~12 MIN
Intro
Ready to crush Mythic+ Dungeons in Season 2 of World of Warcraft: The War Within? Searching for the top-performing DPS specs to push the highest keys, boost your Mythic+ IO score, and leave the competition in the dust? You’re in the right place.
In this ultimate guide, brought to you by Onlyfarms, we break down the dominating DPS specializations for Season 2. We’ll spotlight those that are soaring through the meta and those struggling to keep up. From explosive burst potential to invaluable utility and playability, we’ll explain exactly why each spec holds its current rank in The War Within Mythic+.
1. Mythic+ Tier List: What Each Rank Means
Before diving into the specifics of the tier lists, let’s clarify what the S, A, B, and C tiers represent in Mythic+ performance:
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| S Tier | The ultimate performers in Mythic+. These specs deliver exceptional DPS, bring crucial utility, and shine in almost every high-key scenario. Ideal for top-tier compositions and pushing the Mythic+ ladder. |
| A Tier | Strong, reliable picks capable of handling high keys. These specs may have minor limitations or require more finesse but remain highly effective and commonly seen in M+ groups. |
| B Tier | Decent performers with situational strengths. They can handle keys up to 14 with the right setup but may struggle in raw output or utility at the highest levels. |
| C Tier | Underperformers in the Mythic+ environment. They may lack competitive damage, utility, or rotation smoothness. However, with skill and preparation, they can still tackle casual or weekly +10 runs. |
🔑 Remember: Always prioritize bringing the better player over the better specialization. Personal skill often has a greater impact on performance than even the strongest meta specs.
2. S Tier – The Absolute Dominators
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Unholy Death Knight | Dominates with insane AoE burst, scaling exponentially with large pulls. Core abilities like Death Grip and Anti-Magic Zone provide critical crowd control and party protection. Unholy DK excels at sustained AoE and solid boss damage, pairing offensive output with self-healing and battle resurrection utility. However, it’s less mobile and requires precise setup for burst windows. When played by a skilled DK, it’s the backbone of high-key Mythic+ runs. |
| Feral Druid | Leverages powerful bleed damage with Primal Wrath, making it a menace for trash packs. Sustained DoT pressure on both bosses and mobs is complemented by strong Druid utility: Battle Rez, Innervate, Soothe, and Mass Entanglement. Feral’s high mobility with Dash and Wild Charge makes it nimble, while Barkskin and Survival Instincts provide defensive resilience. It demands resource management due to energy starvation risks and can feel fragile without cooldowns. In skilled hands, Feral’s agility and sustained DPS elevate it to the elite. |
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These specs are not just high on meters—they provide irreplaceable group support, situational tools, and survivability. Unholy’s undead legion and Feral’s clawing bleeds define the Mythic+ meta, and with Onlyfarms, you can take your performance from good to elite.
3. A Tier – Strong and Reliable Performers
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Retribution Paladin | Combines solid single-target and AoE damage with exceptional group utility. Offers Blessings Protection, Word of Glory off-heals, and Lay on Hands for emergency saves. Reliable Battle Res through Divine Shield. Straightforward rotation with frequent cooldowns and strong defensive options, including Divine Protection. |
| Enhancement Shaman | Excels in funnel damage—cleaving multiple targets while focusing on priority kills. Brings hybrid utility: Healing Surge off-heals, Tremor Totem, Capacitor Totem, and Bloodlust. Decent survivability but lacks cheat death mechanics. Fast-paced and rewarding playstyle with situational adaptability. |
| Windwalker Monk | Offers frequent AoE burst with Fists of Fury and resource-based Spinning Crane Kick. Efficient single-target damage through mastery mechanics. Exceptional mobility with Roll, Flying Serpent Kick, and Transcendence. Decent defensives in Diffuse Magic and Dampen Harm, but requires precise execution for optimal DPS. |
| Assassination Rogue | A deadly single-target specialist with sustained poison and bleed damage, ideal for tyrannical bosses. Brings strong survivability with Evasion, Feint, and Cheat Death. AoE is serviceable with Fan of Knives and Crimson Tempest, but lacks instant burst compared to other specs. Complex rotation with attention to poison management. |
| Havoc Demon Hunter | Exceptional mobility and consistent DPS through Chaos Strike, Eye Beam, Fel Rush, and Vengeful Retreat. Applies Chaos Brand debuff, increasing party magic damage. Utility includes Darkness group defensive and Metamorphosis burst phase. The Momentum playstyle weaves Fel Rush and Vengeful Retreat for bonus damage and positioning control. Easy to learn but challenging to master for optimal results. |
| Arms Warrior | Excels in cleave scenarios with Deep Wounds, Cleave, Whirlwind, and Bladestorm. Outstanding Execute phase damage with precise Colossus Smash windows. Provides Battle Shout for an essential group attack power buff. Offers utility with Storm Bolt, Intimidating Shout, and Spell Reflect. Sturdy with Die by the Sword and Rallying Cry. Mastery of cooldowns and resources is key to maximizing output. |
4. B Tier – Solid Performers with Specific Strengths
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Subtlety Rogue | Specializes in precision burst damage, delivering devastating hits on priority targets through Shadow Dance, Symbols of Death, and Secret Technique. Ideal for quickly eliminating dangerous mobs but struggles in large pulls. Classic Rogue tools—stuns, evasion, Feint, and Cheat Death—provide survivability. Demands tight cooldown management and smart energy usage. |
| Outlaw Rogue | Offers consistent, cleave-heavy damage with Blade Flurry, converting single-target strikes into AoE. Smooth rotation with Adrenaline Rush and Blade Rush enhances sustained output. Brings unmatched utility: Shroud of Concealment, Tricks of the Trade, Grappling Hook, and Between the Eyes for a hard-hitting ranged stun. Balanced and fast-paced gameplay, but capped AoE and lack of meta-defining power keep it in B Tier. |
| Frost Death Knight | Delivers strong direct damage through Obliterate and Breath of Sindragosa. Efficient cleave in mid-sized pulls but struggles in massive AoE scenarios. Solid defensive toolkit: Death Grip for control, Blinding Sleet for group CC, Raise Ally for battle resurrection, Anti-Magic Shell for mitigation, Icebound Fortitude for damage reduction and stun immunity, and Death Strike for self-healing and recovery. Consistent but less versatile than Unholy. |
| Fury Warrior | Embodies relentless aggression with abilities like Rampage, Bloodthirst, and Raging Blow, maintaining constant pressure. Excels in sustained output and offers solid self-healing. Interrupts, decent mobility, and an intuitive, fast-paced playstyle make it approachable. However, lacks standout group utility and top-tier burst. |
5. C Tier – Struggling Specs Needing Effort
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Survival Hunter | A hybrid melee-ranged playstyle that struggles to find a niche in the current meta. Deals moderate single-target damage with bleeds and bombs like Serpent Sting, Wildfire Bomb, Mongoose Bite, and Raptor Strike. Uses Carve for cleaving, though its scaling is limited in large pulls. Mobility is solid through Harpoon and Disengage, but juggling melee, ranged abilities, and pet control makes the rotation complex. Inconsistent performance in high keys keeps it in C Tier. |
| Augmentation Evoker | Unique support-focused DPS that amplifies allies’ performance with buffs like Ebon Might, Upheaval, and Breath of Eons. However, recent nerfs have reduced its impact, and its lack of direct damage output limits appeal in high-end Mythic+. Better suited for coordinated groups, but often replaced by pure DPS for smoother clears. |
| Affliction Warlock | Once a master of multi-target DoT damage, now struggles in fast-paced Mythic+ where pulls die too quickly for full ramp. Core abilities like Agony, Corruption, and Malefic Rapture require time to shine, which dungeons rarely offer. Maintains Warlock utility (e.g., Healthstone, Battle Rez), but output relative to effort keeps it C Tier. |
6. Range DPS Tier List
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| S Tier | Specs that deliver top-tier ranged DPS, excelling in both AoE and single-target situations. They bring unmatched utility, survivability, and sustained damage to Mythic+ dungeons. |
| A Tier | Reliable and versatile specs that perform strongly in high keys. These DPS are consistent and bring valuable group support, though they may not dominate the meta like S-tier specs. |
| B Tier | Solid performers with specific strengths. While they may not top the meters in every scenario, they provide dependable damage and some utility options for Mythic+. |
| C Tier | Struggling specs that may have limited AoE, burst, or group utility. With the right player skill and strategy, they can still clear content, but are generally less favored in high-key compositions. |
7. S Tier – Top-Performing Range DPS in Mythic+
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Balance Druid | Dominates with sustained AoE pressure from Starfall, Moonfire, and Sunfire. Recent buffs pre-11.1.5 improved single-target damage, making Balance exceptional for both trash and bosses. Celestial Alignment empowers burst phases with a flurry of empowered spells. Utility includes Innervate, Typhoon, Solar Beam, Rebirth, and Stampeding Roar, with Mark of the Wild offering a group-wide versatility boost. Versatile and adaptive across varying dungeon scenarios. |
| Arcane Mage | Delivers massive priority burst with Arcane Surge and Touch of the Magi, excelling in high-key boss phases and priority target melts. Enhanced by a strong tier set boosting spell effectiveness and mobility, now featuring more instant-cast spells. Combines extreme damage with improved sustain for longer fights. |
| Fire Mage | Renowned for burst AoE damage through Combustion, Pyroblast, and Flamestrike, igniting packs of mobs with critical strikes and Ignite spreading. Recent updates smoothed rotations, enabling more consistent output even between Combustion phases. Offers classic Mage utility with strong group support and control. |
8. A Tier – Reliable Range DPS Options
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Elemental Shaman | Masters of elemental damage with powerful Chain Lightning, Earthquake, and sustained Flame Shock + Lava Burst single-target pressure. Versatile AoE and solid talent customization allow adaptation to dungeon requirements. High Mastery can lead to unexpected burst through double casts. Utility includes Bloodlust, Tremor Totem, and Capacitor Totem for group support. |
| Shadow Priest | Specializes in sustained spread cleave with Vampiric Touch, Shadow Word: Pain, Devouring Plague, and Shadow Word: Death for execute-phase damage. Gains efficiency through Psychic Link, cleaving secondary targets during focused damage. Brings Vampiric Embrace for passive party healing and Power Infusion to boost ally DPS. Strong in sustained damage and group support scenarios. |
| Demonology Warlock | Durable and methodical, leveraging Soul Leech, Soul Link, and Drain Life for survivability. Sustains high damage with ramping setups using Demonic Tyrant and Hand of Gul’dan. Utility includes Battle Rez, Healthstone, and Unending Resolve. Ideal for players valuing steady, high-stamina damage. |
| Destruction Warlock | Excels in uncapped AoE with Rain of Fire and Havoc-enhanced Chaos Bolt. Strong sustained cleave and decent single-target performance. Needs ramp-up time and prefers large pulls. Utility matches Demo: Healthstone, Battle Rez, and solid defensives like Dark Pact and Unending Resolve for clutch survival. |
| Marksmanship Hunter | Provides burst AoE with Rapid Fire, Aimed Shot, and Trueshot, along with solid single-target contributions. Improved flexibility from recent changes, and excellent for mixed pull sizes. Glass-cannon profile with Aspect of the Turtle for emergencies. |
| Devastation Evoker | Combines empowered spells like Fire Breath, Eternity Surge, Disintegrate, and Azure Strike for frontloaded AoE and sustained boss damage. Improved talent flexibility allows blending red and blue magic for maximum impact. Moderate complexity with a rewarding, timing-based playstyle. |
9. B Tier – Solid Range DPS with Situational Strengths
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Frost Mage | Offers consistent, sustained damage with mini-bursts through Icy Veins, supported by strong utility like Ice Barrier, Blink, and Freeze from the Water Elemental. Can stack a self-shield with Ice Lance casts for additional survivability. Slow mechanics help mitigate damage, though output lags behind top specs in tight-timer keys. Survivability makes it forgiving, though it struggles with top-tier burst requirements. |
| Beast Mastery Hunter | Excels at full mobility while maintaining damage, thanks to pet-driven Kill Command, Barbed Shot, and Frenzy-boosted attacks. Stampede and Explosive Shot add some AoE burst, though AoE scaling is limited. Solid in spread-out encounters or when consistent movement is needed. Lacks unique group buffs but maintains solid uptime. |
| Devastation Evoker | While powerful, it can face performance dips in movement-heavy fights. Balances Fire Breath, Eternity Surge, Disintegrate, and Azure Strike with empowered timing. Can struggle to shine in high-pressure pulls due to ramp requirements. Mobility and instant casts improve consistency in keys. |
10. C Tier – Underperforming Range DPS Needing Effort
| Spec | Strengths and Details |
|---|---|
| Augmentation Evoker | Focused on boosting ally performance with buffs like Ebon Might, Upheaval, and Breath of Eons, but recent nerfs and meta shifts have reduced its effectiveness. Lacks direct damage contribution, relying on perfect group synergy to shine. Often replaced by direct DPS specs in high keys for smoother clears. |
| Affliction Warlock | Known for multi-target DoT ramp, with core abilities like Agony, Corruption, Unstable Affliction, and Malefic Rapture. Struggles in fast-paced M+ where pulls die before full ramp-up. Maintains Warlock utility (Healthstone, Battle Rez) and survivability, but inconsistent damage output keeps it C Tier. |
Conclusion
In World of Warcraft: The War Within Season 2, both Melee and Range DPS players face increasingly challenging Mythic+ dungeons, where skill, preparation, and strategic use of addons and abilities are essential for success. From explosive AoE specialists like Unholy Death Knight and Fire Mage, to utility-packed specs like Balance Druid and Elemental Shaman, this comprehensive guide has highlighted the top-performing DPS choices across all tiers.
With detailed breakdowns of S, A, B, and C tiers, covering key abilities, situational strengths, and optimal rotation tips, players can now make informed decisions about which specs to master and how to maximize their impact in every Mythic+ scenario. Whether you’re a melee powerhouse weaving Fel Rush and Rampage, or a ranged tactician orchestrating Celestial Alignment and Disintegrate, the key to climbing the Mythic+ ladder lies in preparation, awareness, and adaptability.
💡 Onlyfarms offers expert coaching and customized services to help players refine their skills, optimize DPS rotations, and master the nuances of every specialization covered in this guide. With our support, you can skip the grind and focus on what truly matters: pushing keys higher and dominating Mythic+ dungeons in The War Within.
Prepare your build, perfect your rotation, and enter Mythic+ with confidence—your journey to mastery starts here.