We're talking about a tier list for which class is best to play in hardcore classic, so let's go through the data and figure out which class you should play.

WoW Classic Best Hardcore Class Tier List

• Mage - S Tier

• Hunter - S Tier

• Rogue - S Tier

• Priest - A Tier

• Warrior - A Tier

• Warlock - A Tier

• Paladin - B Tier

• Druid - B Tier

• Shaman - C Tier

Mage - S Tier

Pros

• -Mages excel at crowd control, with access to spells such as Polymorph, Frost Nova, and Cone of Cold. These abilities allow them to control multiple mobs simultaneously, minimizing the risk of taking damage and increasing their survivability.

• -Mages can effectively kite enemies, keeping them at a distance and preventing them from reaching melee range. Mages also possess a variety of escape mechanisms, making them more resilient in difficult situations. Abilities like Blink, Ice Block (IB), and Frost Nova can be used to create distance, freeze enemies in place, or temporarily render the Mage immune to damage. These tools provide Mages with additional survivability and allow them to handle challenging encounters more effectively.

• -Additionally, Mages are generally considered to be quick levelers in Classic Hardcore.

Hunter - S Tier

Pros

• -Hunters are known for their excellent soloing capabilities, thanks to their ranged damage output and the ability to tame pets. The pet serves as a valuable companion, capable of tanking mobs, dealing damage, and providing utility through various pet abilities. This synergy allows Hunters to effectively handle multiple enemies and solo challenging content.

• -In terms of safety, Hunters have several tools at their disposal. They have a long-ranged attack, which allows them to maintain distance from enemies, reducing the risk of taking damage. Additionally, Hunters possess abilities such as Aspect of the Cheetah (later Aspect of the Pack) for increased movement speed and the Feign Death ability, which can be used to escape combat or drop aggro. However, it's important to note that Feign Death can be resisted by certain mobs, creating potential risks.

Cons

• -Despite their advantages, Hunters do have some limitations. If anything goes wrong during combat, such as a resisted Feign Death or the pet being overwhelmed, Hunters may have limited fallback options. Their melee capabilities are generally weaker compared to pure melee classes, so close-quarters combat can be challenging. Additionally, while Hunters can sustain themselves through their ranged attacks, they do have limitations on their mana management, which requires careful resource management in prolonged encounters.

• -Furthermore, Hunters are somewhat gear-dependent. Their performance scales with the quality of their ranged weapons and equipment. Acquiring appropriate gear can be a gradual process, which can be a disadvantage on a new server where resources might be scarce. However, their pet's abilities allow them to compensate partially for gear shortcomings.

Rogue - S Tier

Pros

• -Rogue players who are adept at managing their energy, timing their abilities, and utilizing their control tools effectively can excel in both solo play and group scenarios. Their high damage output, control abilities, and ability to take on challenging enemies make them a formidable class in Classic Hardcore. One of the better escapes in vanish plus sprint/evasion/gouge etc. if you end up in a bad situation. Good DPS, solid control, and can take out elites that other classes may struggle with.

Cons

• -However, they are fairly squishy and your escapes have long CDs, so if your CDs are down and you get in trouble, it's often ugly.

Priest - A Tier

Pros

• -Priests have two distinct specializations: Shadow (damage dealing) and Holy/Discipline (healing). Shadow Priests excel at dealing damage over time (DoT) and are capable of delivering high burst damage in certain situations. Holy/Discipline Priests focus more on healing and providing support, with their spells being tailored to keep their group members alive and provide beneficial buffs.

• -Priests are known for their powerful healing capabilities, making them a sought-after class for group play. They have access to a wide range of healing spells that can efficiently restore health to themselves and their allies. This makes them valuable in dungeons, raids, and group PvP scenarios.

Cons

• -They may face challenges in solo play due to their relatively squishy nature, limited escapes, and a slower leveling process, particularly before acquiring Shadowform. Nonetheless, skilled and cautious players can overcome these challenges and find success playing as a Priest in Classic Hardcore.

Warrior - A Tier

Pros

• -As tanks, Warriors excel at soaking up damage and holding the attention of enemies, allowing their group members to deal damage safely. They have a variety of tools at their disposal, including defensive abilities like Shield Block, Shield Wall, and Taunt, as well as area-of-effect (AoE) threat generation abilities.

• -Warriors can absorb significant amounts of punishment and maintain control over the battlefield, making them key assets in dungeons and raids. Warriors are particularly potent in PvP scenarios due to their ability to quickly close gaps and deal devastating blows.

Cons

• -Warriors tend to level slower than average due to their reliance on auto-attacks and melee combat. Their limited range and lack of efficient AoE damage can make grinding and clearing mobs more time-consuming compared to classes with stronger AoE abilities or ranged attacks.

Warlock - A Tier

Pros

• -Warlocks are known for their high damage output, especially through their damage-over-time (DoT) spells and pet abilities. They can deal significant amounts of damage over time, making them capable of taking down enemies quickly.

Cons

• -Warlocks have a reputation for being relatively squishy. They have lower health pools and limited armor compared to some other classes, which makes them more vulnerable to taking damage. This necessitates a strategic approach to combat engagements and proper use of defensive abilities and crowd control spells to minimize damage taken. Warlocks in Hardcore mode may be more suitable for experienced players or those seeking a greater challenge.

Paladin - B Tier

Pros

• -Paladins are indeed a versatile class in Classic Hardcore. They have the unique ability to fulfill multiple roles, including healing, tanking, and dealing with damage. This versatility gives them options for different playstyles and makes them adaptable in various group compositions.

• -Paladins are regarded as one of the safest classes to reach level 60 in Classic Hardcore due to their defensive capabilities, self-sustainability, and versatility.

Cons

• -While Paladins excel in terms of survivability and utility, they are generally considered slower levelers compared to some other classes. This is mainly due to their limited damage output and reliance on auto-attacks, as well as their slower spellcasting compared to pure damage-focused classes like Mages or Rogues. However, their inherent durability compensates for this to some extent, allowing them to take on challenging encounters with minimal risk.

Druid - B Tier

Pros

• -Druids are a versatile class in Classic Hardcore. They have the ability to tank, deal damage, and provide support through healing or crowd control.

• -Druids are known for their tankiness, often able to survive difficult encounters with their high health pools and armor. They have a variety of escapes at their disposal, such as their forms (Cat and Travel) that provide increased movement speed and stealth, allowing them to avoid dangerous situations.

Cons

• -Druids are less gear dependent compared to some other classes, as their shapeshifting forms provide natural stat boosts.

Shaman - C Tier

Pros

• -Shamans have access to abilities like Earthbind Totem and Ghost Wolf form, which can be used to snare enemies and increase movement speed, respectively. While they may not have as many escape mechanisms as other classes, these tools can often provide enough utility to get them out of dangerous situations.

• -In terms of damage, Shamans have the potential to deal significant damage. They can utilize their melee abilities, as well as powerful offensive spells such as Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning, to dish out damage in both single-target and AoE situations. This damage output can contribute to faster leveling compared to classes that rely more heavily on melee attacks.

Cons

• -It's true that Shamans generally have lower armor and less direct damage mitigation compared to classes like Paladins. This can make them relatively squishier in certain situations, requiring a more careful approach to combat and positioning. However, their ability to deal high damage can enable the efficient killing of enemies before taking too much damage.

• -However, it's important to note that their ability to escape can still be influenced by specific scenarios and the level of control their opponents possess.