can be viable in early raids like Molten Core, although damage tapers off later. Enhancement Shamans are great for PvP, with big Windfury procs making them unpredictable and exciting. While they can be overwhelming with their totem management and button-heavy gameplay, their potential in TBC makes them one of the most sought-after classes for raids.
6. Rogue - A Tier
Rogues are top-tier single-target DPS throughout Vanilla, competing for the top spot with Warriors. They excel in PvP with strong control and burst damage, and their stealth capabilities allow them to farm content like BRD and Dire Maul East efficiently. However, Rogues are one of the worst levelers due to their squishiness and reliance on consumables. In TBC, Rogues fall off significantly in the raid meta, with only niche specs like Combat (using Improved Expose Armor) being raid-viable. Despite these challenges, Rogues remains a strong choice for players who value high burst damage and PvP dominance in Vanilla.
7. Paladin - B Tier
Paladins bring a wide array of utility to raids, especially as healers. Holy Paladins are instant raid picks thanks to their strong healing output and infinite mana from their efficient healing spells. Ret and Prot Paladins struggle in Vanilla, with both specs being largely non-viable for high-end content. However, Paladins shine in TBC, where Protection becomes the best tank spec, and Retribution sees a bit of a resurgence, with at least one spot guaranteed in most raid groups. Paladins also have the advantage of a free mount at level 40, making them more economical to level compared to other classes. While not a top DPS choice in Vanilla, their potential in TBC elevates them to B-tier.
8. Priest - B Tier
Priests are the best healers in Vanilla WoW, with powerful single-target and group healing spells. Shadow Priests are strong in PvP and world PvP due to their control and burst damage, but they struggle in raids during Vanilla due to mana issues and the debuff limit. In TBC, Shadow Priests become much more desirable for their mana battery role, providing essential utility to caster DPS. While Priests don’t stand out as top-tier DPS, their value as utility players and incredible healing power make them a strong B-tier pick, especially for those who enjoy playing support roles.
9. Druid - C Tier
Druids are the jack-of-all-trades, capable of fulfilling every role—tank, healer, and DPS. However, in Vanilla, most of their specs are underwhelming for high-end content. Feral Druids can off-tank, but their DPS as a cat is low, and Balance Druids suffer from severe mana problems. Restoration Druids are often brought to raids as healers, but only one is typically needed, limiting raid spots. Druids see a significant improvement in TBC, where their party-wide buffs like Leader of the Pack and improved tanking abilities make them more viable. While Druid players can enjoy versatility, their weaker performance in Vanilla keeps them in the C-tier.
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