WoW The War Within DPS Rankings: Best Damage Dealers

Jonas Author

Created - 27.11.2024 Updated - 29.11.2024

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This WoW The War Within DPS rankings guide will give you a look at which classes to choose when looking for damage dealers in the game. It’s a tough job being the DPS because your team will rely on you to whittle the enemy’s HP as quickly as possible.

The DPS role is reserved for those who don’t mind being aggressive with their skills and abilities. You also need to have a level of trust in your team because they’ll be in charge of keeping you alive. Some DPS are capable of self-sustaining though.

This guide is mainly focused on helping you find classes that hit as hard as possible. Before we jump right into the guide, please check out our WoW store at RPGStash. We’ve got safe and affordable WoW gold so that you can make your dream build without the hassle.

Frost Death Knight

Frost Death Knight has been one of the more enjoyable surprises lately. Playing Frost DK feels exciting, especially when it performs well in the current meta. However, it’s worth mentioning that the spec has some limitations that might make it less appealing over time.

The spec shines when you’re running Breath of Sindragosa. If you can sustain it for over 30 seconds and see yourself climbing to the top of the meters, it feels immensely rewarding.

The meta relevance of Frost DK adds to the enjoyment, as it often feels better to play a spec that performs well. That said, fun is subjective and depends on what you value—whether it’s pure damage output, mechanics, or playstyle.

While Frost DK is entertaining, it lacks depth. If it weren’t performing so well, it might feel less enjoyable. The rotation can become repetitive, and while Breath of Sindragosa is exhilarating when executed perfectly, it can also feel punishing if you slip up.

Unholy Death Knight

Watching someone else master Unholy DK is enough to spark envy. This spec captures the quintessential Death Knight fantasy while offering diverse builds that keep gameplay fresh.

Unholy DK boasts remarkable build variety, which is a key factor in its fun factor. Whether you’re summoning an abomination or experimenting with petless builds, there’s always something new to try.

The spec delivers on both thematic and mechanical levels, making it a joy to play for those who love creativity in their rotation.

Compared to Frost, Unholy feels more dynamic. While Frost thrives on meta relevance, Unholy brings adaptability and variety to the table. For us, this gives it the edge and places it higher on the rankings.

It’s a spec that keeps us coming back, eager to experiment and perfect new strategies.

Havoc Demon Hunter

Havoc Demon Hunter has been a tricky one. It’s not a bad spec, but it has struggled to capture the magic it had back in Legion. For now, it lands in the "meh" category.

The rework in Dragonflight gave it a facelift, but many of the talent choices feel uninspired. The right side of the tree heavily focuses on Immolation Aura playstyles, while the left side gives you Essence Break and Fel Rush synergies.

While this adds some flexibility, the spec feels like it’s missing the chaos and "demon-y" flavor you’d expect from a Demon Hunter.

Momentum builds, which require managing movement and damage windows, still stand out as a highlight. Unfortunately, Essence Break feels like the only competitive option for high-end gameplay, leaving other builds in the dust.

Plus, Havoc’s hero talents lack the punch needed to make it shine.

Balance Druid

Balance Druid is a spec that holds a special place in our hearts, but Blizzard’s design choices have left it feeling neutered. It’s no longer the powerhouse it once was, and its identity feels muddled.

At its core, Balance Druid is still fun, especially when summoning trees and popping Convoke the Spirits. However, these moments feel more like gimmicks than central mechanics.

The spec struggles with a crisis of identity, oscillating between burst-heavy builds and sustained damage playstyles without fully committing to either.

While Balance Druid is still a step above Havoc DH in terms of enjoyment, it’s a shadow of its former self. We’d love to see Blizzard give it some much-needed love and clarity in future updates.

Feral Druid

Feral Druid is an "okay" spec that has plenty of potential but is held back by a few key issues. As one of our favorite Druid specs, it hurts to see it fall short of greatness.

Feral has always had a satisfying, fluid rotation. It captures the essence of a savage predator, and its playstyle can be rewarding once you master it. However, it’s not without flaws.

The spec’s damage output feels lackluster, and its hero talents don’t add enough excitement. Additionally, the Druid class tree as a whole is overdue for a rework. Compared to other class trees that have received updates, the Druid tree feels clunky and outdated.

If Blizzard tackles these issues in future patches, Feral Druid could easily climb the rankings. For now, it’s a decent spec that we enjoy occasionally but wouldn’t go out of our way to play.

Devastation Evoker

Devastation Evoker lands in the "meh" zone for us. It's close to being okay, but the design and talent tuning leave much to be desired. I rarely see Devastation Evokers out in the wild, likely because Augmentation has overshadowed it.

The concept is great—you’re a dragon breathing fire and causing explosions—but the animations are underwhelming.

The gameplay itself is smooth and has a simplistic but satisfying loop. However, it lacks the flair and identity that make other specs stand out. Devastation doesn’t feel integrated into WoW’s lore—it seems forced, even with Dragonflight.

Damage-wise, it’s okay, but it’s hard to immerse yourself in a "dragon fantasy" that doesn’t deliver on that promise.

Beast Mastery Hunter

Beast Mastery is okay but just shy of fun. The spec feels like it’s heading in the right direction but hasn’t reached its full potential. We miss the old "summon the herd" Stampede vibe that screamed Beast Mastery.

Over time, the spec has lost a lot of its iconic features, like pet talent trees, which made your companion feel like an extension of you rather than just a passive DoT.

Despite this, Beast Mastery offers a relaxed playstyle. It’s the spec you pick when you want to chill, do your rotation, and enjoy some utility.

However, the damage output and overall engagement with your pet are lacking. Without meaningful interaction with your pet, it feels like a shell of what it used to be.

Marksmanship Hunter

Marksmanship is stuck in "meh" territory. For several expansions, it has felt like it’s drawing the short straw. The spec relies heavily on burst damage, which is cool at first but quickly becomes repetitive.

The talent tree feels uninspired, and the gameplay loop hasn’t seen much innovation in years.

The volley mechanic, while functional, doesn’t feel fresh anymore. Marksmanship’s potential as a "dark ranger" archetype hasn’t been realized, leaving it stagnant. It’s playable, but it desperately needs more depth to escape this rut.

Survival Hunter

Survival Hunter? Now we’re talking. This spec is a blast to play, thanks to a rework that nailed the fantasy. You have build diversity: poisons and dots on one side, bombs and cooldowns on the other. The button bloat has been addressed, making the gameplay smooth and engaging.

The only drawback? The Hero talents are pretty lackluster, which holds it back from reaching full "fun" status. Still, Survival is incredibly enjoyable, with thoughtful design and exciting mechanics that make it stand out among Hunter specs.

Arcane Mage

Arcane Mage has completely won me over this expansion. It’s clear that whoever works on Arcane really loves this spec. The rotation is explosive and flashy—exactly what you’d expect from a Mage wielding cosmic powers.

While the damage output isn’t stellar, the gameplay more than makes up for it. In AoE scenarios, it’s a satisfying cascade of procs and abilities. Even if Arcane isn’t topping the charts, it’s easily one of the most fun specs to play right now.

Fire Mage

Fire Mage is another standout. Its design has hit a sweet spot, offering build diversity that caters to different playstyles. Whether you’re focusing on single-target ignite stacking or explosive AoE bursts, Fire delivers.

Recent buffs have elevated the spec to "fun" status. You have multiple viable builds for all types of content, and it’s hard not to enjoy playing Fire Mage. It’s our raid main, and every session is a blast. We only wish other classes could benefit from this level of design polish.

Frost Mage

Frost Mage is at the tail end of "okay." Its performance shines in Mythic Plus, especially in high keys where big pulls let its mechanics truly shine. Rapid cooldowns on abilities like Blizzard and Frozen Orb create a dynamic, engaging loop in AoE.

However, Frost’s single-target gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth. While glacial spike is a cool ability, it’s not enough to elevate the spec. Frost has potential, but it needs more variety to break out of its current simplicity.

Windwalker Monk

Windwalker Monk hovers between okay and fun. It has great potential, with a rework that makes it a delight to play. However, the Hero talents fall short, limiting the spec’s creativity.

While the spec deals decent damage, its build diversity isn’t fully realized due to tuning imbalances. If Windwalker’s talents were more balanced, it could easily reach "fun" status. As it stands, it’s solid but not groundbreaking.

Retribution Paladin

Retribution Paladin is a mixed bag. The rework simplified the spec, which some players dislike, but it retains layers of depth that make it enjoyable. The fantasy of being a righteous Paladin is strong, but the gameplay can feel repetitive over time.

Talent tuning is a sore spot. Abilities like Execution Sentence don’t pack the punch they used to, and Divine Hammer remains underwhelming. While Retribution is fun in bursts, it lacks the longevity needed to keep it engaging as a main spec.

Shadow Priest

Shadow Priest feels okay, especially since I’m only playing it occasionally. There’s potential, but it could use some work. We do like Void Weaver as a concept; it’s a cool addition.

Playing Shadow Priest during the beta for The War Within was a fun experience, especially because we didn’t have to rely on Mind Spike. However, the balance on this spec feels like walking a tightrope. Who knows?

Next patch, Mind Spike could come back into the rotation, and you’ll be able to use it again. We also think Archon’s hero talent doesn’t elevate the spec much—Void Weaver just feels better. We wish there were more unique interactions that make Shadow Priest feel more like a spec that taps into its Holy side, but it doesn’t quite get there for me. The capstones need more creativity, much like what we’ve seen with Survival Hunter and Fire Mage.

Assassination Rogue

Assassination Rogue is still solid, but it doesn’t quite hit the "fun" mark for us. It’s definitely a meta spec, especially for Mythic+ and raids. While it checks all the boxes for what we enjoy in a Rogue—high damage, stealth, and precision—it feels like something is missing.

Maybe it’s the hero talents, but we can’t put our finger on it. The nerfs to Kingsbane removed some of the excitement we once had for the spec, even though we get why they happened. We loved building up a huge Kingsbane hit.

It’s a shame the excitement of huge executes seems to have been toned down, and we’re not sure the spec has recovered from that. It’s in the “okay” tier for us, but we wouldn’t mind seeing some bigger adjustments.

Outlaw Rogue

Outlaw Rogue, unfortunately, has fallen flat for us. We enjoyed it in Dragonflight, but it’s not holding our interest right now. Blade Rush and Killing Spree just don’t have the payoff they deserve, and we’re not enjoying the forced playstyle they bring.

Outlaw used to be about constant action and shooting, but now it feels like we’re just waiting for the next ability to go off. The Crackshot playstyle used to be fun, but even that doesn’t feel as engaging as it once did. It’s just...boring right now.

Maybe it’s a Rogue thing, but it’s hard to get excited about Outlaw at the moment.

Subtlety Rogue

Subtlety Rogue, on the other hand, has a bit more appeal to us. We enjoy the concept of executing the perfect rotation and dealing big burst damage. However, tuning has hurt Subtlety lately, and it might be one of the weakest DPS specs right now, which is a problem.

If it were tuned better, we’d definitely consider it higher, but for now, it’s in the “fine” tier. Losing Shadow Dust was a real blow for us, as it added a fun dimension to the spec. Specs that lose key tools end up being less fun, and unfortunately, Subtlety has suffered from that.

Elemental Shaman

Elemental Shaman is in a good place, and honestly, we’re loving it. It’s such a blast to play, and the changes to Ascendants have made it feel way more rewarding. The addition of Lightning spells and the Flash of Lightning mechanic is great.

Plus, Poison Cleansing Totem actually serves a purpose beyond just being a required utility—it’s now about dealing damage too.

There are still some things that need tweaking, especially with Stormbringer, which could be stronger in dungeons, but overall, it’s one of the most fun specs right now. We’re really enjoying Elemental.

Enhancement Shaman

Enhancement Shaman is another standout. It’s in the running for the top tier, and it feels really solid this expansion. Stormbringer is working really well here, and the cycle of Tempest is quick and satisfying.

The spec has a ton of fun, explosive potential, and it’s just satisfying to play overall. As an Enhancement player, we think this expansion has given Shaman the spotlight it deserves.

After the constant nerfs to Mage specs, it’s nice to see Shaman take center stage for once. Enhancement is right up there with Elemental for us at the moment.

Affliction Warlock

Affliction Warlock feels decent, but it’s a little too toned down for my taste. We miss the days of seed spam and unstable affliction, which felt a lot more explosive. The shift to Malefic Rapture just doesn’t have the same excitement for me, and we know we’re not alone in thinking that.

Many Affliction players feel that Rapture doesn’t bring much to the table. Despite these changes, Affliction is still fun, and it has more tools than before to handle content. But overall, it’s an “okay” spec for us right now.

Demonology Warlock

Demonology Warlock has become a bit boring. It was once our favorite Warlock spec, but now it feels passive. Losing abilities like Another Portal has hurt the spec's identity. While you can still summon Doom Guards, it doesn’t feel like you’re really commanding demons anymore.

We wish it had more interaction and less passivity. It’s just not doing it for us at the moment. It’s a “meh” spec, and we’re hoping for a rework to make it more engaging.

Destruction Warlock

Destruction Warlock went through an identity crisis, especially during the beta. Some of the mechanics felt overpowered, but they’ve since been toned down. I’m not feeling the excitement for it that we once did.

We think it’s because they no longer allow for the crazy mechanics that made it fun—like the spam of Rain of Fire into machine gun Chaos Balls.

While we get that balance is important, it feels like Destruction has become another “safe” spec. It’s not bad, but it’s also not as exciting as it once was.

Arms Warrior

Arms Warrior is a bit of a disappointment. It’s our main spec, and we had high hopes for it in The War Within, but it feels very static right now. The damage is fine, but there’s no real excitement.

The loss of some abilities, like Double Bladestorm and the changes to Avatar, have made it feel a lot less dynamic. The capstones just don’t hit the same way anymore, and it feels like the spec is stuck in a passive place.

Arms used to have these huge, satisfying moments, but now it’s more about maintaining steady damage with very little room for burst. They’ve neutered a lot of the fun in the name of balance, and that’s a shame.

We wish they’d bring back some of the old, exciting mechanics to give Arms its spark back.

Ready To Deal Some Damage In WoW The War Within?

These DPS classes in WoW The War Within put more hurt than any others. If you want to start building your character ASAP, check out our WoW store for cheap and safe WoW gold and other services.