Blizzard says it is the Rogue. Principal Designer Kris Zierhut said on the official WoW: Forever podcast that Rogues are meant to be the highest single-target damage dealers on a standstill, Patchwerk-style fight, with mechanics left out. That is a design goal, not a measured result. The beta is capped at level 30, and no raid damage numbers exist yet.
Quick facts
| Who said it | Kris Zierhut, Principal Designer, WoW: Forever podcast episode 2 (reported by Wowhead) |
| What was claimed | Rogues are meant to top single-target damage on a fight where you stand still |
| What was not claimed | That Rogues top AoE, cleave or fights with lots of movement |
| Current proof | None yet. Beta is capped at level 30 and tuning is still changing |
| When it gets tested | Launch on November 4, 2026; raids unlock December 9, 2026 |
| Who can be a Rogue | The classic Rogue races, plus Skyborne on both factions |
Does that mean Rogues will top every damage meter?
No. A Patchwerk fight is the clean case: one target, no movement, no adds. Real encounters add cleave, target swaps and positioning, and those can push other classes ahead. Forever ships with a built-in damage meter, so after the December 9 raid unlock you will see real numbers instead of design targets.
Beta progress is temporary: beta gold is wiped on October 21. Launch gold has its own card. Launch gold (from November 4) · All Forever services
What changed for Forever Rogues?
Blizzard has only shown highlights in a class video so far, not full talent trees. Assassination: Mutilate strikes with both weapons, so you get two crit chances, and Venom is a new finisher that boosts poison damage. Subtlety: Energy now recovers continuously, Stealth and bleeds matter more, and Cutthroat lets you Ambush outside Stealth. Combat: a Hack and Slash talent covers different weapon types. The full Rogue deep dive has not been published.
Which other DPS classes look strong?
Nobody can rank them yet. Here is what Blizzard has shown so far. Warriors get Weaponmaster, which replaces the old weapon specializations, and Raging Blows for Fury. Their beta Rage is bugged right now: the intended values are +100% Rage on crits and +50% off-hand Rage from Dual Wield. Marksmanship Hunters get Lone Wolf, which gives 20% more damage with no active pet, and the new Sniper Shot. Shadow Priests get a reworked Shadowform: Shadow spells cost half the mana and get a doubled crit damage bonus. Elemental Shamans get Lava Burst and Lightning Overload, Retribution Paladins get a full damage toolkit, and Mages have had beta tuning to Hot Streak and Ignite. Blizzard has not published a Warlock deep dive.
Forever Secondary Skills: Cooking, First Aid & FishingAll three secondary skills to 300 on your character.from 39 EURGet it doneShould you roll a Rogue just for damage?
Only if you like playing one. Dual specialization opens at level 40, raids come in 10-, 20- and 40-player sizes (Onyxia's Lair is the 40), and groups still need tanks, healers and crowd control, so every class has a place. A stated design goal is also beta-era intent, and Blizzard has said abilities may still change before launch. Pick a class you will enjoy across a long, endless level-60 game.
If you want help leveling whichever class you pick, PewPewShop's vetted players already play on the Forever beta. They offer dungeon runs from EUR 12 and Forever Dungeon Leveling from EUR 40, with coaching for players who want to learn their rotation.