DistillNote

Beta, level cap 30 · data read 11 Oct

Best ranged damage dealer for PvP

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 PvP tier for each class's best ranged damage spec, then by our PvP 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 Frost

    Our tier S

    Our picks: PvE Arcane · PvP Frost · Leveling Frost

    Alliance race: GnomeHorde race: Undead

    PvP: Nova, Polymorph, Blink, Ice Block + Cold Snap.

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

    Recommendation

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

    Alliance race: GnomeHorde race: Orc

    PvP: Fear, DoTs, Death Coil, Soul Link.

    Fear + DoT pressure with Pandemic crits, Curse of Exhaustion (requires Amplify Curse), Siphon Life, Nightfall, and Soul Link from Demonology for the SL/SM tankiness.

    Recommendation

  3. Priest Shadow

    Our tier A

    Our PvP pick is Discipline; as a PvP 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
  1. Hunter Beast Mastery Our tier AStill the fastest leveler, and a strong duelist with its pet.
  2. Shaman Elemental Our tier AOur PvP 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 PvP pick is Restoration. Eclipse, Moonfury, Moonkin Form, Vengeance (requires Improved Moonfire 2/2), Nature's Splendor (requires Nature's Majesty).