WoW Forever spec difficulty rankings
a667dce · Latest snapshot Nov 3, 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. Elemental Shaman is the easiest with 4 buttons; Survival Hunter is the hardest with 10.
- Easiest DPS
- Elemental Shaman
- Easiest tank
- Feral (Bear) Druid
- Hardest
- Survival Hunter
- 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, with a weaving Hunter's Step in and Step out counted as two. Ties go to the fewest buttons behind 80% of presses, then the lowest APM, steps included. Open a spec for its numbers and what its rotation asks.
Easier
4 buttons or fewer1
Beast Mastery(turret)HunterCooldown priority · DoT upkeep3buttons
- Buttons
- 3
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 1.2/min
- APM
- 24.6
Stays at range: Aimed Shot and Summon Hawk on cooldown, Serpent Sting kept up, Rapid Fire lined up with Aimed Shot.
View the ranking sim21
ElementalShamanDoT upkeep · Proc reactions4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 2
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 37.0
Flame Shock kept up, Lava Burst on cooldown, Fire Nova on Clearcasting and while mana allows.
View the ranking sim32
FrostMageProc reactions4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 29.0
Fingers of Frost procs: Ice Lance at two charges or behind a Frostbolt in flight. Ice Barrier for Frigid Power.
View the ranking sim4
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 sim53
BalanceDruidStack building · DoT upkeep4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 33.6
Eclipse: Wrath to build it, Starfire while it lasts, Insect Swarm and Moonfire kept up.
View the ranking sim64
Feral (Bear)Druid · TankStack building · Rage dumping4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 3
- Off GCD
- 18.9/min
- APM
- 58.7
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 sim7
Marksmanship(turret)HunterCooldown priority · DoT upkeep4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 25.3
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 sim85
AfflictionWarlockDoT upkeep · Proc reactions4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.4/min
- APM
- 32.3
DoTs kept up, instant Shadow Bolt on Shadow Trance procs.
View the ranking sim96
FrostfireExperimentalMageStack building4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 32.5
Scorch to keep Fire Vulnerability up, Pyroblast at three Heating Up stacks, Frostfire Bolt otherwise.
View the ranking sim107
CombatRogueEnergy pooling4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 1.0/min
- APM
- 33.3
Energy pooling, Slice and Dice refreshed at five combo points, Adrenaline Rush timed to the energy tick.
View the ranking sim118
AssassinationRogueEnergy pooling4buttons
- Buttons
- 4
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 1.0/min
- APM
- 35.1
Energy pooling, Slice and Dice kept up, Eviscerate from three combo points.
View the ranking simModerate
5 or 6 buttons129
ShadowPriestDoT upkeep · Cooldown priority5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 31.2
Shadow Word: Pain and Devouring Plague kept up, Mind Blast and Shadow Word: Death on cooldown, Mind Flay channelled between.
View the ranking sim1310
FeralDruidEnergy pooling · DoT upkeep5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.5/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 sim14
Survival(melee)HunterCooldown priority5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 9.3/min
- APM
- 51.8
Melee only: Raptor Strike, Mongoose Bite, Strider Kick and Immolation Trap on cooldown, Wing Clip to fill while Strider Kick recharges.
View the ranking sim1511
DemonologyWarlockDoT upkeep5buttons
- Buttons
- 5
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 34.1
Searing Pain to keep Demonic Brand up, DoTs kept up.
View the ranking sim16
ElehanceExperimentalShamanSwing timing · Proc reactions · DoT upkeep6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.0/min
- APM
- 35.5
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 sim1712
ArcaneMageStack building · Proc reactions6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 1.0/min
- APM
- 37.6
Arcane Blast stacks: build to four, then spend with Frostbolt or Arcane Missiles depending on mana.
View the ranking sim1813
EnhancementShamanProc reactions · Stack building6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 40.6
Stormstrike on cooldown, Fire Nova on Clearcasting, Lightning Bolt at five Maelstrom Weapon stacks, totems kept up.
View the ranking sim1914
ShockadinExperimentalPaladinCooldown priority6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 8.5/min
- APM
- 34.2
Seal of Righteousness kept up, Judgement, Holy Shock, Holy Strike and Consecration on cooldown.
View the ranking sim2015
FireMageStack building6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 35.1
Scorch to keep five Fire Vulnerability stacks, Pyroblast at three Heating Up stacks, Fire Blast on cooldown.
View the ranking sim2116
RetributionPaladinSeal twisting · Swing timing6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 7.7/min
- APM
- 44.6
Seal twisting: swap Seal of Righteousness and Seal of Command just before each swing, judging in between.
View the ranking sim2217
DestructionWarlockDoT upkeep6buttons
- Buttons
- 6
- Core buttons
- 6
- Off GCD
- 0.4/min
- APM
- 35.1
Three DoTs and a curse kept up, Conflagrate whenever Immolate is on, Life Tap for mana.
View the ranking simHarder
7 or more buttons2318
ProtectionPaladin · TankCooldown priority7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 9.2/min
- APM
- 38.1
Seal of Righteousness kept up, Judgement, Holy Shield, Holy Strike and Consecration on cooldown.
View the ranking sim2419
ProtectionWarrior · TankRage dumping · Proc reactions7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 30.6/min
- APM
- 58.6
Rage spending: Heroic Strike off the global cooldown, Revenge when it lights up, Shield Block, Thunder Clap and Sunder kept up.
View the ranking sim2520
Ret-protExperimentalPaladin · TankCooldown priority7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 9.2/min
- APM
- 35.8
Seal of Righteousness kept up, Judgement, Holy Strike and Consecration on cooldown.
View the ranking sim2621Marksmanship(weave)HunterMelee weaving · DoT upkeep7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 7.9/min
- APM
- 73.7
Buttons include Step in (20.6/min) and Step out (20.6/min), which count toward APM too.
Melee weaving: step in for Raptor Strike between Auto Shots and back out, about 17 times a minute each way. Arcane Shot and Multi-Shot from range, Serpent Sting kept up.
View the ranking sim2722Beast Mastery(weave)HunterMelee weaving · DoT upkeep7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 8.6/min
- APM
- 74.7
Buttons include Step in (20.7/min) and Step out (20.7/min), which count toward APM too.
Melee weaving: step in for Raptor Strike between Auto Shots and back out, about 17 times a minute each way. Arcane Shot and Multi-Shot from range, Serpent Sting kept up.
View the ranking sim28
Destruction(fire)WarlockDoT upkeep · Cooldown priority7buttons
- Buttons
- 7
- Core buttons
- 6
- Off GCD
- 0.5/min
- APM
- 38.2
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 sim2923
SubtletyRogueEnergy pooling · DoT upkeep8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 4
- Off GCD
- 2.5/min
- APM
- 49.6
Energy pooling, Slice and Dice and Rupture kept up, Vanish into Ambush with Premeditation.
View the ranking sim3024Holy-protExperimentalPaladin · TankCooldown priority8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 8.2/min
- APM
- 40.1
As Protection Paladin, plus Holy Shock.
View the ranking sim3125
Fury-protExperimentalWarrior · TankRage dumping · Proc reactions8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 5
- Off GCD
- 23.9/min
- APM
- 54.1
As Protection, plus Bloodthirst and Execute, and Berserker Stance for the last 20 seconds.
View the ranking sim3226
ArmsWarriorSwing timing · Proc reactions8buttons
- Buttons
- 8
- Core buttons
- 6
- Off GCD
- 1.5/min
- APM
- 42.3
Slam fitted between swings, Overpower when the target dodges, Hamstring to fill the gaps.
View the ranking sim3327
FuryWarriorStance dancing · Proc reactions · Rage dumping10buttons
- Buttons
- 10
- Core buttons
- 7
- Off GCD
- 17.4/min
- APM
- 57.3
Stance dancing: into Battle Stance for Overpower and back to Berserker. Heroic Strike dumps rage off the global cooldown.
View the ranking sim3428Survival(weave)HunterMelee weaving10buttons
- Buttons
- 10
- Core buttons
- 7
- Off GCD
- 7.5/min
- APM
- 72.8
Buttons include Step in (13.9/min) and Step out (13.9/min), which count toward APM too.
Melee weaving: step in for Raptor Strike, Strider Kick, Mongoose Bite and Wing Clip between Auto Shots, then back out, about 16 times a minute each way. Arcane Shot and Multi-Shot from range.
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. A weaving Hunter's steps into melee and back out count as two more buttons, Step in and Step out, and toward its APM. 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, steps included. 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 timing a step between Auto Shots 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.