WoW Forever Best Class to Level: 1-60 Tier List
Which class levels fastest in WoW Forever? Our 1-60 tier list ranks all nine classes, with the best leveling spec for each and the Forever changes that matter.
Every class can reach level 60 in WoW Forever, but some get there much faster and with far fewer deaths. Forever reworked all nine classes, added new race and class combinations and changed how experience works in dungeons, so the old Classic leveling rankings only half apply. This tier list ranks the classes for solo questing from 1 to 60, explains the spec to use for each and covers the Forever changes that move the ranking.
How we ranked the classes
We looked at four things that decide how fast a character levels on its own: kill speed, downtime between pulls (eating, drinking and resting), safety when a pull goes wrong and travel and utility such as speed boosts and crowd control. A class that kills a little slower but never stops to drink often finishes ahead. Group play changes the picture, so we note where a class does better in dungeons.
The ranking is built on what we saw in the beta, which was capped at level 30, plus the class changes announced for launch. Talent trees, numbers and patch notes can still move before and after November 4, so treat it as a guide, not a rule.
S tier: Hunter
Leveling spec: Beast Mastery. Hunter is the easiest class to level in WoW Forever. You tame a pet at level 10, and from then on the pet holds the monster while you shoot it from range. Most pulls end before the monster ever reaches you, so you rarely need to eat, and Mend Pet keeps your pet alive through long chains of fights.
- Strengths: pet tank, high damage from range, little downtime, Aspect of the Cheetah for travel, Feign Death to escape a bad pull.
- Weaknesses: Auto Shot now needs you to stand still for about half a second before it fires, so kiting is less smooth than in Classic. Buy arrows or bullets in bulk and keep your pet fed.
- New in Forever: Humans can now be Hunters, so the class is open to every Alliance race except Gnomes.
A tier: Warlock and Mage
Warlock, leveling spec: Affliction. The Warlock fights like a ranged Hunter with a stronger pet. The Voidwalker tanks, your damage-over-time spells kill while you move to the next target, and Life Tap with Drain Life lets you turn health into mana so you almost never stop to drink. Fear gives you a way out of a bad pull. The cost is gold: spellbooks, soul shards and your level 40 mount quest add up. New in Forever, Trolls can play Warlock.
Mage, leveling spec: Frost. Mages kill very fast and conjure their own food and water, which saves gold for the level 40 mount. Frost Nova and slowing spells keep monsters away, and from mid levels you can gather many monsters and kill them together with area spells, which is the quickest way to level for players who learn it. Mages are fragile, so a pull that goes wrong usually ends with a run back from the graveyard. New in Forever, Orcs can play Mage.
B tier: Paladin, Shaman and Rogue
Paladin, leveling spec: Retribution. Paladins are hard to kill: heavy armor, heals and a bubble that saves you when a pull goes wrong. The early levels are slow because the class depends on its weapon, so replace your two-handed weapon whenever you can. Undead can now play Paladin in Forever.
Shaman, leveling spec: Enhancement. Shamans mix melee damage, heals and totems, and Ghost Wolf from level 20 makes travel faster. Like the Paladin, the Shaman relies on a good two-handed weapon and spends some time drinking. Dwarves can now play Shaman in Forever.
Rogue, leveling spec: Combat. Rogues deal strong damage to one target and can choose their fights with Stealth, skipping monsters they do not need to kill. Poisons now scale with Attack Power, which makes them stronger as you gear up. The weakness is pulls with more than one monster, where you take a lot of damage and need to eat afterwards.
C tier: Druid, Priest and Warrior
Druid, leveling spec: Feral. The Druid starts slowly, but Cat Form, Bear Form and Travel Form make it much smoother after level 20. You can heal yourself between fights, so downtime is low once you have your forms. Druids are very welcome in dungeons because they can fill any role.
Priest, leveling spec: Shadow. Priests are slow until the Shadow spells come together, and wands no longer gain damage from spell power in Forever, which hurts the classic wand finish. Power Word: Shield keeps you safe, and every group wants a Priest, so leveling through dungeons is a strong option. Gnomes can now play Priest.
Warrior, leveling spec: Protection or Fury. Warriors are the slowest class solo: they need gear, take a lot of damage and eat after many fights. Forever helps with Victory Rush at level 20, which heals you after each kill, and the class becomes one of the strongest at level 60 and in groups, where tanks always find a dungeon quickly.
WoW Forever leveling tier list at a glance
Best class to level in WoW Forever
| Class | Tier | Leveling spec | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter | S | Beast Mastery | Pet tank from level 10, ranged | Ammo, half-second Auto Shot delay |
| Warlock | A | Affliction | Voidwalker, almost no drinking | Gold for spells and mount |
| Mage | A | Frost | Fast kills, free food and water | Fragile when a pull goes wrong |
| Paladin | B | Retribution | Very hard to kill | Slow early, weapon dependent |
| Shaman | B | Enhancement | Heals, totems, Ghost Wolf | Weapon dependent, mana breaks |
| Rogue | B | Combat | Strong single target, Stealth | Weak against several monsters |
| Druid | C | Feral | Forms and self heals after 20 | Slow first 20 levels |
| Priest | C | Shadow | Shield, wanted in groups | Slow early, weaker wands |
| Warrior | C | Protection or Fury | Strong at 60 and as tank | Slowest solo, gear dependent |
Forever changes that matter for leveling
- Reworked talents: each class has three new trees with gold talents at points 11, 16, 21 and 31, so pick your leveling spec and keep it until 60.
- Dual spec at level 40: you can keep a solo spec for questing and a second spec for dungeons, which makes healers and tanks much easier to level.
- Dungeon experience: monsters in dungeons give 20% more experience, but bonus experience from dungeon quests was cut in half, so running a dungeon for its quests is worth less than in Classic.
- Unified hit and crit: the same hit and critical strike values now cover melee and spells, which makes gear choices simpler for hybrid classes.
- Raid-wide buffs: class buffs now help the whole raid, so no class is left out at level 60 because of its group buff.
Tips for any class
- Plan your route with our WoW Forever leveling guide so you spend less time running between quest hubs.
- Use the WoW Forever Leveling Calculator to see when you can reach 60 at your play time, and whether you will be ready before Phase 1 raids open on December 9.
- Train your new spells every even level; a missing rank of your main spell slows every fight.
- Pick two gathering professions while leveling, such as Mining and Herbalism, to pay for training and your level 40 mount. Our riding guide shows the costs.
- Earn Legacy Points at levels 25, 45 and 60; they make every character after the first one level faster.
If you pick a class you enjoy, you will play it more, and that matters more than any tier list. The gap between S tier and C tier is a matter of hours over the full 1 to 60, not days.
WoW Forever leveling services
WoW Forever Powerleveling
- Any Range 1-60
- Launch-Day Start
- Riding & Gear Add-ons
WoW Forever Leveling Bundles
- 4 Bundle Tiers
- Cheaper Than Separate
- Endgame Ready
WoW Forever Hourly Driving
- Pay Per Hour
- You Pick the Focus
- Solo or Group
WoW Forever Dungeon Bundle
- 36 Dungeons
- Self-play or Piloted
- Loot Is Yours
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best class to level in WoW Forever?
Hunter is the best class to level in WoW Forever. The pet tanks monsters from level 10 while you deal damage from range, so you have little downtime and very few deaths. Warlock and Mage are the next best choices.
What is the fastest class to level 1-60 in WoW Forever?
For most players Hunter is the fastest. A skilled Mage who pulls many monsters and kills them with area spells can be as fast or faster, but that method takes practice and goes wrong more often.
What is the worst class to level in WoW Forever?
Warrior is the slowest class to level solo because it needs good gear and takes a lot of damage. Victory Rush at level 20 helps, and Warriors level quickly as dungeon tanks.
Which spec should I use to level in WoW Forever?
Beast Mastery Hunter, Affliction Warlock, Frost Mage, Retribution Paladin, Enhancement Shaman, Combat Rogue, Feral Druid, Shadow Priest and Protection or Fury Warrior. Dual spec at level 40 lets healers and tanks keep a solo spec as well.
Is this tier list final?
No. It is based on the beta, which stopped at level 30, and the class changes announced for launch. We will check it again after WoW Forever launches on November 4 and update the ranking if needed.
How long does it take to reach level 60 in WoW Forever?
It depends on your class, route and play time. Use the WoW Forever Leveling Calculator to estimate your date, or order powerleveling if you want to be 60 before Phase 1 raids open on December 9.
Related pages
Read the WoW Forever launch guide, the professions guide and the Phase 1 raids guide. For help, see WoW Forever Powerleveling or the Leveling Bundles.