Here’s a little sum-up of what the classes are like, gameplay-wise in TBC:
-Priest:
PVE: one of the most interesting classes in pve: shadow is very fun to play, and holy has a big toolkit for tbc. Shadow starts out quite strong in t4, and ends up bottom of the pack dps-wise in t6 as dots don’t scale with crit or haste, BUT you’re mandatory because of how insane your utility is. You always need at least one of these guys. Holy is not quite as god-tier as resto shaman, but you’re always top tier (right behind them) so you’re in demand for sure.
PVP: discipline priest is a very good pvp spec, almost on par with resto druid depending on the comp (but not quite on average, that’s how op resto was), it’s also a high skillcap spec for those who like that. Shadow priest is ok, and good early on, but melee classes will get better in the latter seasons
-Warlock:
PVE: shadowbolt spamming destro = top tier dps in tbc. The gameplay is very boring but you’ll be up there with hunters. Affliction is very good early on and has good utility, you may even see one in raids later on due to that. Their dps is quite meh in t6 though, but there’s still room for one sometimes due to their utility. Demonology can also be efficient in t5. But yes, overall, destro is king.
PVP: sl/sl is a very good pvp spec, but, surprisingly enough, it really gets good later on with gear.
-mage:
PVE: although not as good as warlock and hunters, fire mage (and arcane mage during some tiers) does really good dps overall. You won’t have tons of them in every raid like in vanilla, but they do have a place with their cc, aoe, good dmg in general yada yada.
PVP: frost is not quite as god tier due to resilience and higher hp pool, but it’s still really potent, with more cc (elemental pet), tons of burst and so on. Fire can see some play but you gotta be really good with it.
-Rogue:
PVE: you’re the least demanded class in the game in T4. Damage early on is nothing to boast about, and your utility in raids is non-existent. Damage starts to catch up in t5, and you’re really good in t6. However, only glaive rogues will have a chance to really compete (or even beat) BM hunters and destro locks. So if you wanted to roll rogue to destroy the dps meters, you may want to think again: only a few people will see that happen.
PVP: the monster of pvp IF the patch is 2.4.3. You’re the best duelist in the game and one of the best classes in arena (again, if the patch is 2.4.3)
-Druid:
PVE: Rejoice feral and balance druids, you’re viable ! Most raids have one feral druid because of their great ability to offtank and dps with the same spec. In fact, you’ll be able to be the main tank later on with good gear because bear tank scales really well in tbc. Feral dps once properly played actually has quite some potential…but you’ll have to work way more than other classes with powershifting and stuff. Resto druid is much better than it was in vanilla too, you won’t feel like a subpar healer anymore. Balance brings quite a bit of utility in tbc as well, so you’re welcome early on. Overall, your dps specs won’t compete with pure dps specs unfortunately, but you really have a lot of utility so you’re welcome in raids.
PVP: resto druid is one of the top dogs in pvp, with rogues and warriors (in arena): cyclone all the way baby!
-Shaman
PVE: restoration shaman is the best healer in tbc pve-wise. Chain heal is just that good, totems too, not much more to say. Enhancement is quite demanded, and elemental too due to their utility. Shamans are one of the most sought after classes in pve. If you like them in vanilla, you’ll really enjoy tbc.
PVP: In arena, a resto shaman coupled with a warrior or a ret paladin is very viable with windfury. But you’ll definitely struggle more than priests or druids as a healer. Enhancement and elemental are playable, but you’ll have a hard time ranking with them.
Hunter:
PVE: BM is the top single target dps spec in the game with warlock (potentially better later on even, but barely). However you’ll spam one macro all the time, not exactly a super fun gameplay. Survival will see some use in t5 due to how it buffs physcial dps (plus it does ok dps overall, though not BM-level dps). Anyways, you’re super in demand.
PVP: BM early on, mm/sv later on. Drain comp for life! You’re one of the least represented class in arena, but it’s not because you suck: you just gotta work ten times more than other classes in arena unfortunatly, BUT it’s more than viable.
-Warrior
PVE: protection is the main tank most of the time, fury is ok dps on average but lower than other pure dps (although it can do top dps in sunwell with the proper gear, but it’s kinda like rogues: most warriors won’t be able to), slam warrior (arms) can be in demand due to the utility. Basically you’re and endgame dps beast if properly geared, and overall you’re ok, but you’re not the monster you were in vanilla.
PVP: kings of arena with druids and rogues, and in bgs with a healer too. 1V1 it’s the same as always: warrior life.
-Paladin:
PVE: prot is amazing for aoe tanking, and very demanded. Holy is quite demanded too due to how efficient it is, but you’re not quite top tier healing-wise (but not bad either). Ret is potent later on, in black temple/hyjal/sunwell or even sooner for some, so it’s better than vanilla overall (much better: you won’t be stuck in holy).
PVP: holy is ok, but just like shaman: you’re no resto druid so beware. Retribution will see some play with resto shamans (windfury totems). You’re not exactly one of the best pvp classes in the game, but you’re not bad either.
There you go fellas !
NB: there’s been some leak about TBC, which may indicate that the game COULD go the progressive route, which essentially means that you’ll go from 2.0 to 2.4.3. It does mean that a few things should be taken with a grain of salt here (for example: feral druids and shadow priests are quite OP early on in tbc) but still, balance was one of the good points of TBC, so this sum-up would still stand imo.
. That’s why I mentioned that bears could main tank later on: they scale really well, and become more than capable of replacing warrior tanks on several encounters. However prot warrios are still very good, and raids will use both depending on the situation. Furthermore, it really depends on the itemization: let’s say blizzard goes with 2.0 itemization instead of 2.1 for t4 and t5 (you never know): that could hurt druids a lot.
