Best classes for dungeons in WoW Forever

The short answer

Tank: Paladin or Warrior, with the Druid close behind. The Paladin is the big change: WoW Forever made it a real tank, and Consecration holds a whole pack.

Healer: all four healers work. The Priest is the safest, and the Paladin and Druid now have real group heals (Light's Vigil and Wild Growth). The Shaman brings the most utility.

Damage: the Mage for area damage and crowd control, then the Warlock, Shadow Priest, Hunter and Rogue. In a group of five, the class that controls a dangerous pull is worth more than a little extra damage.

What a dungeon group needs

A group is one tank, one healer and three damage dealers. Beyond that, a good group covers three things: crowd control to remove one or two mobs from a big pull, area damage for packs of weak mobs, and utility such as buffs, summons, resurrection and opening locked doors and chests.

Class choice matters most in the level 55 to 60 dungeons such as Blackrock Depths, Stratholme, Scholomance and the new Blackmaw Hold and The Shaper's Terrace. Up to the mid levels, almost any group that knows what it is doing gets through.

Tanks

Paladin: the best pack tank. Consecration holds every mob around you, Righteous Fury cuts the damage you take, and Holy Shield and the new Holy Strike talents add blocks and threat. It can also heal itself when the healer runs dry. See the Protection build.

Warrior: the classic tank. Shield Slam makes huge threat on one target, Shield Wall saves bad pulls, and Taunt, Thunder Clap and Demoralizing Shout cover the rest. It needs Rage, so it is a little weaker in the first seconds of a pull. Protection build.

Druid: the bear has huge armor and health, Swipe for packs and the new Primal Bite for threat. Our hybrid build tanks and deals damage without changing talents. Feral build.

Shaman (early dungeons): with Rockbiter Weapon active, the Spirit Weapons talent raises threat by 30% and adds parries, so an Enhancement Shaman can tank the first dungeons.

Healers

Priest: the most complete healer, with Power Word: Shield to prevent damage, Prayer of Healing for the group and Shackle Undead for undead dungeons such as Stratholme and Scholomance. Holy is the safe pick; Discipline shields more.

Paladin: Holy Light for big single-target heals, and now Light's Vigil, a free Holy Shock that heals the whole party. Lay on Hands saves a wipe. Holy build.

Shaman: Chain Heal and the new Riptide for group damage, plus totems for the whole party and Mana Tide Totem on long fights. Restoration build.

Druid: heals over time, Swiftmend for emergencies and the new Wild Growth for the group. Rebirth brings back a dead player during a fight. Restoration build.

Damage dealers

Mage: the best area damage (Arcane Explosion, Blizzard), Polymorph to remove a mob from the pull, and food and water for the whole group.

Warlock: steady damage, Banish for demons and elementals, Ritual of Summoning to bring the group together and a Soulstone for the healer.

Shadow Priest: strong damage, and Devouring Contagion spreads Devouring Plague to nearby mobs when the target dies. Vampiric Embrace also heals the group.

Hunter: good damage from range, Freezing Trap to hold a mob and Feign Death to drop aggro. Rogue: Sap before the pull, Blade Flurry for two targets, and Pick Lock for locked doors and chests. Warrior and Enhancement Shaman hit hard when the tank holds everything.

The new dungeons

WoW Forever adds nine dungeons across the whole level range: The Hall of Thanes (13 to 18), Ruins of Lordaeron (15 to 20), Excavation Site: Wetlands (24 to 29), City of Dalaran (28 to 33), The Drowned City (35 to 40), Krol'dok Stronghold (40 to 45), Alcaz Prison (48 to 53), Blackmaw Hold (55 to 60) and The Shaper's Terrace (58 to 60).

The full list, with level ranges, bosses and loot, is on our dungeons page.

Our pick for each type of player

You want groups fast: play a tank or healer. Paladin does both and still levels fast alone.

You want to be the one who saves runs: Priest or Druid healer.

You want big pulls and big numbers: Mage, with a Paladin tank.

You want to be useful in every group: Shaman or Druid, which can fill whatever role is missing.