WoW SoD tier list: Best PvP classes in WoW Classic Season of Discovery

World of Warcraft Classic Season of Discovery has created a new form of progression by limiting players’ level cap by phase. The current 25-level cap has changed the PvP landscape and current rankings.

Best WoW SoD PvP Classes

The best PvP classes are determined not only from pure damage but also from utility effects such as healing, buffs, and crowd control. At the time of writing, melee classes tend to drop toward the bottom, while casters and ranged classes are closer to the top.

9) Warrior

Image of an undead warrior in World of Warcraft. — Warriors aren’t too hot now, but in a few phases, we can expect the melee class to catch up | Screenshot by Dot Esports

Warriors are missing far too many key abilities to be viable in phase one PvP.

I do not expect the class to stay near the bottom of this list for too long after phase one, but currently, the Warrior Runes can’t lift it above any other PvP class. Without any other classes that provide utility, such as healing, buffs, or shields, the Warrior is unlikely to win many confrontations.

8) Rogue

Image of an undead Rogue in WoW SoD. — Rogues have great utility, but can be quickly overwhelmed by enemies | Screenshot by Dot Esports

Rogues are great at single-target damage, but you are still an easy target once you unstealth.

Much like in PvE, Rogues are lacking in PvP because the class is missing many of its best abilities. Without Blind or Cheap Shot, you are left without meaningful crowd control effects, so you cannot land successful combos that can burst down enemies.

You can still get the jump on enemies with your stealth ability, though you likely won’t have be able to do much damage. Similar to the Warrior, Rogues will climb up the leaderboards later on, but for now, the class cannot compete at the top.

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7) Druid

WoW Classic Druid stretching in Stormwind — Feral Druids are among the best melee DPS, however, the class’ other specs are lacking | Screenshot by Dot Esports

Feral Druids are among the best melee classes in PvP, however Druids still are lackign essential parts of their kit at level 25.

Feral Druids are one of the best melee classes in Season of Discovery. Whenever paired with your crowd control and rooting abilities, you will be able to lock down and deal significant damage to most enemies.

Druids still do not have the best parts of their kit, and Balance Druids, in particular, do not fare too well against other casters. Though healing over time can be beneficial, other classes have better burst healing spells.

6) Shaman

WoW Classic Shaman standing in Durotar — Shamans are a powerful Horde exclusive class. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Enhancement and Elemental Shamans are both inconsistent in damage and run into mana depletion issues.

Shamans are potentially the most well-rounded class in Season of Discovery. Elemental Shamans are undoubtedly the best spec for PvP, as you will be outfitted with several of the best burst damage spells in World of Warcraft Classic.

Enhancement is missing most of its valuable parts by level 25, and despite very useful runes, both DPS specs are extremely easy to lock down and dispatch quickly. Shamans are best in large group battles where you either might not be the target priority or where you have other classes to back you up with healing and dispels.

5) Paladin

Paladin casting a spell and character running behing them — Paladins provide incredible utility on the battlefield. Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Paladins are excellent healers and have plenty of useful utility that can help keep enemies stunned and allies protected.

Despite being a melee class, Paladins are one of the best PvP options largely due to the class’s sheer utility. Fear immunity, healing and shielding spells, and crowd control abilities make Paladins a menace in battlegrounds and in world PvP. Paladins won’t be the biggest damage-dealers on the battlefield and Holy specs will be outhealed by Priests. But you can still make your presence known as a Paladin.

4) Priest

WoW priest casting Heal in Elwynn Forest — Priests are essential healers in battlegrounds that can help keep your team fighting | Screenshot by Dot Esports

Priests are invaluable healers, though Shadow DPS leaves something to be desired.

Priests are the best healers in World of Warcraft Season of Discovery and are an absolute necessity to any BG. The healing that Priests can pump out is extremely useful in keeping your best damage dealers alive, though you always need to make sure that your team is looking out for your health bar, too.

Shadow Priests are one of the lowest-ranking DPS classes in both PvP and PvE, given that they do not have access to the Shadow form yet. Shadow Priests deal impressive DPS mostly through DoT spells, though these are not yet part of the level 25 Priest’s kit.

3) Mage

Mage in WoW Classic casting a Fireball — Mages are great pure damage classes, though easy to lock down. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Mages are powerful but easy targets. Make sure that you have support and stay behind most fights.

Frost and Fire mages are both two of the best damage-dealing specs in Season of Discovery. Frost, in particular, is extremely useful at the moment thanks to the movement speed reduction and soft crowd control you can provide.

Mages are still easily locked down and susceptible to dying after a short burst due to their relatively low health bars. If your fellow BG members can keep you safe and dispelled, then you can free fire in the backline and become a major nuisance for your enemies.

2) Hunters

Image of an Orc firing a weapon at a beast in WoW SoD. — No matter your spec, Hunters can deal impressive DPS | Screenshot by Dot Esports

Hunters have great immobilizing abilities, high DPS, and a pet to deal additional damage.

Hunters were always bound to dominate in PvP. At level 25, Hunters by far have the highest DPS with the fastest attacks and additional pet damage. Concussive Shot and Trap abilities also give the class plenty of crowd control opportunities.

The only real downside currently for Hunters pertains to mana depletion. It is very easy to drain your mana bar free-firing on enemies in the middle of Warsong Gulch to then become easy prey to another class. Still, Hunters are currently among the top two classes for PvP and essential to BGs.

1) Warlock

Warlock in the demonic form using the Metamorphosis ability — Metamorphosis completely changes how Warlocks can operate in PvP. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Pet damage, burst spells, and DoT spells all put Warlock at the top of the PvP tier list.

Warlocks are the undisputed winners of phase one in Season of Discovery. The class has self-sustain for both health and mana, additional pet damage, high burst damage spells, and DoT options as well. Tank Warlocks have also added another dimension to this already powerful class that brings a behemoth onto the battlefield that is essential immune to most forms of crowd control.

If you want to dominate in dungeons, raids, or BGs, then Warlock is the best choice for you. Be warned, there will likely be plenty of other Warlocks you will meet in PvP who are completely aware of how overpowered the class can become.

WoW SoD PvP Tier List

Image of a tier list in WoW SoD showing all of the classic classes. — As more phases roll out, we can expect this list to shift | Image by Dot Esports

Classes are all subject to change on this list as more phases roll out and new runes and abilities become available to the current classes. Classes with pet damage, burst, and damage over time spells all perform the best. Though near the bottom now, melee classes such as Warriors and Rogues can expect to rise in the future.