World of Warcraft classes are divided into nine categories.
Players select one World of Warcraft class to represent their personalities and goals within the game world. Each race features a specific set of restrictions, thus each race will have a different profile of classes available to it.
Each class provides a unique profile of abilities and talents for the player to explore. Abilities represent skills and spells available to the class, and talents empower players to specify and define their role in the world. Within each class the player can explore three distinct talent trees.
In the sub-pages to this section, I will provide more specific World of Warcraft class guides to address specific tactics, pros and cons for each class.
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World of Warcraft’s nine classes prior to Blizzard’s release of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion pack:
- The Warrior is often referred to as a “tank” class for being a high-damage giving or taking class. This World of Warcraft class is a melee fighter who emphasizes non-magical weapons. The player can specialize the Warrior to deal damage or to be a protective tank.
- The Warlock is another damage class. A sinister blend of Mage and Hunter classes, the Warlock inflicts magical damage just like a Mage but in addition has access to vicious pets, sort of like the Hunter class but the Warlock’s crazy little side-kicks are called minions. The Warlock can invoke attack spells which impose damage-over-time spells or cast spells that inflict the damage all-at-once, like those of theMage or Shaman classes.
- The Rogue is a stealthy damage class. A shadowy assassin who avoids being seen by enemies with near-invisibility, the sly Rogue inflicts damage with the ability to dual-wield melee weapons. When I first began playing World of Warcraft, I was loyal to the Rogue class because of my love for the Looking Glass Studios classic Thief games.
- The Priest is either a healer or one of the damage-dealing World of Warcraft classes, depending on whether the player pursues good as a Holy Priest or evil as a Shadow Priest. The Priest is lightly-armored.
- The Shaman is what is often referred to as a hybrid class. Compared Paladins and Druids (other hybrid classees), the Shaman is limited as an effective tank. Yet specifically equipped and specialized Shamans can out-damage either Paladins in melee combat or Druids in spell battles.
- The Paladin is another so-called hybrid class who serves as a tough combat healer. Just like with Druids, the player can specialize this holy warrior to perform each of the three major World of Warcraft roles.
- In the original WoW release, you could only play a Paladin if you decided to be an Alliance character and you could only play a Shaman if you opted to represent the Horde. With The Burning Crusade expansion pack, however, Blood Elves of the Horde can be Paladins and the Draenei of the Alliance can be Shamans.
- The Mage is more strictly a damage class, dealing damage through spells derived from frost, fire and the arcane. Don’t underestimate theMage’s value in parties as it can also conjure food and water for its comrades.
- Ironically, the Hunter is a favorite of pet lovers everywhere. The Hunter is a damage class that employs a blend of archery skills and pet mastery. The hunter deals damage with ranged weapons such as bows, crossbows or guns. He also enlists the loyal assistance of animal pets. The hunter may also utilize traps on unsuspecting enemies.
- The Druid is yet another hybrid class. This veritable hippie of a class can be a tank, damage dealer or a healer. The great fun of a druid isshapeshifting into many different forms to perform different roles, such as a bear for tanking or a Tree for healing.
A tenth class called the Death Knight — the first Hero class — will be added with the upcoming expansion Wrath of the Liche King.
I hope this World of Warcraft Class Guide provides you with a decent overview of the World of Warcraft classes.
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