There have been nine expansions forWorld of Warcraftsince the game was first released in 2004, and each one has introduced either a new race or class for players to enjoy. Blizzard added a new class inDragonflight, the most recent expansion. The lore was part of ancient Azerothian history and featured dragons, allowing players to further customize the existing classes and immerse them in a new storyline.
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There are currently a total of 13 playable classes in retailWorld of Warcraftcompared to the nine available in the pre-expansion world ofClassic. Some are more popular than others, and this list is organized according to what classes players like the most and which ones they tend to avoid. Classes that focus on Damage-per-second (DPS) tend to be the easiest and most popular, followed by party leaders, also known as Tanks, and healing classes.
Players often ask which class is the easiest to play inWoW, and that can refer to leveling or endgame content. It’s not because the classes are flawed or less fun, butWoWplayers think about details, like compatibility in groups, ease of leveling, and how viable a ‘toon will be for raiding. These classes are ranked by popularity, but how their general difficulty level is either easy, moderate, or advanced. It should be notedthat the following statisticsonly cover the numbers for the servers in the United States and Europe, and there’s some variation between the two.
Updated on July 20, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose:The latest addition to World of Warcraft has been live for a few weeks, and there’s a lot of excitement about the new Evoker class. It’s time to take another look at what class is the ideal choice when it’s time to explore the latest incarnation of World of Warcraft. In the end, WoW class distribution all depends on personal preference, but the gaming world as a whole seems to choose certain classes more than others. The list has changed to reflect some shifting trends in the vast land of Azeroth when it comes to choosing a character’s class.
13Demon Hunter - Moderate
It’s interesting that the Demon Hunter would be on the bottom of the list when it comes to the most popular class overall inWoW,given the hype and demandthis class enjoyed immediately before theLegionexpansion. They have some great abilities, and those eyes and fist weapons sure do look cool, but how much fun are Demon Hunters to play?
A lot of fun, actually, with some demonic shapeshifting and other unique abilities, along with the versatility to be either a Tank or DPS class which puts them in the middle of the spectrum when it comes to difficulty. The issue is that only two races can play this class, Night Elves or Blood Elves, which is more likely the real reason they’re not the most popular class.
12Monk - Easy
Let’s face it, we like to carry weapons around, displaying our glowing epics for all to see. The Monk doesn’t use weapons, although they can carry a staff and other such blunt weapons, so that might put some players off. They’re one of the most fun and easiest classes to play inWoWeven if they aren’t the most popular.
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The Monk class is available to virtually every race, even the Allied ones, so accessibility isn’t an issue like it might be with other classes. The players who have Monk characters seem to enjoy them, and the class is useful at virtually any level and in a variety of group dynamics.
11Shaman - Advanced
Speaking of classes that players might avoid because of their complex gameplay,enter the Shaman.Classic WoWplayers tend to choose the Shaman at lower rates too, and for the same reason. Originally, this class was restricted to Trolls and Orcs, two Horde races. The class has some definite advantages, one of them being that they can take on three roles, healing, ranged DPS, and melee DPS.
Shamans also have totems that will benefit themselves and the whole party by healing them, enhancing their abilities, or hurting their enemies. The level of responsibility takes some serious attention, so it’s not the easiestWoWclass to play, but the Shaman is always a popular member of the raiding guild.
10Evoker - Moderate
The Evoker recalls the days of the Death Knight, which was introduced duringThe Burning Crusadeexpansion and brought with it the concept of a hero class. Like the Death Knight, the Evoker also starts at an advanced level, 58 in this case, and is only accessible to players who already have a character of at least level 50 on their account. Another stipulation is that this class is restricted to one race, the Dracthyr, which was alsointroduced in theDragonflightexpansion.
The Evoker has a shorter casting range than other DPS and healing classes, but the increased mobility players get with abilities like Soar more than makes up for this. It’s also nice to have a character that doesn’t need a flying mount. Part of the fun of this class is learning to fly, and the starting area for the Dracthyr is partly designed as a flight tutorial.
9Warlock - Moderate
The mystery and lore that surrounds the Warlock class seem to evoke strong emotions in the averageWoWgamer. Either they are beloved or despised which puts them in the middle of theWoWclass popularity ranking. Players might avoid the class because they opted to play Mages or Demon Hunters instead, butWarlocks have a lot of advantages in both PVE and groups, making them great as solo levelers and group members, and easier to play than other DPS classes.
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Once upon a time, Warlocks were notorious for their big DPS and crowd control abilities. Their powers have been lessened somewhat sinceClassic, with some dramatic changes to their talent trees and the addition of mounts and summoning stones to the game inThe Burning Crusade,which made their unique powers less important. Players that want to strike a balance between a class like the Hunter and the Mage with a dark edge might choose a Warlock.
8Rogue - Easy
Considering that this used to be one of the most popular classes in the game, its place on the list goes to show how much the Rogue has been nerfed since the early days ofWoW. That doesn’t mean they still aren’t one of the easiest classes to play inWoWas well as being a Melee DPS classto be reckoned with for PVP aficionados.
In both lowbie and endgame play, they’re just as fun leveling solo as it is with groups. Rogues have unique abilities like pickpocketing and using poisons, making it an ideal choice for players who want to experience one of the vintage classes in the modern game.
7Priest - Moderate
Popular, powerful, and complex,few other classes have the same options as a Priest. Not only is the Priestone of the best healers in the gamefor dungeons, raids, and PVP, but they can also go Shadow and deal ridiculous amounts of damage in all of the same situations. Put a Warlock with the Shadow buff to damage with the same group as a Shadow Priest and watch them melt everything in sight.
This class would probably be higher on the list if it wasn’t for the fact that they’re often seen as a healing class, which can be too much pressure for some, especially at higher levels which places them higher in theWoWclass difficulty ranking. Virtually all of the races can play a Priest as well, with very few exceptions, making them accessible to everyone even if they aren’t the easiest to play.
6Death Knight - Easy
They’ve been a controversial class since they were introduced inWrath of the Lich Kingas they were the only class thatstarted at an advanced level. This might automatically put them in the “easiest” category according to some. Since then, the dust has settled, the jokes about “newb DKs” have mostly faded, and they’re recognized as an effective combo class. Compared to similar classes like Druids and Shamans, they have fewer details like totems and animal forms to organize, making them easier to play with.
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Death Knights are equally effective as a Tank or Melee DPS class, and for players that like to immerse themselves in lore, they have a backstory comparable to other races like the Forsaken but cranked up to 11. Although they aren’t classed as healers officially, they do have self-healing abilities, making them one of the easiest classes to play inWoW.
5Mage - Easy
The Mage is always near the top of the listwhen it comes to classes players love. Notoriously easy to level and gear, in groups or on their own, Mages always have a lot of fun. They tend to be Enchanters and Tailors, professions that are always in high demand for a vast swath of the gaming population.
Their powers of making portals and food are still essential for group play, especially when players share their space with other mana users and need to cut down on travel time. This is also one of the easiest classes to play and level with a high DPS rating and a few nice crowd-control skills.The Mage is a vintage classthat has stood the test of time.
4Warrior - Moderate
The Warrior is simple and fun to play, without any of the fuss or muss connected to mana use, poisons, or totems. Stance-dancing is the most complicated thing Warriors ever learn, and it’s not mandatory for those who plan on keeping itMelee DPSas opposed to a Tank. Other players will be asking for guidance in dungeons or help out with group quests, which adds to the community dimension already present.
Warriors have access to some of the nicest armor and weapons in the game, making leveling fairly easy but repairs can get expensive. Warriors are no longer as gear-dependent as they used to be, a factor that has made them more popular since earlier expansions.
