Dragonflight DPS Rankings: Fated Season 4 Raiding Tier List (Patch 10.2.6 / Season 4)

Season 4, unlike any other season launch, has limited amount of class changes so far. Our analysis provides an estimate of how the current raid meta will be impacted, but it may require further tweaking in the coming weeks.

This tier list is entirely based on DPS viability for Season 4 of Dragonflight. The primary traits we are looking for have not changed and are what you would expect for raiding content. Mainly, we care about single-target damage; some burst cleave or AoE, and then defensive capabilities on a raid-wide or individual scale. Unique class utility buffs are also worth noticing and can be worth bringing a specific class for, but very few buffs are spec-specific.

While the traits that make a character valuable in a raid have not changed much, there are two incredibly important new factors to consider.

• Because of the new talent trees, classes now have the freedom of choice to decide how to build in various situations. However, this also means that certain classes are forced into specializing in either AoE or single target for different bosses. While some classes have excellent pure single-target damage, they can lose a significant portion of that damage when forced to take even a few points of AoE talents.

It is incredibly important to emphasize that just because a DPS specialization is low in the tier list, it does not mean that you should ignore it completely. For the vast majority of cases, you should choose to bring the better player, not the better specialization. That does not mean you never need to think about your raid composition, just that most of the time, player skill will be more important than the difference between classes, assuming you already have the required raid buffs. All being lower tier means is that all else being equal, those specs will be less desirable for the raid based on current tuning.

Below is a quick summary of the full rankings that we have detailed on this page. While this gives a good outline of the standings of specializations in comparison to one another, we recommend reading the full rankings to understand why certain specializations are ranked as they are.

1. Unholy Death Knight (S-Tier)
2. Subtlety Rogue (S-Tier)
3. Fire Mage (S-Tier)
4. Retribution Paladin (A-Tier)
5. Arms Warrior (A-Tier)
6. Augmentation Evoker (A-Tier)
7. Assassination Rogue (A-Tier)
8. Balance Druid (A-Tier)
9. Shadow Priest (A-Tier)
10. Frost Death Knight (A-Tier)
11. Destruction Warlock (A-Tier)
12. Demonology Warlock (A-Tier)
13. Frost Mage (B-Tier)
14. Arcane Mage (B-Tier)
15. Enhancement Shaman (B-Tier)
16. Devastation Evoker (B-Tier)
17. Elemental Shaman (B-Tier)
18. Fury Warrior (B-Tier)
19. Feral Druid (B-Tier)
20. Havoc Demon Hunter (B-Tier)
21. Beast Mastery Hunter (B-Tier)
22. Survival Hunter (C-Tier)
23. Windwalker Monk (C-Tier)
24. Outlaw Rogue (C-Tier)
25. Marksmanship Hunter (D-Tier)
26. Affliction Warlock (D-Tier)

Data-Driven Raiding Tier List

Get the latest data driven tier list for Patch 10.2

View Rankings

If you are interested in our other rankings for the Season 4 Raid in Dragonflight, please click the links below.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Unholy Death Knight received no changes going forward to next Awakened Raid Tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Unholy Death Knight looks quite promising going forward to the next season as both their burst single-target damage and sustained damage are great. On top of this, they are quite a durable melee DPS option and have useful raid-wide utility tools ( Anti-Magic Zone / Death Grip) Overall we are happy with the performance of this spec and looking forward to see it play throughout the raiding tier.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Anti-Magic Zone	Provides extra durability against heavy magical damage.
Core	Death Grip	Repositions an enemy of your choice.
Core	Raise Ally	Combat-resurrection.
Optional	Abomination Limb	Every 1 sec an enemy is pulled close to you.
Optional	Insidious Chill	Reduces auto-attack speed of your target by 5% stacking up 4 times.

Patch 10.2.6: Subtlety Rogue received no changes going forward to the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Subtlety Rogues have excellent single-target damage, in fact one of the highest currently. On top of this this, Rogue as a class is one of the best melee options, so you will not be mistaken if your choice is going to be Subtlety Rogue. Their ability to deal solid damage in cleave situations and burst attacks makes them stand out among other Rogue specializations.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Atrophic Poison	-

Patch 10.2.6 update: Fire Mage received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 2, which will be played in the next raiding tier. Fire Mage will continue to perform great in the upcoming fated season due to good on-demand burst single-target, which is ideal for key DPS checks and being relatively mobile compared to the rest of the Ranged DPS choices out there (this allows you to execute your rotation flawlessly without loosing much DPS while moving). On top of this, they are one of the most durable raid specializations. At last, Fire Mages are known for their incredible toolkit and are traditionally useful for progression or damage in demand.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Intellect	5% extra Intellect to the whole raid/party.
Core	Time Warp	Alternative of Bloodlust.
Optional	Mass Barrier / Mass Invisibility	Gives a shield that absorbs damage or mass invisibility to the entire party.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Retribution Paladin received no changes going forward to the upcoming fated raid tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Retribution Paladin's competitive damage profile, combined with amazing Raid-wide utility, makes them a great all-around melee choice for any raid composition. In addition, they have numerous tools to support your raid ( Blessing of Protection, Blessing of Freedom, Blessing of Sacrifice, Lay on Hands) immunity ( Divine Shield), great defensives, and a raid-wide buff ( Retribution Aura). Overall, a solid melee options for the upcoming of the raid tier.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Devotion Aura	-
Core	Retribution Aura	In case you already have Devotion Aura from another Paladin, you can choose the Retribution Aura to help your raid do more Damage and Healing.
Core	Lay on Hands	-
Optional	Blessing of Sacrifice	Helps a single member of your raid in a critical situation. Can be further improved by talenting Sacrifice of the Just.
Optional	Blessing of Protection	Physical immunity, which can help you with some boss encounters.
Optional	Blessing of Freedom	Immunity to movement impairing effects.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Arms Warrior received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 1, which will be played in the next raiding tier. Arms Warriors are great on 2-target cleave due to Sweeping Strikes, as well as, in execute phase due to their Execute. Arms Warrior is known to have one of the best execute damage profiles in the game, while also benefiting quite well from Windfury Totem, making it a great pick-up for raiding. Currently, their raw single-target is lacking to be put anywhere higher on the tier list, but if that gets adjusted, they will climb much higher.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Rallying Cry	Temporary increasing the health of your raid/party.
Core	Battle Shout	Extra 5% attack power.
Optional	Spell Reflection	Usable in a niche situations.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Augmentation Evoker received no changes going forward to the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Augmentation Evokers will continue to be one of the most powerful specializations in the upcoming Fated raid tier, thanks to its ability to enhance the damage and defensive capabilities of your raid members. While the players behind the Prescience and Ebon Might buffs are responsible for most of their damage, having at least one Augmentation Evoker in your raid composition can be very advantageous. On top of this, you can obtain once again, Nasz'uro, the Unbound Legacy, one of the most overpowered legendary options ever created, buffing your team with primary stat and speed for a short period. To conclude, this specialization has a great defensive profile, and immunity, and is one of the most mobile specializations available.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Blessing of the Bronze	-
Core	Ebon Might	-
Core	Chrono Ward	Extra Shielding effect triggered after Breath of Eons cast.
Core	Prescience	Can be further bolstered by the Fate Mirror talent.
Optional	Blistering Scales	-
Optional	Spatial Paradox	-
Optional	Source of Magic	Can be further bolstered by Potent Mana
Optional	Zephyr	-
Optional	Cauterizing Flame	Bleed removal
Optional	Rescue	You can further bolster it with Twin Guardian talent for extra durability.

Patch 10.2.6: Assassination Rogue received no changes going forward to the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. After the complete rework of the Assassination Rogues last season, their damage profile is in a much better shape while still having that great execute damage output. In addition, Rogues have great defensive profiles and a few sets of immunities, making it necessary to have at least one of them in your team, especially with the Atrophic Poison Raid utility. However, the main strength of Assassination Rogue lies in their ability to deal with exceptional single-target damage.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Atrophic Poison	-

Patch 10.2.6 update: Balance Druid received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 1, which will be played in the raiding tier. As a Balance Druid, you may not have the highest single-target output, but your damage toolkit is well-rounded and all-inclusive, making you a valuable asset in the game. Starfall, in particular, is a unique ability that sets you apart from other specs as it allows you to constantly cleave spread groups of enemies. While this may not matter in most fights, Boomkins are irreplaceable when facing multi-target fights. Also, don't forget the mandatory Mark of the Wild raid-wide buff is a must in every raid, making it more appealing to pick them up.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Mark of the Wild	Increasing the Versatility of your raid/party by 3%.
Optional	Innervate	Allowing 1 friendly healer to cast spells without spending mana for 8 sec.
Optional	Stampeding Roar	Increasing the movement speed to all raid members by 60% for 8 sec.
Optional	Nature's Vigil	Extra off-healing.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Shadow Priest received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 2, which will be played in the next fated season. Shadow Priests have one of the strongest external damage cooldown - Power Infusion, which can benefit both them and the chosen target thanks to the Twins of the Sun Priestess talent. By itself, Shadow Priest damage profile is great as not only they have good single-target but the ability to cleave multiple targets effectively, even if they are not close to each other. Additionally, they can off-heal with Vampiric Embrace, which can be a lifesaver in critical situations during raids. Lastly, the defensive cooldown, Dispersion, can be used instead of an "immunity" soak when necessary. Overall, we believe the specialization is in a competitive shape to be considered as one of the better Ranged options for the upcoming fated raiding tier.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Power Infusion	You must always have Twins of the Sun Priestess talented.
Core	Power Word: Fortitude	A raid-wide 5% Stamina buff.
Core	Mass Dispel	Incredible useful where Mass Dispelling is needed.
Optional	Vampiric Embrace	Extra off-healing.
Optional	Leap of Faith	Helps with repositioning.

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Patch 10.2.6 update: Frost Death Knight received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 2, which will be played in the Awakened Raid Tier. Frost Death Knight's biggest strength comes from their ability to deal with great single-target while simultaneously cleave multiple targets at once. While their damage is not so impressive during off-cooldowns, they really excel in situations where multiple targets are present. There are a few specific fights where the Frost Death Knight really shines, especially the ones where Death Grip ability can be utilized (not many of them). Overall, with great defensive capabilities, a Raid "utility" ( Anti-Magic Zone) and a decent damage profile, Frost Death Knight, is going remain a viable pickup for a melee slot in the Fated raid tier.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Anti-Magic Zone	Provides extra durability against heavy magical damage.
Core	Death Grip	Repositions an enemy of your choice.
Core	Raise Ally	Combat-resurrection.
Optional	Abomination Limb	Every 1 sec an enemy is pulled close to you.
Optional	Insidious Chill	Reduces auto-attack speed of your target by 5% stacking up 4 times.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Destruction Warlock received both, positive and negative changes to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 1, which will be played in the next raiding tier. Destruction Warlocks are known for their great damage output against a single target, as well as their ability to deal an incredible two target cleave damage thanks to Havoc. Additionally, their bursts are strengthened by the use of Summon Infernal, have a good defensive profile, and, as every Warlock spec, provide valuable raid utility. Overall, we believe Destruction Warlock will be a good choice coming into the Fated season.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Create Healthstone
Core	Soulstone
Core	Demonic Gateway
Core	Curse of Tongues	Useful against caster targets. It can be further bolstered by Amplify Curse talent.
Core	Curse of Weakness	Useful against physical damage dealers. It can be further bolstered by Amplify Curse talent.
Core	Demon Summoning	Summon Imp can help you with Singe Magic dispel while Summon Felhunter can be useful with an extra interrupt - Spell Lock.
Optional	Banish	Useful on some boss encounters for an extra crowd-control effect.

Patch 10.2.6 update:. received no changes going forward to Season 4, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Demonology Warlock will continue to be a decent option for a ranged DPS spec in the upcoming new raiding fated tier. Their competitive single-target damage paired with the irreplaceable raid-wide utility makes them a must-pick within every raid composition.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Create Healthstone
Core	Soulstone
Core	Demonic Gateway
Core	Curse of Tongues	Useful against caster targets. It can be further bolstered by Amplify Curse talent.
Core	Curse of Weakness	Useful against physical damage dealers. It can be further bolstered by Amplify Curse talent.
Optional	Banish	Useful on some boss encounters for an extra crowd-control effect.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Frost Mage received no changes going forward to the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Frost Mage single-target is still behind compared to most of the ranged options in the upcoming fated season, which makes them rather an unfavourable choice. Yes, they do provide the typical Mage utility, and yes, they are quite durable, but damage contribution is the major factor that determines the "meta". Overall, we would love to see some positive adjustments for Frost Mage before we rank them any higher on our tier list.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Intellect	5% extra Intellect to the whole raid/party.
Core	Time Warp	Alternative of Bloodlust.
Optional	Mass Barrier	Gives a shield that absorbs damage to the entire party.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Arcane Mage received no changes going forward to the raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Arcane Mage has competitive single-target, but more importantly, has some of the best single target burst damage in the game for a small burst windows. Arcane is a top-heavy spec in terms of the skill required to truly make use of its phenomenal toolkit; in the hands of the right player, it is incredibly powerful in terms of the raw damage and burst potential. Mages are also still quite strong defensively, and immunities like Ice Block / Ice Cold will always have value in a raid. Anytime there is a damage increase phase or a requirement for a burst-damage orientated scenario, Arcane Mage will be great.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Intellect	5% extra Intellect to the whole raid/party.
Core	Time Warp	Alternative of Bloodlust.
Optional	Mass Barrier / Mass Invisibility	Gives a shield that absorbs damage or mass invisibility to the entire party.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Enhancement Shaman received no changes going forward to the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Enhancement Shaman is a powerful DPS class that excels in both single target and cleave damage. However, when the Windfury Totem is factored in, and their damage output becomes even more significant, making them one of the most valuable melee DPS specs in the game. Many other melee classes also benefit from the totem, with some specializations gaining a significant boost in damage. At last, anytime there is a fight that can benefit from funnelling, look no further as Enhance is a specialist in it. Overall a solid pick and one of the must have classes in every raid composition.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Windfury Totem	Exceptionally strong for melee damage dealers.
Core	Bloodlust	-
Optional	Wind Rush Totem	-
Optional	Ancestral Guidance	-

Patch 10.2.6 update: Devastation Evoker received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 2, which will be played in the next raiding tier. Devastation Evokers are going to continue to have powerful single-target damage, both burst-orientated and sustained. They excel in handling movement effortlessly, which enables them to execute their rotation without any issues while on the move. However, it's important to keep in mind that they have a limited range of 25 yards, which could be a disadvantage in certain situations depending on your group's positioning. On top of this, you can obtain once again, Nasz'uro, the Unbound Legacy, one of the most overpowered legendary options ever created, buffing your team with primary stat and speed for a short period. We believe they will be a great ranged DPS option, due to their damage output and impressive burst potential.

• Raid utility

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Blessing of the Bronze	-
Optional	Source of Magic	Can be further bolstered by Potent Mana
Optional	Zephyr	-
Optional	Cauterizing Flame	Bleed removal
Optional	Rescue	You can further bolster it with Twin Guardian talent for extra durability.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Elemental Shaman received no changes going forward to the next fated tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Elemental Shaman is known for its great single-target damage while still being able to handle cleave and AoE attacks. This makes it a great choice for encounters with varying damage profiles. However, compared to other classes, such as Mage and Warlock, Elemental Shaman lacks the raid utility and durability to compete. One area where they excel is in their ability to deal damage while moving (depending on your build), making them great against heavy movement boss encounters. Overall, while Elemental Shamans may not have the highest DPS ranking, their strength lies in their versatility and mobility.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Optional	Wind Rush Totem	-
Optional	Ancestral Guidance	-

Patch 10.2.6 update: Fury Warrior received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 2, which will be played in the raiding tier. Fury Warriors's core strength - their damage output is relatively weak compared to the rest of the DPS specializations. They still possess one of the strongest non-healer raid cooldowns - Rallying Cry, which is always a great addition to each raid. Moreover, every raid requires you to have at least 1 Warrior due to Battle Shout being a mandatory raid buff, you always stand a chance to be picked up even if your overall performance is not there. To conclude, we believe that Fury Warrior has an underperforming damage profile, but overall has the package needed to be placed higher, we expect positive adjustments to significantly elevate their position on our tierlist.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Rallying Cry	Temporary increasing the health of your raid/party.
Core	Battle Shout	Extra 5% attack power.
Optional	Spell Reflection	Usable in a niche situations.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Feral Druid received no changes going forward to the next raid tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Feral Druid possesses all the typical utility of a Druid, including the ability to provide Innervate. They have amazing single-target and AoE damage, making them a perfect candidate suitable for any raid composition. Keep in mind that due to the limited melee slots in the raid, if you already have Mark of the Wild, your value will drop so be aware.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Mark of the Wild	Increasing the Versatility of your raid/party by 3%.
Optional	Innervate	Allowing 1 friendly healer to cast spells without spending mana for 8 sec.
Optional	Stampeding Roar	Increasing the movement speed to all raid members by 60% for 8 sec.
Optional	Nature's Vigil	Extra off-healing.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Havoc Demon Hunter received no changes going forward to the next fated season, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. As a spec, Havoc Demon Hunter possess a versatile and effective range of damage abilities that make them a valuable asset in any situation. With a single talent build, they are able to compete effectively in fights that require a mixture of combat styles. One of their greatest strengths lies in their ability to deal strong cleave damage to 2-5 targets, as well as burst area-of-effect damage. Nevertheless, Demon Hunters still have access to the powerful Darkness ability, which can serve as a valuable raid cooldown. Overall, a decent pick across for any raid composition.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Chaos Brand	5% extra Magical damage
Core	Darkness	% chance to avoid all damage from an attack.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Beast Mastery Hunter received no changes going forward to the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. As a ranged DPS spec in the game, Beast Mastery Hunter stands out as the only one capable of performing their entire rotation while moving. This makes them an invaluable asset for any mechanics or tasks required during a fight. In addition to that, their single target is great, which will be further bolstered by the comeback of their unique bow - Neltharax, Enemy of the Sky. However, one of the main disadvantages of having Beast Mastery Hunter is that they suffer from a lack of spread cleaving (when mobs are far away from each other) and is relatively squishy compared to most of the Ranged options.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Hunter's Mark	Increases all damage dealt to targets above 80% health by 5%.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Survival Hunter received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 1, which will be played in the next raiding tier. The performance of Survival Hunters has been steadily improving since the release of Dragonflight and its looking to be one of the best versions of the specialization in this expansion so far. However, one of the biggest disadvantages of Survival Hunter, is coming from limited melee slots in each raid tier, other melee DPS options fit better the current raid profile better, and therefore, you will be pushed outside of the ideal raid composition. Of course, this should not discourage you from playing it but rather be mindful of your approach.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Hunter's Mark	Increases all damage dealt to targets above 80% health by 5%.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Windwalker Monk received a buff to their "old-new" tier-set, from Season 1, which will be played in the next fated raiding tier. The main reason for bringing a Windwalker Monks would be for their burst on demand damage (both ST and AoE) and Mystic Touch. Additionally, Monks can talent into two incredibly useful buffs with Generous Pour and Close to Heart, which could be critically important on high-damage Mythic encounters where you are stacked with the raid group, and be an additional reason to consider having one within your raid composition. Overall they are in better shape than before, but it requires a lot more effort from them to reach towards the top of the ladder.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Mystic Touch	5% extra Physical damage for your raid.
Core	Generous Pour	Extra damage reduction against area-of-effect damage.
Core	Close to Heart	Increased healing from all sources for all allies within 10 yards.
Optional	Tiger's Lust	Removes all roots and snares.

Patch 10.2.6: Outlaw Rogue received no changes going forward to the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Outlaw Rogues are capable of dealing exceptional cleave and AoE damage, while doing single-target, thanks to Blade Flurry. In a situations where only a single target is required, Outlaw might not be your best choice of DPS, as there are specs that can do much better. Don't forget that Rogue has a solid set of defensive abilities, as well as the ability to apply Atrophic Poison debuff, which is a great raid utility for any purpose of the raid (reclear or progress).

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Atrophic Poison	-

Patch 10.2.6 update: Marksmanship Hunter received no changes going forward to the next fated tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. Marksmanship Hunters excel in cleaving 3-5 targets and have great burst AoE / single-target capabilities. In addition to their 2-minutes strong burst coming from Trueshot, their new tier-set will help them with the 2-target damage profile (previously a major issue). Remember, Marksmanship Hunter does lack sustain damage, which can be a massive issue if you misstime your cooldown. In addition, the spec still struggles with their defensives, but could be used in niche situations where burst is needed to push phases.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Hunter's Mark	Increases all damage dealt to targets above 80% health by 5%.

Patch 10.2.6 update: Affliction Warlock received no changes going forward the next raiding tier, as well as, keeping their tier-set unchanged. The spec has since dropped to an average performance but still can be a good choice when single-target and cleave are needed. As always, their raid utility and strong defensiveness are making Warlock as a spec a valuable edition, regardless of their output.

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Create Healthstone
Core	Soulstone
Core	Demonic Gateway
Core	Curse of Tongues	Useful against caster targets. It can be further bolstered by Amplify Curse talent.
Core	Curse of Weakness	Useful against physical damage dealers. It can be further bolstered by Amplify Curse talent.
Core	Demon Summoning	Summon Imp can help you with Singe Magic dispel while Summon Felhunter can be useful with an extra interrupt - Spell Lock.
Optional	Banish	Useful on some boss encounters for an extra crowd-control effect.