DistillNote

Beta, level cap 30 · data read 11 Oct

Best ranged damage dealer for PvE

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 PvE tier for each class's best ranged damage spec, then by our PvE 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. Mage Arcane

    Our tier S

    Our picks: PvE Arcane · PvP Frost · Leveling Frost

    Alliance race: GnomeHorde race: Undead

    PvE: Arcane sims best of the three on the 11 Oct run (716; Fire 691, Frost 659); food, portals, Intellect, Polymorph, decurse.

    Arcane Blast (row 3), Missile Barrage, Presence of Mind → Arcane Power (requires PoM). Highest burst, worst mana. The best of the three Mage specs on the 11 Oct sim (716); its raid build is still theory.

    Recommendation

  2. Priest Shadow

    Our tier A

    Our PvE pick is Holy; as a PvE ranged damage dealer: Shadow.

    Our picks: PvE Holy · PvP Discipline · Leveling Shadow

    Alliance race: HumanHorde race: Undead

    Levels with Spirit Tap, Mind Flay, Vampiric Embrace self-healing, Shadowform at 40 (requires Vampiric Embrace). The 1 Oct fixes (Shadow Weaving always applies, Devouring Plague can crit) addressed most of the early beta bug reports; 697 on the 11 Oct sim run (11th of 20 damage results). Full leveling route plus a level-60 PvE reference tree.

    Recommendation

  3. Our picks: PvE Demonology · PvP Affliction · Leveling Demonology

    Alliance race: GnomeHorde race: Orc

    PvE: Least-played class; summons, Healthstones, curses; Demonology 830 DPS on the 11 Oct sim.

    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
  1. Hunter Beast Mastery Our tier AOur PvE pick is Survival. Still the fastest leveler, and a strong duelist with its pet.
  2. Shaman Elemental Our tier BOur PvE pick is Restoration. 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 PvE pick is Feral Combat. Eclipse, Moonfury, Moonkin Form, Vengeance (requires Improved Moonfire 2/2), Nature's Splendor (requires Nature's Majesty).