DistillNote

Beta, level cap 30 · data read 11 Oct

Best ranged damage dealer for leveling

Answer two questions. We rank the classes with our own scores and tiers and show why. Race picks follow the faction switch at the top.

What will you do most?

Which role?

Our picks for you

Recommendation

Ranked by our leveling tier for each class's best ranged damage 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.

No ranged damage spec: Warrior, Paladin, Rogue.

  1. 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

  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

  3. 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
  1. Priest Shadow Our tier ALevels with Spirit Tap, Mind Flay, Vampiric Embrace self-healing, Shadowform at 40 (requires Vampiric Embrace).
  2. Shaman Elemental Our tier BOur leveling pick is Enhancement. Lava Burst capstone (requires Lightning Overload 3/3), Call of Thunder requires Elemental Alacrity 3/3, Elemental Fury requires Call of Thunder.
  3. Druid Balance Our tier BOur leveling pick is Feral Combat. Eclipse, Moonfury, Moonkin Form, Vengeance (requires Improved Moonfire 2/2), Nature's Splendor (requires Nature's Majesty).