Every player in World of Warcraft and most other RPGs is defined by the set of abilities they are able to perform -- their class. World of Warcraft has nine different classes, each representing a different flavor of adventurer. Beyond this, players are further differentiated by factors such as their talent choices and their race, but class is easily the most distinguishing characteristic.
Druid | Paladin | Shaman |
Hunter | Priest | Warlock |
Mage | Rogue | Warrior |
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Each class has been designed to provide a unique experience not found by the others, by having both a focused theme and also having the flexibility to use several different playstyles.
Druids are hybrids that specialize in versatility. They are capable spellcasters, using both healing magic and damage spells, while being able to shapeshift into the form of several different animals. While in bear or cat form, they have entirely different ability lists that let them tank or deal melee damage effectively.
Hunters are the ranged weapon specialists of WoW. Needing a way to maintain their distance during combat, they also have faithful animal companions that keep their opponents at bay. Hunters are also experienced survivalists and trappers, and are one of the best solo classes in the game.
Mages are mastery of fire, frost and arcane magic. Though they tend to be fragile in nature, mages are excellent at dealing damage, especially against groups, and at controlling crowds, and are often considered an essential part of a successful dungeon group.
Paladins are holy knights, wearing heavy armor and capable of protecting or healing their brethren in battle. The truth is these guys are harder to kill than cockroaches, though generally lacking the threat-generating capability of a warrior for tanking and often thrust into a healing role.
Priests have traditionally been thought of as the healers of the game, but they are also capable of outputting some nasty damage if they choose a darker path. As a healer, priests are able to prevent damage to their allies and extend their longevity. As a damage-dealer, priests melt faces.
Rogues are brutal melee fighters that will take every advantage in battle. They are known to sneak up on their opponents and stab them repeatedly in the back. Representing anything from a thug to an assassin to a cat burglar, rogues are seldom thought of in a positive light -- especially by their enemies!
Shamans are masters of the elements, able to bend fire, earth and wind to their call. They also wear a modest amount of armor, are capable healers, and are surprisingly good in combat if they need to be. The most distinguishing characteristic of the shaman are the totems he summons to provide small bonuses to the area around him that either affect his allies or his foes for a short period of time.
Warlocks summon and control demons and damage their opponents over time. Also able to inflict curses on their opponents, warlocks are thought of as one of the more sinister classes in the game.
Warriors are the most direct fighters in the game. They do not sneak around in the darkness like rogues. They do not cast spells or use mana like the other classes. Yet they are still a rather challenging class, having three different fighting forms to use, depending on whether they need to be offensive in nature or if they are attempting to protect their allies and themselves. A warrior prepared for it is generally thought of as the best tank in the game.
While some players may choose to play a particular class for other reasons, one of the most significant reasons to pick a character class is their purpose in a group environment such as an instance or battleground.
The primary roles that a character can be asked to fulfill in a group include:
Some less-central roles that are also significant are:
Class | Tanking | Healing | DPS | CC | Pulling | AE | Buffing | Debuffing | Utility |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Druid | 4* | 4* | 2* | 2* | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Hunter | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Mage | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4* | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Paladin | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Priest | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4* | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Rogue | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3* | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Shaman | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Warlock | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3* | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Warrior | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Please note that all values in the table above are highly subjective, and may not reflect your experiences.
For a new player, or one dissatisfied with his current character, it might be a difficult task to select a class for their new character. Here are a few things to consider when making this decision:
After considering those questions, read the individual pages for each class or check out the discussion boards for more info.
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DHM | PRSW |