Best DPS classes in WoW Classic Season of Discovery

See how your class stacks up.

Orc Shaman standing with a totem in old Orgrimmar.
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Season of Discovery is an upcoming update for World of Warcraft Classic players that stands to bring several new gameplay mechanics to spice up the vintage content. With changes on the horizon, the DPS tier list is likely to get shaken up as well.

Recommended Videos

Season of Discovery in World of Warcraft Classic will bring about significant changes, such as Rune-engraving and progressive leveling. With former dungeons being turned into 10-person raids, there will be more content than ever for Classic players to dig into. Below is our picks for the best DPS classes in World Of Warcraft Classic prior to the launch of Season of Discovery.

WoW Classic Season of Discovery DPS tier list

A Tier

Warlock in the demonic form using the Metamorphosis ability
The Warlock tank is one of the more staggering changes, however this caster DPS is still incredibly effective | Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Warlock

The Warlock is undoubtedly the best damage-dealing class in Season of Discovery. This caster brings massive burst damage, DoT spells, and additional pet damage. With Life Tap and other complementing runes, mana consumption is also significantly less of an issue for Warlock players.

Though many players have been distracted by the impressive efficiency of the Warlock tank, the class’s DPS is also unmatched. Affliction and Destruction are both viable DPS builds that can all skyrocket you to the top of the DPS charts.

B Tier

Paladin casting a spell and character running behing them
Paladins provide great utility, even at level 25 | Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Hunter
  • Mage
  • Paladin

The level 25 cap has helped no class more than the Hunter. At early levels, the Hunter has one of the highest DPS with additional pet damage. Beast Master builds that focus on maximizing your pet damage have pushed the class as the frontrunner in ranged DPS. Though the victim of several early nerfs, Hunters are still among the best damage dealers in phase one.

Mages are another caster that can deal impressive burst damage, though suffer from lower health bars and frequent mana depletion. Ret Paladins provide excellent utility for all dungeon or raid parties. Alongside decent melee damage, Paladins have some of the best crowd control in the game. Alongside powerful runes such as Matrydom, Paladins are by far the best melee class currently available.

C Tier

WoW Classic Druid stretching in Stormwind
Druid players have plenty of build options, though Feral is undoubtedly on top | Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Druid
  • Warrior
  • Priest

Runes such as Blood Frenzy, Warbringer, Flagellation, and Endless Rage have massively powered up the otherwise weak level 25 Warrior. This melee class has surpassed expectations and in terms of damage output thanks to runes that assist in Rage generation. Warriors are incredibly dependent on their equipment, so you likely won’t feel too powerful until you start running BFD raids more often to gear up.

Balance Druids suffer from the same problem as Mages, Elemental Shamans, and other casters: mana depletion. DPS Feral Druids are currently the best build for the class at level 25. The class provides valuable melee damage with runes such as Lacerate and Mangle providing great DPS and DoT abilities.

Finally, Shadow Priests rank at the bottom of this tier. Without their Shadow Form, Priest players cannot hope to match up with Mages and Warlocks unless they’re geared up more than their competitors. The Priest will likely find its way up in later phases, though for now the caster is a sub-par damage option.

D Tier

WoW Classic Shaman standing in Durotar
Shamans are off to a slow start for DPS, although tank and healer Shamans are more useful than ever | Screenshot by Dot Esports
  • Shaman
  • Rogue

The Shaman is a very versatile class in Season of Discovery, with the Shaman tank providing another role for the utility-driven class; however, DPS is currently not the class’s strength. Enhancement Shamans are easily outranked by Paladins, Warriors, and Feral Druids, while Elemental similarly cannot build up a large enough mana pool to sustain for longer encounters.

Rogues are stuck in a strange spot in phase one, as neither the class’s tank nor DPS options feel fully unlocked yet. Assassination Rogues can compete with other melee classes, although there is still much to be desired from the Rogue’s single-target damage, which is meant to be a staple of the class.

Author
Image of Blaine Polhamus
Blaine Polhamus
Staff Writer for Dot Esports. Avid gamer for two decades and gaming writer for three years. I'm a lover of anything Souls-like since 2011. I cover everything from single-player RPGs to MMOs.