Warlocks and Ret Paladins Rise Ahead of Midnight Season 2 Mythic+ Week 2
Demonology and Retribution gained ground after recent buffs, but Windwalker Monk remains TBD before the August 25 class-tuning pass.
World of Warcraft: Midnight Season 2’s first Mythic+ week has already pushed Warlocks and Ret Paladins up the conversation, but the early rankings remain far from settled. Blizzard’s next class-tuning pass will go live with the weekly reset on August 25, giving several specializations another chance to move before week 2 fully takes shape.
The current tier list is built from the first week of Season 2 data, which means the sample remains small. Most players also have not unlocked their four-piece set bonus yet, so the rankings could change quickly as gear, dungeon routes, and class tuning settle into place.
Warlocks and Retribution Paladins gain ground
Warlock specializations received a strong push from recent tuning. Demonology is entering the second week in particularly good shape and could climb even higher once more runs are available. Affliction also moved from B tier to A tier after receiving improvements to both area-of-effect and single-target damage, although it still sits behind Demonology and Destruction in the current assessment.
Retribution Paladin has benefited from buffs in each of the last two tuning passes. That momentum could make Ret a contender for physical damage compositions, especially as another physical option struggles to keep pace.
A video breakdown of the early rankings is available below, covering the week’s changes and the data behind them.
Windwalker Monk has not matched its PTR promise
Windwalker Monk looked promising during the final weeks of PTR testing, but the specialization has not delivered the same performance in the opening week of Season 2. Its new four-piece bonus may be a major factor, though there is not enough data to say yet. For now, Windwalker remains in the TBD tier rather than receiving a firm placement.
Tank rankings tighten after the latest buffs
Brewmaster received increases to both damage and survivability. Physical groups may prefer it over Protection Warrior and Vengeance Demon Hunter because of Mystic Touch, even though Brewmaster is currently viewed as the weakest of those three tanks overall.
Guardian Druid is also moving upward and appears to be close to S tier. Blood Death Knight’s clearest advantage over Guardian is damage, but the gap between the two tanks is now quite small.
Several familiar picks lose ground
- Enhancement Shaman fell from A+ to A tier after surrounding specializations either improved or held their positions.
- Unholy Death Knight is barely holding onto A+ despite having the lowest damage output in that tier. Its durability is the main reason it remains so high.
- Fire Mage dropped to C tier without receiving direct changes. The competition around it simply became stronger.
- Augmentation Evoker also sits in C tier after expected buffs failed to arrive.
Frost, Hunters, and healers trend upward
- Frost Death Knight remains difficult to place, landing somewhere between A and A+ while more data is collected.
- Beast Mastery Hunter moved into A tier after receiving several buffs and could climb again in the coming weeks.
- Restoration Druid received smaller buffs that were enough to keep it in B tier.
- Preservation Evoker received enough help to remain the current third-best healer, though Mistweaver Monk is close behind and easier to play.
- Devastation Evoker remains in B tier but is performing well in the +12 to +15 range. Its current strength may not translate to the highest keys as the season progresses.
What the early Mythic+ rankings measure
The list weighs each specialization’s raw throughput, utility, and damage profile across the Season 2 dungeon pool. It is also an opinion-based snapshot rather than a permanent verdict, particularly while players are still chasing four-piece bonuses and the August 25 tuning pass has not gone live.
Mythic+ groups should treat these placements as a starting point, not a strict rule for every run. Which specialization do you expect to climb once the next tuning pass arrives? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
World of Warcraft: Midnight
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