Which class should you play in The Burning Crusade
Burning Crusade Classic is the next big thing in World of Warcraft, and players have just a week left with the pre patch to get things like professions in line.
The first hurdle each player must face with Burning Crusade Classic is choosing a main character.
Professions take on some new areas of importance in WoW Classic TBC, and will be applicable to all classes for different reasons.
To make it more complicated, The Burning Crusade does wonderful things for class balance, making for plenty of more viable choices.
Whether it's to make TBC gold, create unique gear, bring powerful consumables, or something else entirely - TBC has a profession for you.
With this in mind, we've broken down each WoW Classic TBC class for its rankings in PVE and PVP scenarios.
Whether you want to be the best PVPer, best DPS in TBC, best tank, or best healer - we've got you covered.
Latest - Which Professions Should You Choose?
Professions are an important part of The Burning Crusade, and things will get even more diverse for WoW Classic with the new Jewelcrafting and plenty of changes.
To help you along in choosing and pairing your Burning Crusade Classic professions, we've broken each down here.
WoW Classic TBC Class Picking Guide
With plenty of new spells, new talent trees, and a whole new expansion ahead - the classes of World of Warcraft have been shaken up for Classic TBC.
Let's break each down into their strengths and weaknesses, and rate their success in PVE and PVP.
Hunter
Another class that struggles in Vanilla WoW but gets a big glow up in WoW Classic TBC is the Hunter.
In Classic TBC, Hunter will be the most dangerous DPS in PVE next to Warlocks, and in a much more simple way.
Hunters absolutely take over in The Burning Crusade, being able to fit their whole rotation into one button thanks to a simple macro. While other specs are still playable, BM will reign supreme every time.
Hunters also bring some useful utility spells to PVP in the Arena, and no longer have to worry about the dead zone, which is removed in TBC. With a lack of immediate CC, however, as traps are still meleed range only - other DPS options pass them up in PVP.
Hunter TBC Ratings: PVE 5/5 - PVP 3.5/5
Paladin
The biggest improvement from Vanilla WoW to TBC is in the Paladin, and for Horde players, you'll finally have the option to wield the Light alongside Plate armor!
Paladins finally have options in The Burning Crusade. Retribution picks up more spells and consistency, though still is below the pack on the charts. Holy remains one of the strongest healers in the game with a powerful utility package that helps in Arena. The real MVP, however, is Protection, which becomes arguably the best tank in the game in TBC!
WoW Classic TBC Paladin Ratings: PVE 4.5/5 - PVP 3/5
Druid
One class that is certainly looking forward to WoW Classic TBC is Druid.
Druid players have massively expanded options in TBC that let them contend in PVE and PVP environments, with an extra emphasis on PVP success.
TBC pushes Balance druids forward by improving the Moonkin experience from the OOMkin woes of Vanilla WoW, and giving them Insect Swarm. Feral (Cat) druids also get some extra power in their bleeds (and no debuff cap to hold these back) and are flexible Arena competitors. Some new changes to Power Shifting will take some getting used to, though. Feral (Bear) druids are as successful as ever, despite some new tanking competition and some nerfs. And finally, Resto druids are kings in the TBC Arena, and get a huge boost in PVE with the 1 heal over time spell limit removed in the expansion, meaning multiple Rejuvenations can stack.
Druid TBC Ratings: PVE: 4/5 - PVP: 4.5/5
Priest
The priest ran the show in WoW Classic healing, and they're still quite powerful in TBC.
In TBC, healing Priests receive new AOE healing capabilities and new powerful buffs for Holy, and powerful throughput in Discipline. For Shadow Priests, the spec rounds out to be much more consistent, offering unmatched utility for its DPS slot by returning mana to others and increasing spell damage taken.
Priests aren't the clear best choice in PVE like in Vanilla, but they do offer a ton of strength in PVP settings, especially in 3v3 Arena.
WoW Classic TBC Priest Ratings: PVE 4/5 - PVP 4.5/5
Mage
Mage has never been a bad choice throughout WoW's history, but TBC isn't their shining moment in PVE.
WoW Classic TBC opens some new avenues for mages, including utilizing the Arcane spec. But many will stay true to Fire, and it won't be a bad choice in PVE, though it isn't the top caster as it was in Vanilla WoW. Mage has a huge place in PVP with Frost's incredible control, and more spells open the doors for Mages to really step up in the Arena setting.
WoW Classic TBC Mage Ratings: PVE 4/5 - PVP 4.5/5
Shaman
Paladins are making their way to the Horde, but Alliance players can rejoice - Shaman is coming to the Alliance in WoW Classic TBC as well!
Shaman is an incredibly powerful class in The Burning Crusade, bringing to the table the most significant raid spell in the game - Bloodlust. They offer some very competitive healing with Resto Shaman functioning as raid heals with some spells that can keep your tank up as well. Shaman also hangs with the caster DPS pack as Elemental, with some new solutions to their mana woes from Vanilla WoW. Finally, Shaman also can hang with melee DPS in TBC with Enhancement offering massive burst potential. All 3 Shaman specs are fantastic in PVP settings with strong utility in Purge and totems - and most importantly, are able to Bloodlust in Arena!
Shaman TBC ratings: 4.5/5 PVE - 3.5/5 PVP
Warlock
Warlock may have clocked in just below some of the premiere DPS classes of Vanilla WoW, but they'll be top dogs on the charts in TBC.
Warlocks will be neck and neck as the premiere DPS choice in The Burning Crusade with Hunters, and offer a ton of premium utility that raids can't pass up on like Health Stones, Banish, Portals, Soul Stones, and more. Each Warlock spec offers something in the talent tree - and with the debuff limit practically removed entirely, Warlocks are now free to DOT as they please. Warlocks will take advantage of this throughout TBC, pushing into Affliction to make it count before rounding out with other specs in later tiers.
Warlock TBC ratings: 5/5 PVE - 4/5 PVP
Rogue
Rogues will have a mixed experience in TBC, one that may lack in comparison to Vanilla WoW
Rogues in TBC will not be the chart topping threats players may remember from Vanilla, but thrive in the Arena environment with their control and burst. In the end, though, an unfriendly expansion to melee DPS feels even harder on Rogues.
The good news? You can aspire to the legendary Warglaives of Azzinoth, which a lucky few will wield to crush in end-game PVE and PVP alike.
Classic WoW TBC Rogue Ratings: PVE 3/5 - PVP 5
Warrior
Now we land on Vanilla WoW's golden child, the Warrior. Warriors ran the show in WoW Classic as the best option for DPS and tanking alike. With game bis items as early as phase 1 thanks to Lionheart Helm, it wasn't a problem of scaling either, as they were the best from the very beginning.
In TBC, Warriors get a reality check, as nearly every class and spec has caught up with them. Warriors will have options with debuff limits gone and a new physical damage buff to play Arms instead of only Fury all the time, but you'll struggle to make the same kind of DPS meter impact you did in Vanilla. And in the end, Fury will likely outdo Arms on DPS most of the time. Warriors do have some extra perks in PVP, including the chance to stun on hit with maces. As Protection, while Warriors are still a very viable choice, they aren't the only tank choice anymore, which means finding your raid slot will actually be a challenge (unlike Vanilla.)Warrior TBC ratings: 3.5/5 PVE - 4.5/5 PVP
