Mythic+ Tank Rankings: A Tier List for Dragonflight (Patch 10.2.5. / Season 3)
From the weakest to the strongest tank specialization, each provide unique character distinction and add value toward shaping the Season 3 "meta" of Mythic+ in Dragonflight. The Tank specialization rankings provided for Dragonflight's third Season of Mythic+ are based on pure tanking strength and group-added-value such as utility, survivability, mobility, damage and self-sustain.
This list will be updated as new tuning and class changes come out over the course of the season.
About the Tier List
This tier list is NOT FINAL; it will change and will be updated as often as necessary prior and during Mythic+. There are often moments of tier set and class tuning, as well as talent changes and secondary stat scaling that will impact the placement of the specs.
I am Petko, a competitive Mythic+ player, known to be pushing the boundaries of High Mythic+ with several World first and Europe first rankings among past seasons on multiple classes. I have worked hard on preparing for Season 3 of Dragonflight, spending numerous hours per day examining each and every class and spec in a dungeon environment. This Tier list will continue to be updated as much as it requires over the course of Dragonflight and it will also focus on what the "meta" will look like as it stabilizes. Along the way, this Tier list will also be supported by various professional Mythic+ players with high credibility in the community, theorycrafters across all specializations, and my own empirical evidence.
To begin with, this Tier list will exclusively focus on the third Season of Mythic+ in Dragonflight. There will be no Warcraft Logs rankings added nor simulation data for the majority of the classes and specs. As a result, this Tier list will be solely based on empirical evidence of the current state of the classes' performance in Mythic+ from my own point of view and the point of view of the group of players testing those classes who are among the best representatives of the class in the community. Moreover, this Tier list will take into consideration every impactful class change and tier set tuning before and after the start of the season.
It is important to note that opinions might vary and that is completely okay, but remember to be respectful when providing feedback as the sole purpose of this tier-list is to help the WoW community with their choice of main or alt each season.
This tier list is entirely based on several factors, such as tank durability, group composition synergy, mobility, damage profile, self-sustain and external party-wide cooldowns.
A Final Warning
It is important to understand that this Tier list is NOT permanent , and it will be due to change with upcoming changes and tunings over the course of the season. I have always advocated the "bring the player, not the class" motto, meaning: value the player's skill more than the class itself. This Tier list should NOT discourage you from playing whatever you enjoy the most if having fun is your main drive when you play Mythic+. The list will be updated as much as it requires before and after the start of each season.
Important Note for Season 3 of Dragonflight
This tier list is based on the assumption that you have your 4-piece tier-set present at all times. Places can vary drastically if this measure is not taken into consideration, as our main purpose is to showcase which specializations will become the best months before the season hits its peak.
Tank Tier List for Season 3 of Mythic+ in Dragonflight
Below you can find the full rankings for Tank specializations in Dragonflight Mythic+. We encourage you to further read and understand why some classes are placed lower or higher than expected, with several factors taken into consideration.
All tanks are looking great in Season 3, as the gap between each of them is significantly smaller compared to last season. Regardless of what you play, you will be doing fine, with the only noticeable difference occurring in the higher-end keys.
- Vengeance Demon Hunter (S-Tier)
- Protection Paladin (S-Tier)
- Protection Warrior (A-Tier)
- Blood Death Knight (A-Tier)
- Brewmaster Monk (A-Tier)
- Guardian Druid (B-Tier)
DPS and Healer Class Rankings
If you are interested in our other rankings for Mythic+ in Dragonflight, please click the links below.
Full Tank Class Rankings
S-Tier
Vengeance Demon Hunter
Patch 10.2.5 update: Vengeance Demon Hunter received no changes going forward to the second half of Season 3 and Patch 10.2.5 patch. The combination of Vengeance Demon Hunter's strong survivability and great utility make Vengeance Demon Hunter one of the best tanks options for Mythic+ in Season 3. In addition, since magical damage dealers are considered "meta", Chaos Brand provides a noticeable damage boost for the entire group, meaning having a Demon Hunter is even more needed. Overall, I do believe for a fully uncoordinated group, this is the best tank spec to run, to make the run much smoother.
Cons
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Mythic+ Utility
Functionality | Spells | Notes |
---|---|---|
Core | Chaos Brand | 5% extra Magical damage |
Core | Darkness | % chance to avoid all damage from an attack. |
Core | Sigil of Silence | Silences all enemies affected by the Sigil for a short period of time. |
Optional | Sigil of Chains | All enemies affected by the Sigil are pulled to its center and snared. |
Optional | Chaos Nova | AoE stun effect. |
Optional | Imprison | Single-target out of combat crowd-control. |
Optional | Consume Magic | Remove 1 beneficial Magic effect. |
Optional | Sigil of Misery | AoE disturb effect. |
Protection Paladin
Patch 10.2.5 update: Protection Paladin received no changes going forward to the second half of Season 3 and Patch 10.2.5 patch. Protection Paladin will still remain one of the strongest tank specializations for the second half of Season 3. It boasts an impressive damage profile and unmatched group-wide utility, making it a highly sought-after choice. Additionally, its durability has improved since the last season, as its positioning was overtaken by the incredibly "tank" Guardian Druid, in the second part of Season 2. Moreover, this specialization is one of the few tanks with exceptional off-healing abilities, making it a valuable asset when fulfilling extreme HPS Mythic+ requirements. As we predicted early in the season, Protection Paladin i.
Cons
Playing around Consecration is simply an underlying issue that has been going on for a while for Protection Paladin; starting with Season 3, the problem will only run deeper since their tier set is directly attached to that spell.
Mythic+ Utility
Functionality | Spells | Notes |
---|---|---|
Core | Avenger's Shield | Extra interrupt option that has a follow-up silence effect. |
Core | Devotion Aura | Permanent 3% group/raid-wide damage reduction aura. |
Core | Retribution Aura | In case you already have Devotion Aura from another Paladin, you can choose the Retribution Aura to help your party/raid do more Damage and Healing. |
Core | Hammer of Justice | A powerful single-target 6 sec stun effect. |
Core | Lay on Hands | Heals a member of your party/raid to full health. |
Core | Intercession | Combat-resurrection |
Optional | Blessing of Spellwarding | Granting magical damage immunity for 10 sec on a chosen ally. |
Optional | Blessing of Sacrifice | Helps a single member of your raid in a critical situation. This 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. |
Optional | Repentance / Blinding Light | You have the option between single-target crowd-control effect or a powerful mass AoE stop. |
Optional | Cleanse Toxins | Removes all Poison and Disease effects from the target. |
Optional | Turn Evil | Be able to fear any Undead, Aberration or Demon, which is an additional form of crowd control. |
A-Tier
Protection Warrior
Patch 10.2.5 update: Protection Warrior received a small buff to the value of Ignore Pain and Vanguard, going forward to the second half of Season 3 and Patch 10.2.5 patch. Protection Warrior are still a decent choice tank for the remaining of Season 3. Spell Reflection is proving to be a useful tool in the Season 3 dungeon pool, effectively speeding up some of the instances. Additionally, looking at how strong some melee specs are, Battle Shout is looking a lot more appealing. Overall, Protection Warrior has a great offensive and defensive profile, making it a promising choice.
Cons
As always, Protection Warriors may suffer if anything cannot be blocked or reflected. Although their utility has never been considered the best, they make up for it with their raw power in terms of damage and survivability.
Mythic+ Utility
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 niche situations. |
Optional | Intimidating Shout | AoE disturb effect capped at 5 targets. |
Optional | Storm Bolt | 4 sec single-target stun. |
Optional | Shockwave | AoE Stun |
Blood Death Knight
Patch 10.2.5 update: Blood Death Knight received a buff to its Bone Shield ability, now granting armor based on 80% of its Strength (was 70%), going forward to the second half of Season 3 and Patch 10.2.5 patch. Blood Death Knight is feeling fantastic in Season 3, with one of the high-damage profile and a tank spec that has excellent survivability, combined with the highest self-sustain in the game. The most exciting part is that Blood Death Knight is the only tank to benefit from the 2-H strength Legendary, which is a bonus on top of their great toolkit. Overall a all around solid tank for any group composition.
Cons
Although the spec plays great in the current season of Mythic+, the tanks above you are better in particular game areas, such as: better mob control, better utility, or simply more raw output.
Mythic+ Utility
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 | Gorefiend's Grasp | Mass-grip. |
Optional | Insidious Chill | Reduces the auto-attack speed of your target by 5% stacking up 4 times. |
Optional | Control Undead | Mind-control an undead enemy to fight on your side. This ability can also Mind-control Incorporeal (similar to Priest's Dominate Mind) to gain the full benefit of the affix. |
Optional | Asphyxiate | 5 sec single-target stun. |
Brewmaster Monk
Patch 10.2.5 update: Brewmaster Monk received no changes going forward to the second half of Season 3 and Patch 10.2.5 patch. Although an improved version from last season, the Brewmaster Monk class will remain relatively squishy compared to other tank classes. However, their damage output is one of the highest, if not the highest, in the game. This makes them a great fit for lower to mid-level keys. Just keep in mind as you progress through higher-level keys, you may encounter more survivability issues. Overall, the utility package of Brewmaster Monk is great, providing all the necessary tools to tackle any issue in Mythic+. Whether or not the Brewmaster Monk will become a competitive spec or remain in a mediocre state will depend on further Season 3 tuning.
Cons
The only way this spec can improve rankings is by further buffs on behalf of their survivability.
Mythic+ Utility
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. |
Core | Leg Sweep | 3 sec stun effect. |
Optional | Tiger's Lust | Removes all roots and snares. |
Optional | Ring of Peace | It can be used to help your tank kite and as a AoE disturb effect. |
Optional | Detox | Removes all Poison and Disease effects from the target. |
Optional | Paralysis | Single-target disturb effect. |
B-Tier
Guardian Druid
Patch 10.2.5 update: Guardian Druid received no changes going forward to the second half of Season 3 and Patch 10.2.5 patch. Even though the new tier set is not as powerful as the old Season 2 set bonus, Guardian Druid will still perform well in all key levels. Despite not being as dominant leading up to Season 3, the spec possess decent damage and amazing utility, making them an all-around well-rounded tank that can transition well into the next season.
Cons
Guardian Druid received one of the worst trade-offs regarding tier sets among all tank specializations. Unfortunately, this trade-off will ultimately hinder their performance in Mythic+. The only solution, therefore, is to completely rework the tier set or buff the current version significantly.
Mythic+ Utility
Functionality | Spells | Notes |
---|---|---|
Core | Mark of the Wild | Increasing the Versatility of your raid/party by 3%. |
Core | Entangling Roots | Single-target root effect. |
Optional | After the Wildfire | Extra off-healing. |
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 | Remove Corruption | Removes all Curse and Poison effects from a friendly target. |
Optional | Soothe | Dispelling all Enrage Effects from an enemy target. |
Optional | Hibernate | Single-target crowd-control effects against beasts and dragonkins. It also works on Incorporeal. |
Optional | Incapacitating Roar / Mighty Bash | You have the choice between AoE disturb effect or a single-target stun. |
Optional | Typhoon | Aoe knockback. |
Optional | Mass Entanglement / Ursol's Vortex | You have the choice between AoE root effect or AoE wind-of-vortex, pulling all the mobs to one location. |
Changelog
- 12 Mar. 2024: No changes needed.
- 28 Jan. 2024: Further Adjustments based on the most recent class hotfix.
- 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed and updated for 10.2.5 Patch.
- 18 Dec. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent class hotfix.
- 04 Dec. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent class hotfix.
- 12 Nov. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent class hotfix.
- 05 Nov. 2023: Reviewed and Updated for 10.2 Patch.
- 04 Sep. 2023: Reviewed and Updated for 10.1.7 Patch.
- 22 Aug. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent class hotfix.
- 09 Aug. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent class hotfix.
- 25 Jul. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent class hotfix.
- 17 Jul. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the 10.1.5 Patch.
- 10 Jul. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the 10.1.5 Patch.
- 27 Jun. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent hotfixes.
- 06 Jun. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent hotfixes.
- 23 May 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent Patch.
- 07 May 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent hotfixes.
- 01 May 2023: Fully Updated for Season 2 of Dragonflight.
- 21 Mar. 2023: Updated based on the most recent changes for 10.0.7. Patch.
- 04 Mar. 2023: Further Adjustments based .
- 14 Feb. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the most recent Patch.
- 25 Jan. 2023: Further Adjustments based on the upcoming 10.0.5 Patch.
- 21 Dec. 2022: Further Adjustments based on the latest class changes.
- 18 Nov. 2022: Updated with the initial iteration for Season 1 of Dragonflight.
This guide has been written by Petko, one of the top M+ players of all time. He has accomplished several Europe and World #1 Team and Solo Seasonal rankings with multiple specialization and classes throughout the seasons. Moreover, he competes in MDI and streams his runs live on Twitch and and share his personal opinion on YouTube and Twitter.
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