Mists of Pandaria Classic Tier List | WoW Mist of Pandaria Tier List

DPS Tier List

S-Tier: Top-Performing DPS

These specializations dominate raid content with exceptional damage, utility, and scaling. They are staples in most raid compositions due to their consistent performance across single-target, AoE, and cleave scenarios.

Affliction Warlock

• Pros:
  • Exceptional multi-target damage with DoTs (Agony, Corruption, Unstable Affliction) and Soul Swap for rapid application.
  • Strong single-target damage with Haunt and Malefic Grasp, scaling well with gear.
  • High mobility, allowing consistent DPS during movement-heavy fights like Will of the Emperor.
  • Utility includes Healthstones, Demonic Gateway, and Soulstone for raid support.
  • Excellent sustain with Life Drain and Healthstones, ideal for solo content and survivability.
• Cons:
  • Complex rotation requiring precise DoT management and Soul Shard usage.
  • Reliant on gear (Haste and Mastery) to reach peak performance.
  • Weaker burst damage compared to other S-Tier specs, requiring sustained fights to shine.
  • High skill ceiling; suboptimal play significantly reduces output.

Destruction Warlock

• Pros:
  • High burst damage with Chaos Bolt and strong cleave via Havoc and Fire and Brimstone.
  • Strong control with Shadowfury and Ember Tap for self-healing, enhancing survivability.
  • Scales exceptionally with Crit and Haste, making it lethal in later tiers.
  • Versatile for both raids and dungeons due to consistent AoE and single-target output.
• Cons:
  • Reliant on Crit for Chaos Bolt impact, making early gear progression RNG-dependent.
  • Less mobile than Affliction, struggling in high-movement encounters.
  • Ember management requires careful planning to maximize damage.
  • Slightly less utility than Affliction (e.g., no Soul Swap).

Survival Hunter

• Pros:
  • Exceptional single-target, AoE, and cleave damage with Explosive Shot, Black Arrow, and traps.
  • High mobility and no cast-time reliance, excelling in movement-heavy fights.
  • Brings nearly every raid buff (via pets) and utility like Misdirection, traps, and Feign Death.
  • Beginner-friendly with simple rotations and strong pet-based damage.
  • Ideal for solo content due to pet tanking and high sustain.
• Cons:
  • Pet management can be challenging in chaotic fights with AoE or movement.
  • Slightly less burst compared to other S-Tier specs, relying on consistent damage.
  • Gear-dependent for optimal performance, particularly for Haste and Crit scaling.
  • Outshines other Hunter specs, reducing spec diversity.

Windwalker Monk

• Pros:
  • High burst and sustained damage with Fists of Fury and Rising Sun Kick.
  • Excellent AoE through Spinning Crane Kick and strong single-target output.
  • High mobility with Roll and Flying Serpent Kick, ideal for dynamic fights.
  • Utility includes Leg Sweep, Touch of Karma (self-survival), and Legacy of the Emperor (raid buff).
  • Scales well with gear, maintaining strong performance throughout the expansion.
• Cons:
  • Fragile without cooldowns, requiring careful defensive management.
  • Lacks unique raid DPS buffs compared to Hunters or Shamans, reducing stackability.
  • Complex energy and Chi management, with a higher skill ceiling than other melee.
  • New class, potentially buggy in Classic launch, requiring beta fixes.

A-Tier: Strong and Reliable DPS

These specs are highly effective but fall just short of S-Tier due to minor scaling issues, situational performance, or less utility. They remain excellent choices for most content.

Shadow Priest

• Pros:
  • Strong multi-target DoT damage with Vampiric Touch and Shadow Word: Pain, scaling well in progression.
  • Decent single-target output with Mind Blast and Devouring Plague.
  • Utility via Vampiric Embrace (raid healing cooldown, enhanced by Glyph) and off-healing capabilities.
  • 5% Spell Haste raid buff via Shadow Form, boosting caster groups.
• Cons:
  • Nerfed utility compared to Cataclysm (e.g., no raid-wide Mana Replenishment).
  • Reliant on multi-target fights to shine; weaker in pure single-target scenarios.
  • Movement-heavy fights disrupt casting, lowering DPS compared to mobile specs.
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to DoT management and proc tracking.

Balance Druid

• Pros:
  • Strong AoE with Starfall and sustained DoT damage via Moonfire and Sunfire.
  • Eclipse mechanic enables high burst with Starsurge resets, ideal for priority targets.
  • Utility includes Innervate, Typhoon, and Symbiosis for raid support.
  • Tanky with Bear Form and off-healing, enhancing survivability.
• Cons:
  • Low early-tier scaling, requiring gear (Crit and Haste) to compete.
  • Casting reliance makes movement-heavy fights challenging.
  • Complex Eclipse management, with a high skill ceiling for optimal DPS.
  • Often limited to one per raid due to gear competition with Resto Druids.

Fire Mage

• Pros:
  • High AoE and cleave potential with Inferno Blast and Combustion, excelling in multi-target fights.
  • Strong burst with crit-heavy rotations, scaling exceptionally in later tiers.
  • Utility includes Blink, Counterspell, and Spellsteal for raid support.
  • Deep defensive toolkit (Ice Block, Cauterize) enhances survivability.
• Cons:
  • Heavily Crit-dependent, making early performance inconsistent.
  • Weak in single-target fights until better gear is acquired.
  • Casting reliance hinders performance in movement-heavy encounters.
  • High skill ceiling due to proc management and Combustion timing.

Subtlety Rogue

• Pros:
  • Exceptional burst with Shadow Dance, Cheap Shot, and Ambush, ideal for priority targets.
  • Strong control with Kidney Shot, Blind, and Smoke Bomb for raid utility.
  • High mobility and survivability with Sprint, Evasion, and Cloak of Shadows.
  • Consistent single-target damage, outperforming other Rogue specs in Phase 1.
• Cons:
  • Weak AoE compared to other melee specs, limiting versatility.
  • High skill ceiling due to combo point and energy management.
  • Gear-dependent for burst potential, requiring specific weapons and stats.
  • Less desirable in multi-target fights compared to S-Tier specs.

Elemental Shaman

• Pros:
  • High burst with Lava Burst and Ascendance, strong in single-target and cleave.
  • Excellent raid utility via totems (Stormlash, Grounding, Capacitor) and Spirit Link Totem.
  • Decent mobility with Thunderstorm and Ghost Wolf, aiding movement-heavy fights.
  • Scales well with gear, maintaining viability throughout the expansion.
• Cons:
  • Reliant on procs (Lava Burst, Echo of the Elements) for peak damage, leading to inconsistency.
  • Casting reliance hinders performance in high-movement encounters.
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to proc and cooldown management.
  • Outshined by S-Tier specs in raw damage output.

B-Tier: Viable but Situational DPS

These specs are solid but have limitations, such as gear dependency, encounter-specific performance, or being overshadowed by higher tiers. They can shine with skilled play.

Arms Warrior

• Pros:
  • Strong single-target damage with Mortal Strike and Execute, viable in early tiers.
  • Utility via Skull Banner, Demoralizing Banner, and Rallying Cry for raid support.
  • High mobility with Charge and Intervene, aiding dynamic fights.
  • Scales well with Crit, improving in later tiers.
• Cons:
  • Weak AoE compared to other melee, limiting versatility.
  • Lacks consistent self-healing, relying heavily on healers.
  • Outperformed by Fury in later tiers with better gear.
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to rage management and cooldown timing.

Frost Mage

• Pros:
  • Strong burst with instant-cast procs (Fingers of Frost, Ice Lance) and Deep Freeze.
  • Excellent control with Frost Nova, Polymorph, and Counterspell, aiding raid utility.
  • High mobility with Blink, ideal for movement-heavy fights.
  • Beginner-friendly with straightforward rotations.
• Cons:
  • Fades in later tiers as other specs scale better with gear.
  • Weaker AoE compared to Fire, limiting multi-target performance.
  • Squishy without cooldowns, requiring careful defensive play.
  • Outshined by Fire in most raid scenarios.

Demonology Warlock

• Pros:
  • Strong AoE burst with Metamorphosis and Hellfire, ideal for cleave-heavy fights.
  • Decent single-target damage with flexible spec swapping for encounter needs.
  • Utility via Healthstones and Demonic Gateway, matching other Warlock specs.
  • Good survivability with demon pets and self-healing abilities.
• Cons:
  • Overshadowed by Affliction and Destruction in most scenarios.
  • Complex rotation with Metamorphosis management, increasing skill ceiling.
  • Less consistent than other Warlock specs in single-target fights.
  • Gear-dependent for optimal performance, particularly for Haste.

Beast Mastery Hunter

• Pros:
  • Strong single-target and cleave with Kill Command and Beast Cleave.
  • Beginner-friendly with pet-focused gameplay and simple rotations.
  • High mobility and utility (Misdirection, traps), matching Survival’s raid value.
  • Excellent for solo content due to pet tanking.
• Cons:
  • Outperformed by Survival in most scenarios, reducing its raid priority.
  • Pet management issues in AoE-heavy or movement-heavy fights.
  • Less burst potential compared to S-Tier specs.
  • Gear-dependent for optimal damage scaling.

C-Tier: Underperforming DPS

These specs are viable but struggle in most content due to scaling issues, limited utility, or encounter-specific weaknesses. They require skilled play to be competitive.

Assassination Rogue

• Pros:
  • Consistent single-target damage with Envenom and Dispatch.
  • Utility via Smoke Bomb and control abilities (Blind, Kidney Shot).
  • Decent survivability with Cloak of Shadows and Evasion.
  • Simple rotation, accessible for newer players.
• Cons:
  • Weak AoE, limiting performance in multi-target fights.
  • Outperformed by Subtlety in Phase 1, reducing its raid priority.
  • Gear-dependent for competitive damage, requiring specific daggers.
  • Lacks unique raid buffs compared to higher-tier specs.

Fury Warrior

• Pros:
  • Fun, fast-paced rotation with Raging Blow and Bloodthirst.
  • Scales well with Crit, becoming stronger in later tiers.
  • Utility via Skull Banner and Rallying Cry, matching Arms.
  • Decent single-target damage with Execute phase strength.
• Cons:
  • Squishy without defensive cooldowns, relying heavily on healers.
  • Weak early-tier performance, requiring gear to shine.
  • Limited AoE compared to other melee specs.
  • Lacks control or unique utility compared to S-Tier melee.

Marksmanship Hunter

• Pros:
  • Decent burst with Aimed Shot and Chimera Shot.
  • Utility via Misdirection and traps, matching other Hunter specs.
  • Simple rotation, beginner-friendly for ranged players.
  • Viable for solo content due to pet tanking.
• Cons:
  • Outshined by Survival and Beast Mastery in nearly all scenarios.
  • Weak in movement-heavy fights due to cast-time reliance.
  • Lacks pet pressure, reducing overall damage output.
  • Poor scaling compared to other Hunter specs.

Enhancement Shaman

• Pros:
  • High burst with Ascendance and Lava Lash, fun for PvP and burst-heavy fights.
  • Utility via totems (Stormlash, Grounding) and off-healing capabilities.
  • Decent mobility with Ghost Wolf and Wind Shear.
  • Viable in niche cleave scenarios.
• Cons:
  • Mediocre raid performance, overshadowed by Elemental.
  • Reliant on procs for damage, leading to inconsistency.
  • Complex rotation with high skill ceiling for optimal output.
  • Limited raid spots due to lack of unique DPS buffs.

Feral Druid

• Pros:
  • High single-target damage with Rip and Rake, viable with specific trinkets.
  • Utility via Typhoon, Innervate, and off-tanking in Bear Form.
  • Strong survivability with Bear Form and self-healing.
  • Decent mobility with Cat Form and Dash.
• Cons:
  • High skill ceiling due to complex rotation and bleed management.
  • Gear-dependent, requiring specific trinkets to compete.
  • Weak AoE, limiting performance in multi-target fights.
  • Rarely prioritized in raids due to gear competition with Balance/Resto.

Arcane Mage

• Pros:
  • Strong single-target damage with Arcane Blast and Arcane Missiles.
  • Utility via Blink, Counterspell, and Spellsteal, matching other Mage specs.
  • Simple rotation, accessible for newer players.
  • Decent survivability with defensive cooldowns.
• Cons:
  • Poor AoE compared to Fire, limiting versatility.
  • Mana management issues, requiring careful pacing.
  • Outshined by Frost and Fire in most raid scenarios.
  • Weak scaling in early tiers, improving later with gear.

Unholy Death Knight

• Pros:
  • Decent single-target damage with Scourge Strike and Death Coil.
  • Strong AoE with Death and Decay and pet-based damage.
  • Utility via Death Grip and control abilities (Asphyxiate).
  • Good survivability with self-healing (Death Strike).
• Cons:
  • Outperformed by other melee in most scenarios.
  • Complex rotation with rune and runic power management.
  • Weak scaling in early tiers, requiring gear to compete.
  • Limited raid utility compared to higher-tier specs.

Frost Death Knight

• Pros:
  • Decent single-target and AoE with Howling Blast and Obliterate.
  • Good survivability with Death Strike and plate armor.
  • Utility via Death Grip and control abilities.
  • Simple rotation, accessible for newer players.
• Cons:
  • Outshined by other melee specs in damage output.
  • Weak scaling compared to S-Tier and A-Tier specs.
  • Limited AoE compared to Unholy, reducing versatility.
  • Lacks unique raid buffs, lowering priority.

Tank Tier List

S-Tier: Top-Performing Tanks

These tanks excel in survivability, threat generation, and utility, making them top picks for all raid content.

Blood Death Knight

• Pros:
  • High self-healing via Death Strike, reducing healer reliance.
  • Strong survivability with plate armor and Bone Shield.
  • Excellent control with Death Grip and Gorefiend’s Grasp, ideal for add management.
  • Consistent performance across all tiers, viable in all content.
• Cons:
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to rune and runic power management.
  • Weaker AoE threat compared to Brewmaster or Protection Warrior.
  • Limited raid-wide utility beyond control abilities.
  • Reliant on active mitigation timing for optimal survivability.

Brewmaster Monk

• Pros:
  • Unique Stagger mechanic smooths damage intake, making spikes manageable.
  • High mobility with Roll and Keg Smash, aiding positioning.
  • Strong utility with Leg Sweep, Ring of Peace, and Ox Statue for add control.
  • Scales well with gear, maintaining top-tier status.
• Cons:
  • New class, potentially buggy at launch, requiring beta fixes.
  • High skill ceiling due to Stagger and Chi management.
  • Reliant on healers for burst damage without proper cooldowns.
  • Less intuitive for new players compared to other tanks.

A-Tier: Strong Tanks

These tanks are reliable and versatile but have minor weaknesses compared to S-Tier.

Protection Warrior

• Pros:
  • Excellent utility with Skull Banner, Demoralizing Banner, and Rallying Cry.
  • Strong defensive cooldowns (Shield Wall, Last Stand) for survivability.
  • High mobility with Charge and Intervene, ideal for dynamic fights.
  • Good threat generation in single-target and AoE scenarios.
• Cons:
  • No consistent self-healing, heavily reliant on healers.
  • Weaker early-tier performance, improving with gear (Haste and Crit).
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to rage and cooldown management.
  • Outshined by Blood DK and Brewmaster in some scenarios.

Protection Paladin

• Pros:
  • Proactive gameplay with Holy Power and Shield of the Righteous for physical mitigation.
  • Strong utility with Hand of Sacrifice, Devotion Aura, and off-healing.
  • Scales well with Haste, becoming top-tier in later phases.
  • Decent self-healing via Word of Glory, reducing healer burden.
• Cons:
  • Weak early-tier performance due to low Haste availability.
  • Moderate AoE threat compared to Brewmaster or Warrior.
  • Reliant on gear scaling to reach full potential.
  • Complex rotation with Holy Power management.

B-Tier: Viable Tanks

These tanks are functional but have notable weaknesses, requiring skilled play to compete.

Guardian Druid

• Pros:
  • High health pool and armor, providing strong passive survivability.
  • Utility via Typhoon, Innervate, and off-healing (Rejuvenation).
  • Decent mobility with Stampeding Roar and Bear Form.
  • Viable in all content with proper play.
• Cons:
  • Lower threat generation compared to S-Tier tanks.
  • Reliant on active mitigation (Savage Defense) for optimal survivability.
  • Limited raid-wide utility compared to other tanks.
  • Gear competition with Feral and Balance Druids.

Healer Tier List

S-Tier: Top-Performing Healers

These healers excel in throughput, utility, and raid synergy, making them top picks.

Discipline Priest

• Pros:
  • Atonement healing combines DPS and healing, boosting raid contribution.
  • Power Word: Barrier and Spirit Shell prevent one-shot mechanics.
  • Strong shields (Power Word: Shield) reduce incoming damage.
  • High flexibility in raids and dungeons, with excellent cooldowns.
• Cons:
  • High skill ceiling due to Atonement and shield management.
  • Mana-intensive, requiring Spirit-heavy gear and careful pacing.
  • Weaker raw healing compared to Holy Paladin in some scenarios.
  • Reliant on raid coordination for optimal Atonement use.

Mistweaver Monk

• Pros:
  • Fistweaving blends healing and DPS, adding raid value.
  • Strong utility with Life Cocoon, Ring of Peace, and Revival (raid-wide heal).
  • High mobility with Roll, aiding positioning in dynamic fights.
  • Scales well with gear, rivaling Discipline in versatility.
• Cons:
  • New class, potentially buggy at launch.
  • Complex rotation with Chi and mana management.
  • Reliant on melee positioning for Fistweaving, risking survivability.
  • Moderate skill ceiling for optimal performance.

A-Tier: Strong Healers

These healers are reliable but slightly less dominant than S-Tier.

Restoration Shaman

• Pros:
  • Strong raid-wide healing with Healing Rain and Chain Heal.
  • Excellent utility via Spirit Link Totem, Stormlash Totem, and Mana Tide.
  • Decent mobility with Ghost Wolf, aiding dynamic fights.
  • Competitive throughput, viable in all content.
• Cons:
  • Doesn’t top healing meters compared to Discipline or Mistweaver.
  • Mana-intensive, requiring Spirit-heavy gear.
  • Reliant on cooldowns for burst healing scenarios.
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to totem and cooldown management.

Holy Paladin

• Pros:
  • Strong raw healing with Holy Light and Flash of Light.
  • Utility via Hand of Sacrifice, Devotion Aura, and off-tanking (Divine Shield).
  • Decent single-target healing, reducing tank babysitting.
  • Scales well with gear, improving in later tiers.
• Cons:
  • Fewer raid-wide cooldowns compared to Shaman or Discipline.
  • Mana-intensive in early tiers, requiring careful pacing.
  • Limited AoE healing compared to other healers.
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to Holy Power management.

B-Tier: Viable Healers

These healers are functional but require more effort to compete.

Restoration Druid

• Pros:
  • Strong HoT-based healing with Rejuvenation and Lifebloom.
  • Utility via Innervate, Typhoon, and Tranquility (raid-wide heal).
  • Tanky with Bear Form, enhancing survivability.
  • Decent mobility with Travel Form.
• Cons:
  • Lacks strong raid-wide cooldowns compared to others.
  • Weaker raw throughput, struggling in burst-heavy scenarios.
  • Gear competition with Balance and Feral Druids.
  • Moderate skill ceiling due to HoT and mana management.

Holy Priest

• Pros:
  • Solid healing with Heal, Flash Heal, and Prayer of Mending.
  • Utility via Power Word: Fortitude and Divine Hymn (raid-wide heal).
  • Viable in most content with proper play.
  • Simple rotation, accessible for newer players.
• Cons:
  • Outshined by Discipline in nearly all scenarios.
  • Limited raid-wide cooldowns compared to other healers.
  • Mana-intensive, requiring Spirit-heavy gear.
  • Weaker in high-damage scenarios compared to S-Tier healers.

Key Considerations

• Movement is Critical: Many Phase 1 fights (e.g., Will of the Emperor) require heavy movement, favoring mobile specs like Hunters, Monks, and Rogues over casting-reliant specs like Mages or Priests.
• Gear Scaling: S-Tier specs like Warlocks and Monks scale exceptionally with Haste and Crit, while others (e.g., Fire Mage, Fury Warrior) improve significantly in later tiers.
• Utility Matters: Specs with raid buffs (e.g., Hunters, Shamans) or cooldowns (e.g., Skull Banner, Spirit Link Totem) are prioritized in raids.
• Player Skill: MoP Classic rewards skillful play. Even C-Tier specs can perform well with mastery of rotations and encounter mechanics.

Conclusion

The Mists of Pandaria Classic meta is relatively balanced, with all specs viable in skilled hands. S-Tier DPS (Affliction/Destruction Warlock, Survival Hunter, Windwalker Monk) dominate due to their damage, mobility, and utility. Blood Death Knight and Brewmaster Monk lead tanks, while Discipline Priest and Mistweaver Monk top healers. Choose a spec that matches your playstyle, as enjoyment and skill outweigh tier rankings.