WoW Forever · tier lists
WoW Forever tier list
Beta dungeons, level 20 cap. These lists will move once the level cap rises.
20 specs ranked as DPS, from S (strongest) to D. Open a spec to read why it sits there.
- 6 specs
- Top single-target pressure when the group pulls only a few mobs at a time.
- Less comfortable on big pulls: little AoE damage at this level.
- The pet scaling rework benefits this spec the most.
- Ranked as a class: at level 20 the three Hunter specs are grouped together.
- Top single-target pressure when the group pulls only a few mobs at a time.
- Less comfortable on big pulls: little AoE damage at this level.
- Lone Wolf grants +20% damage without a pet, so you play petless in dungeons.
- Ranked as a class: at level 20 the three Hunter specs are grouped together.
- Top single-target pressure when the group pulls only a few mobs at a time.
- Less comfortable on big pulls: little AoE damage at this level.
- Ranked as a class: at level 20 the three Hunter specs are grouped together.
- Its exact spot, apart from the other two specs, is still to be confirmed.
- By far the best AoE damage of the early levels, on big pulls.
- The lead shrinks fast when the group pulls only two or three mobs.
- Arcane Explosion, helped by the threat reduction of Arcane Subtlety, is its dungeon highlight.
- Ranked as a class: at level 20 the three Mage specs are grouped together.
- By far the best AoE damage of the early levels, on big pulls.
- The lead shrinks fast when the group pulls only two or three mobs.
- Wake of Fire makes the next Fire Blast far more likely to crit after a kill: ideal for chain pulling.
- Ranked as a class: at level 20 the three Mage specs are grouped together.
- By far the best AoE damage of the early levels, on big pulls.
- The lead shrinks fast when the group pulls only two or three mobs.
- Very hard to kill: slows, Frost Nova, Ice Barrier and Ice Block.
- Ranked as a class: at level 20 the three Mage specs are grouped together.
- 8 specs
- Melee specs perform best at level 20, right behind the two S-tier classes.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Maelstrom Weapon: at 5 stacks the next Lightning Bolt is instant and free.
- Can also tank dungeons (see the mention in the tank list).
- Shaman class rank: no Elemental-specific reason was given yet, to be confirmed.
- Very good AoE thanks to Fire Nova, but single-target damage is still weak.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Melee specs perform best at level 20, right behind the two S-tier classes.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Good group utility: blessings, auras and dispels.
- Melee specs perform best at level 20, right behind the two S-tier classes.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Big AoE bursts by pooling rage for Sweeping Strikes and Cleave.
- Rage runs short on misses and parries.
- Melee specs perform best at level 20, right behind the two S-tier classes.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Very sturdy for a DPS: plate armor and a large health pool.
- The spec hit hardest by normalized rage.
- Melee specs perform best at level 20, right behind the two S-tier classes.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Its bleeds keep ticking through downtime, but bleed-immune targets hurt it.
- Melee specs perform best at level 20, right behind the two S-tier classes.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Poisons bypass armor, but a nature-immune enemy slows it down a lot.
- Melee specs perform best at level 20, right behind the two S-tier classes.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Never slowed by immunities; the only Rogue spec with real cleave, through Blade Flurry.
- 5 specs
- Cat role only: the bear role is ranked separately, in the tank list.
- Just behind the other melee classes at level 20.
- Its Cat damage may still change during the beta, to be confirmed.
- Casters stay competitive mostly through damage over time or bursts of AoE.
- In dungeons much of the fight is spent wanding, which caps sustained damage.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Very durable, but dependent on its demon.
- Casters stay competitive mostly through damage over time or bursts of AoE.
- In dungeons much of the fight is spent wanding, which caps sustained damage.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Excellent at spreading its effects over several targets, but no burst.
- Casters stay competitive mostly through damage over time or bursts of AoE.
- In dungeons much of the fight is spent wanding, which caps sustained damage.
- Ranked as a class: little difference between specs of the same class at this level.
- Good burst with Conflagrate and Shadowburn, and good AoE spells.
- Casters stay competitive mostly through damage over time or bursts of AoE.
- In dungeons much of the fight is spent wanding, which caps sustained damage.
- Shadowform now blocks healing spells only: offensive Holy spells and utility stay available.
- 1 spec
- The weakest DPS spec at level 20.
- No wand to fill the gaps between spells.
- Partly makes up for it with Thorns on the tank, which scales with spell power.
- No spec
No spec at this tier.
Good to know
- At level 20 the gap between specs is small, with a few exceptions: the list reflects the class more than the spec.
- Every DPS spec can clear all content; a lower tier only makes it harder.
- Results depend heavily on pull size: Mages shine on big pulls, Hunters on small ones.
Ranking criteria
- Damage contributed to the group
- Buffs brought to allies
- Other utility (for example emergency tanking)
- Survival, which keeps damage steady (minor weight)
5 specs ranked as Healer, from S (strongest) to D. Open a spec to read why it sits there.
- 1 spec
- A complete toolkit and strong sustained healing.
- Excellent mana regeneration.
- Thorns on the tank is a very strong buff, since it scales with spell power.
- 3 specs
- A solid all-round healer on the beta.
- Wand Specialization adds real damage at no mana cost and without breaking the five-second rule.
- Penance combined with Power Word: Shield allows big single-target healing.
- A solid all-round healer on the beta.
- Wand Specialization adds real damage at no mana cost and without breaking the five-second rule.
- Binding Heal and Prayer of Mending cover damage spread over several players.
- Retribution Aura works much like Druid Thorns: damage that scales with spell power.
- That aura is the main reason for its rank.
- Before level 20 its only heal is Holy Light, costly and slow; Flash of Light comes at level 20.
- 1 spec
- A solid healer with valuable totems.
- Brings less free damage than other healers until Windfury Totem is available.
- Can still add damage with Searing Totem and Fire Nova.
- No spec
No spec at this tier.
- No spec
No spec at this tier.
Good to know
- Healers are closer to each other than in earlier versions: every one of them can clear all content.
- Each healer does better on some encounters than on others.
Ranking criteria
- Healing and absorbs
- Mana efficiency
- Cooldowns for heavy damage
- Group buffs
- Damage added when possible
3 specs ranked as Tank, from S (strongest) to D. Open a spec to read why it sits there.
- 1 spec
- Consecration at level 20 for AoE threat.
- Retribution Aura scales with spell power.
- Mana is rarely an issue, helped by talents such as Holy Conduit.
- Never short on threat and often tops the damage meter.
- 1 spec
- Higher threat modifiers on abilities such as Revenge.
- Thunder Clap now works in Defensive Stance.
- The most complete set of defensive cooldowns among tanks.
- 1 spec
- Bear (tank) role: Cat is ranked separately, in the DPS list.
- Can cast Thorns on itself, which hits hard at level 20.
- Talents raise Swipe damage; it does not scale with attack power but is still decent at low level.
- No spec
No spec at this tier.
- No spec
No spec at this tier.
Honorable mentions
- Has some tanking tools, but not a complete kit.
- Fine, even good, as a dungeon tank; not advised for raids.
Good to know
- A high tier does not mean best at everything.
- At level 20, AoE threat and damage matter more than at max level, which shapes the list.
- Every tank can clear all content.
Ranking criteria
- Main-tank survival (damage reduction, cooldowns, self-sustain)
- Damage and threat while tanking
- Packs and adds (AoE threat and survival)
- Group utility