WoW Classic The Burning Crusade’s 20th Anniversary brings players back to the Outland, with class and spec balance that’s both familiar and refreshed. With new content and changes to raid sizes, buffs, and roles, players are eager to figure out which classes and specializations are performing best in this phase of Classic TBC. Choosing the right class or spec means considering not just raw output, but also group utility, scaling, and how each role fits into the meta, whether you’re focused on raiding, arenas, or just having fun.
With this WoW Classic TBC Tier List, we are going to rank each DPS, Healer, Tank spec, based on raid and dungeon performance as well as PvP presence where relevant. If you’re unsure what to main in TBC Classic Anniversary edition, use this tier list to help make your decision.
WoW Classic TBC Anniversary Tier List - Best DPS, Healer, Tank for PvE Raid & Dungeons
TBC’s current phase puts a spotlight on ranged DPS and support specs, with raid setups favoring group synergy and buffs. Spec choice matters more than ever, since not all specs are equally valued. Raids want the right mix of utility, group buffs, and raw performance. Hunters, warlocks, mages, and elemental shamans fill up most ranged slots, while melee specs have to work harder for their raid spots. For healers and tanks, utility, throughput, and consistency determine which specs get priority.
Raid sizes have moved to 25-man, with more emphasis on buff synergy and unique class abilities. Every class has a role to play, but some stand out more than others in the current meta. Spec choice matters more than ever, as some are tuned for specific group roles or phases.
WoW Classic TBC DPS Tier List
When deciding which DPS class or spec to play in TBC Classic, it’s important to consider both raw damage output and the unique utility each brings to a raid. The Burning Crusade marks a shift toward ranged DPS and synergy, with certain classes consistently topping meters throughout every phase. Below, you’ll find the ranking of DPS specs based on overall raid performance and group value.
S Tier
Destruction Warlock: Warlocks bring outstanding single-target and AoE damage, alongside utility through curses, healthstones, and soulstones. Seed of Corruption is among the best AoE spells available. As gear improves, they become even more powerful.
Beast Mastery Hunter: Hunters have been completely redesigned and are now among the most reliable single-target DPS from the very start. Steady Shot, Kill Command, and scaling pets allow them to consistently top meters. Early gear like the Beast Lord set gives them an edge on armor penetration, and their pets, especially ravagers, contribute a lot to damage.
A Tier
Affliction Warlock: Offers strong support to other casters with debuffs and competitive damage early on. As gear improves, many switch to destruction, but affliction remains valuable for utility and flexibility.
Arcane Mage: Delivers high burst damage and excels in shorter fights. Arcane is slightly more powerful in phase one, largely because of fight length and group synergy with shadow priests. Mana management is a factor, but arcane mages can pump impressive numbers if supported.
Elemental Shaman: Brings crucial raid buffs (Totem of Wrath, Bloodlust/Heroism) and spell crit. Their utility is so strong that many guilds aim for at least five shamans per 25-man raid, no matter the spec.
Fury Warrior: While melee are less favored in early TBC, fury scales well with gear and becomes a solid pick later in the expansion, especially as armor penetration gear becomes available.
Survival Hunter: Brought for Expose Weakness and useful utility, survival sits just below BM in damage but is a key support DPS.
Arms Warrior: Offers a valuable 4% bleed debuff and can be a solid DPS with the right setup, though not as favored as ranged specs.
B Tier
Retribution Paladin: Performs decently in 25-mans with strong support to melee groups through buffs and windfury synergy. Seal twisting gives them high burst potential, but their DPS is still mid-tier.
Enhancement Shaman: Provides massive boosts to melee groups via Windfury Totem and Unleashed Rage. Personal damage is respectable early, but the spec becomes more support-focused as the expansion goes on.
Combat Rogue: Rogues have taken a hit since Classic. Combat is the only viable raid spec, mainly brought for Improved Expose Armor. They require a lot of gear to catch up and contribute less AoE or utility than other classes.
Marksmanship Hunter: Offers good utility in PvP and some niche raid support, but their PvE damage doesn't keep up with BM or Survival.
Shadow Priest: Known as "mana batteries," they regenerate mana for caster groups and provide strong debuffs. Their own DPS is not high, but the utility is essential.
C Tier
Feral Druid (DPS): While improved from Classic, feral DPS still trails behind. Their main value comes from Leader of the Pack and strong off-healing, but they're mainly seen tanking or in PvP.
Balance Druid (Boomkin): Has a spell crit aura and can burst, but struggles with mana and lags behind other casters for damage. Their main raid value is bringing a unique aura.
Subtlety and Assassination Rogue: Both are largely PvP specs with little raid impact.
Frost Mage: Focused on PvP, with raid DPS far below arcane or fire.
Demonology Warlock: Rarely used for damage, sometimes brought for situational utility.
WoW Classic TBC Healer Tier List
Healing in TBC is no longer a one-size-fits-all role, as each healing class now brings distinct strengths and utility to groups. Whether you prefer topping off tanks, blanketing the raid with heals, or dominating in PvP, there’s a healing spec that excels in each area. Here’s how the healers stack up for both raids and other content in the Burning Crusade.
S Tier
Restoration Shaman: The best raid healer in TBC, thanks to Chain Heal and totems like Tremor, Mana Spring, and Windfury. Bloodlust/Heroism is a game-changing cooldown. More than any other healer, resto shamans are core to every raid comp.
A Tier
Holy Paladin: Excels at tank healing with Flash of Light and Holy Light. Their mana efficiency and cooldowns (Divine Shield, Lay on Hands) make them indispensable for single-target healing. They provide group-wide utility through auras, blessings, and cleanses, but struggle with raid healing.
Discipline Priest: Flexible and strong in both PvE and PvP. Power Word: Shield has very high base stats in TBC, and discipline priests contribute offensive pressure, clutch dispels, and strong mitigation.
Holy Priest: Provides the best AoE healing with Circle of Healing and Prayer of Healing, and can fill multiple roles in a raid. Their toolkit allows them to adapt to any healing assignment.
B Tier
Restoration Druid: Brings rolling hots (Lifebloom, Rejuvenation, Regrowth) to smooth out raid damage. They're especially good on fights with constant damage, but struggle with burst tank healing. Their unique utility includes in-combat resurrection and raid buffs. Resto druids are top-tier in PvP, with unmatched mobility and crowd control.
WoW Classic TBC Tank Tier List
Tanking in the Burning Crusade offers players three distinct paths, each with their own advantages and challenges. Group composition, encounter mechanics, and even personal playstyle all play a role in which tank is best suited for any given situation. The following rankings highlight how each tank spec performs in both dungeons and raids during TBC Classic.
S Tier
Protection Paladin: The go-to tank for AoE threat. Consecration and Holy Shield allow them to control large trash pulls easily. Their group utility is unmatched, and they're required for many dungeons and raid encounters with heavy multi-target requirements.
A Tier
Feral Druid (Bear): With huge armor and health, bear druids are ideal for soaking big hits and tanking hard-hitting bosses. They bring strong sustained threat and can quickly swap to cat form for DPS when not tanking. Their main tradeoff is less utility and defensive cooldowns compared to other tanks.
B Tier
Protection Warrior: Warriors still bring excellent single target threat and strong defensive cooldowns, but their AoE threat is limited, and they are more gear dependent than the other tanks. They remain viable for all content but are less favored for large pulls.