WoW Forever Class Changes vs Classic: All 9 Classes
Every WoW Forever class change vs Classic: 30 new abilities, 23 new ranks, 245 retuned abilities and 331 changed talents, class by class.
Every class in WoW Forever plays differently from Classic. We compared every class spell and talent in the Forever client with the Classic Era client: what's brand new, what gained ranks, and what got retuned. This guide summarises it class by class, with links to the full ability pages and the per-class change lists.
| Class | New abilities | New ranks | Retuned abilities | Changed talents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | 2 | 1 | 22 | 43 |
| Paladin | 7 | 1 | 28 | 26 |
| Hunter | 4 | 4 | 25 | 33 |
| Rogue | 1 | 1 | 11 | 41 |
| Priest | 6 | 3 | 32 | 38 |
| Shaman | 4 | 3 | 35 | 39 |
| Mage | 3 | 3 | 27 | 44 |
| Warlock | 2 | 3 | 28 | 33 |
| Druid | 1 | 4 | 37 | 34 |
Warrior changes in WoW Forever
Warriors get 2 new abilities (Spearing Strike, Tactical Mastery), new ranks for Slam, 22 retuned abilities and 43 changed talents. Full list: Warrior changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spearing Strike | Level 1 | 1 | A brutal attack that deals 40% weapon damage. |
| Tactical Mastery | Level 14 | 1 | You retain up to 10 Rage when you change Stances. |
- Retaliation and Shield Wall cooldowns halved from 30 min to 15 min; Shield Wall lasts 12 sec (was 10).
- Battle Shout lasts 3 min (was 2) and Demoralizing Shout 45 sec (was 30).
- Shield Block lasts 7 sec (was 5).
- Slam now has an 18 sec cooldown and a new fifth rank.
- Victory Rush is trained at level 20 with a 30 sec cooldown (was 8 sec).
- Thunder Clap cooldown 6 sec (was 4); Taunt 8 sec (was 10).
Paladin changes in WoW Forever
Paladins get 7 new abilities (Holy Strike, Light's Vigil, Revoke, Seal of Fury, Swift Judgement, Templar's Bulwark, Voice of Truth), new ranks for Holy Shock, 28 retuned abilities and 26 changed talents. Full list: Paladin changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Strike | Level 6 | 8 | An instant strike that causes 50% weapon damage plus an additional 81 to 105 as Holy damage. |
| Light's Vigil | Level 40 | 3 | Applies Light's Vigil to the target for 30 sec. |
| Revoke | Level 26 | 1 | Remove target party or raid member's Salvation or Mass Salvation. |
| Seal of Fury | Level 10 | 7 | Fills the Paladin with divine fury for 30 sec, causing melee attacks to deal an additional 35 Holy damage. |
| Swift Judgement | Level 1 | 1 | Finishes the remaining cooldown on your Judgement ability and reduces the Mana cost of your next Judgement by 100%. |
| Templar's Bulwark | Level 30 | 1 | When activated, this ability grants you an absorb shield equal to 100% of your maximum health for 8 sec. |
| Voice of Truth | Level 20 | 1 | Grants you immunity to Silence and Interrupt effects for 6 sec. |
- Blessings last 60 min (single blessings were 5 min, Greater Blessings 15 min).
- Holy Shock cooldown cut from 30 sec to 10 sec, with a new fourth rank.
- Lay on Hands cooldown cut from 60 min to 20 min.
- Hammer of the Righteous is trained at level 40.
Hunter changes in WoW Forever
Hunters get 4 new abilities (Lacerate, Sniper Shot, Strider Kick, Summon Hawk), new ranks for Aspect of the Beast, Counterattack, Trueshot Aura, 25 retuned abilities and 33 changed talents. Full list: Hunter changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lacerate | Level 30 | 4 | Wounds the target causing them to bleed for 406 damage over 21 sec. |
| Sniper Shot | Level 40 | 3 | A long-range shot that deals ranged damage plus 295 and increases the range of your next 3 Shots by 10 yards for 10 sec. |
| Strider Kick | Level 30 | 1 | A powerful kick that deals 100% melee weapon damage and increases movement speed by 30% for 3 sec. |
| Summon Hawk | Level 25 | 4 | Command a hawk to dive-bomb your targeted enemy, dealing 108 Physical damage and continuing its assault for 18 sec. |
- Aimed Shot casts in 2 sec (was 3).
- Multi-Shot cooldown 6 sec (was 10) and now costs a percentage of mana.
- Freezing, Frost, Immolation and Explosive Trap cooldowns doubled to 30 sec.
- Raptor Strike costs 10 mana at rank 1 (was 15); Viper Sting gains a 15 sec cooldown.
- Volley no longer has a cooldown.
- Eyes of the Beast lasts 2 min (was 1).
Rogue changes in WoW Forever
Rogues get 1 new ability (Venom), new ranks for Mutilate, 11 retuned abilities and 41 changed talents. Full list: Rogue changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venom | Level 40 | 1 | Finishing move that increases the damage of your Poisons by 30% and your chance to apply Poisons by 10%. |
- Mutilate is a trained, ranked ability (4 ranks, from level 30) instead of a single spell.
- Distract lasts 10 sec.
- Venom is a new level 40 finisher that empowers your Poisons.
Priest changes in WoW Forever
Priests get 6 new abilities (Chastise, Confounding Flash, Contingency Plan, Dark Sacrifice, Divine Grace, Shadow Word: Death), new ranks for Binding Heal, Penance, Prayer of Mending, 32 retuned abilities and 38 changed talents. Full list: Priest changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chastise | Level 20 | 5 | Chastise the target, causing 272 to 306 Holy damage and Immobilizing them for up to 2 sec. |
| Confounding Flash | Level 10 | 1 | Confuses nearby enemies within 8 yds for 3 sec. |
| Contingency Plan | Level 20 | 5 | Place a Holy ward on an ally for 30 sec. |
| Dark Sacrifice | Level 20 | 5 | Cannibalize 1600 of your own Health over 15 sec to gain 1600 Mana. |
| Divine Grace | Level 10 | 7 | Instantly heals a friendly target below 50% Health for 1269 to 1497 and removes Weakened Soul from that target. |
| Shadow Word: Death | Level 32 | 4 | A word of dark binding that inflicts 434 to 462 Shadow damage to the target. |
- Devouring Plague cooldown cut from 3 min to 24 sec.
- Fear Ward cooldown 3 min (was 30 sec), lasting 3 min (was 10).
- Power Word: Fortitude and Divine Spirit last 60 min (was 30).
- Feedback costs less than half as much mana at every rank (rank 1: 55, was 140).
- Starshards now has a 30 sec cooldown.
- Penance, Binding Heal and Prayer of Mending are ranked trainer spells learned at 30, 25 and 40.
Shaman changes in WoW Forever
Shamans get 4 new abilities (Call of the Ancestors, Call of the Elements, Call of the Spirits, Totemic Recall), new ranks for Lava Burst, Mana Tide Totem, Riptide, 35 retuned abilities and 39 changed talents. Full list: Shaman changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call of the Ancestors | Level 30 | 1 | Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. |
| Call of the Elements | Level 20 | 1 | Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. |
| Call of the Spirits | Level 40 | 1 | Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. |
| Totemic Recall | Level 20 | 1 | Returns your totems to the earth, giving you 25% of the mana required to cast each totem destroyed by Totemic Recall. |
- Most totems last 5 min (were 2 min; Healing Stream and Mana Spring were 1 min).
- Lightning Bolt casts in 2.5 sec (was 3) and costs less (rank 1: 60 mana, was 75).
- Chain Lightning casts in 2 sec (was 2.5) for about half the mana (rank 1: 145, was 280).
- Fire Nova costs less at every rank.
- Lava Burst, Riptide and Mana Tide Totem are ranked trainer spells.
Mage changes in WoW Forever
Mages get 3 new abilities (Arcane Wrath, Frost Blast, Teleport: Dalaran), new ranks for Arcane Blast, Frostfire Bolt, Ice Lance, 27 retuned abilities and 44 changed talents. Full list: Mage changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcane Wrath | Level 25 | 4 | Launches a projectile of pure Arcane energy at the enemy target, causing 406 to 496 Arcane damage. |
| Frost Blast | Level 24 | 3 | Quickly launch a weak blast of frost at the enemy, causing 73 to 81 Frost damage and slowing movement speed by 40% for 9 sec. |
| Teleport: Dalaran | Level 50 | 1 | Teleports the caster to Dalaran. |
- Arcane Blast casts in 1.5 sec (was 2.5) and is trained from level 20.
- Arcane Intellect lasts 60 min (was 30).
- Cone of Cold's slow lasts 6 sec (was 8).
- Frostfire Bolt and Ice Lance are ranked trainer spells.
Warlock changes in WoW Forever
Warlocks get 2 new abilities (Bane of Havoc, Wrack), new ranks for Conflagrate, Curse of the Elements, Incinerate, 28 retuned abilities and 33 changed talents. Full list: Warlock changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bane of Havoc | Level 1 | 1 | Afflicts the target for 5 min, causing 15% of all damage done by the Warlock to other targets to also be dealt to the cursed target. |
| Wrack | Level 40 | 1 | Tears the target apart from within, inflicting 36 Shadow damage every 1 sec and increasing the damage they take from your other Shadow damage over time effects by 10% for 6 sec. |
- Curse of the Elements is trained from level 20 with 4 ranks.
- Shadowburn's effect lasts 8 sec (was 5) and its range is 30 yards (was 20).
- Portal of Summoning needs level 60 and has a 1 hour cooldown.
- Incinerate (level 40) and Conflagrate gain new ranks.
Druid changes in WoW Forever
Druids get 1 new ability (Feral Charge), new ranks for Lacerate, Primal Bite, Revive, Wild Growth, 37 retuned abilities and 34 changed talents. Full list: Druid changes vs Classic.
| Ability | Learned at | Ranks | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feral Charge | Level 20 | 1 | Charge an enemy, immobilizing them and interrupting any spell they are casting for 4 sec. |
- Regrowth costs much less (rank 1: 70 mana, was 120); Wrath too (rank 1: 10, was 20).
- Mark of the Wild lasts 60 min (was 30).
- Hurricane no longer has a cooldown; Barkskin no longer costs mana.
- Growl cooldown 8 sec (was 10); Shred is trained at 20 (was 22).
- Wild Growth, Lacerate and Revive are ranked trainer spells.
Talents: same 51 points, reworked trees
No class has a brand-new talent, but 331 talents changed their effect, rank count or position. Blizzard says the trees were rebalanced so that every spec is viable. The ranks beyond rank 1 of most talents are hidden in the client until launch, so our talent calculator shows rank 1 text for those and fills in the rest when players learn them. Our talent points guide explains the rules.
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Guide FAQ
What are the new abilities in WoW Forever?
There are 30 new trainer abilities, for example Spearing Strike (Warrior), Holy Strike and Templar's Bulwark (Paladin), Sniper Shot (Hunter), Venom (Rogue), Shadow Word: Death (Priest), Call of the Elements (Shaman), Arcane Wrath (Mage), Bane of Havoc (Warlock) and Feral Charge (Druid).
Which class changed the most in WoW Forever?
Paladin has the most new abilities (7), Druid the most retuned abilities (37) and Mage the most changed talents (44).
Are there new talents in WoW Forever?
No new talents, but 331 of the existing talents were changed. Every class still has three trees and 51 talent points at level 60.
Do Druids get Feral Charge in WoW Forever?
Yes. Feral Charge is a new Druid ability learned at level 20. In Bear Form it charges an enemy, immobilizing them and interrupting spellcasting for 4 sec, on a 15 sec cooldown.
Can Paladins use Holy Shock more often in WoW Forever?
Yes. Holy Shock's cooldown drops from 30 sec in Classic to 10 sec in Forever, and it gains a fourth rank.