Windwalker Monk Reaches S Tier on the WoW Midnight Season 2 PTR
Arcane Mage remains at the top, while Marksmanship Hunter falls from A+ to B+ after a 15% nerf.
World of Warcraft: Midnight Patch 12.1 testing has produced another Mythic+ tier list update, and Windwalker Monk has climbed from B+ to S tier for Season 2. The rankings reflect the latest PTR changes and the current habits of players testing Mythic+ content, so they remain subject to further tuning.
The update places Patch 12.1 roughly one week from release and leaves about two weeks before Midnight Season 2 is scheduled to begin on August 18/19. That gives the class rankings more time to change before the season begins.
Windwalker Monk makes a major climb
Windwalker Monk is the biggest surprise in the latest update. After spending years outside the top tier, the specialization now sits in the S bracket thanks to a well-rounded Mythic+ toolkit.
Its strengths include Mystic Touch, strong area damage, reliable priority-target damage, and powerful burst windows. Windwalker is placed in the list’s “Alternative S” group because it does not fit neatly into the dominant composition, but the ranking still treats it as a strong choice for players looking beyond the standard setup.
Arcane Mage remains at the top of the DPS rankings. The specialization was already performing extremely well, then received another round of buffs in the latest PTR build. The update now considers Arcane one of the strongest damage options being tested for Mythic+.
All three Rogue specs move up
Rogue also had a good week, with every specialization climbing. Outlaw received another set of buffs and joined Windwalker Monk in the “Alternative S” tier.
Assassination received a 10% overall buff and moved into A+. Subtlety remains the lowest-ranked Rogue specialization, but buffs of around 30% lifted it higher than before. The update still places Subtlety behind its fellow Rogue specs, though its position is less severe than it was in the previous ranking.
The Week 4 chart shows the current placements across the Mythic+ specializations. The ranking weighs damage output, utility, survivability, and how each spec fits the Season 2 dungeon pool.
A video breakdown of the full ranking accompanies the update.
Hunters continue to fall
Hunters are moving in the opposite direction. The recent nerf to Hunter’s Mark has continued to hurt the class in the PTR rankings.
Marksmanship Hunter received a 15% nerf and dropped from A+ to B+. Beast Mastery also fell, ending the week in B tier. The changes leave both specializations further from the top Mythic+ choices than they were in the previous update.
Devastation Evoker remains in a difficult spot
Devastation Evoker is another major loser in the latest assessment. Buffs intended to help Scalecommander also affected Flameshaper, and the resulting balance leaves Devastation in a worse position for Mythic+ despite improving its raid prospects.
The update’s assessment is especially harsh, suggesting that a group would be better served by a second Blood Death Knight or another tank than by Devastation Evoker. That is a reflection of the current PTR ranking rather than a permanent statement about the specialization, since more tuning can still arrive before Season 2.
The other Evoker specializations are not in an ideal position either. Preservation is described as the hardest healer to pilot at the moment, while Augmentation has trouble fitting into group compositions when Arcane Mage and Restoration Shaman already provide lust.
These rankings are still provisional
The tier list is based on recent PTR testing and focuses on more than raw damage. Utility, damage profiles, and the demands of the Season 2 dungeons all affect a specialization’s placement. The list also reflects an opinion about the current testing environment, so it can change from week to week as Blizzard adjusts classes and players find stronger group compositions.
Windwalker Monk, Outlaw, and the other rising specs have made the latest PTR rankings much more competitive, but the final Mythic+ picture will not be clear until tuning ends and Season 2 begins on August 18/19. Share your thoughts on these rankings in the comments and follow along on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
World of Warcraft: Midnight
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