WoW Retail - Best DPS in TWW Season 2
The recent season has introduced significant class adjustments, transforming the Mythic+ landscape. Added to this change is the arrival of a new dungeon in Undermine, the expansion's brand-new zone. In this second season of The War Within, the selection of the DPS class takes on vital importance. Each specialization deploys a range of unique abilities, from explosive damage to versatile utility and crowd control. In high-level competitive PvE content, the ability to deal substantial damage is just the starting point.
Beyond pure damage potential, factors like the buffs each class brings to the raid, synergy with team composition, utility in critical moments, and adaptation to specific encounter mechanics are key. This analysis will guide you through the strengths and weaknesses of each DPS class, revealing which ones stand out as the most coveted options in this new chapter of World of Warcraft: The War Within.
Fire Mage
Fire Mage has become the darling of groups, a spec so potent that players are practically begging to funnel Power Infusion its way.
What fuels this fiery dominance? The answer lies in the spec's explosive synergy with Combustion. The new tier set, meticulously crafted around Combustion's cooldown reduction and damage amplification, catapults Fire Mage back to its glory days of Battle for Azeroth. During Combustion, the damage output is nothing short of breathtaking, a spectacle of raw, unadulterated power. However, this intense burst comes at a cost: outside of Combustion, the damage dips significantly, creating a dynamic of feast or famine.
Yet, Fire Mage's allure extends beyond its sheer damage potential. In a post-Augmentation world, where survivability is paramount, Mages stand tall. Their defensive toolkit is a masterclass in versatility, offering a solution for every conceivable threat. Mass Barrier, Ice Barrier, Greater Invisibility, Alter Time, Mirror Image, and the ever-reliable Ice Block provide an arsenal of defensive options, ensuring Mages can weather even the most punishing encounters.
Furthermore, Fire Mage brings invaluable utility to the group. Arcane Intellect, a staple buff, significantly enhances synergy with other casters like Moonkin and Elemental Shaman, boosting their overall performance. This harmonious interaction solidifies Fire Mage's position as not just a damage dealer, but a team player.
Strengths and Weaknesses
This spec shines in single-target encounters, delivering exceptional DPS and a devastating execute phase. Its single-target rotation seamlessly integrates free cleave damage, maximizing efficiency. Mobility is a significant asset, allowing for minimal damage loss during movement. Coupled with robust defensives, especially against burst damage, it's a formidable force.
However, its prowess comes with trade-offs. AoE and Mythic+ damage require sacrificing single-target potential, limiting versatility. The absence of spread cleave or multi-dot capabilities hinders effectiveness in certain encounters. Furthermore, its AoE damage output suffers when targets have short lifespans, diminishing its impact in fast-paced situations. This spec is a master of single-target dominance, but its AoE limitations must be considered.
Elemental Shaman
Elemental Shaman, a spec often relegated to the shadows, has surged into the spotlight in The War Within. Historically plagued by inconsistencies, Ele's resurgence in 11.0, and now 11.1, is a testament to its revamped AoE capabilities. This surge is largely attributed to the lightning-focused builds that allow them to decimate trash packs with electrifying efficiency.
The choice of Hero Talents for Mythic+ presents a nuanced decision. While Stormbringer is generally favored for its AoE prowess, some players opt for a 2-minute Ascendance build, particularly when paired with Power Infusion. However, the 3-minute Ascendance build, coupled with Stormbringer, likely offers superior overall value for a complete Mythic+ dungeon, providing consistent and impactful damage. Ultimately, it's the sheer volume of damage that propels Elemental Shaman to its current standing.
Contrary to popular misconceptions, Elemental Shaman possesses surprising resilience. The narrative surrounding their defensives is often skewed, with many overlooking the potent combination of Primordial Bond, Seasoned Winds, and Stone Bulwark. These passives, while subtle, provide significant survivability. Furthermore, the reduced prevalence of one-shot mechanics in this expansion significantly benefits Shaman, a class that can be vulnerable to such encounters.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Elemental Shaman boasts formidable AoE burst, particularly when "preloaded," and respectable single-target DPS with Stormbringer. Farseer offers solid single-target and cleave, along with excellent burst. The spec's gameplay is engaging, and it brings strong utility outside raids. Multiple viable talent builds allow for flexibility.
However, Elemental Shaman grapples with high variance due to Deeply Rooted Elements and other RNG mechanics. Survivability is adequate, but not exceptional. The removal of Ancestral Guidance has diminished off-healing capabilities. Stormbringer's hero talents necessitate WeakAura use, adding complexity.
Balance Druid
Balance Druid presents a curious dichotomy in the current meta. While boasting competitive AoE damage, its single-target performance languishes near the bottom of the rankings. This disparity has historically hindered its viability, particularly with the dominance of Augmentation Evokers, who heavily relied on strong single-target support. However, with the Aug Evoker's decline, Balance Druids see a window of opportunity to ascend.
The Druid's utility toolkit provides significant value in Mythic+. Mark of the Wild, widely regarded as the premier raid buff for M+, enhances the entire group's capabilities. Furthermore, adjustments to interrupt mechanics have elevated Solar Beam's effectiveness, making it a powerful tool for controlling enemy encounters. Conversely, Incapacitating Roar has seen a reduction in its potency, diminishing its crowd-control capabilities.
Survivability remains a perennial concern for Balance Druids. While they possess tools to mitigate damage, achieving consistent survivability requires near-perfect execution. This reliance on precise play can be challenging, especially in the chaotic environment of high-level Mythic+ dungeons.
Despite its single-target limitations, Balance Druid's strong AoE and valuable utility make it a compelling choice. The shift in the meta, coupled with the enhanced effectiveness of Solar Beam, positions Balance Druids to capitalize on opportunities previously unavailable. Players willing to master the spec's intricacies and manage its survivability challenges will find a rewarding experience in unleashing the celestial fury of the Balance Druid. The value it brings to a mythic plus group is high, so it is a good pick.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Balance Druids thrive in hybrid and multi-target encounters, maintaining priority damage. Their accessible yet deep gameplay offers a rewarding experience. Robust utility through heals and varied crowd control bolsters group performance. Excellent spread damage further enhances their value.
However, ramp-up time on multi-target fights can be a drawback. Damage on the move is limited, posing challenges in dynamic encounters. Newer players may find certain encounter types difficult. Single-target damage remains a notable weakness.
Unholy Death Knight
Unholy Death Knights have undergone a dramatic transformation during the PTR cycle, evolving from a spec with consistent AoE but lackluster single-target, to a powerhouse of unparalleled burst damage. Initially, expectations aligned with previous patches, where Unholy excelled in uncapped AoE via Rider of the Apocalypse. However, the emergence of the San'layn build has shattered those assumptions.
San'layn has unleashed a wave of "unspeakable" AoE damage, propelling Unholy DKs to astronomical overall DPS numbers. While single-target damage remains a relative weakness, it's now considered passable, especially when juxtaposed with the spec's ability to achieve staggering 40 million DPS bursts on trash pulls. This dramatic shift has positioned Unholy as a formidable contender, far surpassing its previous iterations.
Beyond its damage output, Unholy's utility and survivability contribute significantly to its overall strength. Death Grip and Abomination Limb provide valuable crowd control and positioning tools, while Insidious Chill and Anti-Magic Zone offer potent defensive and disruptive capabilities. Furthermore, the combination of Death Strike, Anti-Magic Shell, Icebound Fortitude, and Veteran of the Third War ensures exceptional survivability, making Unholy DKs remarkably sturdy.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Unholy DKs boast frequent cooldown windows, delivering solid single-target damage that thrives in progression. Their high AoE burst and Death's Advance for knockback prevention are invaluable. Anti-Magic Zone provides magic damage raid cooldown, and they excel at range while being exceptionally tanky.
However, Mythic+ utility is limited. San'layn demands a long setup, hindering fast-paced content. Single-target DPS, particularly in Mythic+, is mediocre.
Feral Druid
Feral Druid has clawed its way into the limelight, delivering exceptional damage this tier and boasting a superior damage profile compared to many of its peers. For the first time in recent memory, the choice between Balance and Feral Druid is a truly challenging one, a testament to Feral's newfound strength. Recent buffs have further amplified their potential, solidifying their position as a formidable contender.
The Druid's utility toolkit, a hallmark of the class, shines brightly in Mythic+. Mark of the Wild, a staple buff, provides invaluable support to the entire group. Beyond this, the Druid's arsenal of utility spells is widely regarded as among the best for 5-man content, offering versatility and adaptability in various encounters.
However, the Feral Druid's survivability presents a unique challenge. While the class possesses a diverse range of abilities, its defensive kit is generally considered the weakest among melee DPS. This inherent vulnerability necessitates exceptional player skill and awareness to mitigate damage. Yet, this season's design appears to offer ample opportunities for skillful players to outplay threats and maintain their survivability.
The combination of excellent damage output, valuable utility, and the potential for high-skill survivability makes Feral Druid a compelling choice. While the defensive limitations are undeniable, skilled players can overcome these challenges and unleash the full potential of this primal spec. The choice between balance and feral is truly a hard one this season, and that is a good thing.