PvP DPS Spec Rankings: A Tier List for WoW Forever

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

If you are interested in our Healer PvP rankings for World of Warcraft Forever, please click the link below.

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

• Damage is the primary factor of our rankings, both sustained and burst DPS.
• Having great crowd-control is also a massive advantage, especially in 1v1 situations, which can be equally important in both duels and battlegrounds. The prime example here is Rogue: although their damage might not be the highest, their ability to consistently crowd-control targets with Kidney Shot, Cheap Shot, Blind, Gouge, etc, and get re-stealths or breaks to heal themselves, can turn out to be quite advantageous.
• Lastly, a spec's defensive profile matters a lot as well. How many active defensives do you have, and what about your passive mitigation?

TBD

Fury Warrior Fury Warrior Arms Warrior Arms Warrior Retribution Paladin Retribution Paladin Beast Mastery Hunter Beast 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	Improved Hamstring	Gives your Hamstring ability a chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.
Core	Mortal Strike	Reduces the effectiveness of any healing by 50% for 10 sec. A nightmare for healers.
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.
Core	Charge	Charges and stuns the enemy for 1 sec. Cannot be used in combat.
Core	Intercept	Charges and stuns the enemy for 3 sec. Can be used in combat.
Core	Pummel	Interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 4 sec.
Core	Intimidating Shout	Fears an enemy.
Core	Berserker Rage	Immunity to Fear and Incapacitate effects.
Core	Disarm	Disarms the enemy for 10 sec.

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.
Core	Charge	Charges and stuns the enemy for 1 sec. Cannot be used in combat.
Core	Intercept	Charges and stuns the enemy for 3 sec. Can be used in combat.
Core	Pummel	Interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 4 sec.
Core	Intimidating Shout	Fears an enemy.
Core	Berserker Rage	Immunity to Fear and Incapacitate effects.
Core	Disarm	Disarms the enemy for 10 sec.
Optional	Piercing Howl	Causes all enemies within 10 yds to be slowed by 50%.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Repentance	Incapacitates an enemy for 6 sec.
Core	Greater Blessing of Might	Buffs an ally with melee attack power.
Core	Greater Blessing of Kings	Increases *ALL* of an ally's stats by 10%.
Core	Greater Blessing of Wisdom	Buffs an ally with mana regen.
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 members within 30 yards.
Core	Frost Resistance Aura	Gives additional Frost resistance to all party 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 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	Hunter Pets	Crocodiles can have Dismember, which deals damage and reduces the effectiveness of any healing by 25% for 6 sec. Bats can cast Sonic Blast, which increases the casting time of all spells of the attacker by 30% for 20 sec, or you can use a Spider's Web, rooting the target for 4 sec. There are a ton of useful abilities out there, but these are some of the best for PvP!
Core	Intimidation	Stuns the target for 3 sec.
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	Hunter Pets	Crocodiles can have Dismember, which deals damage and reduces the effectiveness of any healing by 25% for 6 sec. Bats can cast Sonic Blast, which increases the casting time of all spells of the attacker by 30% for 20 sec, or you can use a Spider's Web, rooting the target for 4 sec. There are a ton of useful abilities out there, but these are some of the best for PvP!
Core	Counterattack	Immobilizes the target for 5 sec.
Core	Wing Clip + Improved Wing Clip	Has a chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.
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	Hunter Pets	Crocodiles can have Dismember, which deals damage and reduces the effectiveness of any healing by 25% for 6 sec. Bats can cast Sonic Blast, which increases the casting time of all spells of the attacker by 30% for 20 sec, or you can use a Spider's Web, rooting the target for 4 sec. There are a ton of useful abilities out there, but these are some of the best for PvP!
Optional	Trueshot Aura	Increases the Ranged Attack Power of your raid/party. This can be useful in Battlegrounds if you have multiple Hunters.
Core	Scatter Shot	Disorients the target for 4 sec.
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	Riposte	Disarms the target for 6 sec.
Optional	Improved Sprint	Removes all movement impairing effects when you activate Sprint.
Core	Weapon Poisons	Mind-numbing Poison, Crippling Poison, Wound Poison or Instant Poison.
Core	Sap	Hard crowd-control. Only usable while in Stealth.
Core	Expose Armor	Finishing move that reduces the target's armor for 30 sec.
Core	Kick	Interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec. If you spec into Improved Kick, you will also be able to silence the target for 2 sec.
Core	Gouge	Incapacitates the target for 4 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
Core	Distract	When used, it stops creatures from moving. Incredibly useful for stopping patrolling targets from repositioning.
Core	Disarm Trap	Disarms Hunter traps. Detect Traps helps a ton too!
Core	Blind	Disorients the target for 10 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect.
Core	Kidney Shot	Single-target stun.
Core	Cheap Shot	Stuns the target for 4 sec. Only usable while in Stealth.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Weapon Poisons	Mind-numbing Poison, Crippling Poison, Wound Poison or Instant Poison.
Core	Sap	Hard crowd-control. Only usable while in Stealth.
Core	Expose Armor	Finishing move that reduces the target's armor for 30 sec.
Core	Kick	Interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.
Core	Gouge	Incapacitates the target for 4 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
Core	Distract	When used, it stops creatures from moving. Incredibly useful for stopping patrolling targets from repositioning.
Core	Disarm Trap	Disarms Hunter traps. Detect Traps helps a ton too!
Core	Blind	Disorients the target for 10 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect.
Core	Kidney Shot	Single-target stun.
Core	Cheap Shot	Stuns the target for 4 sec. Only usable while in Stealth.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Weapon Poisons	Mind-numbing Poison, Crippling Poison, Wound Poison or Instant Poison.
Core	Sap	Hard crowd-control. Only usable while in Stealth.
Core	Expose Armor	Finishing move that reduces the target's armor for 30 sec.
Core	Kick	Interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.
Core	Gouge	Incapacitates the target for 4 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
Core	Distract	When used, it stops creatures from moving. Incredibly useful for stopping patrolling targets from repositioning.
Core	Disarm Trap	Disarms Hunter traps. Detect Traps helps a ton too!
Core	Blind	Disorients the target for 10 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect.
Core	Kidney Shot	Single-target stun.
Core	Cheap Shot	Stuns the target for 4 sec. Only usable while in Stealth.

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	Silence	Silences the target for 5 sec.
Core	Prayer of Fortitude	Increases the Stamina of you and your party.
Core	Prayer of Shadow Protection	Power infuses all party members, increasing their Shadow resistance.
Core	Prayer of Spirit	Power infuses all party 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	Counterspell	Counters the enemy's spellcast, "locking" it for 10 sec.
Core	Frost Nova	Freezes the targets in place for up to 8 sec.
Core	Polymorph	Hard crowd-control spell.
Core	Remove Lesser Curse	Removes 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.
Core	Slows	The majority of your core spells slow targets, which helps you with kiting.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Brilliance	Increases party and raid Intellect.
Core	Dampen Magic	Additional mitigation.
Core	Amplify Magic	-
Core	Counterspell	Counters the enemy's spellcast, "locking" it for 10 sec.
Core	Frost Nova	Freezes the targets in place for up to 8 sec.
Core	Polymorph	Hard crowd-control spell.
Core	Remove Lesser Curse	Removes 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.
Optional	Impact	Gives your Fire spells a chance to stun the target for 2 sec.

Utility Package

Functionality	Spells	Notes
Core	Arcane Brilliance	Increases party and raid Intellect.
Core	Dampen Magic	Additional mitigation.
Core	Amplify Magic	-
Core	Counterspell	Counters the enemy's spellcast, "locking" it for 10 sec. Arcane Mages can further bolster this with the Improved Counterspell talent.
Core	Frost Nova	Freezes the targets in place for up to 8 sec.
Core	Polymorph	Hard crowd-control spell.
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	Fear	Fears the target.
Core	Death Coil	Causes the enemy target to run in horror for 3 sec (also a minor heal option for you).
Core	Howl of Terror	Causes 5 enemies within 10 yds to flee in terror.
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, 3 of which are more PvP-focused: Summon Felhunter offers Spell Lock and Devour Magic (extra dispel), Summon Succubus gives you Seduction, a powerful crowd-control charm, and Summon Voidwalker's Sacrifice provides an absorb shield.
Core	Drain Mana	Drains mana from the target.
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	Soul Link	When active, 30% of all damage taken by the caster is taken by your pet instead.
Core	Create Healthstone	Treat it like an extra Health Potion that doesn't share a cooldown with it.
Core	Soulstone	Combat resurrection.
Core	Fear	Fears the target.
Core	Death Coil	Causes the enemy target to run in horror for 3 sec (also a minor heal option for you).
Core	Howl of Terror	Causes 5 enemies within 10 yds to flee in terror.
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, 3 of which are more PvP-focused: Summon Felhunter offers Spell Lock and Devour Magic (extra dispel), Summon Succubus gives you Seduction, a powerful crowd-control charm, and Summon Voidwalker's Sacrifice provides an absorb shield.
Core	Drain Mana	Drains mana from the target.
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	Fear	Fears the target.
Core	Death Coil	Causes the enemy target to run in horror for 3 sec (also a minor heal option for you).
Core	Howl of Terror	Causes 5 enemies within 10 yds to flee in terror.
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, 3 of which are more PvP-focused: Summon Felhunter offers Spell Lock and Devour Magic (extra dispel), Summon Succubus gives you Seduction, a powerful crowd-control charm, and Summon Voidwalker's Sacrifice provides an absorb shield.
Core	Drain Mana	Drains mana from the target.
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	Earthbind Totem	Slows nearby enemies. Can be further bolstered if you spec into the Earthbound talent.
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	Earthbind Totem	Slows nearby enemies.
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 for all raid members.
Core	Feral Charge	Charges an enemy, immobilizing them and interrupting any spell they are casting for 4 sec.
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	Nature's Grasp	Enemies that hit you with melee attacks are rooted by Entangling Roots.
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	Bash	Stuns the target for 4 sec.
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	Nature's Grasp	Enemies that hit you with melee attacks are rooted by Entangling Roots.
Core	Rebirth	Returns an ally from death while in combat.
Core	Remove Curse	Dispels 1 Curse or Bane from a friendly target.
Core	Bash	Stuns the target for 4 sec.
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

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