Midnight Mythic+ DPS Tier List: Season 2, Patch 12.1.5
Midnight Mythic+ DPS tier list for Season 2 (12.1.5): all 27 specs ranked by October 28 top-key data, with best melee and ranged, utility and comps.
In this guide 17 sections
This Midnight Mythic+ DPS tier list ranks all 27 damage specs for Season 2 on patch 12.1.5. It doesn't copy anyone else's tier letters. Each spec is placed by two pieces of public data: how often it appears in the world's top 2,000 timed keys, and how high its best players score. Below the tiers you'll find the best melee and ranged picks, the utility each spec brings, and the group the top keys actually run.
Quick summary
- Best Mythic+ DPS: Subtlety Rogue, Arms Warrior and Elemental Shaman. Each one played in at least 84.9% of the top 2,000 timed keys, and they hold the top three Murlok scores.
- One trio runs most top keys. Arms, Elemental and Subtlety together were the damage dealers in 1,405 of the 2,000 runs.
- Next best: Arcane Mage, Retribution Paladin and Havoc Demon Hunter (A tier), the usual swaps into that trio.
- Subtlety was nerfed by 8% on October 27 (Blizzard). It still played in 346 of the 363 top keys finished after the hotfix.
- Every spec can time normal keys. The tiers describe +23 and +24 groups, not what you need for a +10 or your rating goal.
How this Mythic+ DPS tier list is ranked
- Top-key share: how many of Raider.IO's top 2,000 timed Season 2 runs worldwide had each spec in a damage slot. The sample is the top 2,000 runs completed up to the end of October 28 (UTC): 1,874 +23 keys and 126 +24 keys, pulled October 29. Specs tied on the same count share a rank.
- Top-player score: Murlok.io's Mythic+ DPS ranking, which scores each spec by the Mythic+ ratings of its best active players in the US, EU, KR and TW regions. It refreshes every 8 hours. We read it on October 29.
- Tier: the average of the spec's rank on both lists. S is 3 or better, A is up to 6, B is up to 12, C is up to 18, and D is above 18.
- Notes, not tier changes: Blizzard tuning after the data window, and the utility each spec brings. A spec's tier only moves when the data does.
Both data sets describe the very top of the ladder. That's a narrow slice of players, and they stack the same comp, so a spec that's rare there can still be a great pick for your key level. The utility and group sections below matter as much as the letter.
Midnight Mythic+ DPS tier list for Season 2
| Spec | Tier | Runs in top 2,000 keys | Murlok score | Average rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subtlety Rogue | S | 1,839, 92.0% (1st) | 4,208 (2nd) | 1.5 |
| Arms Warrior | S | 1,698, 84.9% (3rd) | 4,215 (1st) | 2.0 |
| Elemental Shaman | S | 1,735, 86.8% (2nd) | 4,207 (3rd) | 2.5 |
| Arcane Mage | A | 155, 7.8% (4th) | 4,122 (4th) | 4.0 |
| Retribution Paladin | A | 132, 6.6% (5th) | 4,083 (6th) | 5.5 |
| Havoc Demon Hunter | A | 81, 4.1% (6th) | 4,093 (5th) | 5.5 |
| Frost Death Knight | B | 65, 3.3% (8th) | 4,039 (9th) | 8.5 |
| Devourer Demon Hunter | B | 35, 1.8% (10th) | 4,054 (8th) | 9.0 |
| Feral Druid | B | 44, 2.2% (9th) | 4,019 (10th) | 9.5 |
| Windwalker Monk | B | 28, 1.4% (12th) | 4,064 (7th) | 9.5 |
| Assassination Rogue | B | 76, 3.8% (7th) | 3,946 (14th) | 10.5 |
| Beast Mastery Hunter | B | 30, 1.5% (11th) | 4,004 (11th) | 11.0 |
| Demonology Warlock | C | 18 (13th) | 3,990 (12th) | 12.5 |
| Shadow Priest | C | 7 (15th) | 3,904 (16th) | 15.5 |
| Enhancement Shaman | C | 2 (19th) | 3,986 (13th) | 16.0 |
| Balance Druid | C | 4 (16th) | 3,893 (18th) | 17.0 |
| Fury Warrior | C | 3 (17th) | 3,895 (17th) | 17.0 |
| Unholy Death Knight | C | 1 (20th) | 3,936 (15th) | 17.5 |
| Outlaw Rogue | C | 11 (14th) | 3,799 (22nd) | 18.0 |
| Survival Hunter | D | 3 (17th) | 3,800 (21st) | 19.0 |
| Augmentation Evoker | D | 1 (20th) | 3,810 (19th) | 19.5 |
| Marksmanship Hunter | D | 1 (20th) | 3,806 (20th) | 20.0 |
| Destruction Warlock | D | 1 (20th) | 3,709 (26th) | 23.0 |
| Affliction Warlock | D | 0 (24th) | 3,751 (23rd) | 23.5 |
| Devastation Evoker | D | 0 (24th) | 3,737 (24th) | 24.0 |
| Frost Mage | D | 0 (24th) | 3,732 (25th) | 24.5 |
| Fire Mage | D | 0 (24th) | 3,699 (27th) | 25.5 |
The run count is how many of the 2,000 runs had at least one of that spec. Subtlety filled 1,862 damage slots in 1,839 runs, so some top groups brought two. 1,949 of the 2,000 runs were finished after patch 12.1.5 went live on October 13, so the table reflects the current patch.
The two measures agree at the top and split in the middle. Assassination shows up in more top keys than Windwalker or Devourer, but its best players score lower. Enhancement and Unholy score well on Murlok but almost never appear in top keys.
What changed after the data was collected
Blizzard's October 27 hotfixes went live at the US weekly reset. Only 363 runs in the sample came after them, so most of the data predates these changes.
| Spec | October 27 change (Blizzard) | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Subtlety Rogue | All ability damage reduced by 8%. Trickster's Fazed now increases damage by 5% (was 7%) | Blizzard says the 12.1.5 compensation buff "overshot expectations." Sub still played in 346 of the 363 later runs |
| Feral Druid | All damage done increased by 5% (not in PvP) | A B-tier spec with room to climb |
| Fire Mage | All damage done increased by 5% (not in PvP) | Last on both lists before the buff |
| Marksmanship Hunter | Trick Shots ricochet damage 85% (was 75%), Explosive Shot and Volley damage +10% | Blizzard's note says the changes target its AoE |
| Affliction Warlock | Unstable Affliction damage increased by 20% (not in PvP) | No top-key runs before the buff |
| Destruction Warlock | Rain of Fire damage increased by 20% | AoE only |
Why the S-tier specs lead Mythic+
Subtlety Rogue (S)
Subtlety played in 92% of the top keys. Patch 12.1.5 fixed Shadow damage bonuses that could apply more than once and raised all of Subtlety's ability damage by 14% to compensate (Blizzard 12.1.5 notes). Icy Veins describes its burst and sustained damage as among the strongest after those buffs. Blizzard then took back 8% on October 27, saying the patch changes helped the Trickster hero tree more than Deathstalker. Rogues also bring Shroud of Concealment for skips.
Arms Warrior (S)
Arms has the highest top-player score of any DPS spec. Icy Veins credits strong single-target, priority-target and AoE damage, plus a more AoE-focused Season 2 tier set. It brings Battle Shout and Rallying Cry. Our Arms Warrior guide covers the build.
Elemental Shaman (S)
Elemental is the ranged spec in almost every top group. Icy Veins says Season 2 moved its damage from Ascendance into baseline spells, and that Farseer builds took over after Stormbringer nerfs. It brings Bloodlust and Skyfury, so taking it also fills the lust slot. See our Elemental Shaman guide.
Why the A-tier specs rank where they do
- Arcane Mage (A). Fourth on both lists, and the most common ranged swap for Elemental. Icy Veins notes it's stronger in single-target and AoE and much more durable than in Season 1. It brings Arcane Intellect. Our Arcane Mage guide has the talents.
- Retribution Paladin (A). Fifth in top keys, often in place of Elemental beside Arms and Subtlety. Icy Veins says Art of War no longer procs from extra Skyfury attacks, so it relies less on a Shaman in the group. It brings Devotion Aura and Intercession, a battle res. See our Retribution Paladin guide.
- Havoc Demon Hunter (A). Fifth on Murlok. It fits both caster groups (Chaos Brand) and physical groups, per Icy Veins, and brings Darkness and Chaos Nova.
Why the B, C and D specs rank where they do
- Frost Death Knight, Devourer, Feral, Windwalker and Beast Mastery (B) all sit between 7th and 12th on both lists. Icy Veins calls Frost DK "incredibly tanky," calls Windwalker one of the squishiest specs, and says Devourer climbed after several buffs in a row. Our Devourer Demon Hunter guide covers the Collapsing Star changes from 12.1.5.
- Assassination Rogue (B) is seventh in top keys but 14th by score. Icy Veins keeps its funnel and priority-target damage high but says Blizzard moved burst out of Deathmark and Kingsbane. In 57 of its 76 top runs it replaced Subtlety beside Arms and Elemental. Our Assassination Rogue guide covers it.
- Demonology, Shadow, Enhancement, Balance, Fury, Unholy and Outlaw (C) each have fewer than 20 top-key runs. Icy Veins says Fury struggles in mass AoE and that Warlocks bring little group utility beyond Healthstones, curses and Demonic Gateway.
- Survival, Augmentation, Marksmanship, the other Warlocks, Devastation and both other Mages (D) have one top-key run or none. Augmentation is a support spec, and its value is in buffing others, which neither measure shows well. Icy Veins also says its Scalecommander build was nerfed going into Season 2.
Best melee and ranged DPS for Mythic+
| Role | Best by this list | Next picks |
|---|---|---|
| Melee | Subtlety Rogue, Arms Warrior | Retribution Paladin, Havoc Demon Hunter, Frost Death Knight |
| Ranged | Elemental Shaman | Arcane Mage, Devourer Demon Hunter, Beast Mastery Hunter |
Devourer is Midnight's ranged Demon Hunter spec. Elemental is the only ranged spec in the most common top-key trio, and the only S-tier spec that brings Bloodlust.
The group the top keys run
The most common full group in the top 2,000 keys was Blood Death Knight, Holy Paladin, Arms Warrior, Elemental Shaman and Subtlety Rogue: 1,198 runs, or 59.9%. That comp covers every core job:
- Bloodlust: Elemental Shaman.
- Battle res: Blood Death Knight (Raise Ally).
- Group buffs: Battle Shout from Arms, Skyfury from Elemental, Devotion Aura from the Paladin.
- Skips: Shroud of Concealment from Subtlety.
The healer and tank half of that group is ranked in our Mythic+ healer and tank tier list, built from the same Raider.IO and Murlok data.
| Next most common damage trios | Runs |
|---|---|
| Arms Warrior, Retribution Paladin, Subtlety Rogue | 65 |
| Arcane Mage, Elemental Shaman, Subtlety Rogue | 60 |
| Arms Warrior, Assassination Rogue, Elemental Shaman | 57 |
| Arcane Mage, Elemental Shaman, Havoc Demon Hunter | 36 |
Example. Your group has a Guardian Druid and a Restoration Shaman, and you're picking three DPS. The healer already brings Bloodlust, so you don't need Elemental for it. Arms Warrior, Retribution Paladin and Subtlety Rogue is the second most common top-key trio, and 46 top runs used exactly that group. The Paladin adds a battle res, and the Druid tank has Rebirth as a backup.
Check what each spec brings
| Need | Specs that bring it |
|---|---|
| Bloodlust | Elemental and Enhancement Shaman (Bloodlust), Beast Mastery and Survival Hunter (Primal Rage from the pet) |
| Battle res | Frost and Unholy Death Knight (Raise Ally), Balance and Feral Druid (Rebirth), all Warlock specs (Soulstone), Retribution Paladin (Intercession) |
| Group buffs | Skyfury (Shaman), Arcane Intellect (Mage), Battle Shout (Warrior), Mark of the Wild (Druid), Mystic Touch (Monk), Chaos Brand (Demon Hunter), Hunter's Mark (Hunter), Power Word: Fortitude (Priest), Blessing of the Bronze (Evoker) |
| Group defensives | Rallying Cry (Warrior), Anti-Magic Zone (Death Knight), Darkness (Demon Hunter), Devotion Aura (Paladin) |
| AoE stops | Capacitor Totem (Shaman), Shockwave (Warrior), Leg Sweep (Monk), Chaos Nova and Sigil of Misery (Demon Hunter) |
| Skips and movement | Shroud of Concealment (Rogue), Demonic Gateway (Warlock), Wind Rush Totem (Shaman, optional) |
This table is a decision aid, not a full list of every spec's tools. Check the talent tree in game for optional picks.
Check what patch 12.1.5 changed for DPS
Blizzard's 12.1.5 notes (October 13) also changed these DPS specs:
| Spec | Change |
|---|---|
| Devourer Demon Hunter | Collapsing Star no longer goes on a 5-second cooldown when cancelled, and has more range once the cast starts |
| Marksmanship Hunter | Unload removed. New talent Blood Fletching: Aimed Shot crits apply the Master Marksman bleed at 20% of the damage dealt, and the target takes extra bleed damage for 4 seconds |
| Outlaw Rogue | Deft Maneuvers now raises Blade Flurry's Energy cost by 5 per target hit, up to 30 (was a flat 30) |
| Augmentation Evoker | Chronowarden: Temporality and Temporal Burst durations now scale with Mastery |
| Devastation Evoker | Scalecommander: Melt Armor damage increased by 100% |
| Frost Mage | Spellslinger: Splinterstorm is no longer removed at the start of a raid encounter or Mythic+ run |
Use the list for your key level
- Under +12 or in pick-up groups: every spec here times these keys when it's played well. Pick what you enjoy and learn its interrupts. Our interrupt coordination guide helps with that.
- Pushing for rating: in the +23 and +24 keys of the sample, groups stack the S-tier trio. The 12.1.5 notes added Keystone Myth: Season 2 for a 3,600 rating, with the title "the Venomous Contender" and the Timelost Saddle. Our push guide covers the climb.
- New to keys: start with our first key checklist and the Season 2 dungeon guide. Den of Nalorakk and Murder Row had the most runs in the sample, so our Den of Nalorakk guide is a good next read.
Best DPS for beginners in Mythic+
This is a decision aid, not a ranking:
- Forgiving ranged pick: Beast Mastery Hunter, which Icy Veins calls "particularly welcoming for newcomers." It's B tier here and brings Primal Rage.
- Sturdy melee pick: Frost Death Knight, which Icy Veins calls "incredibly tanky." It's B tier and brings a battle res.
- Top tier but demanding: Subtlety Rogue and Arms Warrior reward practice the most. Windwalker is strong but squishy, per Icy Veins.
- Slow to learn: Icy Veins says Marksmanship has one of the slowest playstyles because of Aimed Shot's long cast.
Returning, boosted and alt players
- Returning for 12.1.5? Subtlety went from a 14% buff to an 8% nerf in two weeks. Check the October 27 table before you pick talents.
- Boosted or fresh max-level characters get judged on damage and kicks. Practice your rotation in lower keys, and fill your Great Vault while you learn.
- Alts do well when they fill a gap in your usual group. If your friends lack Bloodlust or a battle res, the utility table shows who brings them.
For raid rankings, see the Venomous Abyss raid DPS tier list and the raid healer and tank tier list. For arenas, see the Midnight PvP tier list. Every other Midnight guide is linked from the World of Warcraft hub.
Want a hand with this?
If you would rather not grind this part yourself, World of Warcraft dungeon and Mythic+ services are listed on FullBoosts. Read Blizzard's End User License Agreement before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included — a marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.
FAQ
What is the best DPS for Mythic+ in Midnight Season 2? Subtlety Rogue, Arms Warrior and Elemental Shaman. Each played in at least 84.9% of the world's top 2,000 timed keys up to October 28, and they hold the top three Murlok scores.
What is the best ranged DPS for Mythic+ right now? Elemental Shaman, which played in 86.8% of the top keys and brings Bloodlust. Arcane Mage is the next ranged pick, and Devourer Demon Hunter follows on Murlok.
What is the best melee DPS for Mythic+ in Midnight? Subtlety Rogue and Arms Warrior. Arms has the highest top-player score on Murlok, and Subtlety has the largest share of top keys. Retribution Paladin and Havoc Demon Hunter are the next melee picks.
Is Subtlety Rogue still good after the October 27 nerf? Yes, so far. Blizzard cut its ability damage by 8%, but it still played in 346 of the 363 top keys finished after the hotfix. Recheck after a full week.
What is the worst DPS for Mythic+ in Season 2? Fire Mage, Frost Mage, Devastation Evoker and Affliction Warlock had no runs in the top 2,000 keys. Fire and Affliction got buffs on October 27, so they may climb.
How often does this tier list change? Raider.IO and Murlok update daily, and Blizzard tunes classes most weeks. These tiers are a snapshot from October 28, 2026.
Related guides
- Midnight Mythic+ healer and tank tier list
- Midnight raid DPS tier list
- Midnight PvP tier list
- Arms Warrior guide
- Elemental Shaman guide
- Season 2 Mythic+ dungeons and rewards
- Mythic+ push guide for title range
- Mythic Plus tier list for classes and specs
- Best WoW classes in Midnight
More from World of Warcraft
Explore services and find the right option for your next goal.
