WoW Forever spec difficulty rankings
a667dce · Latest snapshot Oct 25, 2026
Every World of Warcraft: Forever spec ranked from the easiest rotation to the hardest, by how many buttons its reference rotation keeps pressing in MythicSim's sims. Combat Rogue is the easiest with 3 buttons; Fury Warrior is the hardest with 10.
- Easiest DPS
- Combat Rogue
- Easiest tank
- Feral (Bear) Druid
- Hardest
- Fury Warrior
- Specs ranked
- 28
Specs from easiest to hardest
The number on each spec is its buttons: the ones its rotation presses at least once a minute. Ties go to the fewest buttons behind 80% of presses, then the lower APM. Open a spec for its numbers and what its rotation asks.
Easier
4 buttons or fewer1
CombatRogueEnergy pooling3buttons
- Buttons
- 3
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 20.8
Energy pooling, Slice and Dice refreshed at five combo points, Adrenaline Rush timed to the energy tick.
View the ranking sim2
AssassinationRogueEnergy pooling3buttons
- Buttons
- 3
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 22.6
Energy pooling, Slice and Dice kept up, Eviscerate from three combo points.
View the ranking sim3
Beast Mastery(turret)HunterCooldown priority · DoT upkeep3buttons
- Buttons
- 3
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 1.2/min
- APM
- 24.2
Stays at range: Aimed Shot and Summon Hawk on cooldown, Serpent Sting kept up, Rapid Fire lined up with Aimed Shot.
View the ranking sim43
ArcaneMageStack building · Proc reactions3buttons
- Buttons
- 3
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 1.0/min
- APM
- 32.4
Arcane Blast stacks: build to four, then spend with Frostbolt or Arcane Missiles depending on mana.
View the ranking sim5
Marksmanship(turret)HunterCooldown priority · DoT upkeep4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 24.9
Stays at range: Aimed Shot on cooldown, Arcane Shot and Sniper Shot in the gaps while mana lasts, Serpent Sting kept up.
View the ranking sim64
FrostfireExperimentalMageStack building4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 29.8
Scorch to keep Fire Vulnerability up, Pyroblast at three Heating Up stacks, Frostfire Bolt otherwise.
View the ranking sim75
FrostMageProc reactions4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 30.3
Fingers of Frost procs: Ice Lance at two charges or behind a Frostbolt in flight. Ice Barrier for Frigid Power.
View the ranking sim8
SmiteExperimentalPriestDoT upkeep4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 32.4
Holy Fire refreshed before it runs out, with Inner Focus whenever it is ready, Shadow Word: Pain and Devouring Plague kept up, Smite as the filler.
View the ranking sim96
BalanceDruidStack building · DoT upkeep4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 33.7
Eclipse: Wrath to build it, Starfire while it lasts, Insect Swarm and Moonfire kept up.
View the ranking sim107
SubtletyRogueEnergy pooling · DoT upkeep4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 2.0/min
- APM
- 35.0
Energy pooling, Slice and Dice and Rupture kept up, Vanish into Ambush with Premeditation.
View the ranking sim118
Feral (Bear)Druid · TankStack building · Rage dumping4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 19.0/min
- APM
- 58.8
Lacerate to five stacks and refreshed, Maul as a rage dump off the global cooldown, Faerie Fire and Demoralizing Roar kept up.
View the ranking sim129
AfflictionWarlockDoT upkeep · Proc reactions4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.4/min
- APM
- 32.5
DoTs kept up, instant Shadow Bolt on Shadow Trance procs.
View the ranking simModerate
5 or 6 buttons1310
ElementalShamanDoT upkeep · Proc reactions5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 36.7
Flame Shock kept up, Lava Burst on cooldown, Fire Nova on Clearcasting and while mana allows.
View the ranking sim1411
ShadowPriestDoT upkeep · Cooldown priority5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 30.7
Shadow Word: Pain and Devouring Plague kept up, Mind Blast and Shadow Word: Death on cooldown, Mind Flay channelled between.
View the ranking sim1512
DemonologyWarlockDoT upkeep5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 33.5
Searing Pain to keep Demonic Brand up, DoTs kept up.
View the ranking sim1613Marksmanship(weave)HunterMelee weaving · DoT upkeep5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 9.1/min
- APM
- 34.2
Melee weaving: Raptor Strike and Mongoose Bite between Auto Shots, Serpent Sting kept up.
View the ranking sim1714Beast Mastery(weave)HunterMelee weaving · DoT upkeep5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 9.9/min
- APM
- 34.6
Melee weaving: Raptor Strike and Mongoose Bite between Auto Shots, Serpent Sting kept up.
View the ranking sim1815
FeralDruidEnergy pooling · DoT upkeep5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 1.0/min
- APM
- 40.8
Energy and combo points: Rake and Rip kept up, Ferocious Bite only while Rip has time left, Shifting Power when energy runs low.
View the ranking sim19
Survival(melee)HunterCooldown priority5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 9.0/min
- APM
- 50.3
Melee only: Raptor Strike, Mongoose Bite, Strider Kick and Immolation Trap on cooldown, Wing Clip to fill while Strider Kick recharges.
View the ranking sim2016
FireMageStack building6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 32.8
Scorch to keep five Fire Vulnerability stacks, Pyroblast at three Heating Up stacks, Fire Blast on cooldown.
View the ranking sim2117
ShockadinExperimentalPaladinCooldown priority6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 8.5/min
- APM
- 34.1
Seal of Righteousness kept up, Judgement, Holy Shock, Holy Strike and Consecration on cooldown.
View the ranking sim2218
EnhancementShamanProc reactions · Stack building6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 34.6
Stormstrike on cooldown, Fire Nova on Clearcasting, Lightning Bolt at five Maelstrom Weapon stacks, totems kept up.
View the ranking sim2319
DestructionWarlockDoT upkeep6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 6
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 35.2
Three DoTs and a curse kept up, Conflagrate whenever Immolate is on, Life Tap for mana.
View the ranking simHarder
7 or more buttons2420
Ret-protExperimentalPaladin · TankCooldown priority7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 10.4/min
- APM
- 30.7
Seal of Righteousness kept up, Judgement, Holy Strike and Consecration on cooldown.
View the ranking sim2521
ProtectionWarrior · TankRage dumping · Proc reactions7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 30.6/min
- APM
- 59.1
Rage spending: Heroic Strike off the global cooldown, Revenge when it lights up, Shield Block, Thunder Clap and Sunder kept up.
View the ranking sim26
ElehanceExperimentalShamanSwing timing · Proc reactions · DoT upkeep7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 34.4
Stormstrike and Earth Shock on cooldown, Lava Burst and Lightning Bolt only with two seconds before the next swing, Fire Nova on Clearcasting, Flame Shock and Magma Totem kept up.
View the ranking sim2722
RetributionPaladinSeal twisting · Swing timing7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 7.7/min
- APM
- 47.6
Seal twisting: swap Seal of Righteousness and Seal of Command just before each swing, judging in between.
View the ranking sim28
Destruction(fire)WarlockDoT upkeep · Cooldown priority7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 6
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 38.3
Three DoTs and a curse kept up, Conflagrate before Immolate runs out, Shadowburn on cooldown, Incinerate as the filler, Life Tap for mana.
View the ranking sim2923Holy-protExperimentalPaladin · TankCooldown priority8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 9.0/min
- APM
- 34.5
As Protection Paladin, plus Holy Shock.
View the ranking sim3024
ProtectionPaladin · TankCooldown priority8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 10.5/min
- APM
- 35.6
Seal of Righteousness kept up, Judgement, Holy Shield, Holy Strike and Consecration on cooldown.
View the ranking sim3125
ArmsWarriorSwing timing · Proc reactions8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 1.5/min
- APM
- 41.3
Slam fitted between swings, Overpower when the target dodges, Hamstring to fill the gaps.
View the ranking sim3226
Fury-protExperimentalWarrior · TankRage dumping · Proc reactions8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 22.1/min
- APM
- 52.4
As Protection, plus Bloodthirst and Execute, and Berserker Stance for the last 20 seconds.
View the ranking sim3327Survival(weave)HunterMelee weaving8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 6
- Off GCD
- 8.0/min
- APM
- 44.0
Melee weaving: step in for Raptor Strike, Mongoose Bite, Strider Kick and Wing Clip between Auto Shots, then back out.
View the ranking sim3428
FuryWarriorStance dancing · Proc reactions · Rage dumping10buttons
- Buttons
- 10
- Core buttons
- 7
- Off GCD
- 19.6/min
- APM
- 48.2
Stance dancing: into Battle Stance for Overpower and back to Berserker. Heroic Strike dumps rage off the global cooldown.
View the ranking simEach spec on its best rotation, as the tier list's Best of each spec view. Frostfire and Shockadin are experimental hybrid builds.
All playstyles adds a row for each other way a spec plays, as the tier list does: the turret and melee Hunters, Fire Destruction, and the experimental Smite and Elehance hybrids.
How the ranking works
Each spec plays its DPS tier list reference rotation on a two minute single-target fight, 10,000 times, and every button press is counted: abilities, cooldowns, potions and on-use items, on or off the global cooldown. Melee swings, Auto Shot, procs, ticks and pet abilities are left out. No extra sims run for this page.
Specs are sorted by three numbers, in order: the buttons pressed at least once a minute, then the fewest buttons that make up 80% of the presses, then actions per minute. The bands follow the first number alone: easier is 4 buttons or fewer, moderate is 5 or 6 buttons, harder is 7 or more buttons. Nothing else is weighted in.
The line under each spec, and its tags, are MythicSim's reading of the reference rotation's priority list. They name what the button count misses, like stepping in and out of melee or swapping seals before a swing, and never change a rank. Healers are not ranked: the tier list has no healer reference sims.
This is not the APM ranking. APM counts how often a rotation presses, so a spec leaning on one filler can press a lot and still be easy; this page counts how many different buttons it juggles, so the two orders often disagree.