If you've been diligently raiding in Season of Discovery (SoD) and secretly wondering if your hard work is paying off or if you're fighting an uphill battle with your class, then worry not! We've pored over the WCLogs data at both the 99th and max percentiles to give you a clear picture of where each class stands in the current raid meta.

 

• Criteria for Ranking Classes
• Top Classes for Each Boss
• S-Tier
• A-Tier
• B-Tier
• C-Tier
• The Frost Mage Problem
• Healers
• Tanks
• DPS (Damage Per Second)

 

↖ Criteria for Ranking Classes

How do we rank these classes? Not just on raw DPS output alone. Instead, we take a holistic view that includes utility, such as Shadow Priests' irreplaceable buffs and Shamans' elemental might. A class's contribution to a raid goes beyond damage meters, and we acknowledge that in our tier list.

 

↖ Top Classes for Each Boss

Each SoD boss has different mechanics that favor other classes over some. Here's who ranks the highest in each encounter:

First Two Bosses	Warriors  Mages & Shamans Hunters
Viscidus Fallout	Warriors Mages & Warlocks Rogues
Electrocutioner 600	Shamans & Warriors Warlocks
Crowd Pummeler 9-60	Warlocks Mages & Shamans
Mechanical Menagerie	Mages Warlocks Warriors
Mekgineer Thermaplugg	Warriors Warlocks, Mages, Shamans

These encounters show that Warlocks, Mages, Shamans, and Warriors dominate the top spots consistently. It's not just about damage; it's about adapting to fight mechanics effectively.

 

↖ S-Tier

These are the best of the best classes in SoD right now. Their power is unmatched by all others and their versatility shines through every encounter:

• Fire Mage: This class stands alone at the top with its scorching damage output.
• Warlock (Destro and Demo Tank): Buffs have solidified how hard they hit foes. As Demo Tanks they also provide utility outside of damage.
• Enhancement Shaman: Consistently high performing, these Shaman have ascended to S-tier.

To put it plainly, these classes are very strong regardless of whether or not their group is tailored for their needs. They're just better!

 

↖ A-Tier

Not far behind from S-tier, these classes pack plenty of strength on their own but lack universal dominance like those in the top tier:

• Melee Hunter: Not as good as S-tier but still quite formidable on their own. They don't need a perfect group to deliver pain.
• Warrior (Fury/Arms): In the right hands, it can approach S-tier but is very comp and gear dependent. Your mileage may vary depending on your raid composition and your gear.

 

↖ B-Tier

These classes have some moments of glory in them but often depend on situations being just right or a lucky roll of the RNG dice:

• Elemental Shaman: Great burst damage but can be inconsistent. The top of this tier and occasionally punches above its weight.
• Shadow Priest: Their damage won't impress anyone, but the utility is what makes them shine. They enable one-healer runs among other things.

 

↖ C-Tier

Classes that lag behind the heavy hitters but will still contribute if you play them well enough:

• Warrior (Average): Without an optimal group or gear, warriors can find themselves falling behind. They require more from their raid to get going.

 

↖ The Frost Mage Problem

Ah Frost Mages, always in a league of their own—and not for any good reasons either. If you're deciding between Fire and Frost then Fire is simply better for raiding in SoD. It's a sad realization for all of us who love playing with ice spells but the numbers are there to prove it. 

 

↖ Healers

Keeping your party alive is no easy feat, so we appreciate all you healers out there who make it happen. In SoD, every healer seems to have its moment:

• Resto Shaman: These guys bring an amazing amount of healing and utility with chain heals bouncing around like pinballs. They work wonders in groups where everyone's taking damage at once.
• Disc Priest: Mitigation masters who both heal and prevent damage with powerful shields. They're the friend that brings an umbrella when there's a 10% chance of rain—always prepared.
• Holy Paladin: The brunt of many jokes, but these guys have great single-target heals and blessings that can make or break a raid. Plus they wear plate armor so they're not quite as squishy as the others.
• Resto Druid: Experts at keeping everyone topped up with efficient and effective HoTs. They're like the friend who always has snacks—providing little bits of goodness at all times.

It's tough to rank these healers since they all bring something special to the table. It's like picking your favorite ice cream flavor—they're all good.

 

↖ Tanks

The backbone of any raid team who take hits so we don't have to. Here's how our tanks are stacking up:

• Shaman Tanks: Elemental warriors deleting mobs left and right after some recent buffs. Impressive damage output matched by great survivability.
• Warrior Tanks: A reliable pick in this game. Warriors are doing great with their shields and battle cries. They might not be as fancy as Shaman tanks are right now, but they get the job done.

 

↖ DPS (Damage Per Second)

Now let's talk about damage—everyone's favorite part. Here's a quick rundown:

• Feral Druids: Clawing their way up to respectability of DPS. They can tank if you need them to, offering utility with Leader of the Pack.
• Hunters: Some good news, some bad news here. While spell-based Hunters have been getting buffs recently and are seeing love from Blizzard, ranged Hunters aren't doing so hot.
• Mages and Warlocks: These spellcasters are strong right now. With powerful AoE and single-target spells, they're burning up the DPS charts (sometimes literally).
• Rogues and Feral Tanks: Not the best on this list, but still crucial in certain situations. Plus, who doesn't love a sneaky stab?
• Enhancement Shamans: Recent buffs have made them much better at killing things with their windfury-enhanced attacks.

 

Remember that this is more like a snapshot of what's happening currently rather than an unchanging truth. Class performance can change dramatically depending on gear, skill level, and group composition. So whether you're a Holy Paladin who loves puns or a Rogue who loves stabbing people in the dark (but not in a weird way), play what you enjoy! It's your adventure through Azeroth after all.