TBC Anniversary DPS Tier List helps you quickly understand which specializations are safest picks for raiding and which ones are more situational or niche. Here you will learn about the best DPS for TBC Anniversary content, as well as the best DPS for beginners. Also, read our comprehensive guide on the Best Classes and Specs in TBC Anniversary to learn about the meta options.
TBC Anniversary DPS Tier List Key Takeaways:
The Burning Crusade Anniversary DPS Rankings show which DPS specs perform best in Phase 1 PvE raids, including Karazhan, Gruul’s Lair, and Magtheridon.
- S Tier DPS (Arcane Mage, Destruction Warlock, Beast Mastery Hunter, Survival Hunter, Demonology Warlock, Elemental Shaman) dominate early TBC Anniversary content thanks to high damage, strong scaling, and valuable raid utility.
- Beast Mastery Hunter, Destruction Warlock, and Arcane Mage are the most reliable DPS choices in early TBC Anniversary raids.
- Best DPS for Beginners in TBC Anniversary includes Beast Mastery Hunter, Warlock, Retribution Paladin, Frost Mage, and Feral Druid due to simple rotations and survivability.
4.9The Burning Crusade Anniversary DPS Rankings
Our TBC Anniversary DPS Rankings represent those DPS classes that deal the highest amount of damage in the current meta game and are expected to perform well in Phase 1. The list targets early raids such as Karazhan, Gruul’s Lair, or Magtheridon. A DPS spec can be ideal due to burst DPS or short fight duration, while some specs are good due to sustained DPS or an additional buff, as seen in raids.
| Tier | Specializations |
|---|---|
| S | Arcane Mage, Destruction Warlock, Beast Mastery Hunter, Survival Hunter, Demonology Warlock, Elemental Shaman |
| A | Fire Mage, Enhancement Shaman, Affliction Warlock, Fury Warrior |
| B | Shadow Priest, Frost Mage, Retribution Paladin, Balance Druid, Combat Rogue |
| C | Arms Warrior, Feral Combat Druid |
| D | Marksmanship Hunter, Assassination Rogue, Subtlety Rogue |
📌 Tier list shows the best classes in the current meta and will be updated with the release of TBC Anniversary Pre-Patch changes.
It’s always important to remember that when selecting a damage-dealing class, the raw damage is not the only point to consider. Raid demand, group synergy, and how well a spec performs with early Phase 1 gear all play a role. In most raid compositions, S Tier DPS classes form the core of the damage output and set the pace for TBC Anniversary raids, like Karazhan, that you can complete fast and easily with our team.
S Tier
S Tier in The Burning Crusade Anniversary DPS Rankings groups together specializations that regularly show the best damage in Phase 1 PvE content. These classes dominate thanks to strong scaling with early gear, high efficiency on single-target and AoE, as well as useful raid buffs and debuffs.
Arcane Mage
Arcane Mage is one of the strongest caster DPS classes at the start of TBC Anniversary. The spec is built around Arcane Blast, which scales well with spell damage and allows for high burst damage in short fights. This is especially important in Phase 1, as many encounters end quickly.
Additionally, Arcane Mage brings Arcane Intellect, strong AoE through Arcane Explosion, as well as control and utility in the form of Polymorph and Spellsteal to the raid. The main downside is high mana consumption, but with proper cooldown management, this rarely becomes a problem.
Destruction Warlock
Destruction Warlock is the classic ranged DPS in TBC Anniversary. Their main damage is built around Shadow Bolt, and in fire variants — Incinerate, if there are debuffs from Mage. The Destruction spec feels great in both single-target and AoE fights.
Warlock also provides the raid with important utility: Curse of Elements, Healthstones, Soulstone, and, most importantly, one of the strongest AoE tools in the game through Seed of Corruption. In Phase 1, this makes Destruction Warlock a must-have choice for most raids. For instance, Magtheridon’s Lair is one of them, and you can deal with it easily with the help of our pro players.
Beast Mastery Hunter
Beast Mastery Hunter is the top DPS among physical classes in Phase 1. Much of the spec’s damage comes from the pet, which scales with the player’s stats and deals consistent damage even during movement. Key abilities are Steady Shot, Kill Command, and Bestial Wrath.
BM Hunter is great for early raid content thanks to its consistent single-target damage and good scaling without the need for top-tier gear. An additional bonus is Misdirection, which greatly simplifies pulls and threat control in raids.
Survival Hunter
Survival Hunter is second to Beast Mastery in terms of personal DPS, but it completely makes up for this with powerful raid utility. The main reason for its S Tier position is Expose Weakness, which increases the physical damage of the entire group with almost no downtime.
In TBC Anniversary raids, Survival Hunters are often taken as support DPS. It buffs Warriors, Rogues, and Hunters while still being competitive in terms of damage. This makes the spec extremely valuable for optimized TBC Raids, which you can also complete with the help of our trained team.
Demonology Warlock
Demonology Warlock stands out with its unique playstyle, in which a significant amount of damage comes from Felguard. The pet gains bonuses from your stats and deals damage even in situations with limited uptime for the caster.
In Phase 1, Demonology is particularly strong in fights where you need to stay mobile and control, such as Magtheridon. In a word, Demonology Warlock has stable DPS, good AoE, and all the standard Warlock tools, which confidently keep it in the top tier.
Elemental Shaman
Elemental Shaman is definitely one of the best hybrid DPS in The Burning Crusade Anniversary. The hit cap is achieved quickly in this build, and it has high burst as it uses Chain Lightning and Elemental Mastery, which is very effective in Phase 1 raids.
The primary benefit of the Elemental Shaman is the talent of Bloodlust/Heroism, as well as Wrath of the Air Totem and Totem of Wrath totems. Even if the personal DPS of the Shaman becomes slightly lower than the DPS of the pure classes, its benefit to the raid is still optimal.
A Tier
The specs in Burning Crusade Anniversary DPS Rankings A Tier are capable of dealing significant amounts of DPS, though they are a little weaker than those in S Tier in terms of reliability and scaling. Nonetheless, they are very effective in Phase 1 raids.
It should be noted that these specs may rely on Specific BiS Gear, a group composition, or a longer-duration fight. However, they do have a chance to compete favorably with the best specs.
Fire Mage
Fire Mage has a reliable power increase in Phase 1, especially in a fully buffed raid. The majority of its power is based on Fireball, Scorch, and Ignite proc spells.
The main limitation of this spec is its dependence on crits and resistances, which sometimes causes Fire Mage to lose out to Arcane Mage in short encounters. Nevertheless, in stable fights and with good gear, Fire Mage remains a very competitive choice.
Enhancement Shaman
Enhancement Shaman is an extremely effective Melee DPS with great group utility. Its damage setup is based on Windfury Weapon, Stormstrike, and fast auto attacks, which scale very nicely with physical gear. When procs are going well, this tree is capable of extremely effective burst damage.
The biggest benefit of Enhancement Shaman is Windfury Totem; it highly buffs the melee set. Although it has certain dependencies on RNG and is rooted in position, it is quite stable as it provides buffs and damage.
Affliction Warlock
Affliction Warlock focuses on damage over time through Corruption, Unstable Affliction, and Siphon Life. This spec excels in battles with multiple targets and high uptime, where DoTs can work most effectively.
Compared to Destruction, Affliction is inferior in burst and AoE, but compensates for this with stable DPS and good survivability. In Phase 1, at the start of TBC Anniversary, it is often taken as an alternative or supplement to other Warlock specs. You can get prepared for it with our TBC Starter Pack and jump into Phase 1 fully geared and with all the essentials unlocked.
Fury Warrior
Fury Warrior is one of the most gear-dependent DPS classes in TBC Anniversary. At the beginning of Phase 1, its damage may seem unstable, but with the right weapon setup and raid buffs, the spec quickly reveals its potential. Its main abilities are Bloodthirst, Whirlwind, and constant auto-attack pressure.
Fury Warrior particularly benefits in physically oriented groups with Windfury Totem and support from Survival Hunter. Although it is inferior to S Tier in terms of initial effectiveness, its growth potential makes it a confident representative of A Tier.
B Tier
The Burning Crusade Anniversary DPS Rankings B Tier includes specializations that show solid damage but have noticeable limitations in Phase 1 PvE. These specs are more dependent on fight length, gear, or raid setup, and sometimes fall short due to poor scaling or lack of strong raid utility.
However, with proper play and the right conditions, B Tier DPS remain viable for raids, and they can also easily complete all Phase 1 Attunements, as they are still welcome in dungeon parties. Our pro players are also ready to help you prepare for raids and dungeons, so you don’t have to worry about attunements.
Shadow Priest
Shadow Priest is a hybrid DPS caster with a lot of utility but little personal damage. The primary damage sources come from Shadow Word: Pain, Vampiric Touch, and Mind Blast, and the biggest play value of the spec is Vampiric Touch, which is a great way to restore group mana.
In TBC Anniversary Phase 1 Shadow Priest is not likely to be competing against top DPS specs in terms of dealing damage output, being instead popular because of support play in caster groups. This is another typical example of a spec that is wanted not because of damage, but because of how it is used in the raid as a whole.
Frost Mage
Frost Mage has good control and survivability, but falls behind other Mages in terms of direct damage output. Its primary spells include Frostbolt, Ice Lance, and Cold Snap, which deal non-explosive damage.
Frost Mage is rarely picked in TBC Anniversary raids as it is outperformed by Arcane and Fire variants. However, it is still a comfortable option for players who are interested in controlled and safe pulls.
Retribution Paladin
Retribution Paladin is a traditional utility DPS spec with average AOE and single-target outputs. The spec deals damage through Seal of Command, Crusader Strike, and auto-attacks; however, it relies heavily on weapon DPS.
Strengths of Retribution Paladins include Judgements, Blessings (Protection, Sacrifice, etc.), and auras that boost the raid. In Phase 1, it is not commonly used as a source of damage, but rather as a support DPS, or as a good TBC Leveling class.
Balance Druid
Balance Druid has damage sources in Wrath, Starfire, and DoTs, although its DPS in Phase 1 is compounded by issues in mana efficiency and scaling. It tends to lack momentum in raids as it is very dependent on fight duration.
On the other hand, Balance Druid provides the raid group with Moonkin Aura, which is always good because it boosts spell crit. It is the combination of these that puts it in the higher tier.
Combat Rogue
Combat Rogue is the most reliable Rogue spec for PvE, dealing damage with Sinister Strike, Slice and Dice, and Adrenaline Rush. It works very well on single-target encounters with high uptime.
The problem with Combat Rogue in Phase 1 is the level of competition in the melee DPS spot, as well as a lack of raid utility. Damage is good, but without exclusive buffs, the spec will consistently find itself in this tier, and no higher.
Best DPS for Beginners in TBC Anniversary
For beginners to The Burning Crusade Anniversary, simple rotation, high survivability, and stable damage without heavy reliance on gear are important. Below are the DPS specs that are easiest to learn and remain useful in Phase 1 raids and dungeons:
- Beast Mastery Hunter — Simple rotation, high DPS, and minimal downtime. Most of the damage is done by the pet, which also takes on the aggro.
- Destruction / Affliction Warlock — One of the most forgiving classes for beginners. Simple rotation, strong self-sustain through Life Tap and Drain Life, high damage even without top gear.
- Retribution Paladin — Very easy to learn melee DPS with good survivability. Simple gameplay logic, self-healing, and powerful buffs for the group.
- Feral Druid (Cat Form) — A versatile class with high survivability. Can quickly switch between roles, has self-healing, and has a useful raid utility.
- Frost Mage / Arcane Mage — Mage offers a straightforward rotation and strong control. Frost is the easiest option to start with, while Arcane provides high burst DPS in raids. Additional advantages are Polymorph, portals, food & water.
If you are only a beginner in WoW Classic Anniversary, we recommend Leveling 2+1 top-tier classes to be able to test which class and spec fits you. It will ensure smooth gameplay in every phase and help you master a few characters at once.
The Burning Crusade Anniversary DPS Rankings FAQ
If you still have questions about The Burning Crusade Anniversary DPS Rankings, you can check out our FAQ section. Here you will find the most popular questions about DPS classes and their viability in TBC Anniversary.
Which DPS Classes Are Best in The Burning Crusade Anniversary?
The strongest DPS classes in Burning Crusade Anniversary are Beast Mastery Hunter, Destruction Warlock, Arcane Mage, Elemental Shaman, and Demonology Warlock. These classes are very powerful in raids at the beginning, as they provide massive raid synergies with their high DPS value.
What Is the Best DPS Class for Beginners in TBC Anniversary?
The best DPS classes for beginners in TBC Anniversary are Beast Mastery Hunter, Warlock (Affliction or Destruction), Retribution Paladin, Frost Mage, and Feral Druid. They are easy to play; they are reasonably survivable; and they require minimal gearing, which makes them ideal for new players.
Do Lower Tier DPS Specs Work in TBC Anniversary Raids?
Yes, lower-tier DPS specs are viable in TBC Anniversary raids. However, they always need either a higher gear, better support, or certain encounter-specific requirements in order to be on the same level as S and A Tier specs.
Does Gear Matter More than Class in TBC Anniversary DPS?
Gear in TBC Anniversary matters, but class and specialization matter more in early phases. Some specs scale extremely well even with basic raid gear, while others need later phases to fully shine.
Are Melee DPS Viable in The Burning Crusade Anniversary?
Melee DPS are viable in TBC Anniversary, but they face more competition and positioning issues in early raids. Specs like Fury Warrior and Combat Rogue perform better with proper raid buffs and group setup.
Will DPS Rankings Change in Later TBC Anniversary Phases?
Yes, DPS Rankings in The Burning Crusade Anniversary will change as new raid tiers and stronger gear become available. Some specs scale much better into later phases and can move up the tier list.
Should I Choose TBC Anniversary DPS Based on Tier List or Personal Preference?
For optimal raid performance, following the DPS tier list is recommended. However, in TBC Anniversary, skilled players can perform well on most specs, especially in organized groups.
4.9So, our TBC Anniversary DPS Tier List has highlighted all the best classes and introduced you to the pros and cons of the top-tier specializations. Now that you know about the best classes, including those for beginners, you’re ready for the launch of The Burning Crusade Anniversary.
