WoW Forever Class Changes
Every class in World of Warcraft: Forever gets reworked talent trees and new abilities. Blizzard’s aim is to fill each class’s gaps without erasing what makes it unique. Here is what changes for every class, with a page for each one.
Rules and the Paladin rework come from Blizzard's Deep Dive and What's Next panels; talent counts come from the same talent data as our calculator and can still change before launch. Last reviewed: .
- Talents
- 465
- 432 in Classic
- New talents
- 115
- 26 renamed or reworked, 41 removed
- New 31-point talents
- 14
- across 27 trees
- Tree layout
- 7 rows
- new key talent at 16 points
Pick a class
Each class has a page of its own: what changes outside the talent trees, the races that can play it, and its trees at a glance.
Which spells the game’s built-in tracker follows for each class, talents and racials included: WoW Forever Cooldown Manager.
Not sure which class? The WoW Forever class quiz picks a class, talent path and race from a few questions.
Which classes Blizzard is steering to the top, by role: WoW Forever tier list.
What changes for every class
Choices you can feel
Fewer small +1% talents and more real trade-offs. Trees keep 7 rows and the key talents at 11, 21 and 31 points, and add one at 16.
Hit and crit merged
Spell, melee and ranged hit are one stat, and so is critical strike. Healing power also adds a third as much damage.
Every spec has a place
Blizzard wants all 27 talent trees to be a real option for a dungeon or raid group.
Raid buffs that are now part of the class
- Divine SpiritPriest, no longer a talentDivine SpiritPriest, no longer a talent
- Blessing of KingsPaladin, no longer a talentBlessing of KingsPaladin, no longer a talent
- Improved Mark of the WildDruid, now baselineImproved Mark of the WildDruid, now baseline
New and removed talents by class
Talents removed from each class grow to the left, new talents to the right. Warlock changes the most, with 18 new talents and 16 removed.
31-point talents: Classic → Forever
14 of the 27 trees end in a new 31-point talent. Warlock replace all three; Warrior and Mage keep all of theirs.
A vicious strike that deals weapon damage plus 85 and wounds the target, reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 50% for 10 sec.
Mortal Strike Same as Classic
Instantly attack the target causing damage equal to 45% of your Attack Power plus 30 and increasing your movement speed by 10% for 10 sec.
Bloodthirst Same as Classic
Slam the target with your shield, causing 421 to 439 damage, increased by your Block Value, and has a 50% chance of dispelling 1 magic effect on the target. Causes a very high amount of threat.
Shield Slam Same as Classic
Applies Light's Vigil to the target for 30 sec. Your next Holy Shock cast on them triggers no cooldown and causes enemy targets to suffer 175 to 189 Holy damage and refund 75% of Light's Vigil's Mana cost, or allied targets to heal their party for 325 to 344. You may only have one Light's Vigil active per party. level 60 reference
Light's Vigil Was Holy Shock
Increases chance to block by 30% for 10 sec, and deals 110 Holy damage for each attack blocked while active. Damage caused by Holy Shield causes 20% additional threat. Each block expends a charge. 4 charges. level 60 reference
Holy Shield Same as Classic
Reduces the Mana cost of your Seal spells by 20%, and when you replace your Seal of Command, Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Fury, or Seal of Justice with a different Seal, you gain an Echo of that Seal. Your next melee attack applies the replaced Seal's effects, consuming the Echo.
Twist of Light Was Repentance
Send your pet into a rage causing 50% additional damage for 18 sec. While enraged, the beast does not feel pity or remorse or fear and it cannot be stopped unless killed.
Bestial Wrath Same as Classic
A long-range shot that deals ranged damage plus 160 and increases the range of your next 3 Shots by 10 yards for 10 sec.
Sniper Shot Was Trueshot Aura
Your Mongoose Bite also causes the target to Bleed for damage equal to 40% of the damage done by Mongoose Bite over 21 sec
Lacerating Strikes Was Wyvern Sting
Finishing move that increases the damage of your Poisons by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 10%. Lasts longer per combo point: 1 point: 9 sec; 2 points: 12 sec; 3 points: 15 sec; 4 points: 18 sec; 5 points: 21 sec.
Venom Was Vigor
Increases your Energy regeneration rate by 100% for 15 sec.
Adrenaline Rush Same as Classic
When your Rupture ability deals periodic damage, the Energy cost of your next Hemorrhage or Backstab ability within 10 sec is reduced by 3, stacking up to 5 times.
Thousand Cuts Was Premeditation
Infuses the target with power, increasing their spell damage and healing done by 20% for 15 sec.
Power Infusion Same as Classic
Places a spell on the target that heals them for 172 the next time they take damage or receive non-periodic healing. When the heal occurs, Prayer of Mending jumps to a party or raid member within 20 yards. Jumps up to 5 times and lasts 30 sec after each jump. This spell can only be placed on one target at a time per caster. level 60 reference
Prayer of Mending Was Lightwell
Assume Shadowform, increasing your Shadow damage by 10%, reducing the Mana cost of all Shadow spells by 50%, increasing the critical strike damage bonus of your Shadow spells by 100%, and reducing Physical damage taken by you by 15%. However, you may not cast healing spells while in this form.
Shadowform Same as Classic
Gain mastery over Fire and Lightning, reducing the cast time of Lightning Bolt and Lava Burst by 0.5 sec, and removing the cooldown from Chain Lightning. Lasts 15 sec.
Elemental Mastery Same as ClassicIncreases your attack speed by 30% for 25 sec.
Rage of the Farseer Was Stormstrike
Heals a friendly target for 484 to 535, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%. level 60 reference
Riptide Was Mana Tide Totem
For the next 15 sec, your spells deal 30% more damage while costing 30% more mana to cast.
Arcane Power Same as Classic
When activated, this spell causes each of your Fire damage spell hits to increase your critical strike chance with Fire damage spells by 10%. This effect lasts until you have caused 3 non-periodic critical strikes with Fire spells.
Combustion Same as Classic
Shield yourself, absorbing 448 damage and increasing your Frost damage by 3% for 1 min. While shielded, your Frost damage is increased by an additional 3% and you do not lose casting time when you take damage. level 60 reference
Ice Barrier Same as Classic
Tears the target apart from within, inflicting 36 Shadow damage every 1 sec and increasing the damage they take from your other Shadow damage over time effects by 10% for 6 sec. level 60 reference
Wrack Was Dark Pact
Your Demonic Sacrifice effect is no longer cancelled by summoning a different Demon pet. Resummoning the sacrificed pet will still cancel the effect.
Demonic Pact Was Improved Spellstone / Soul Link
Deals 99 to 115 Fire damage to your target and an additional 25% damage if the target is afflicted by Immolate. level 60 reference
Incinerate Was Conflagrate
Shapeshift into Moonkin Form, increasing Omen of Clarity's chance to trigger by 100%, Armor contribution from items by 360%, and all party or raid members within 45 yards have their spell Critical Strike chance increased by 3%. Also protects the caster from Polymorph effects and prevents the use of healing spells. The act of shapeshifting frees the caster of Polymorph and Movement Impairing effects.
Moonkin Form Same as Classic
Causes your Primal Bite ability to strike up to 3 targets, removes its cooldown, and increases the critical strike chance of your Combo Point-generating abilities by 100%. Clears and grants immunity to Fear effects for the duration. Lasts 15 sec.
Berserk Was Leader of the Pack
Heals the target and their party for 336 over 7 sec. Party members must be within 43.5 yards of target. The amount healed is applied quickly at first, and slows down as Wild Growth reaches its full duration. level 60 reference
Wild Growth Was SwiftmendNew race and class combinations
- Gnome PriestGnome Priest
- Human HunterHuman Hunter
- Dwarf ShamanDwarf Shaman
- Orc MageOrc Mage
- Troll WarlockTroll Warlock
- Undead PaladinUndead Paladin
The new Skyborne race plays Shaman on the Horde side or Mage on the Alliance side, plus Warrior, Hunter, Rogue and Druid on both, with its own Druid forms. Every race’s racials: WoW Forever races.
WoW Forever class changes FAQ
How many talents are in WoW Forever?
465 across 27 trees, compared with 432 in Classic; 115 of them are new. The counts follow our talent calculator’s data.
Does WoW Forever have dual spec?
Yes. Blizzard’s class deep dives (September 30) say Dual Specialization becomes available at level 40. You change talents, Legacy talents included, at a class trainer in one of the major cities. In an October interview with TechRadar, Blizzard said it has no plans to go past two specs and doesn’t want cheap respecs: once the game is live the price climbs quickly and only comes down once a week (in the beta the first respec each hour is temporarily cheap).
Does downranking still work in WoW Forever?
Much less. Since the October 1 beta build, spells cast at ranks far below your level get less from your Spell Damage and Spell Healing and a lower chance to trigger class abilities and talents such as Frostbite and Omen of Clarity. Blizzard’s example: a rank 1 Frostbolt at level 60 has no chance at all to trigger Frostbite, so you choose between a cheap, quick slow and a Frostbite chance. Healers lose the most, since low-rank heals were how they saved mana and avoided overhealing. Blizzard hasn’t said how far below your level counts as far.
Can Paladins tank in WoW Forever?
Yes. Seal of Fury is a tank seal that adds a small absorb and makes Judgement taunt, and Consecration becomes a baseline ability at level 20.
Which class changes the most in WoW Forever?
By talents, Warlock: 18 new and 16 removed. The Paladin gets the biggest rework of its abilities, with Holy Strike, Seal of Fury and baseline Consecration.
Are Blessing of Kings and Divine Spirit still talents?
No. They, and Improved Mark of the Wild, are now baseline for their classes.
Do weapon skills still matter?
Weapon skill works as before, but gear gives less of it, and racial weapon bonuses are gone: since the October 15 beta build the Human, Dwarf and Orc racials add crit with any weapon.
Are spell and melee hit separate in WoW Forever?
No. Hit is one stat for spells, melee and ranged attacks, and so is critical strike.
Do you have to buy a mount after learning riding?
No. As in The Burning Crusade, the cost moves into riding training and you get a mount when you learn it.
Which races get new classes?
Gnome Priest, Human Hunter, Dwarf Shaman, Orc Mage, Troll Warlock and Undead Paladin, plus the new Skyborne race.
Will talents change in the beta?
They may. Blizzard’s designers said they’ll watch class balance during the beta and adjust where needed.
Still unconfirmed
- What Dual Specialization costs at level 40
- Final talent values, which can still change before launch
- Class abilities outside the talent trees that the panels didn’t cover
Sources
How we choose and check sources
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Hunter and Druid (September 30)
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive panel recap (talent trees, baseline buffs, stats, Paladin)
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive panel, full video
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever What's Next panel recap (class design goals)
- IGN: interview with the Forever designers (class balance in the beta)
- TechRadar: interview with the Forever team (no more than two specs, respec cost, weekly balance updates)