WoW Classic TBC Phase 2 continues to push along as raids challenge the might Tempest Keep and Serpentshrine Caverns. But that isn't the only Classic WoW gameplay going, as WoW Classic Season of Mastery is aboout to begin!
With new raids, changes, gear, and plenty more around between Season of Mastery and TBC - here's where we rank the best DPS, Healers, and Tanks between the two.
LATEST - WoW Classic TBC Phase 3 Starts Tomorrow
WoW Classic TBC Phase 3 releases tomorrow, meaning that class rankings will undoubtedly change. The releases of the Battle for Mount Hyjal and the Black Temple raids will give WoW players items such as the Warglaives of Azzinoth, meaning that classes like Warriors and Rogues will have an advantage in the rankings.
We will have to see which classes end up on top once Phase 3 goes live.
WoW Classic Season of Mastery is Here!
WoW Classic Season of Mastery is finally set to go live, bringing Blizzard's first take at Classic+ - with big changes including the removal of World Buffs, the addition of 40% quest experience, and plenty more.
WoW Classic Season of Mastery will restart Classic with some fantastic new changes to shake things up - this includes the removal of World Buffs, changes to bosses (including higher health pools), and the removal of the Debuff Cap!
Phase 2 WoW Classic TBC Class Rankings
WoW Classic TBC Phase 2 has arrived, and the first week of Serpentshrine Caverns and Tempest Keep is in the books. More importantly, they're also in the logs.
So how do our WoW Classic TBC class rankings change in Phase 2?
The DPS tier list has seen very little change - with Warriors slightly on the rise, but the top 3 of Hunter, Warlock and Mage staying strong.
The Healing tier list has seen some changes - Resto Shaman remain the prime utility healer, but Priests are starting to win out on the raw numbers side.
The Tank tier list sees very little change in TBC Phase 2 - with Warriors remaining the best single target tank, Paladins remaining the best AOE tank, and Feral Druids doing enough of both to always fill a useful raid slot while DPSing on fights where a bear isn't needed.
WoW Classic TBC Parse Data
WoW Classic TBC brings a wide range of content for PVE players and PVPers alike.
This includes Heroic Dungeons and 3 Raids for PVE, as well as Arenas and Battlegrounds for PVP.
For PVE, this means plenty of parse data in different raid settings from Karazhan to Gruul's Lair and Magtheridon's Lair.
So who wins out on the parses?
At the very top of the DPS heap, Warlocks and Hunters regularly battle it out for supremacy, with Hunters leading everyone so far.
On the healing side, it seems the most dominant healers in WoW Classic TBC are Restoration Shaman and Restoration Druids.
For tanks, it's much harder to evaluate as each spec trends a different direction. Protection Paladins will be the best tanks in AOE situations, Protection Warriors in single target situations, and Feral Druids bring a middle ground to both as somewhat of a multitool.
WoW Classic TBC Class Picking Guide
With plenty of new spells, new talent trees, and a whole new expansion ahead - the classes of World of Warcraft have been shaken up for Classic TBC.
So which class should you play in The Burning Crusade?
Let's break each down into their strengths and weaknesses, and rate their success in PVE and PVP.
READ MORE: WoW Classic TBC Beta: How to Opt In, Release Date, Leaks & more
Druid
One class that is certainly looking forward to WoW Classic TBC is Druid.
Druid players have massively expanded options in TBC that let them contend in PVE and PVP environments, with an extra emphasis on PVP success.
TBC pushes Balance druids forward by improving the Moonkin experience from the OOMkin woes of Vanilla WoW, and giving them Insect Swarm. Feral (cat) druids also get some extra power in their bleeds (and no debuff cap to hold these back), and are flexible Arena competitors. Some new changes to Power Shifting will take some getting used to, though. Feral (bear) druids are as successful as ever, despite some new tanking competition and some nerfs. And finally, Resto druids are kings in the TBC Arena, and get a huge boost in PVE with the 1 heal over time spell limit removed in the expansion, meaning multiple Rejuvenations can stack.
Druid TBC Ratings: PVE: 4/5 - PVP: 4.5/5
READ MORE: WoW Classic TBC Pre Patch: Two Weeks Isn't Enough
Hunter
Another class that struggles in Vanilla WoW but gets a big glow up in WoW Classic TBC is the Hunter.
In Classic TBC, Hunter will be the most dangerous DPS in PVE next to Warlocks, and in a much more simple way.
Hunters absolutely take over in The Burning Crusade, being able to fit their whole rotation into one button thanks to a simple macro. While other specs are still playable, BM will reign supreme every time.
Hunters also bring some useful utility spells to PVP in the Arena, and no longer have to worry about the deadzone, which is removed in TBC. With a lack of immediate CC, however, as traps are still melee range only - other DPS options pass them up in PVP.
Hunter TBC Ratings: PVE 5/5 - PVP 3.5/5
Mage
Mage has never been a bad choice throughout WoW's history, but TBC isn't their shining moment in PVE.
WoW Classic TBC opens some new avenues for mages, including utilizing the Arcane spec. But many will stay true to Fire, and it won't be a bad choice in PVE, though it isn't the top caster as it was in Vanilla WoW. Mage have a huge place in PVP with Frost's incredible control, and more spells open the doors for Mages to really step up in the Arena setting.
WoW Classic TBC Mage Ratings: PVE 4/5 - PVP 4.5/5
READ MORE: WoW Classic TBC Pre Order: Deluxe Edition, Dark Portal Pass & more
Paladin
The biggest improvement from Vanilla WoW to TBC is in the Paladin, and for Horde players, you'll finally have the option to wield the Light alongside Plate armor!
Paladins finally have options in The Burning Crusade. Retribution picks up more spells and consistency, though still is below the pack on the charts. Holy remains one of the strongest healers in the game with a powerful utility package that helps in Arena. The real MVP, however, is Protection, which becomes arguably the best tank in the game in TBC!
WoW Classic TBC Paladin Ratings: PVE 4/5 - PVP 3/5
Priest
Priest ran the show in WoW Classic healing, and they're still quite powerful in TBC.
In TBC, healing Priests receive new AOE healing capabilities and new powerful buffs for Holy, and powerful throughput in Discipline. For Shadow Priests, the spec rounds out to be much more consistent, offering unmatched utility for its DPS slot by returning mana to others and increasing spell damage taken.
Priests aren't the clear best choice in PVE like in Vanilla, but they do offer a ton of strength in PVP settings, especially in 3v3 Arena.
WoW Classic TBC Priest Ratings: PVE 3.5/5 - PVP 4.5/5
Rogue
Rogues will have a mixed experience in TBC, one that may lack in comparison to Vanilla WoW.
Rogues in TBC will not be the chart topping threats players may remember from Vanilla, but thrive in the Arena environment with their control and burst. In the end, though, an unfriendly expansion to melee DPS feels even harder on Rogues.
The good news? You can aspire to the legendary Warglaives of Azzinoth, which a lucky few will wield to crush in end-game PVE and PVP alike.
Classic WoW TBC Rogue Ratings: PVE 3.5/5 - PVP 5/5
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Shaman
Paladins are making their way to the Horde, but Alliance players can rejoice - Shaman are coming to the Alliance in WoW Classic TBC as well!
Shaman are an incredibly powerful class in The Burning Crusade, bringing to the table the most significant raid spell in the game - Bloodlust. They offer some very competitive healing with Resto Shaman functioning as raid heals with some spells that can keep your tank up as well. Shaman also hang with the caster DPS pack as Elemental, with some new solutions to their mana woes from Vanilla WoW. Finally, Shaman also can hang with melee DPS in TBC with Enhancement offering massive burst potential. All 3 Shaman specs are fantastic in PVP settings with strong utility in Purge and totems - and most importantly, are able to Bloodlust in Arena!
Shaman TBC ratings: 4.5/5 PVE - 3.5/5 PVP
Warlock
Warlock may have clocked in just below some of the premiere DPS classes of Vanilla WoW, but they'll be top dogs on the charts in TBC.
Warlocks will be neck and neck as the premiere DPS choice in The Burning Crusade with Hunters, and offer a ton of premium utility that raids can't pass up on like Health Stones, Banish, Portals, Soul Stones, and more. Each Warlock spec offers something in the talent tree - and with the debuff limit practically removed entirely, Warlocks are now free to DOT as they please. Warlocks will take advantage of this throughout TBC, pushing into Affliction to make it count before rounding out with other specs in later tiers.
Warlock TBC ratings: 5/5 PVE - 4/5 PVP
Warrior
Now we land on Vanilla WoW's golden child, the Warrior. Warriors ran the show in WoW Classic as the best option for DPS and tanking alike. With game bis items as early as phase 1 thanks to Lionheart Helm, it wasn't a problem of scaling either, as they were the best from the very beginning.
In TBC, Warriors get a reality check, as nearly every class and spec has caught up with them. Warriors will have options with debuff limits gone and a new physical damage buff to play Arms instead of only Fury all the time, but you'll struggle to make the same kind of DPS meter impact you did in Vanilla. And in the end, Fury will likely outdo Arms on DPS most of the time. Warriors do have some extra perks in PVP, including the chance to stun on hit with maces. As Protection, while Warriors are still a very viable choice, they aren't the only tank choice anymore, which means finding your raid slot will actually be a challenge (unlike Vanilla.)
Warrior TBC ratings: 3.5/5 PVE - 4.5/5 PVP
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Which Professions Should You Choose?
Professions are an important part of The Burning Crusade, and things will get even more diverse for WoW Classic with the new Jewelcrafting and plenty of changes.
To help you along in choosing and pairing your Burning Crusade Classic professions, we've broken each down here.
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