Best class for leveling

Ranked by our leveling tier for each class's leveling spec, then by our overall score. PvE desirability (0–5): spec performance, role scarcity, raid utility, and supply — fewer players of a class means more groups want you. PvP (0–5): community PvP tiers plus CC, escapes and self-healing. Equal weight. These are our own scores from those inputs, not a published ranking.

1. 1

   Warlock Demonology

   Our tier S

   Our picks: PvE Demonology · PvP Affliction · Leveling Demonology

   Alliance race: GnomeHorde race: Orc

   20% ahead of Destruction on the 11 Oct sim (830). Demonic Pact capstone (requires Soul Link ← Demonic Sacrifice) lets you keep a Demonic Sacrifice buff with a pet out; Master Demonologist, Demonic Brand, Decimation. Also the safest leveler of the three.

   Recommendation
   • Sim: 830 DPS Sourced: Sim · 11 Oct run
   • 9% of beta characters play a Warlock Sourced: Beta census · 11 Oct
2. 2

   Mage Frost

   Our tier S

   Our picks: PvE Arcane · PvP Frost · Leveling Frost

   Alliance race: GnomeHorde race: Undead

   Frostbite roots, Shatter, Ice Block (row 4), Cold Snap → Ice Barrier (requires Cold Snap), Fingers of Frost (requires Ice Lance).

   Recommendation
   • Sim: 659 DPS Sourced: Sim · 11 Oct run
   • 9.9% of beta characters play a Mage Sourced: Beta census · 11 Oct
3. 3

   Hunter Beast Mastery

   Our tier S

   Our picks: PvE Survival · PvP Beast Mastery · Leveling Beast Mastery

   Alliance race: DwarfHorde race: Orc

   Still the fastest leveler, and a strong duelist with its pet. On the 11 Oct sim, Marksmanship 724 is 11% ahead of Beast Mastery 650, and Survival 836 is 29% ahead. Our recommendation: respec Survival at 60 for raids, the class's best sim result on the 8, 9 and 11 Oct runs. BM remains the pet-tank leveling build.

   Recommendation
   • Sim: 650 DPS Sourced: Sim · 11 Oct run
   • 15.8% of beta characters play a Hunter Sourced: Beta census · 11 Oct

4. Priest Shadow Our tier ALevels with Spirit Tap, Mind Flay, Vampiric Embrace self-healing, Shadowform at 40 (requires Vampiric Embrace).
5. Shaman Enhancement Our tier AWindfury burst, Stormstrike, Flurry (requires Mental Dexterity 3/3), Maelstrom Weapon instant heals, Rage of the Farseer (requires Mental Quickness 2/2) as a personal Bloodlust — attack speed only since 24 Sep.
6. Druid Feral Combat Our tier AOne tree, two roles: the 44/0/7 hybrid below tanks (Natural Reaction, Thick Hide, Heart of the Wild) and cats (Primal Bite, Rend and Tear, Shifting Power, Berserk).
7. Paladin Retribution Our tier AOpen-world PvP tools: Seal of Command burst, Repentance CC, Hammer of Justice, bubble.
8. Rogue Combat Our tier BRaid spec: Hack and Slash, Blade Flurry, Adrenaline Rush, Weapon Expertise (requires Blade Flurry).
9. Warrior Arms Our tier BMortal Strike (−50% healing) is still the battleground debuff; Bloodthrill got doubled on 24 Sep; Weaponmaster removes the weapon-respec problem.