Mythic Plus DPS Tier Listfor season 3 ranks damage dealers by the value they bring to high keys. Rankings weigh damage first, with survivability and utility close behind.
Disclaimers About This Mythic Plus DPS Tier List
Use this as a snapshot of what helps top groups push keys. The goal is not to dictate what you must play but to highlight which specs add the most overall value. Damage remains the most important metric for DPS, but survival tools and polarizing utility also matter. Expect updates as tuning lands and the metagame evolves.
How We Ranked The Specs
- S tier: Specs that define the metagame and appear in most top groups.
- A tier: Great picks with excellent damage profiles plus strong survivability and useful utility.
- A minus: Very good options that fall a little short in one area compared to A tier.
- B tier: Good specs with a notable drawback in damage, survivability, or utility. Often fine as a second or third DPS.
- C tier: Rare in broader comps due to multiple shortcomings.
- D tier: Even when played well, they struggle to keep up.
- F tier: Severe weaknesses that need developer attention.
Overall Tier Summary in Mythic Plus DPS Tier List
S Tier
- At the moment there is no spec in this tier
A Tier
- Arcane Mage
- Frost Death Knight
- Devastation Evoker
- Assassination Rogue
- Elemental Shaman
- Havoc Demon Hunter
A minus Tier
- Shadow Priest
- Marksmanship Hunter
- Affliction Warlock
- Destruction Warlock
- Demonology Warlock
- Frost Mage
- Beast Mastery Hunter
- Unholy Death Knight
- Outlaw Rogue
B Tier
- Balance Druid
- Feral Druid
- Enhancement Shaman
- Retribution Paladin
- Subtlety Rogue
- Survival Hunter
- Fury Warrior
- Fire Mage
- Windwalker Monk
C Tier
- Arms Warrior
- Augmentation Evoker
D Tier
- At the moment there is no spec in this tier
F Tier
- At the moment there is no spec in this tier
Spec Notes and Reasons in Mythic Plus DPS Tier List
A Tier
Arcane Mage
- Resonance and Arcane Surge let Arcane control dungeons that are pulled around its cooldowns. It funnels priority targets while keeping overall times fast. Arcane Intellect fits many comps, and the defensive kit is deep with Mass Barrier, Ice Barrier, Greater Invisibility, Alter Time, Mirror Image, and Ice Block. Strong output without needing outside support makes it a top caster for keys.
Frost Death Knight
- Delivers top tier AoE while maintaining great priority and strong single target. Breath of Sindragosa was reworked to be less punishing and easier to use on trash, so groups do not need to play around it as much. Death Grip and Blinding Sleet add reliable control, and the self healing and defensives from Death Strike, Anti Magic Shell, Icebound Fortitude, and passive durability make Frost very hard to kill.
Assassination Rogue
- Offers excellent priority damage with competitive AoE and remains close to its previous season style. In physical leaning comps some players may favor Outlaw, but on average Assassination edges ahead. Bait and Switch is a standout defensive hero talent, and Indiscriminate Carnage spreading Garrote with Iron Wire across many targets provides potent control and mitigation.
Devastation Evoker
- Flameshaper setups now allow both strong AoE and strong single target in the same build, removing the old either or problem. Overall damage is high and fits well in caster heavy comps alongside Elemental and Arcane. Utility is meaningful with Expunge and Cauterizing Flame, while Renewing Blaze and the broader Evoker kit help weather bursty damage patterns seen this season.
Elemental Shaman
- Consistent Mythic+ performer with a powerful AoE profile and respectable single target. Ascendance windows can be explosive and swing pulls in your favor. Survivability is better than many expect thanks to Primordial Bond, Seasoned Winds, Stone Bulwark, and the season’s reduced one shot patterns.
Havoc Demon Hunter
- Aldrachi Reaver with Wounded Quarry gives Havoc excellent funnel. Overall damage is strong and widely applicable. Chaos Brand adds a steady 3 percent magic bonus that benefits many specs, even some that appear physical on the surface. Havoc is sturdier this season and often heals through burst windows via leech. Be mindful of stacking too much priority damage if you already run Arcane or Assassination.
A minus Tier
Marksmanship Hunter
- Sentinel builds deliver enormous burst AoE and some of the highest overall numbers, but single target is a clear weakness. Utility is lighter than several rivals, yet raw damage keeps it in the top mix for many groups.
Shadow Priest
- Power spikes around long cooldown windows. At high key levels this uptime becomes easier to maintain, so Shadow scales with difficulty. Psychic Link drives most of the damage profile, and Power Infusion adds group value. Fortitude, Mind Soothe, and Mass Dispel are strong in the right dungeons, though a long interrupt and weaker AoE stops hold it slightly below A.
Destruction Warlock
- Hellcaller setups have an extremely high AoE ceiling and can produce eye watering bursts on large first pulls. Single target is lower than some A tier options, so pair it with specs that cover boss and priority damage. The Imp dispel shines in specific dungeons.
Demonology Warlock
- Historically the best Warlock spec in keys and still very serviceable. Single target is solid and the rotation remains sturdy, but it trails the very top performers for overall speed. Brings Healthstones, Shadowfury, Gateway, and Soulstone for dependable team value.
Unholy Death Knight
- AoE remained decent after changes to Blood Beast and the target cap on Bursting Sores. Plays Rider of the Apocalypse and contributes useful control. Death Grip, Anti Magic Zone, and a heavy defensive kit make Unholy a safe pick even if pure single target is a bit behind.
Beast Mastery Hunter
- Launched very strong before nerfs, now sits at a healthy mid high level. On large uncapped pulls it can rival Marksmanship, and many Season 3 dungeons have those opportunities. Survivability is better than its reputation suggests with two charges of Survival of the Fittest, frequent Exhilaration, and Aspect of the Turtle.
Frost Mage
- A well rounded M+ spec with good priority during AoE and solid overall output. If Arcane is tuned down, Frost can step into that slot. Enjoys the same deep defensive toolkit as other Mage specs.
Affliction Warlock
- Buffed late in testing and now performs much better. Malefic Rapture gives strong priority damage, and the spec can snowball if cooldowns are aligned well. Curses with Amplify Curse are underrated tools, and Warlock survivability remains top tier.
Outlaw Rogue
- Works in fully physical comps with Battle Shout and Mystic Touch. The eight target cap on Blade Flurry limits top end potential in high density routes, and Shroud is less central than in past seasons. Still a solid damage dealer when built around.
B Tier
Balance Druid
- Single target and AoE are both a step lower than its best seasons, and it competes with Restoration for Mark of the Wild coverage. Utility remains excellent with MotW and a strong Solar Beam in a stop heavy season. Survivability requires careful play.
Feral Druid
- Pairs well with Warrior or Monk for physical leaning groups and received meaningful buffs. Overall output is a little short of A tier and community preference for Restoration complicates roster spots. MotW is valuable, and general Druid utility remains great, though Feral’s personal defensive kit is thinner.
Enhancement Shaman
- Under tuned compared to Season 1 dominance, with bugs and rocky PTR performance noted. Still offers passable AoE, good single target, and strong priority. Brings Bloodlust and the class buff, which can round out a group nicely. A few buffs could move it up.
Retribution Paladin
- AoE damage is strong but not on the level of the best casters. If raid tuning grants buffs, Ret could rise. Utility is outstanding with Word of Glory, Blessing of Sacrifice, Divine Shield, Intercession, and Blessing of Protection for specific skips or cheese.
Subtlety Rogue
- Competitive damage with huge burst from Secret Technique and Shadow Dance, but generally behind the other Rogue specs in M+. Still very playable and capable of shining on coordinated routes.
Survival Hunter
- Third among the Hunter specs right now, yet fully viable. Excellent priority damage through Wildfire Bomb and Kill Command. Implosive Trap provides knockup control that bypasses diminishing returns, and survivability has improved with double Survival of the Fittest and Fortitude of the Bear.
Fury Warrior
- Great burst AoE and strong self healing. Overall throughput trails the top options and target caps limit its ceiling on very large pulls. Battle Shout pairs well with Brewmaster and other physical specs.
Fire Mage
- Took late nerfs and now leans on a Flamestrike focused build that loses some classic priority strength. Overall output falls behind Arcane and Frost. Survivability and group synergy stay excellent, and Arcane Intellect supports caster comps.
Windwalker Monk
- Highly variable spec this season. Target caps and cleave centric damage limit it in dungeons that reward very large pulls. Single target looked good early in testing. Detox, Ring of Peace, and Leg Sweep remain premium utility, so one tuning bump could change its fortune.
C Tier
Arms Warrior
- Outclassed by Fury for now and expected to be on the low end of damage. Still benefits physical teams through Battle Shout and could climb with targeted buffs.
Augmentation Evoker
- Struggled for much of the previous season, then received buffs that helped but did not restore true meta status. Utility and survivability are still attractive and Scale Commander plus the set provide decent personal damage. Ebon Might no longer affecting the tank and healer reduces the unique support niche.
Conclusion
Mythic Plus DPS Tier List for season 3 S tier is empty for now, which fits a season where many specs can push keys with the right group. Arcane, Frost DK, Devastation, Assassination, Elemental, and Havoc define the top performers thanks to fast damage profiles and dependable survival. A minus holds a deep bench of casters and hybrids that can anchor many routes. B tier specs are fully viable when paired with top picks and chosen for comps that highlight their strengths. C tier options need tuning or very specific routes to shine. Build around damage first, make sure you cover key utility such as Bloodlust and a reliable stop plan, and prefer players who execute their spec well.