There have been nine expansions for World of Warcraft since 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 in Dragonflight, 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.
There are currently a total of 13 playable classes in retail World of Warcraft compared to the nine available in the pre-expansion world of Classic. 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 in WoW, and that can refer to leveling or endgame content. It's not because the classes are flawed or less fun, but WoW players 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 noted that the following statistics only cover the numbers for the servers in the United States and Europe, and there's some variation between the two.
Updated on December 16, 2022, 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.
13 Demon Hunter - Moderate
- Party Role: DPS or Tank
- Signature Ability: Dual Warglaives
- Date and Expansion: Legion, 2016
- Player Population: 5% - 5.2%
It's interesting that the Demon Hunter would be on the bottom of the list when it comes to the most popular class overall in WoW, given the hype and demand this class enjoyed immediately before the Legion expansion. 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.
12 Monk - Easy
- Party Role: Healing, Tank, DPS
- Signature Ability: Buffed by the August Celestials
- Date and Expansion: Mists of Pandaria, 2012
- Player Population: 6.4%
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 in WoW even if they aren't the most popular.
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.
11 Shaman - Advanced
- Party Role: DPS and Healing
- Signature Ability: The power of Totems
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 7.2% - 7.5%
Speaking of classes that players might avoid because of their complex gameplay, enter the Shaman. Classic WoW players 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 easiest WoW class to play, but the Shaman is always a popular member of the raiding guild.
10 Evoker - Moderate
- Party Role: DPS and/or Healing
- Signature Ability: Visage, a party-wide buff that increases out-of-combat health regeneration.
- Date and Expansion: Dragonflight, 2022
- Player Population: TBD
The Evoker recalls the days of the Death Knight, which was introduced during The Burning Crusade expansion 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 also introduced in the Dragonflight expansion.
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.
9 Warlock - Moderate
- Party Role: DPS
- Signature Ability: Demonic Pets and Summoning
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 7.7%
The mystery and lore that surrounds the Warlock class seem to evoke strong emotions in the average WoW gamer. Either they are beloved or despised which puts them in the middle of the WoW class popularity ranking. Players might avoid the class because they opted to play Mages or Demon Hunters instead, but Warlocks 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.
Once upon a time, Warlocks were notorious for their big DPS and crowd control abilities. Their powers have been lessened somewhat since Classic, with some dramatic changes to their talent trees and the addition of mounts and summoning stones to the game in The 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.
8 Rogue - Easy
- Party Role: DPS
- Signature Ability: Sap
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 8%
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 of WoW. That doesn't mean they still aren't one of the easiest classes to play in WoW as well as being a Melee DPS class to 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.
7 Priest - Moderate
- Party Role: Healing or DPS
- Signature Ability: Mind Control and Power Word Shield
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 8.4%
Popular, powerful, and complex, few other classes have the same options as a Priest. Not only is the Priest one of the best healers in the game for 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 the WoW class 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.
6 Death Knight - Easy
- Party Role: Tank or DPS
- Signature Ability: Runic Power
- Date and Expansion: Wrath of the Lich King, 2008
- Player Population: 8.2% - 8.4%
They've been a controversial class since they were introduced in Wrath of the Lich King as they were the only class that started 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.
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 in WoW.
5 Mage - Easy
- Party Role: DPS
- Signature Ability: Blink
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 8.9%
The Mage is always near the top of the list when 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 class that has stood the test of time.
4 Warrior - Moderate
- Party Role: Tank, DPS
- Signature Ability: Rage
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 9.9%
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 it Melee DPS as 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.
3 Druid - Advanced
- Party Role: Tank, Healing, Damage
- Signature Ability: Shapeshifting
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 9.9%
Cat form, Boomkin, or Beartank. The Druid class used to be less popular because of its versatile nature, similar to other classics like the Shaman and the Monk. In the EU realms, the Druid is more popular than the Paladin by a slim margin. Both are versatile combo classes with a variety of healing, DPS, and tank abilities, and for players that like their customization options, this can be the most fun class even if it's not the easiest to play.
Originally, only two races had access to this class, the Tauren and the Night Elf. That was extended to Worgen and Trolls after the Wrath of the King expansion, and now it's one of the most popular, fun, and easiest classes to play in World of Warcraft.
Players like the shapeshifting angle, which gives players a travel boost at early levels and keeps them in demand as a Tank for playing with groups. This always gave the classes an edge when it came to leveling, along with healing spells and buffs that benefit both themselves and other players.
2 Paladin - Advanced
- Party Role: Tank, Healing, Damage
- Signature Ability: Various Blessings and Auras
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 9.5%
There was a time when Paladins were notorious for how useless they were at lower levels, not quite able to tank yet but still too weak to compete with other healing classes like Priests and Druids. They were also restricted to two races, Humans and Dwarves, which were both on the Alliance side. That's completely changed in modern WoW, and the image of the noble knight has become one of the game's most popular classes despite their various responsibilities.
These days, Paladins can cover all of the bases at almost any level, whether it's as a tank, healing, or melee DPS. It might not be the easiest class to play in Shadowlands but it could be the most rewarding. The buffs they provide put them on the same level as Druids or Priests when it comes to giving the group an advantage.
1 Hunter - Easy
- Party Role: DPS
- Signature Ability: Traps and Combat Pets
- Date and Expansion: Original World of Warcraft, 2004
- Player Population: 10.5% - 11%
It's no wonder that the Hunters are still at the top of the heap when it comes to popularity. This class is probably the easiest to level and play, and has been even from the days of Classic WoW. Plus, players can level and train a pet that they can find out in the wilds of Azeroth. This is the class that had pets before it was cool, and these are real pets that need training and feeding, not like demon pets as Warlocks have. Those are just a few reasons that make them WoW's most popular class to play and the easiest class to level in the game overall.
There are other benefits to this class. Hunters can also use virtually any weapon, giving them an advantage when it comes to drops or shopping for gear on the Auction House, but the running joke in the game is that other classes will often complain about Hunters rolling on their equipment.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is available now for PC.