DPS Spec Rankings: A Tier List for WoW Forever

This raiding tier list is NOT FINAL; it will change and will be updated regularly during World of Warcraft: Forever. Future class tuning, tier-set introductionm as well as talent changes and secondary stat scaling will impact the placement of the specs.

If you are interested in our other Raid rankings for World of Warcraft Forever, please click the links below.

When assessing the strength of each spec, we've looked at a couple of different factors:

• Damage is the most important factor when ranking the DPS spec: There are many different damage profiles, and only specs that can reasonably fill multiple roles like single-target, sustain cleave, burst-damage, 2-target, 3-target, and spread-cleave damage, are able to rise to the top.
• Classes with unique raid-wide buffs will also always have an edge, even if their damage is lacking in certain areas.

TBD

Fury Warrior Fury Warrior Arms Warrior Arms Warrior Retribution Paladin Retribution Paladin Beast Mastery Hunter Beast Mastery Hunter Survival Hunter Survival Hunter Marksmanship Hunter Marksmanship Hunter Combat Rogue Combat Rogue Assassination Rogue Assassination Rogue Subtlety Rogue Subtlety Rogue Shadow Priest Shadow Priest Frost Mage Frost Mage Arcane Mage Arcane Mage Fire Mage Fire Mage Affliction Warlock Affliction Warlock Demonology Warlock Demonology Warlock Destruction Warlock Destruction Warlock Elemental Shaman Elemental Shaman Enhancement Shaman Enhancement Shaman Feral Druid Feral Druid Balance Druid Balance Druid

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Battle Shout	Increases the melee attack power of all party and raid members.
Core	Sunder Armor	Reduces the target's armor, stacking up to 5 times. The most broken spell for warriors.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Battle Shout	Increases the melee attack power of all party and raid members.
Core	Sunder Armor	Reduces the target's armor, stacking up to 5 times. The most broken spell for warriors.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Greater Blessing of Might	Raid-wide melee attack power buff.
Core	Mass Salvation	Raid-wide 30% threat reduction. This is one of the most important buffs in raids and is *EXCLUSIVE* with all other Paladin Blessings, meaning 1 Paladin can give Mass Salvation and Greater Blessing of Kings (example).
Core	Greater Blessing of Kings	Raid-wide 10% buff to *ALL* of your stats.
Core	Greater Blessing of Wisdom	Raid-wide mana regen buff.
Core	Greater Blessing of Light	Makes Holy Light / Flash of Light do more healing on the target with that buff. If you have a ton of Paladins, it's a decent 4th buff choice.
Core	Blessing of Protection	Immunity to all physical attacks and an aggro reset. The downside is that you cannot attack or use physical abilities.
Core	Hammer of Justice	Single-target stun.
Core	Blessing of Freedom	Grants short-term immunity to movement impairing effects.
Core	Cleanse	Dispels Poison, Disease and Magic effects.
Core	Blessing of Sacrifice	Places a Blessing on the party member, transferring damage taken per hit to the caster.
Core	Lay on Hands	Heals a friendly target for an amount equal to the Paladin's maximum health. Drains all of the Paladin's remaining Mana when used.
Core	Turn Undead	The targeted undead enemy will be compelled to flee (damage can break the effect).
Core	Fire Resistance Aura	Gives additional Fire resistance to all party and raid members within 30 yards.
Core	Frost Resistance Aura	Gives additional Frost resistance to all party and raid members within 30 yards.
Core	Blessing of Sacrifice	Places a Blessing on the party member, transferring damage taken per hit to the caster.
Core	Shadow Resistance Aura	Gives additional Shadow resistance to all party and raid members within 30 yards.
Core	Devotion Aura	Gives additional Armor to party members within 30 yards.
Optional	Vindication	Gives the Paladin's damaging melee attacks a chance to reduce the target's Strength and Agility for 10 sec.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Aspect of the Wild	The hunter and all party and raid members within 30 yds have increased Nature resistance.
Core	Aspect of the Pack	The hunter and group members within 30 yds have their movement speed increased by 30%. If a pack member takes damage, they will be dazed for 4 sec.
Core	Tranquilizing Shot	Removes an Enrage effect from an enemy creature.
Core	Scorpid Sting	Reduces the target's chance to hit with attacks by 2% for 20 sec.
Core	Scare Beast	Fears a beast, causing it to run for a short period of time.
Core	Intimidation	Single-target stun; can be useful.
Useful	Freezing Trap	Places a Frost trap that freezes the first enemy that approaches, preventing all action for a short period of time. Any damage caused will break the ice. The Entrapment talent further buffs the trap.
Useful	Frost Trap	Places a Frost trap that creates an ice slick around itself for 30 sec when the first enemy approaches it. All enemies within 10 yards will be slowed by 60% while in the area of effect. The Entrapment talent further buffs the trap.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Aspect of the Wild	The hunter and all party and raid members within 30 yds have increased Nature resistance.
Core	Aspect of the Pack	The hunter and group members within 30 yds have their movement speed increased by 30%. If a pack member takes damage, they will be dazed for 4 sec.
Core	Tranquilizing Shot	Removes an Enrage effect from an enemy creature.
Core	Scorpid Sting	Reduces the target's chance to hit with attacks by 2% for 20 sec.
Core	Scare Beast	Fears a beast, causing it to run for a short period of time.
Useful	Freezing Trap	Places a Frost trap that freezes the first enemy that approaches, preventing all action for a short period of time. Any damage caused will break the ice. The Entrapment talent further buffs the trap.
Useful	Frost Trap	Places a Frost trap that creates an ice slick around itself for 30 sec when the first enemy approaches it. All enemies within 10 yards will be slowed by 60% while in the area of effect. The Entrapment talent further buffs the trap.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Trueshot Aura	Increases the Ranged Attack Power of raid members within 45 yds.
Core	Aspect of the Wild	The hunter and all party and raid members within 30 yds have increased Nature resistance.
Core	Aspect of the Pack	The hunter and group members within 30 yds have their movement speed increased by 30%. If a pack member takes damage, they will be dazed for 4 sec.
Core	Tranquilizing Shot	Removes an Enrage effect from an enemy creature.
Core	Scorpid Sting	Reduces the target's chance to hit with attacks by 2% for 20 sec.
Core	Scare Beast	Fears a beast, causing it to run for a short period of time.
Useful	Freezing Trap	Places a Frost trap that freezes the first enemy that approaches, preventing all action for a short period of time. Any damage caused will break the ice. The Entrapment talent further buffs the trap.
Useful	Frost Trap	Places a Frost trap that creates an ice slick around itself for 30 sec when the first enemy approaches it. All enemies within 10 yards will be slowed by 60% while in the area of effect. The Entrapment talent further buffs the trap.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Weapon Poisons	Mind-numbing Poison, Crippling Poison, Wound Poison or Instant Poison.
Core	Sap	Hard crowd-control.
Core	Expose Armor	Finishing move that reduces the target's armor for 30 sec.
Core	Distract	When used, it stops creatures from moving. Incredibly useful for stopping patrolling targets from repositioning.
Core	Kidney Shot	Single-target stun.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Weapon Poisons	Mind-numbing Poison, Crippling Poison, Wound Poison or Instant Poison.
Core	Sap	Hard crowd-control.
Core	Expose Armor	Finishing move that reduces the target's armor for 30 sec.
Core	Distract	When used, it stops creatures from moving. Incredibly useful for stopping patrolling targets from repositioning.
Core	Kidney Shot	Single-target stun.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Weapon Poisons	Mind-numbing Poison, Crippling Poison, Wound Poison or Instant Poison.
Core	Sap	Hard crowd-control.
Core	Expose Armor	Finishing move that reduces the target's armor for 30 sec.
Core	Distract	When used, it stops creatures from moving. Incredibly useful for stopping patrolling targets from repositioning.
Core	Kidney Shot	Single-target stun.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Vampiric Embrace	Powerful off-heal for your party.
Core	Dark Inspiration	Increases your and your party's Spirit by 15% for 10 sec (Max Rank).
Core	Prayer of Fortitude	Increases the Stamina of the party/raid.
Core	Prayer of Shadow Protection	Power infuses all party and raid members, increasing their Shadow resistance.
Core	Prayer of Spirit	Power infuses all party and raid members, increasing their Spirit.
Core	Psychic Scream	Fears up to 5 enemies.
Core	Mind Soothe	Reduces the range (by 10 yds) at which the target will attack you.
Core	Fear Ward	Wards the friendly target against Fear.
Core	Cure Disease / Abolish Disease	Removes 1 Disease effect.
Core	Dispel Magic	Removes 2 harmful spells from a friend or 2 beneficial spells from an enemy.
Core	Mind Control	Mind controls a humanoid; might come in handy at times.
Core	Shackle Undead	Crowd-controls an undead target for 50 sec.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Brilliance	Increases party and raid Intellect.
Core	Dampen Magic	Additional mitigation.
Core	Amplify Magic	-
Core	Remove Lesser Curse	Removes 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Brilliance	Increases party and raid Intellect.
Core	Dampen Magic	Additional mitigation.
Core	Amplify Magic	-
Core	Remove Lesser Curse	Removes 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Brilliance	Increases party and raid Intellect.
Core	Dampen Magic	Additional mitigation.
Core	Amplify Magic	-
Core	Remove Lesser Curse	Removes 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Create Healthstone	Treat it like an extra Health Potion that doesn't share a cooldown with it.
Core	Soulstone	Combat resurrection.
Core	Curse of Tongues	Increases the cast time of all spells by 60%. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of Weakness	Reduces physical damage caused by the target. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of Recklessness	Reduces the target's armor for 2 min. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of the Elements	Reduces Magic Resistance and increases Magic damage taken by 10%. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Demon Summoning	Warlocks can summon several pets, 2 of which are more PvE-focused: Summon Imp can help you with Blood Pact and Fire Shield (incredibly useful for both Raids and Dungeons) or Summon Felhunter for Spell Lock and Devour Magic (extra dispel).
Useful	Banish	Useful on some boss encounters for an extra crowd-control effect (works only on Demons and Elementals).

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Create Healthstone	Treat it like an extra Health Potion that doesn't share a cooldown with it.
Core	Soulstone	Combat resurrection.
Core	Curse of Tongues	Increases the cast time of all spells by 60%. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of Weakness	Reduces physical damage caused by the target. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of Recklessness	Reduces the target's armor for 2 min. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of the Elements	Reduces Magic Resistance and increases Magic damage taken by 10%. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Demon Summoning	Warlocks can summon several pets, 2 of which are more PvE-focused: Summon Imp can help you with Blood Pact and Fire Shield (incredibly useful for both Raids and Dungeons) or Summon Felhunter for Spell Lock and Devour Magic (extra dispel).
Useful	Banish	Useful on some boss encounters for an extra crowd-control effect (works only on Demons and Elementals).

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Create Healthstone	Treat it like an extra Health Potion that doesn't share a cooldown with it.
Core	Soulstone	Combat resurrection.
Core	Curse of Tongues	Increases the cast time of all spells by 60%. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of Weakness	Reduces physical damage caused by the target. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of Recklessness	Reduces the target's armor for 2 min. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Curse of the Elements	Reduces Magic Resistance and increases Magic damage taken by 10%. Only 1 Curse can be active on the target.
Core	Demon Summoning	Warlocks can summon several pets, 2 of which are more PvE-focused: Summon Imp can help you with Blood Pact and Fire Shield (incredibly useful for both Raids and Dungeons) or Summon Felhunter for Spell Lock and Devour Magic (extra dispel).
Useful	Banish	Useful on some boss encounters for an extra crowd-control effect (works only on Demons and Elementals).

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Stoneskin Totem	Reduces Physical damage taken by all party members.
Core	Strength of Earth Totem	Increases the Strength of all party and raid members.
Core	Frost Resistance Totem	The totem increases party and raid members' Frost resistance.
Core	Fire Resistance Totem	The totem increases party and raid members' Fire resistance.
Core	Windfury Totem	The totem enhances the melee attacks of all party and raid members within 30 yds. Each main hand hit has a 20% chance of granting the attacker 1 extra attack with extra melee attack power. Incredibly powerful for a melee-stacked party.
Core	Grounding Totem	The totem redirects one harmful spell cast on a nearby party member to itself every 10 sec.
Core	Cure Poison	Cures 1 poison effect on the target.
Core	Cure Disease	Cures 1 disease on the target.
Core	Tremor Totem	The totem removes Fear, Charm and Sleep effects from party members within 30 yds.
Core	Poison Cleansing Totem	The totem removes 1 Poison effect from party members within 30 yds every 5 sec.
Core	Mana Spring Totem	The totem restores mana to party members within 30 yds every 2 sec.
Core	Disease Cleansing Totem	The totem removes 1 Disease effect from party members within 30 yds every 5 sec.
Core	Purge	Purges the enemy target, removing 2 beneficial magic effects.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Stoneskin Totem	Reduces Physical damage taken by all party members.
Core	Strength of Earth Totem	Increases the Strength of all party and raid members.
Core	Frost Resistance Totem	The totem increases party and raid members' Frost resistance.
Core	Fire Resistance Totem	The totem increases party and raid members' Fire resistance.
Core	Windfury Totem	The totem enhances the melee attacks of all party and raid members within 30 yds. Each main hand hit has a 20% chance of granting the attacker 1 extra attack with extra melee attack power. Incredibly powerful for a melee-stacked party.
Core	Grounding Totem	The totem redirects one harmful spell cast on a nearby party member to itself every 10 sec.
Core	Cure Poison	Cures 1 poison effect on the target.
Core	Cure Disease	Cures 1 disease on the target.
Core	Tremor Totem	The totem removes Fear, Charm and Sleep effects from party members within 30 yds.
Core	Poison Cleansing Totem	The totem removes 1 Poison effect from party members within 30 yds every 5 sec.
Core	Mana Spring Totem	The totem restores mana to party members within 30 yds every 2 sec.
Core	Disease Cleansing Totem	The totem removes 1 Disease effect from party members within 30 yds every 5 sec.
Core	Purge	Purges the enemy target, removing 2 beneficial magic effects.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Leader of the Pack	Extra 3% Melee and Ranged Critical Strike raid-wide.
Core	Gift of the Wild	Increases the armor, all attributes and all resistances of party and raid members for 1 hour.
Core	Thorns	Buff on a friendly target that causes Nature damage to attackers when hit.
Core	Rebirth	Returns an ally from death while in combat.
Core	Remove Curse	Dispels 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.
Core	Cure Poison	Removes Poison from a friendly target.
Core	Abolish Poison	Removes a Poison effect from a friendly target every 2 sec for 8 sec.
Core	Innervate	Increases the target's Mana regeneration by 400% and allows 100% of the target's Mana regeneration to continue while casting. Lasts 20 sec.
Core	Faerie Fire	Decreases the armor of the target.
Core	Hibernate	Forces the enemy target to sleep for up to 20 sec (usable only on Beasts and Dragonkin).
Useful	Entangling Roots	Roots the target in place and causes Nature damage over 27 sec. Quite handy for large numbers of targets (soft crowd-control).

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Moonkin Form	Extra 3% Spell Critical Strike for all raid members.
Core	Gift of the Wild	Increases the armor, all attributes and all resistances of party and raid members for 1 hour.
Core	Thorns	Buff on a friendly target that causes Nature damage to attackers when hit.
Core	Rebirth	Returns an ally from death while in combat.
Core	Remove Curse	Dispels 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.
Core	Cure Poison	Removes Poison from a friendly target.
Core	Abolish Poison	Removes a Poison effect from a friendly target every 2 sec for 8 sec.
Core	Innervate	Increases the target's Mana regeneration by 400% and allows 100% of the target's Mana regeneration to continue while casting. Lasts 20 sec.
Core	Faerie Fire	Decreases the armor of the target.
Core	Hibernate	Forces the enemy target to sleep for up to 20 sec (usable only on Beasts and Dragonkin).
Useful	Entangling Roots	Roots the target in place and causes Nature damage over 27 sec. Quite handy for large numbers of targets (soft crowd-control).

In The Same Category

Racial Tier List PvP Healer Tier List PvE Tank Tier List PvE Healer Tier List PvP DPS Tier List