World of Warcraft is home to many different classes and specializations, across three main categories: DPS, Tank, and Healer.
I have spent many years playing World of Warcraft, and trying to find what class speaks to me the most. This means I’ve tried pretty much every class and spec out there. As the years have passed, more and more classes and specs have been added to the game, offering creativity and innovation to all players.
I have dabbled in DPS classes the most in World of Warcraft, spending a disgusting amount of time leveling mages in Retail and Classic. While I have experimented with tanking, I find it a completely different ball game to the one of DPS.
Here are my thoughts on all of the DPS classes in the retail version of World of Warcraft, after many, many years of experimenting and playing. Apologies in advance if I have put your class at the bottom. It is nothing personal, I promise! This list is purely just my preference.
13
Devastation Evoker
Embody the Dragon
This is the newest class to be added to World of Warcraft and was introduced during Dragonflight. Not only did it introduce a new Allied Race, named the Dracthyr, but there are three specializations to choose from.
Unfortunately, they didn’t do much for me. Although I enjoy being a caster, Devastation Evoker’s range is quite stubby, and doesn’t have the reach that I like. Instead, I prefer the range that a Mage or Warlock has, as it allows me to play from a distance and not get one-shot by the boss.
12
Fury Warrior
Perfect for those who love melee dual-wielding
While Warrior is incredibly strong and powerful in World of Warcraft and has a lot of generalized use as well as situational usage, Warrior isn’t that brilliant.
This class is great if you like the idea of duel-wielding big axes that are sometimes a little bit too comically large, and funneling a lot of damage into your opponents.
They are capable of pumping big damage numbers, but as a class, it feels very stereotypical and uninspired. For that reason, the class as a whole is very low on my list.
11
Elemental Shaman
Shocking damage and totemic boosts
Don’t get me wrong. I love Shaman. When I first started playing World of Warcraft ten years ago, my first class was the Shaman, alongside a Warlock.
However, in terms of accessibility and the number of buttons you have to press and keep up with, it can be a lot.
Luckily, the game now has a single-button assistant to help with that, but it certainly didn’t when I started, and I felt that rolling my face across the keyboard would have been easier than pressing buttons individually.
That being said, I have a lot of love for Elemental Shaman, and once you get the hang of your rotation, it’s a great time.
10
Assassin, Outlaw, and Subtlety Rogue
Poison and daggers galore
Now, hear me out. I am by no means saying that Rogues are bad. In fact, it’s typically the complete opposite. They dominate the scene in both PvP and PvE.
However, you have to be prepared to swing your mouse about and jump a billion times a minute to really be the true rogue. Their rotations can get complex, depending on the specialization you’ve chosen, too.
For me personally, I am just not a fan of hyper-agile classes. My brain struggles to focus on my rotation as a caster. I can’t fathom doing it while twirling and jumping every second! (Also, they are the bane of my existence in PvP. Please stop sapping me.)
9
Havoc Demon Hunter
Channel your Fel energy
I’m sorry to have to put Demon Hunter this low on the list. I really do enjoy the aesthetic and edginess of Demon Hunters, but all in all, they are not the class for me at the moment.
Demon Hunters are another class that relies on agility and being able to spin, jump, and glide. For me, that’s too much to focus on.
However, with the release of World of Warcraft: Midnight, I have high hopes that I may be able to tackle playing a Demon Hunter, as a ranged class for Void Elves, with the new specialization being released.
8
Unholy and Frost Death Knight
Indulge in Necromancy
I really love the concept and the origins of Death Knights. I love how cold and edgy they are.
However, as a class, they aren’t a personal favorite of mine. There is nothing wrong with them in the slightest, but I am someone who doesn’t play many melee classes, except in tanking situations.
I’m sorry to all the Death Knights out there.
7
Balance and Feral Druid
Time to shapeshift
I have a lot of love for the Druid class. Whether it is tanking or DPS, Druid is an incredibly versatile class and offers a lot of play styles for the player. However, the DPS specializations of Druid just don’t really inspire me that much.
A lot of it revolves around shape-shifting, slashes, and swipes while in cat form. I appreciate their utility, agility, and the ability to stealth and sneak through areas undetected by enemies. However, as a DPS class, they are not one of my top picks.
Although if I had to pick one, I would pick Balance.
6
Windwalker Monk
Death by a thousand punches
I love the aesthetics of the Monk DPS spec, but for me, it is something that is incredibly complicated. You have to use your abilities in a very specific rotation to maximize your damage, and you need to avoid using the abilities multiple times times a row.
There are plenty of people who are great at utilizing the power of the Monk, but I, unfortunately, am not one of them.
Maybe it is something I can explore now that the single-button assistant exists, but it’s still not a class that I feel I need to explore.
5
Affliction, Demonology, and Destruction Warlock
Summon and destroy
Warlocks are a ton of fun, and the specializations offer some pretty great variety, allowing you to choose the way you wish to deal damage.
Whether it is exploding your minions, or applying multiple Damage Over Time abilities to your foes, Warlock has a lot of ways to experiment, making it one of the most versatile ranged classes.
Although I enjoy Warlock, I do struggle and find it a difficult class to get to grips with, so make sure to practice your rotation plenty.
4
Beast Mastery, Survival and Marksman Hunter
Hit me with your best shot
I do enjoy Hunter, and for people who may want or need an easy rotation, Hunter makes for a great class for that reason.
Admittedly, it is a bit basic across Beast Mastery and Marksman, with barely any of the player base choosing the third specialization, Survival.
That being said, it has a lot of viability in both PvE and PvP, and it is quite easy to rack up good DPS with this spec. In conclusion, Hunter is fun, but quite basic.
3
Shadow Priest
Doing something unholy
Shadow Priest is a ton of fun, and I love the idea of unholy magic, which makes Shadow Priest a lot more fun for me personally.
Between void magic and shadow magic, there is a lot to love in World of Warcraft. Shadow Priests are perfect if you are someone who wants to feel like your character has been overrun by corruption.
Between the aesthetics and the easy rotation, Shadow Priest is a fun specialization, and one that I will definitely have to return to in the future.
2
Retribution Paladin
Divine justice
I love Paladin as a class, but I admittedly do not have much experience with the DPS spec of the Paladin class. Instead, I prefer tank.
That being said, DPS is still a ton of fun and can even dabble in off-hand healing, just the same as tanks can. For that reason alone, having a Paladin in the group is always a good thing.
However, regardless of which spec you choose, you’ll need to prepare for a lot of hot bars and button mashing. Maybe just try rolling your face on the keyboard for maximum success.
1
Fire, Frost, and Arcane Mage
Elemental Magicks
I’m a sucker for mages in any game, but especially in World of Warcraft. The variety for Mages is fabulous.
While most people gravitate towards Fire or Frost, I chose Arcane from the outset. Simply because it was the prettier of the specs. It was also pretty great that the rotation was simple.
However, with the new expansion on the horizon, the rotation and talents have gotten a bit of a change-up.
For the longest time, I have seen Arcane Mage at the bottom, and it has been vindicating to see the spec rise from the ashes and be at the top of DPS charts for once.
All in all, there is a lot of variety out there in the DPS specs of World of Warcraft. These are just my personal favorites, as well as ones that I don’t rate as highly as the others. The meta is something completely different altogether.
