Hello, Librarian Husky here! It is time for my official War Within tier list, where I will rank every single spec. I’ve played as much beta as anyone for the past two months, often spending 5 to 7 hours a day on it. I’ve gained substantial experience, but things have been changing rapidly with new tunings just released. This list will be a general PvP tier list.

Mage – Frost Spec

Frost Mage is going straight into the S tier. I think it’s arguably the best spec right now. Frost Mage is crazy, absolutely crazy. You see them a lot because they are super hard to catch, can apply numerous roots, and have incredible pressure on low cooldowns. The instant Ice Lance damage makes up half their damage, and it’s massive.

Mage – Arcane Spec

Arcane is a great spec, but it’s always been one that requires the right hands, more so than most other specs. However, I think Arcane is solid and deserves to be placed in the A tier.

Arcane and Fire Mage Overview

Certain specs, like Arcane, are highly dependent on the player’s skill. While this is true for all specs to some extent, Arcane is ten times more reliant on skilled hands compared to most. A seasoned player can make Arcane seem like an S+ tier, but generally, it fits in the A tier.

Fire Mage

Fire Mage is a spec known for its incredible burst, possibly the highest in the game. However, after the initial burst, they struggle to maintain pressure, and currently, almost every Mage is playing Frost. Fire Mages are becoming rare, and in duels, facing a Fire Mage is preferable to encountering Arcane or Frost. Despite this, their burst potential remains impressive, especially in large-scale battles where their AOE capabilities shine. We will place Fire Mage in the A tier, but on the lower end compared to Arcane.

Retribution Paladin Overview

Retribution Paladin is a solid choice. It’s not overwhelmingly strong, but it holds its ground well. Being in the A tier is good, as it represents viability without being overpowered. The more specs in A, the better the balance of the game. Retribution Paladin offers a lot to its team, such as Blessing of Protection, Lay on Hands, and other utility spells, making it a well-rounded and valuable spec.

Holy Paladin and Healers

Holy Paladin recently got nerfed, which might have impacted its standing. According to a multi-rank one Healer, Preservation is currently the best, followed by Disc, Holy, Arude Miser, and Holy Priest. Despite the recent nerfs, Holy Paladin still deserves to be in the A tier, though it may be on the lower end now.

Protection Paladin – Tank Tier

For tanks, we’ll be rating them in a separate tier. Protection Paladin is considered the weakest among the tanks, especially in battleground blitz scenarios. The closer a tank is to the “hair” of the tier list, the better it is, but unfortunately, Protection Paladin ranks the lowest in this category.

Rogue Overview

Now let’s talk about Rogue. Rogue recently got nerfed, with Kidney Shot now having a 30-second cooldown. Some players are saying it’s off the global cooldown, though this information is still being confirmed.

Rogue Spec Evaluation

Recently, there’s been some dissatisfaction among Rogues, as evidenced by Peabo’s tweet. However, I’m not entirely convinced. Subtlety Rogue, in particular, seems quite strong right now. While it may not be overly powerful, it is certainly performing well. Despite the 30-second cooldown on Kidney Shot, I believe Subtlety is the best Rogue spec currently, especially when compared to Outlaw and Assassination.

Assassination and Outlaw Rogue

Assassination Rogue can still deal significant damage, but it’s nowhere near as strong as it was last season in Dragonflight. Outlaw, on the other hand, has seen better days. I was more optimistic about Outlaw during the early beta, but recently it hasn’t been performing as well. I’ll place Outlaw in the B tier, while Assassination will go higher in the A tier, though I’m hesitant to rank it too high since I haven’t seen enough evidence to back up the claims of its strength.

Final Verdict

Subtlety Rogue will be placed in the A tier, as it holds up well in the current meta. Outlaw falls to the B tier, and despite mixed opinions, Assassination will also be in the A tier, albeit lower than Subtlety.

Spec Observations and Adjustments

I haven’t seen much of certain specs myself, but I trust the input from others, so I’ll bump a few of them up slightly. For example, I did a test with one of the specs today, and it performed with significant damage. The challenge with some of these specs is that they are rarely played on the beta, making it difficult to gauge their full potential accurately.

Shaman Overview

Elemental Shaman seems very strong to me, not too far off from how it performs in the pre-patch. One reason for its strength in the pre-patch is the tier set, but it remains a solid choice overall. I think it will perform well in blitz scenarios and other high-pressure situations. I’d place Elemental Shaman in the high A tier.

Enhancement Shaman

Enhancement Shaman, on the other hand, might be the weakest spec currently. One spec always has to be in the F tier, and despite Enhancement being insanely broken at one point during the beta due to a bug with the infinite shield, it seems to have settled into a less favorable position. I’ve played with Enhancement quite a bit, and although it had its moments, I believe it might deserve the F tier designation.

Community Input

I reached out to others who have played the beta extensively, particularly those who main Enhancement Shaman, to get their input. They agree that it’s tough to find a spec worse than Enhancement right now, so I’ll keep it in the F tier, recognizing that this is always a tough decision to make.

Warlock Spec Evaluation

When it comes to Warlock specs, it’s a bit challenging to place them accurately, especially with recent changes. Demonology seems like a low A or high B tier to me. They don’t seem to do much damage, lack an MS effect, and don’t have particularly strong crowd control. They might have some burst potential, but overall, I’m unsure if they’re as strong as they could be.

Aram and Healers

Aram appears to be quite solid, especially in duels where it’s nearly impossible to kill, though that’s typical for most healers. In Shuffle, it seemed strong; I played against it recently and found it quite formidable. Some consider it S tier, but I don’t believe it’s quite there yet. I’ll place Aram higher in the A tier, as it has good throughput and is overall a solid choice.

Warlock – Destruction and Demonology

Destruction Warlock got nerfed a bit, which makes it tricky to rank. The order in my head for Warlock specs is Destruction first, then Demonology. However, I haven’t seen enough of Demonology to make a definitive call, especially with the numerous changes in the beta. I’ll place Destruction slightly higher in the A tier—it was S tier but has been knocked down a bit. Demonology will likely be ranked soon after, but I need more data to be sure.

Affliction Warlock

As for Affliction, it’s hard to place it accurately because it’s rarely seen. When you don’t see a spec at all, you have to assume there’s a good reason for that.

Warlock and Monk Spec Analysis

For Demonology Warlock, I’m placing it in the B tier. It doesn’t stand out as particularly strong, but it’s not the weakest either. This seems like a fair placement given its current performance in various scenarios.

Mistweaver Monk

Mistweaver Monk is one of the weakest healers right now, similar to Demonology Warlock. It’s rarely played, and from what I’ve seen, the spec struggles significantly. While Fistweaving might have some potential, the traditional casting version of Mistweaver seems very poor in performance, at least in the beta testing phase.

Mistweaver in Different Game Modes

There is some debate about Mistweaver’s effectiveness compared to other healers, like Holy Priest. I try to place the worst-performing spec in the F tier, and Mistweaver could be close to that, especially considering its poor showing in Shuffle and Arena. However, Mistweaver does have some redeeming qualities, particularly in battlegrounds (BGs), where the Revival ability can be very useful. Despite this, Cocoon, one of its key abilities, feels almost ineffective at this point.

General Thoughts on Tier Lists

When creating a general tier list, there are overlaps between different game modes, such as Shuffle, Arena, and Blitz. While a tier list for two-player or three-player modes might differ from a Shuffle or Blitz tier list, it’s important to consider these variations when evaluating each spec. Mistweaver might have some value in BGs due to its utility, but overall, its performance across most scenarios keeps it in a lower tier.

Monk and Priest Spec Analysis

For now, I’ll place Windwalker Monk in the A tier. Despite some opinions that Windwalker is weak, I believe it’s quite strong, though not overly powerful. It has lost some mobility, but it remains tanky with very good damage output. I think it’s in a good spot overall, deserving of an A tier placement.

Holy Priest

Holy Priest appears to be the worst healer at the moment. In several beta lobbies, Holy Priests struggled significantly, often going 0-6 even in decent matchups. There seems to be something lacking in its ability to keep up with the healing output of other healers. Therefore, Holy Priest is going into the C tier, as it doesn’t seem to be able to perform at the level required.

Brewmaster Monk and Protection Paladin

Brewmaster Monk seems to be better than Protection Paladin, though I’m not entirely certain about its exact placement. However, based on what I’ve seen and heard, it does seem to have an edge over Protection Paladin.

Discipline Priest

Discipline Priest, on the other hand, has been performing quite well. It’s been popular in beta lobbies, and when I’ve been healed by a Discipline Priest, I’ve felt secure. Therefore, Discipline Priest will sneak into the A tier, ranking semi-high among healers based on its current effectiveness and popularity.

Priest and Demon Hunter Spec Rankings

I’ve decided to place Discipline Priest above Holy Priest in the rankings because it currently feels stronger and more reliable in various situations. Now, let’s talk about Shadow Priest. I’m placing Shadow Priest in the low S tier. It’s incredibly strong across different modes, whether in Blitz, Shuffle, or even one-on-one scenarios. Shadow Priest is one of the best casters right now, perhaps second only to Frost Mage in certain matchups.

Demon Hunter

Demon Hunter, on the other hand, is not performing as strongly as usual. Historically, Demon Hunter is often ranked in the S tier or at least high A tier in beta tier lists. However, this time around, it feels much weaker and doesn’t bring as much to the table. I’m placing it in the B tier, which is quite low for Demon Hunter standards. It’s still decent, but it doesn’t have the impact it typically does. Vengeance Demon Hunter remains very good for battlegrounds, so it’s definitely not an F tier spec.

Hunter – Beast Mastery

Beast Mastery Hunter seems to have fallen off recently. I’m not sure if this is due to a specific nerf, like a reduction in recovery, but when I play my Hunter now, it doesn’t feel as strong as it once did.

Hunter Spec Evaluation

I’ve noticed that healing seems less effective recently, and this has impacted both Beast Mastery (BM) and Survival Hunters significantly. It feels like their ability to recover health has been nerfed, or perhaps the overall HP has been reduced. This change has caused these specs to struggle more than before. BM Hunter, in particular, feels weaker now, and I’m placing it in the B tier.

Marksmanship Hunter

Some players claim that Marksmanship (MM) Hunter is performing exceptionally well, but I haven’t seen evidence of this in my own experience, whether in Shuffle, Arena, or duels. It doesn’t seem overly strong to me, so I’m thinking of placing it in the low A or high B tier. Marksmanship is decent but not outstanding based on what I’ve observed.

Survival Hunter

Survival Hunter remains a solid choice, despite the nerf to their recovery. They still bring a lot to the table, including tankiness. After playing Survival on my Hunter recently, it feels solid and reliable, so I’ll place it accordingly, perhaps in the B or low A tier.

Warrior Spec Evaluation

Now, let’s talk about Warriors. Fury Warrior is an S tier for me. I’ve played Fury on the beta, and it’s insane—huge self-healing, massive damage, and relentless pressure. It seems to be the go-to spec for most Warriors now. While Arms Warrior is also strong, it doesn’t quite match the power of Fury, which is why most players are choosing Fury over Arms.

Warrior Spec Placement

We’ll place Arms Warrior where it seems most fitting, likely just below Fury in the rankings. This placement feels accurate to me. As for Protection Warrior, I’m not entirely sure how it compares to Brewmaster Monk. When considering tank rankings, I’m focusing on BG Blitz scenarios, where tanks play a specific role.

Windwalker Monk and Fire Mage

I believe Windwalker Monk is really strong, possibly deserving of a high tier placement. Fire Mage, on the other hand, could be placed in the B tier, although this might be up for debate based on its current performance.

Evoker Spec Evaluation

Let’s discuss the Evoker specs—Devastation and Augmentation. Early in the beta, Augmentation seemed promising, but then it fell off, and I stopped seeing it as much. Devastation, however, consistently deals a lot of damage. It’s comparable to how it performs in Dragonflight, with solid damage output. I’ll place Devastation in the middle of the A tier.

Augmentation, on the other hand, seems decent, perhaps in the B tier. While it may not be as strong as Devastation, it could work well in certain compositions. The recent nerfs may have impacted its viability, so I’ll place it accordingly.

Preservation Evoker

Finally, Preservation Evoker—according to Nei, a multi-rank one Preservation Evoker, this spec is likely S tier. It’s highly prevalent, and if any healer deserves to be in the S tier, it’s Preservation.

Preservation Evoker and Other Top Healers

Preservation Evoker seems to be the best healer right now, deserving a spot alongside Fury Warrior, Frost Mage, and Shadow Priest in the S tier. Its healing throughput is exceptional, making it a top choice for any team composition.

Death Knight Spec Evaluation

Now, let’s discuss Death Knights. Unholy Death Knight is still incredibly strong. Although it was nerfed a few times, it remains a dominant force in PvP. I faced it a lot recently, and it might still deserve a spot in the S tier, though possibly at the lower end. However, with continued play over the next week, it could drop to high A tier if its performance diminishes. The memory of how powerful Unholy DK was before the nerfs is still fresh, but even after the tuning, it remains a formidable spec.

Frost Death Knight

Frost Death Knight, on the other hand, usually struggles in the game. It was having a brief moment of strength, but a recent nerf hit it hard. Unlike Unholy, Frost DK cannot handle the nerf well, as it heavily relies on its cooldowns. Once those are exhausted, Frost DKs become significantly less effective, which limits their overall viability.

Frost Death Knight Post-Nerf Evaluation

Placing Frost Death Knight after the recent nerf is challenging. It still belongs in the B tier because it retains some burst potential, but it lacks the sustained damage that Unholy Death Knight offers. While it’s not terrible, it doesn’t have the same consistent value. Frost DK might even belong with Demon Hunter in this ranking, as both have seen better days. I’ll place it alongside DH in the B tier.

Blood Death Knight and Tank Rankings

Blood Death Knight is definitely not an F tier spec. It remains viable, particularly in certain scenarios. Moving on to the tank rankings, let’s consider Guardian Druid. Guardian is insane in Blitz, and it might even be better than Vengeance Demon Hunter. I’ll place it high in the tank tier.

Balance Druid (Boomkin) Overview

I played against a Balance Druid (Boomkin) today in high-level Shuffle on the beta, and it seemed okay. The thing about Boomkin is that it struggles in duels, where it’s not very effective. However, in larger scenarios like Blitz or Shuffle, it holds its own. I’ll place Boomkin accordingly, considering its strengths in broader PvP contexts.

Balance Druid Viability

Based on what I’ve seen, Balance Druid is viable, though not exceptional. I’m placing it alongside Affliction Warlock, as that feels like the right spot for it. Balance Druid can perform well in certain scenarios but doesn’t stand out as a top-tier spec.

Restoration Druid Placement

Restoration Druid is a strong healer, fitting well between Discipline Priest, Holy Priest, and Aram. It can deal significant damage, especially with Heart of the Wild and Wrath spam. Considering that Holy Priest was recently nerfed, I’ll slip Restoration Druid into this position as well. As a reminder, the more specs in the A tier, the better—it signifies balance, where specs are viable but not too strong.

Feral Druid: A Top-Tier Melee Spec

Now, let’s talk about Feral Druid—the most fun spec in the game, by far. I genuinely believe Feral Druid is an S-tier spec, possibly the second-best melee after Fury Warrior. Some may think I’m overestimating it, but I’m not. Even though I have a vested interest in seeing Feral buffed further, I still rank it highly because it’s incredibly strong and enjoyable to play. It might be more of an S-minus or a high A-tier, but Feral Druid is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

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