For WoW, the original “Vanilla” version is remembered by players as something special. The class system, far from perfect, allowed the game to have a deep and varied playstyle that did much to shape many people’s memories. Knowing which classes dominated raids, PvP, and dungeon runs was part of the experience.
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In this post, we are going to break down the Vanilla WoW class tier list and give a detailed overview of how each class will perform in 2024. Whether you’re an old-timer or some new face to WoW’s original version, this guide will help understand the classes that are good for those niches in the gameplay.
What is the Vanilla WoW Class Tier List?
The Vanilla WoW class tier list ranks classes based on their overall effectiveness in core gameplay areas like PvP, PvE-raiding and dungeons, and solo play. Unlike later expansions that focus much on balance, Vanilla WoW is all about different class roles. Some classes would be excellent at a certain thing but suck at something else, thereby making a dynamic meta where different classes will be valuable for different reasons.
S-Tier Classes: The Absolute Dominators
Priest
Role: Healer, Support
Strengths: Priests are arguably the most important role in Vanilla WoW. They dominate healing in raids and dungeons, with versatile abilities such as Power Word: Shield, Renew, and Heal providing teams’ survival odds at the highest level. And very important buffs to the “party,” Divine Spirit and Shadow Protection.
PvP: Priests excel at PvP, especially at Shadow Priest. They do great damage, fear enemies, and control the crowd.
Weaknesses: As a rule, Priests are rather fragile compared to other frontline classes. That makes them more suitable for support roles where they can stay behind the frontline.
Warrior
Role: Tank, DPS
Strengths: Warriors form the center of any raid or dungeon team. As a tank, they take massive amounts of damage because of abilities like Shield Slam and Taunt, and as a Fury Warrior, they rank among the best DPS classes if dealing massive damage output.
PvP: PvP is also an area where the Warriors stand out thanks to good mobility and burst damage. They can be extremely unstoppable if fully geared.
Weaknesses: Warriors are very gear- and consumable-dependent, making them woefully weak without the right items to use.
Rogue
Role: DPS, Stealth, PvP Specialist
Strengths: Rogues are kings of burst damage and stealth. Whether raiding or checking out something in the wilds, they can administer a heavy dose of Ambush and Backstab. They also bring crowd control, with Sap and Blind, making them a necessity for any good PvP game.
PvP: Rogue shines in world PvP and battlegrounds. No one can rival their mastery at picking off important targets with ambush damage.
Weaknesses: Rogue suffers when fights drag on because they rely on mana, and have no self-healing capabilities.
A-Tier Classes: Powerful and Flexible
Druid
Role: Tank, Healer, DPS (Hybrid)
Strengths: Without hesitation, it is possible to claim that Druids are highly versatile. Be it so that something needs healing, or to be used as a tank, or for damage dealing – get and go try. In raids, they carry necessary buffs, such as Mark of the Wild, and Gift of the Wild.
PvP: PvP is not a very powerful class, but their shapeshifting makes them so versatile that they can switch roles in an eyeblink.
Weaknesses: Druids can do so much, yet nothing as well as the others. In both melee and ranged forms of DPS, they usually trail behind specialized classes.
Mage
Role: DPS (Ranged)
Strengths: Mages are the class representing ranged DPS in its pinnacle. The Fireball and Frostbolt spells deliver unmatched damage, and with their reliable crowd-control capabilities of Polymorph and Frost Nova, they suit well both PvP and PvE. Apart from providing great utility with Teleport and Conjure Food/Water.
PvP: Mages are excellent at bursting and can just keep opponents’ grounds. A good turn of Polymorph or Frost Nova turns around most fights.
Weak points: Fragile class that can get overwhelmed if managed badly in terms of positioning or mana.
Paladin
Role: Healer, Tank, DPS
Strengths: Paladins are very versatile characters that offer players tanking, healing, and damage deals. They can support as a tank with Holy Shield, heal through Holy Light, and apply buffs that benefit the people’s raids or dungeons, such as Blessing of Kings, making them truly invaluable in raids and dungeons.
PvP: Paladins are quite resistant to PvP and have high survivability. Their Blessing of Protection gives them useful crowd control immunity.
Weaknesses: Paladins are versatile, but not so good at pure DPS, and their damage output invariably falls a bit short in PvP situations.
B-Tier Classes: Solid Performers, But With Limitations
Shaman
Role: Healer, DPS, Utility
Strengths: Shamans are a unique class as they can heal, deal with ranged DPS, and bring utility all under one hat. Their totem skills bring buffs and utility to the table that no other class can rival, and they can also put out decent damage with Lightning Bolt and Chain Heal.
PvP: Shamans are serviceable in PvP because of healing and utility, though they do get left behind by others considerably in terms of sustained damage.
Flaws: Shamans are a bit flexible to build, but they take time before they reach their level of potential. They tend to be subpar when compared to Priests or Paladins in terms of raid utility and healing power.
Hunter
Role: DPS, Pet Tank, Ranged DPS
Strengths: Hunters bring ranged DPS and have a pet mechanic to take advantage of in specific situations. They also have good DPS abilities such as Aimed Shot and Arcane Shot, and their pets can take the burn for them in some fights. PvP: Hunters can be very strong in PvP because they can kite the opponent, and they can control the battlefield with their pets.
PvP: Hunters can be strong in PvP due to their ability to kite enemies and control the battlefield with their pets.
Weaknesses: Pets dependence Hunters are dependent on their pets. Their output can be significantly reduced with or without them. They also suffer from lower DPS output in longer fights, especially in raids.
C-Tier Classes: Niche Roles and Situational Effectiveness
Warlock
Role: DPS, Debuffer, Pet Specialist
Strengths: Warlocks have powerful DoTs including Corruption and Immolate. They also have pet calls for additional utility, making their gameplay unique because of this dynamic.
PvP: Warlocks can be sneaky in PvP; they use fears and DoTs to drain an opponent’s life force. However, it leaves them vulnerable to being attacked in certain fights since they don’t have mobility.
Weaknesses: They struggle with raid scenarios compared to other DPS classes. Their heavy use of pets can complicate their rotation and gameplay.
Conclusion: Choose Your Class Based on Playstyle
Within Vanilla WOW Class Tier List, all classes fit their place within the tier list regarding different strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Priests, Warriors, and Rogues are at the top of their niches. Classes, such as Druids, Mages, and Paladins, have excellent versatility. Shamans and Hunters have good performance but require a bit more skill to get into top form. A Warlock is a niche class that can be brilliant when placed in the proper situations.
A class from Vanilla WoW – what’s the best fit for you? This depends on the playstyle you prefer. Be it a pure healer, a burst DPS monster, or something with a bit of everything: there’s a class for every type of player.
So, which will you try next? The Vanilla WoW class tier list is here to help guide your decision.
