World of Warcraft has 13 classes according to Blizzard’s official class page, and each of them covers one to three roles: tank, healer and damage. This overview shows which class can fill which role, how Blizzard describes each class and how to try them for free before you commit. You will not find a „best class“ ranking here, because Blizzard gives no official recommendation. Valid as of 20 October 2026 for modern WoW with the Midnight expansion.
The three roles: tank, healer, damage
In group content such as dungeons and raids, every player fills a role. The tank stands at the front and takes the enemies on. The healer keeps the group alive. Damage dealers, usually called DPS by the community, are there to bring the enemies down. Your class decides which of these roles are open to you.
For a newcomer the practical point is this: a class with two or three roles leaves you room to switch if you later find you prefer a different playstyle. A damage-only class is simpler in that you never have to think about which role to take.
All 13 classes and their roles
| Class | Tank | Healer | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | yes | – | yes |
| Hunter | – | – | yes |
| Mage | – | – | yes |
| Rogue | – | – | yes |
| Priest | – | yes | yes |
| Warlock | – | – | yes |
| Paladin | yes | yes | yes |
| Druid | yes | yes | yes |
| Shaman | – | yes | yes |
| Monk | yes | yes | yes |
| Demon Hunter | yes | – | yes |
| Death Knight | yes | – | yes |
| Evoker | – | yes | yes |
The table is based on the official class overview on the WoW website.
Which classes can do all three roles
Only three classes can tank, heal and deal damage: Paladin, Druid and Monk. At the other end, Hunter, Mage, Rogue and Warlock are damage only. The rest combine two roles: Warrior, Demon Hunter and Death Knight tank and deal damage, while Priest, Shaman and Evoker heal and deal damage.
The classes as Blizzard describes them
The official descriptions are short and talk more about each class’s character than its mechanics. In a nutshell:
- Warrior relies on strength, leadership and knowledge of weapons and armour.
- Hunter answers the call of the wild.
- Mage wields arcane magic that, in Blizzard’s words, only the most devoted can master.
- Rogue is a mercenary with brutal, efficient tactics.
- Priest draws on faith and supports allies.
- Warlock reaches for demonic power and summons demonic minions.
- Paladin protects the weak and upholds justice.
- Druid harnesses the forces of nature. It is a shapeshifter, and each animal form matches a different role.
- Shaman is a master of the elements whose totems heal or empower allies.
- Monk is an unarmed fighter from Pandaria.
- Demon Hunter draws on the powers of the Legion and can use metamorphosis.
- Death Knight belongs to the Knights of the Ebon Blade.
- Evoker is a Dracthyr who wields the magic of all five dragonflights.
New in Midnight: Devourer
The Midnight expansion gave the Demon Hunter a new specialisation, Devourer, which draws on the power of the Void. Everything else Midnight added is covered in our guide to the Midnight expansion. We also write about individual specs in the news, for example the Demonology Warlock.
How to try the classes for free
The surest way to find a class you enjoy is to try several. Blizzard pitches the Free Trial exactly like that („Experience multiple classes and races“): you create characters in modern WoW and play for free up to level 20. Our Free Trial guide explains what the trial allows.
If you then decide on Midnight, every edition includes an Enhanced Level 80 Character Boost. It takes one character to level 80 with better gear. It does not work in the Classic games and only applies to the game account it was bought for.
Classes in WoW: Forever
In the upcoming World of Warcraft: Forever, which launches on 4 November 2026, Blizzard is reworking every class and specialisation and adding new race and class combinations: Forsaken Paladin and Dwarf Shaman. Read more in our guide to WoW Forever, and there is a separate news story on the shaman beta talents.
Join our Discord and ask other players which class they started with and how it plays: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
Blizzard’s official page lists 13 classes: Warrior, Hunter, Mage, Rogue, Priest, Warlock, Paladin, Druid, Shaman, Monk, Demon Hunter, Death Knight and Evoker.
Only Paladin, Druid and Monk have all three roles.
Priest, Paladin, Druid, Shaman, Monk and Evoker have a healer role.
Blizzard gives no official recommendation, and we do not publish patch-based rankings. The best approach is to try several classes for free in the Free Trial up to level 20.
A new Demon Hunter specialisation from the Midnight expansion that draws on the power of the Void.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are in our WoW guides section.