The Tier List Breakdown for TWW Season 2
With the arrival of Season 2 in World of Warcraft The War Within, players are already analyzing which DPS specs will dominate in both Mythic+ and raiding. Based on PTR performance, simulation results, and overall popularity, we’ve put together a full breakdown of the best-performing DPS specs and those that might struggle this season.
WoW TWW Season 2 DPS Tier List
| Tier | Specs |
|---|---|
| S-Tier | Enhancement Shaman Elemental Shaman Balance Druid |
| A-Tier | Beast Mastery Hunter Fire Mage Arms Warrior Havoc Demon Hunter Shadow Priest Windwalker Monk |
| B-Tier | Destruction Warlock Affliction Warlock Frost Death Knight Frost Mage Retribution Paladin Devastation Evoker |
| C-Tier | Fury Warrior Demonology Warlock Unholy Death Knight Subtlety Rogue Feral Druid Survival Hunter |
| D-Tier | Arcane Mage Outlaw Rogue Assassination Rogue Marksmanship Hunter |
Top DPS Specs for Season 2
Fire Mage & Frost Mage Battle It Out
Fire Mage continues to be a top choice in both raid and Mythic+, with its powerful burst windows making it the strongest Mage spec. However, Frost Mage is very close in damage output, and while its Mythic+ popularity is slightly lower, the spec remains highly viable. If more top-tier players gravitate towards Fire, Frost could see a slight decline in performance due to a lower skill ceiling among the player base.
Arms Warrior Dominates Over Fury
Arms Warrior is proving to be an extremely strong choice this season. Not only has it been outperforming Fury in single-target and AoE, but it has also remained one of the most played specs in PTR testing. With solid numbers in both raid and Mythic+, Arms is looking like a top-tier melee option.
Elemental & Enhancement Shaman in the S-Tier?
For the first time in a while, both Elemental and Enhancement Shaman are making a strong case for S-tier status. In previous seasons, Enhancement was the clear winner, but after multiple nerfs, Elemental Shaman is now in a great position to take over. Its strong AoE potential and synergy with caster-heavy Mythic+ comps make it a high-value pick.
Shadow Priest & Balance Druid Shine in Both PvE Formats
Shadow Priest and Balance Druid are performing extremely well in PTR testing. Shadow Priest, in particular, was one of the top specs in raid testing, while Balance Druid remains a strong pick due to its AoE potential and versatility. If the meta shifts towards caster-heavy Mythic+ compositions, Balance Druid could end up as one of the best choices for the season.
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Specs Struggling in Season 2
Demonology Warlock Falls Hard
Demonology Warlocks are taking a massive hit this season. Blizzard’s repeated nerfs have left the spec in a tough spot, especially in Mythic+. While still somewhat viable in raids, Demonology has lost significant value compared to Affliction and Destruction, both of which have seen buffs. This shift could indicate an incoming rework in a future patch.
Fury Warrior & Unholy Death Knight Drop Off
Fury Warrior finds itself in an unfortunate position where Arms is simply outperforming it in both raid and Mythic+. Arms has seen consistent buffs, making it the go-to choice for Warriors this season. Similarly, Unholy Death Knight is struggling because Frost is proving to be stronger across all PvE content. With Frost DK’s superior burst and sustained damage, Unholy has little room to compete.
Survival Hunter & Feral Druid Still Struggling
Survival Hunter continues to be an unpopular choice, with Beast Mastery and Marksmanship overshadowing it. The recent BM nerfs might have given Survival a small window, but overall, it remains a bottom-tier spec. Meanwhile, Feral Druids, despite their decent output, aren’t seeing enough play to justify a higher ranking, largely due to Balance Druid’s dominance.
Mid-Tier Specs: The Uncertain Middle Ground
Havoc Demon Hunter Faces Competition
Havoc Demon Hunter is a strong performer in raids but faces a potential Mythic+ decline due to the rising popularity of Vengeance as the meta tank. If teams opt for Vengeance in high keys, it becomes less likely they’ll also include Havoc, making its Mythic+ presence weaker.
Windwalker Monk Shows Promise, But Is It Enough?
Windwalker Monks are ranking highly in single-target simulations, but as always, there are multiple simulation bugs affecting their numbers. In actual PTR testing, Windwalker performed well, but its overall lack of popularity in Mythic+ makes it a wildcard pick for Season 2.
Retribution Paladin Holding Steady
Retribution Paladin sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, showing solid but not game-breaking performance. The biggest challenge for Ret Paladin is its competition with Protection Paladin in Mythic+, which might limit its overall playtime in high-end content.
What This Means for Mythic+ & Raid Compositions
With Vengeance Demon Hunter potentially being the meta tank, caster-heavy Mythic+ compositions could become more common. This benefits specs like Shadow Priest, Balance Druid, Fire Mage, and Elemental Shaman. Meanwhile, melee specs like Havoc Demon Hunter and Windwalker Monk might struggle to secure a consistent spot in high-end Mythic+ groups.
As for raiding, top-tier choices like Fire Mage, Arms Warrior, and Shadow Priest are expected to perform consistently well. However, the exact raid meta will depend on how Blizzard adjusts balance before Season 2 officially starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top DPS specs in Season 2?
The best DPS specs in WoW Season 2 are Fire Mage, Arms Warrior, Elemental Shaman, Balance Druid, and Shadow Priest. These specs have shown strong performance in both Mythic+ and raids based on PTR results and simulations.
Which DPS specs are struggling in Season 2?
Demonology Warlock, Fury Warrior, Unholy Death Knight, Survival Hunter, and Feral Druid are currently underperforming in Season 2 due to balance changes and competition from stronger specs in their class.
Is Havoc Demon Hunter still good in Mythic+?
Havoc is performing well in raid content but faces competition in Mythic+ due to Vengeance Demon Hunter’s popularity. If Vengeance remains the meta tank, Havoc could see less play in high keys.
How does Windwalker Monk compare to other melee specs?
Windwalker Monk has strong single-target damage and showed promise in PTR testing. However, its overall popularity in Mythic+ is lower than other melee specs, making it a less common pick.
Are Elemental and Enhancement Shaman both viable?
Yes, both Elemental and Enhancement Shaman are strong picks this season. While Enhancement was dominant in Season 1, Elemental has gained more traction due to buffs and shifting meta comps.
What DPS specs are ideal for Mythic+ groups?
Fire Mage, Balance Druid, Elemental Shaman, and Shadow Priest are highly valuable for caster-heavy Mythic+ comps, especially if Vengeance Demon Hunter is the preferred tank. Arms Warrior is also a solid melee pick.
