WoW Midnight Best Classes

WoW Midnight Best Classes TL;DR

• Midnight’s pruning reshaped rotations and trimmed a huge chunk of buttons.

• If you want the safest PvE mains, pick Druid, Evoker, or Warlock.

• For PvP, the top dogs are Warlock, Mage, Rogue, Paladin, and Monk.

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How Our WoW Retail Class Tier List Works

Choosing your perfect class is not always easy, and ranking them is just as complicated. There are several things I’ve considered when assembling this WoW Retail class tier list:

• Does the class excel across multiple content types - is it good in M+, raids, PvP, and solo content?

• Strong damage/healing output

• Valuable group utility (group-wide buffs, dispels, reses, movement, etc.)

• Strong control options (kicks, stuns, roots, fears, knockbacks, slows)

• Defensive depth (self-sustain, immunities)

• Flexibility across specs so you can swap roles or damage ranges easily if the spec underperforms or you need an extra healer/tank/dps

Most of the classes are in a good spot going into midnight, just some are, as always, superior. However, off-meta choices are just as viable, even going into the highest tiers of any content; it’s just that it’ll probably be harder to pull off.

WoW Class Tier List PvE

This list lays out how these classes are in raids, mythic+, and delves/preys. The higher the class, the better its utility, offensive, and defensive outputs are. Here’s how the current class performance shaped the WoW’s class tier list for PvE:

S-Tierers here are the classes that will always be in demand going into Midnight. Even if the balancing will make one of their specs underperform, they’re going to have viable options.  A-Tier classes are still excellent in PvE, and could absolutely be considered an S-Tier when played by the right player. I’ve put Rogues in B-Tier, because they are still mostly a PvP class, with their specialisations lacking meaningful group utility and being subpar in Delves and Preys.

WoW Class Tier List PvP

Midnight’s changes affected the PvP just as heavily as they did PvE. Some classes, especially the ones forming their damage windows around big predictive CD’s are underperforming now, and kiting is a big problem for melee classes such as Warriors. Here’s how I envision the WoW class tier list for PvP:

It’s not that B-Tier classes are completely unplayable, no, just that there are better options. For example, Ele Shaman has nothing on Demo Warlock; everything Shaman can do, Warlock can do better.

WoW Class Tier List Explained

With how diverse the retail WoW’s roster is, it’s important to dissect each class individually. Keep in mind that all options are viable in the right hands, even the ones listed lower in our WoW class tier list.

Druid (Balance, Feral, Guardian, Restoration)

PvE - S-tier

Druid is a top PvE pick simply because you cover every PvE role and you do it well. Balance offers reliable AoE damage in M+ and great single-target damage in Raids. Ferals are a good melee option too, able to fill a DPS spot in any activity. Guardian and Resto are traditionally good in PvE, filling both the Tank and Healer spots efficiently when needed. Picking this class, you’ll be able to find groups for any content without any problem, and clear solo content easily as well.

PvP - A-Tier
Tank specs overall are not that good in PvP (we're talking about Arena and Solo Shuffle), and Resto is decent with all of its blows and whistles in place - mobility and CC options are great. The main thing making the class good in PvP is its DPS specs, which perform very well and go head-to-head with some of the best PvP classes.

Evoker (Devastation, Preservation, Augmentation)

PvE - S-Tier

Evokers bring unique utility with their Augmentation spec, making them desirable in every raid and dungeon. Preservation is an outstanding healing spec too, making it possible for you to switch to a Healer role and help your group out whenever the search for healers gets too long. Devastation has been a reliable DPS spec for years now, and Midnight’s changes have not made this spec any worse. 

PvP - B-Tier

Out of Evokers, only Devastation is the spec that makes choosing this class for PvP worth it. Control with sleep and great damage makes Devokers a decent choice for any matchup. Preservation is a decent choice, but struggling to compete with other healer options, and Augmentation got a hit to survivability and became irrelevant in PvP altogether.

Warlock (Affliction, Demonology, Destruction)

PvE - S-Tier

Warlock’s Demonology spec easily makes this option one of the best classes in WoW PvE. Excellent damage, an extra Kick with your demon, Soul Stones, Gateways, Portal of Summoning - this spec has it all when it comes to raid utility. Moreover, it’s the tankiest casting class in the game, and don’t get me started on how good it is in solo content - just let your Felguard tank everything for you. Affliction and Destruction are good, too, just not as good as Demonology currently is damage stat-wise.

PvP - S-Tier

Demonology is great not only in PvE, but in PvP as well. Crazy survivability, insane damage, control, and utility are there too. With how universally good Demonology is, Warlock is the best class to play in WoW right now. The other two specs are not that good, but absolutely playable and will get good players through the ranks.

Monk (Brewmaster, Mistweaver, Windwalker)

PvE - A-Tier

Monk performs well in both raids and keys. WIth it’s abilities pruned, Brewmaster is now a much easier to pull off class that handles all PvE encounters smoothly with decent piloting. Mistweaver appears to be an outstanding M+ choice that is just as viable in Raids. Windwalker’s kit is simplified without making the spec any less viable in solo and group content. The execution is still more demanding than with some of the other classes, but with enough dedication, this class could be your masterkey to covering any content.

PvP - S-Tier

While Brewmaster is not a good spec for PvP, Mistweaver and Windwalker are. Mistweaver offers great mobility and healing, and Windwalker is a mobile close-and-personal DPS that’s performing great damage-wise and has great anti-heal utility. 

Paladin (Holy, Protection, Retribution)

PvE - A-Tier

Paladin is an easy-to-pick-up class after the pruning, with all 3 roles in its Spec toolkit. Retribution is as good as ever, and getting him all-new apex talent makes him even better. Protection’s reworked talent tree increases his defensives even more, making him one of the best tank classes in Midnight’s PvE. You generate threat like crazy while healing your teammates and tanking tons of damage, what else could you want? Holy Paladins are a great healer spec, too, so overall, choosing this class, you’re set for success.

PvP - S-Tier

Once again, Tank spec is out of the equation in Arena, but the Holy and Retribution are great in Midnight. Slower pace of the current PvP meta creates a great environment for these specs. Retribution’s damage and defensives are outstanding this patch, so playing this spec, you’re able to take down whoever you’ll have facing you easily.

Priest (Discipline, Holy, Shadow)

PvE - A-Tier

Priests have a unique class design with 2 healing specs and an Old Gods-themed dps spec. Both healing specs are good in PvE, providing dispels and battle reses to allies, while the newly reworked Shadow spec provides sustained ranged damage and useful control. Class's biggest weakness is mobility - it might struggle in fights requiring constant movement.

PvP - A-Tier

Both Discipline and Holy are good in PvP right now, and Shadow Priest is just an unkillable caster dealing respectable damage. With all specs viable, this is a class absolutely worth your time.

Demon Hunter (Havoc, Vengeance, Devourer)

PvE - A-Tier

Demon Hunters received a new spec in Devourer, which expanded the class's repertoire to include ranged gameplay. Class is straightforward and simple, dealing great amounts of damage and capable of tanking any boss using the Vengeance spec. 

PvP - A-Tier

Vengeance is not a PvP spec full-stop this expansion, but Havoc and Devourer are compensating for it in full. You get crazy mobility and steady damage with this class, which will result in you steadily climbing through ranks.

Hunter (Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, Survival)

PvE - A-Tier

Hunters remain a safe PvE option throughout WoW’s existence. Beast Mastery is the one taking the spotlight in solo content due to its ability to command your pets to tank mobs for you. Survival got reworked in Midnight, bringing a reimagined design built around AoE attacks and DoTs. Marksmanship is almost the same deal as BM, but without the pets' utility. Having 3 different DPS specs in your arsenal ensures that at least one of them is viable, making Hunter one of the evergreen WoW meta classes.

PvP - A-Tier

BM and MM are good in PvP, and Surv is great, arguably an S-Tier, though I might be biased towards my favorite spec. Overall, a very strong PvP choice with all specs viable that can get you any rank you want.

Shaman (Elemental, Enhancement, Restoration)

PvE - A-Tier

Shamans lost some of their defenses in Midnight, with part of their totem arsenal gone, but they still remain a great PvE pick. With access to Bloodlust and party-wide totem buffs, they are a desirable addition to every raid team. Resto shamans are reliable in their healing output, allowing you to fill Healer spots whenever needed. Shaman’s rotations might seem tricky at first, even after the pruning, but overall, it’s a class worth learning.

PvE - B-Tier

Shamans are kind of struggling in Midnight. Their DPS kits are built around one-shot setups, which makes the class easy to interrupt and outplay. Resto struggles to compare to the healing classes in higher tiers; for example, Mist Monks do everything Resto does but better.

Warrior (Arms, Fury, Protection)

PvE - A-Tier

Warriors are a fine choice for Midnight’s PvE with their party buff offering 5% phys damage increase. Arms and Fury both currently perform well, and you have an option of spacing top Prot whenever you need to tank for your party. Utility is kind of lackluster, but the class is worth playing, especially if you enjoy its fantasy.

PvP - B-Tier

All of the warriors struggle with kiting and uptime on their enemies, resulting in lower damage and kill potential. 

Death Knight (Blood, Frost, Unholy)

PvE - A-Tier

Unholy DK is an outstanding spec in Midnight due to its sheer damage numbers. Your playstyle is built around your undead hordes tanking damage for you, so solo content is a breeze for you. Both in raids and dungeons, Unholy and Frost are doing well in any expansion and patch. Blood DK allows you to switch to a self-sustaining tank and fill for your team. Mobility and utility are lackluster with this class, so that’s why it’s not an S-Tier for me.

PvP - A-Tier

Blood is not a good spec in PvP in Midnight, just like any other Tank, and Frost struggles to bring meaningful value too. Unholy carries the entire class due to how high the damage is, even though it’s hard to finish opponents off with it.

Mage (Arcane, Fire, Frost)

PvE - A-Tier

Mages are always a good class pick, and in Midnight Arcane and Frost are the ones performing best. Fire is slightly lagging behind, but with the gear scaling, it’s certain to pick up the pace.

PvP - S-Tier

Mages are a classic PvP caster choice, and in Midnight, they are right where they want to be performance-wise. Great damage, outstanding defensives, and CC, this class is a prime choice you won’t regret choosing for PvP play.

Rogue (Assassination, Outlaw, Subtlety)

PvE - B-Tier

Rogues are a subpar choice for PvE play. Assassination and Sub rogues are more PvP-oriented specs, and even with the latest changes, Outlaw cannot keep up with the competitors in other classes. PvE utility is virtually non-existent, too, so the class feels out of place in PvE when compared to WoW top classes.

PvP - S-Tier

Rogues are Rogues, it’s a prime PvP class, and Sub Rogue is a PvP staple for decades now. Assassination is slightly worse right now than Sub is due to how predictable the rotation is, but it’s pretty good, too. Outlaws are, of course, PvE-oriented, so they are out of discussion completely.