The War Within expansion has brought a lot of new exciting PvE content to World of Warcraft, and, as usual, to explore it efficiently, you need a good team with experienced players that give the best DPS, HPS, and can tank bosses (and trash) properly. No matter, what type of PvE content you’re exploring now, be it Nerub-ar Palace Raid or Mythic+ dungeons, knowing which classes and specs perform best can make a big difference.
In this guide, you will find the most up-to-date information about:
- WoW DPS Rankings (Mythic Plus TWW Season 1);
- WoW Healer Tier List (Mythic Plus TWW S1);
- WoW Tank Tier List (Mythic Plus TWW S1);
- WoW TWW DPS Rankings (Nerub-ar Palace Raid);
- WoW TWW Healers Tier list (Nerub-ar Palace Raid);
- WoW TWW Tanks Tier list (Nerub-ar Palace Raid).
This PvE tier list is not set in stone and will be updated regularly throughout The War Within Season 1. Changes to tier sets, talents, and stat scaling can all affect the performance of different classes.
Please note that opinions may differ, and that’s okay—what matters is helping the community make informed decisions when choosing their main or alt each season.
Remember that skill is often more important than class, and all specs can perform well with enough practice.
While creating this guide, we’ve worked with our top-tier PvE players (raiders and Mythic Plus teams) and theory crafters (most of them have been playing World of Warcraft since Vanilla, and know almost everything about this game) to ensure this tier list remains accurate and useful.
WoW The War Within DPS Rankings
This DPS tier list for Mythic Plus dungeons and Nerub’ar Palace focuses on players’ performance in the high-level keys and high-end Mythic raid progress. Rankings are determined by a combination of factors, including damage output, utility, and survivability. While DPS remains the primary focus, survivability has gained importance in The War Within, making it a crucial part of the rankings alongside utility.
WoW TWW DPS Rankings explained:
- S-Tier: These classes and specs are at the top of our WoW TWW DPS charts and give the best damage in raid encounters and (or) dungeons. They are considered PvE meta and are expected to dominate damage meters and appear in most Nerub-ar Palace and M+ dungeon groups due to their performance and versatility.
- A-Tier: Strong choices that deliver high DPS and utility, particularly considered one of the best in single-target or AOE damage. While they may not offer the same versatility as S-tier specs, they remain solid picks for both raids and Mythic+ dungeons.
- B-Tier: These specs are good but fall behind in either damage or utility. While they can still perform well, they lack the edge to consistently compete with higher-tier specs. In other words, they are viable options (especially in good hands) but not meta.
- C-Tier: These specs are situational, performing well in specific PvE encounters but generally struggling to keep up in overall performance. They have niche uses but are less likely to be seen in the most high-end raid and mythic plus groups.
- D and F-Tier: Specs that are ranked in these tiers are the worst, and we think that they’re not worth playing in this season unless you are a fan of that specialization or you’re playing it on a top-tier level (or vice versa playing super casually and don’t care about all these rankings). While choosing teammates, unless it’s your friend or guild mate, I would recommend considering guys who play classes that are situated higher in our DPS meta charts to team up with. However, it’s always up to you.
Your skill and knowledge of the spec remains far more important than TWW DPS rankings, as usual. You should always play the class you are most comfortable with. DPS Tier lists may shift as balance adjustments and new patches are released during the expansion (we’ll keep this guide up-to-date though).
In Mythic Plus, it’s also worth noting that even lower-tier specs may be chosen for their unique utility, especially if they provide group-wide buffs like Bloodlust or defensive cooldowns.
Remember: while DPS remains a priority in PvE raids and Mythic Plus dungeons in The War Within for damage dealers, utility, and survivability are increasingly important in choosing a spec’s place in this season’s tier list.
WoW TWW DPS Tier List: Mythic Plus Dungeons
Class | Spec | Tier | AVG DPS (based on top rankings in M+) |
Evoker | Augmentation | S | 1.4M |
Mage | Fire | 1.4M | |
Death Knight | Frost | 1.4M | |
Rogue | Assassination | A | 1.3M |
Warlock | Affliction | 1.3M | |
Mage | Arcane | 1.3M | |
Death Knight | Unholy | 1.3M | |
Druid | Balance | 1.3M | |
Rogue | Outlaw | B | 1.2M |
Shaman | Elemental | 1.2M | |
Warlock | Destruction | 1.2M | |
Shaman | Enhancement | 1.2M | |
Priest | Shadow | 1.2M | |
Hunter | Marksmanship | 1.2M | |
Paladin | Retribution | 1.2M | |
Monk | Windwalker | 1.2M | |
Demon Hunter | Havoc | 1.2M | |
Evoker | Devastation | C | 1.2M |
Warrior | Fury | 1.2M | |
Hunter | Survival | 1.2M | |
Rogue | Subtley | D | 1.1M |
Druid | Feral | 1.1M | |
Mage | Frost | 1.1M | |
Warlock | Demonology | 1.1M | |
Warrior | Arms | 1.1M | |
Hunter | Beast Mastery | F | 961K |
WoW TWW DPS Tier List: Nerub’Ar Palace Raid
Class | Spec | Tier | AVG DPS (based on top rankings in raids) |
Mage | Fire | S | 1.2M |
Mage | Arcane | 1.2M | |
Shaman | Enhancement | 1.2M | |
Death Knight | Frost | 1.2M | |
Death Knight | Unholy | A | 1.2M |
Warrior | Arms | 1.2M | |
Demon Hunter | Havoc | 1.2M | |
Paladin | Retribution | 1.2M | |
Shaman | Elemental | 1.2M | |
Hunter | Survival | B | 1.1M |
Hunter | Beast Mastery | 1.1M | |
Druid | Feral | 1.1M | |
Evoker | Devastation | 1.1M | |
Hunter | Marksmanship | 1.1M | |
Warlock | Destruction | 1.1M | |
Rogue | Assassination | C | 1.1M |
Warlock | Affliction | 1.1M | |
Monk | Windwalker | 1.1M | |
Rogue | Subtley | 1.1M | |
Warrior | Fury | 1.1M | |
Druid | Balance | 1.1M | |
Mage | Frost | 1.1M | |
Warlock | Demonology | D | 1.1M |
Priest | Shadow | 1.1M | |
Rogue | Outlaw | 1.1M | |
Evoker | Augmentation | F | 1.1M |
WoW TWW PvE Healer Tier List
This TWW Healers Tier List for Season 1 of The War Within covers performance in Mythic+ dungeons and the Nerub’ar Palace Raid. The rankings consider healing specializations based on key factors like total healing output, burst AoE healing, single-target healing, dispel capabilities, and utility (such as crowd control or external defensives). Keep in mind that as balance patches, raid buffs, and dungeon mechanics evolve, these rankings may change throughout the season (we’ll keep this guide up-to-date though).
PvE Healers Tiers Explained:
- S-Tier: These healers are the best for high-level Mythic+ and raid encounters. They excel in healing (most often, their HPS is the highest in charts), utility, and crowd control, delivering top-tier performance and making dungeon and raid runs smoother.
- A-Tier: Strong picks for Mythic Plus dungeons and TWW raids, with excellent healing and good utility. While they may lack the exceptional stats of S-Tier rank PvE healers, they are still highly effective for most situations and are common in top-level groups.
- B-Tier: These healers’ specs are good but come with noticeable limitations, such as lower HPS or fewer crowd control options. They can still succeed but require more effort and skill to keep up with the higher tiers, particularly in difficult Mythic+ or raid content (farming low-level keystones and LFR/Normal/Heroic Nerub-ar, you will not feel that your character is simply.
- C-Tier: Healers in this tier struggle more with HPS, utility, or survivability, making them less reliable choices for high-end content. They can still be effective in skilled hands, but they face significant challenges, especially in top-tier PvE raid encounters and high-level M+ keystones.
- D-Tier: These healers face severe survivability or HPS issues, requiring highly skilled players to even approach viability. They often require extreme effort or tactical sacrifices to perform well in higher-tier content. These specs are generally avoided in most group comps, especially for difficult fights.
- F-Tier: Healers in this tier have major weaknesses. They may lack key healing tools, utility, or survivability, making them an unreliable choice. These specs typically require immediate attention and balancing from developers to become viable and are rarely seen in competitive Mythic+ or raid groups.
PvE Healers tier lists below are intended as a guide to help players choose the best specs for Mythic+ dungeons and raids. However, your skill, team play, and encounter mechanics can have a greater impact on success than simply choosing a meta spec. Lower-tier healers can still outperform top-tier specs when piloted by skilled players, so individual ability matters more than the tier ranking alone.
Additionally, balance patches and content updates can shift the PvE Healers meta, so this list may change as the season progresses. Always prioritize playing a healer that you are comfortable with and one that fits your team’s needs.
WoW TWW Healer Rankings (Mythic Plus)
Class | Spec | Tier | Explanation |
Shaman | Restoration | S | Restoration Shaman excels in crowd control, poison and curse dispels, and strong AoE healing. Its utility with Skyfury and Ancestral Vigor makes it the top choice. |
Evoker | Preservation | Preservation Evoker provides excellent burst healing with empowered spells and multiple dispels. It also offers strong external support with Time Dilation. | |
Priest | Discipline | A | Discipline Priest brings powerful burst AoE healing and damage reduction with Power Word: Barrier. However, it requires careful management of its abilities. |
Paladin | Holy | Holy Paladin has solid healing through Eternal Flame and Divine Toll, with great party utility, but its healing relies heavily on cooldowns. | |
Monk | Mistweaver | Mistweaver Monk excels in both single-target and AoE healing with short cooldowns. It offers Revival for AoE dispels and strong crowd control with Ring of Peace. | |
Druid | Restoration | B | Restoration Druid has strong utility with Mark of the Wild and poison/curse dispels, but its healing output is GCD-heavy and feels weaker compared to higher tiers. |
Priest | Holy | Holy Priest offers strong single-target healing and utility like Power Word: Fortitude but lacks a poison dispel and interrupt, making it more challenging in dungeons. |
WoW TWW Healer Rankings (Nerub-ar Palace Raid)
Class | Specialization | Tier | Explanation |
Evoker | Preservation | S | Preservation Evoker offers incredibly strong cooldowns like Rewind and powerful AoE healing. It excels with burst healing and utility, making it a top pick. |
Shaman | Restoration | A | Restoration Shaman provides strong healing and utility through abilities like Spirit Link Totem and Skyfury, making it a solid, versatile healer. |
Monk | Mistweaver | MW Monk has great spot healing and flexible cooldowns. It’s a strong healer but requires skill to play effectively, especially in challenging content. | |
Priest | Discipline | DC Priest shines in burst healing and offers valuable cooldowns like Power Word: Barrier. It also provides solid DPS while healing, making it versatile. | |
Paladin | Holy | Holy Paladin offers great spot healing and utility with abilities like Aura Mastery for damage reduction. It’s strong but requires good cooldown management. | |
Priest | Holy | B | Holy Priest is solid but lacks flexible cooldowns and mobility. Holy Word: Salvation and Divine Hymn offer strong healing, but the spec struggles with uptime. |
Druid | Restoration | C | Restoration Druid has strong mobility and cooldowns like Flourish, but it struggles with mana efficiency and sustained healing in large raid sizes. |
WoW TWW PvE Tank Tier List
The PvE tier list below covers the current Tank meta in The War Within Season 1. It was formed based on high-level Mythic+ keys and Nerub’ar Palace Mythic raid progress.
TWW Tanks are ranked based on three key factors: survivability, DPS, and utility. While damage has always been important, utility and survivability have gained more importance this season, especially in the challenging dungeon pool and high-end raid encounters (I mean the last bosses in Heroic and Mythic).
- S-Tier: Tanks from this tier have the best survivability, utility, and the highest DPS, making them meta and must-have in most high-end groups.
- A-Tier: These tanks provide excellent survivability, solid utility, and good damage. They are commonly seen in top-tier raid groups and are Mythic+ teams. Sure thing, they’re a bit worse than their competitors that stand higher in this TWW tanks chart, but you will never regret playing such a character.
- B-Tier: Reliable tanks that can handle all content, but they may lack the edge in one or more areas compared to A-Tier tanks. Still solid picks for most groups, but they may require more effort to keep up with top-tier tanks.
- C-Tier: Tanks with more noticeable weaknesses. They can still be effective but require skilled play to succeed in high-end content. These tanks may struggle more with certain mechanics or damage output.
- D and F-Tier: Tanks from these tiers are the worst. Consider playing them for fun or if you don’t care about the current game meta and have your own visions of how World of Warcraft should be played. However, we think that these specs need to be buffed or even totally reconsidered by Blizzard’s game developers.
TWW tank tier lists below are meant to guide players in Nerub’Ar Palace Mythic raid progression and Mythic+ dungeons. While the rankings offer insights into the current meta, it’s important to remember that player skill, encounter mechanics, and team comp play a huge role in overall performance. A lower-tier tank played by a skilled player can outperform a higher-tier tank (even if it’s a current tank meta) in various fights.
Additionally, balance changes and patch updates can shift the rankings over time, so this list may change as the season progresses. We’ll keep this guide updated to reflect any changes in the meta. You should always choose the tank class you’re most comfortable with, as personal preference and knowledge of your spec often matter more than the tier ranking, especially if you’re not competing at the highest levels of Mythic+ and NP raid.
WoW TWW Tank Rankings (Mythic Plus)
Class | Spec | Tier Ranking | Explanation |
Druid | Guardian | A | Guardian Druid ranks high due to the Mark of the Wild buff and strong AoE capabilities. Great for large pulls but weaker against magical damage. |
Warrior | Protection | Prot Warrior excels at physical damage mitigation and has strong defensive tools like Spell Reflection. Its main weakness is low self-sustain. | |
Demon Hunter | Vengeance | Vengeance Demon Hunter offers Chaos Brand, good survivability, and solid damage. Despite nerfs, it remains a strong option for high Mythic+ keys. | |
Death Knight | Blood | B | Blood DK provides strong self-sustain and utility like Death Grip, but it lacks group buffs and has lower overall damage compared to other tanks. |
Paladin | Protection | C | Protection Paladin offers excellent utility with Blessing of Protection, but struggles with survivability and self-healing, making it harder to stay alive. |
Monk | Brewmaster | Brewmaster Monk has strong damage mitigation due to Stagger, but needs constant external healing and lacks a valuable group buff. |
WoW TWW Tank Rankings (Nerub-Ar Palace Raid)
Class | Specialization | Tier | Explanation |
Death Knight | Blood | A | Blood Death Knight offers excellent self-healing and utility like Anti-Magic Zone and Death Grip, but lacks a raid buff, limiting its value in some groups. |
Druid | Guardian | A | Guardian Druid is favored for its Mark of the Wild buff and solid survivability. Its simple rotation and strong AoE defense make it a top choice in many encounters. |
Monk | Brewmaster | A | Brewmaster Monk excels in damage mitigation with Stagger and is durable when played well, though it requires careful play due to punishing mechanics. |
Demon Hunter | Vengeance | B | Vengeance Demon Hunter brings Chaos Brand for group buffs and can deal solid damage, but it requires balancing between offensive and defensive cooldowns. |
Warrior | Protection | B | Protection Warrior shines against physical damage and offers Battle Shout, but it relies heavily on external healing and lacks strong self-sustain compared to others. |
Paladin | Protection | C | Protection Paladin offers amazing utility with Blessing of Protection and Devotion Aura, but its survivability is questionable, making it harder to play. |