WoW SoD Phase 2 DPS Tier List (Level 40) - Best DPS Specs Ranking in Season of Discovery Phase 2

With the release of Phase 2 content in World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery, players are eager to see how the various DPS classes and specs stack up for level 40 characters. Based on early discussion and theorycrafting in the WoW community, a rough tier list is emerging for Phase 2 raid DPS performance. Here's an overview of the winners and losers for level 40 DPS in Phase 2!

WoW SoD Level 40 DPS Tier List - Season of Discovery DPS Ranking for Phase 2

Phase 2 of Season of Discovery is being hailed as insane because it will dramatically ramp up both the PvE and PvP challenges that players can participate in. Stranglethorn Vale is being transformed into a massive zone-wide PvP event hotbed, promising intense world PvP battles over objectives as the entire population rushes to level and gear in the zone. At the same time, Naxxramas is being introduced as the new epic level 60 raid that will significantly test player coordination and skill learning in its difficult encounters. Meanwhile, fan-favorite dungeon Nagaon is getting a complete revamp to become another Blackfathom Deeps style raid. Combined with continued class rune unlocks, improved rewards from new raids, and Blizzard's active balancing, Phase 2 has the potential to take the Season of Discovery experience to an entirely new level of intensity, competition, and rewarding progression. So WoW Season of Discovery Phase 2, there are potential changes to the DPS class meta that could impact the overall balance and performance of different specs. 

So which class will be the winner or loser of Phase 2 at level 40? And which class should you switch to for Phase 2? Based on community discussion and the current meta situation at the end of Phase 1, we've sorted out the below WoW Season of Discovery Phase 2 DPS Ranking list for you!

Related Read: 

WoW SoD Phase 2 Leveling Guide - Fast 25-40 Dungeon Leveling & Farming Spots in Season of Discovery

WoW SoD Phase 2 PvP Tier List - Best 1v1 Dueling Class Ranking

1. DPS Hunter (S-Tier)

Excellent scaling from talents like Ferocious Inspiration and Improved Aspect of the Hawk. New shots like Volley add powerful AoE. Pets become akin to mini-tanks with Bravery. Top bursting and sustained damage.

2. DPS Rogue (S-Tier)

Gains Crippling Poison slow, Kidney Shot interrupt, and Rupture/Expose Armor modifiers. Prep talent boosts burst combos. Scaling matches Hunter with talent trees filled. Capable of huge multi-target damage with Fan of Knives and Blade Flurry.

3. DPS Warrior (S-Tier)

Weapon skill and sweeping strikes talents amplify physical damage. Deep Wounds bleed damage rises significantly. Major reductions to rage starvation help uptime. Tactical mastery and death wish spike existing powerful cooldown potential. Excel in cleave situations.

4. Retribution Paladin (A-Tier)

Receives powerful seals like Seal of Command and new passive Mana regeneration. Crusader Strike spam rotation receives boosts. Avenging Wrath and Judgement of Light cooldowns become more impactful.

5. Feral Druid (A-Tier)

Low level talent access unlocks core abilities earlier. Thick Hide improves scaling. Improved Mangle and Predatory Strikes enhance bleed damage. Retains Windfury utility advantage.

6. Fire Mage (A-Tier)

Scaling advantages from talents like Impact and Improved Scorch. Ignite mechanic optimized further by Pyroblasts and Combustion talents. Flurry and Blast Wave unleash massive AoE potential.

7. Warlock DPS (B-Tier)

Affliction gains Shadow Embrace for stronger DoTs. Destruction receives Conflagrate and talents to boost direct damage spells. Mana management becomes smoother with Drain Mana and Emberstorm.

8. Enhancement Shaman (B-Tier)

White attacks pose larger threat with Rockbiter Weapon and Flametongue Weapon talents. Stormstrike becomes spammable with Improved Stormstrike. Windfury adds significant, albeit RNG-based, burst potential.

9. Balance Druid (B-Tier)

Moonkin form finally accessed, opening powerful Eclipse procs and new Starfire/Starsurge scaling. Filler spells like Wrath remain efficient. Mount/Rebirth utility retained.

10. Arcane Mage (C-Tier)

Bursts significantly stronger but damage pacing constrained by mana-gating playstyle. Scaling unable to match other mage trees or top damage dealers. Situationally powerful for execute phases.

11. Elemental Shaman (C-Tier)

Lightning Shield grants damage absorption and reduces cast times. Overall damage potential grows with talents like Elemental Focus. Scaling improvements vs Phase 1 but remains Mana-dependent.

12. Shadow Priest (C-Tier)

Mana improvements from Shadow Power and Shadow Reach. Mind Flay and dispel protection from Dispersion help optimize DoT playstyle. Scaling helps catch up to other hybrid classes/specs.

13. Frost Mage (D-Tier)

Talent improvements bolster survivability and utility but damage pacing continues to lag Fire. Highly situational uses persist until expansion introduces major changes.