Choosing World of Warcraft: Forever talents for leveling is mostly a Classic habit. Every class still has three trees and 51 points, but WoW Forever adds a 16-point milestone, moves several leveling staples to different rows, and Blizzard’s launch changes of November 2 reworked six of the nine trees after the beta had closed. Below is our best leveling spec and a point-by-point talent order from level 10 to 60 for all nine classes, checked against the live game’s talent data.
WoW Forever launched on November 4. The beta stopped at level 30, and Blizzard changed many talents after it ended, so read every build as our plan from the live client’s talent data: each order below is valid point by point in the live trees, but we haven’t played these exact orders, and levels 31 to 60 were never playable before launch. For the biggest change per class, see our WoW Forever class changes guide; this one covers what to click while leveling.
Data note: talent names, ranks, rows and tooltip values come from the live game’s client data (build 1.60.1.70790, November 4), and every build below passes our point-by-point check against it: row gates, prerequisites, maximum ranks and 51 points. Updated November 5: Blizzard’s November 2 development notes reworked the Warrior, Paladin, Rogue, Shaman, Mage and Druid trees for launch, which broke those six builds; all six are rebuilt for the live trees. The Hunter, Priest and Warlock builds still check out unchanged. Updated November 2: re-checked against the beta client after the October 15 build, which changed the Warlock and Priest orders.
Best Leveling Spec for Every Class in WoW Forever
The best WoW Forever leveling specs are the same trees that led in Classic, but several key talents now arrive earlier: Stormstrike 15 levels sooner, Leader of the Pack 10 levels sooner. Here is our pick and what you have at level 30 and at level 40.
| Class | Leveling spec | Level 30 (21 points) | Level 40 (31 points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Arms (two-hander) | Sweeping Strikes | Mortal Strike |
| Paladin | Retribution | Vengeance | Unsealed Wrath |
| Hunter | Beast Mastery | Summon Hawk, Ferocity 5/5 | Bestial Wrath |
| Rogue | Combat | Blade Flurry | Adrenaline Rush |
| Priest | Shadow | Vampiric Embrace | Shadowform |
| Shaman | Enhancement | Stormstrike, Improved Ghost Wolf, Flurry 3/5 | Rage of the Farseer |
| Mage | Frost | Ice Lance, Shatter, Fingers of Frost | Ice Barrier |
| Warlock | Affliction | Siphon Life | Wrack |
| Druid | Feral | Leader of the Pack | Shifting Power |
How to Read the Talent Builds
- Points: Blizzard’s class spotlights confirm talents start at level 10, one point per level, so you have 21 points at 30 and 51 at 60. Each row needs five more points in that tree, and the one-point milestone talents sit at 11, 16 (new in Forever), 21 and 31 points.
- Status: “In beta” rows (levels 10 to 30) were playable in the beta from the October 1 build, which raised the cap to 30, and didn’t change at launch. “Changed at launch” rows contain a talent Blizzard reworked or moved in its November 2 notes, after the beta closed. “Untested” rows (31 to 60) are our plan from the live talent data. The order is our recommendation, not a measured best.
- Talented: each rank of this Legacy System perk starts your talent points one level earlier. With all five ranks, read every row five levels earlier (51 points at level 55).
- Respec: per Blizzard, you change talents at a class trainer in a major city, and Dual Specialization unlocks at level 40. Blizzard hasn’t published respec prices.
Warrior Leveling Talents: Arms
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Improved Rend 3, Improved Heroic Strike 2, Improved Tactical Mastery 3, Improved Charge 2 | Changed at launch |
| 20-24 | Anger Management (20), Deep Wounds 3, Improved Heroic Strike 3/3 | In beta |
| 25-30 | Impale 2, Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3, Sweeping Strikes (30) | Changed at launch |
| 31-40 | Bloodthrill 2, Weaponmaster 5, Improved Overpower 2, Mortal Strike (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Improved Slam 2, then Fury: Cruelty 5, Unbridled Wrath 5, Blood Craze 3, Piercing Howl, Lingering Rage 4 | Untested |
Arms with a two-hander is our pick because its first 21 points attack the warrior’s leveling problem, rage. Anger Management gives 1 rage every 3 seconds whatever you hit (Improved Tactical Mastery, three ranks since November 2, is mostly the toll to reach it), Improved Charge adds 6 rage to every opener, and Rend now scales with attack power. Two-Handed Weapon Specialization gives 2/4/6% damage since November 2, twice its beta value, and Bloodthrill (two ranks for up to 20% since the same day) later turns Rend into free Overpowers. We skip Spearing Strike, the 16-point talent: a 75% weapon damage hit that only doubles against Giants, Dragonkin and mounted targets. If you dual-wield, a 0/21/0 Fury build to Death Wish at 30 is the alternative, and Flurry no longer needs Death Wish. Weaponmaster replaces Classic’s four weapon specializations, so any two-hander that drops is fine. Improved Slam at 41 stops Slam from delaying your swing, and Slam’s cooldown is 15 seconds since November 2.
Paladin Leveling Talents: Retribution
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Benediction 5, Conviction 3, Sanctified Judgement 2 | Changed at launch |
| 20-25 | Seal of Command (20), Pursuit of Justice 2, Sanctified Judgement 3/3, Improved Judgement 1, Sacred Arbiter (25) | Changed at launch |
| 26-30 | Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3, Improved Judgement 2/2, Vengeance 1 (30) | Changed at launch |
| 31-40 | Vengeance 3/3, Repentance, Vindication 1, Champion of the Light 5, Unsealed Wrath (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Holy: Divine Strength 5, Improved Seals 5, Holy Conduit 2, Purifying Power 2, Reverence 2, then Vindication 3/3, Unyielding Faith 2 | Untested |
Retribution’s early points buy crit, mana and speed. Benediction makes instant spells and abilities 10% cheaper, which covers seals and judgements, Conviction gives 6% crit with all spells and attacks from three ranks since November 2, and Sanctified Judgement refunds up to 60% of a judged seal’s mana. Pursuit of Justice adds 15% run speed at level 22, Sacred Arbiter, the 16-point talent, makes Holy Strike hit 20% harder and refresh your judgements, and Two-Handed Weapon Specialization now raises Holy damage too. Twist of Light is gone: the 31-point talent at 40 is Unsealed Wrath, which needs Repentance first, and Champion of the Light is back up to 60% of your Intellect as spell damage. Versus Classic you save points: Consecration is baseline at 20, and Blessing of Kings is baseline too.
Hunter Leveling Talents: Beast Mastery
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Deadly Aspects 5, Focused Fire 2, Endurance Training 3 | In beta |
| 20-24 | Unleashed Fury 5 | In beta |
| 25-30 | Summon Hawk (25), Ferocity 5 | In beta |
| 31-40 | Bestial Swiftness, Intimidation, Spirit Bond 2, Frenzy 5, Bestial Wrath (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Endurance Training 5/5, Bestial Discipline 2, then Marksmanship: Lethal Attacks 5, Careful Aim 5, Rapid Killing 2, Efficiency 4 | Untested |
Beast Mastery keeps the pet tanking and hitting harder. Deadly Aspects replaces Classic’s Improved Aspect of the Hawk (10% chance per Auto Shot for 30% ranged attack speed), Focused Fire adds 2% damage for you and the pet, and Summon Hawk, the new 16-point talent, sends a hawk at your target for 18 seconds (up to two at once), sharing Arcane Shot’s cooldown. Unleashed Fury and Ferocity buff the hawks too. One caution for beta impressions: until the October 8 build, Unleashed Fury did not correctly increase pet damage.
Rogue Leveling Talents: Combat
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Efficient Strikes 2, Coup de Grace 3, Precision 3, Deflection 2 | Changed at launch |
| 20-24 | Endurance 2, Deflection 3/3, Riposte, Composure 1 | Changed at launch |
| 25-30 | Flawless Execution (25), Aggression 3, Weapon Expertise 1, Blade Flurry (30) | Changed at launch |
| 31-40 | Weapon Expertise 2/2, Dual Wield Specialization 2, Hack and Slash 5, Composure 2/2, Adrenaline Rush (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Flash of Steel 5, then Assassination: Malice 5, Ruthlessness 3, Improved Slice and Dice 3, Lethality 2, Remorseless Attacks 2 | Untested |
Combat saves energy early and adds cleave and burst cooldowns. Efficient Strikes and Coup de Grace (Improved Sinister Strike and Improved Eviscerate until November 2) open the tree, and Endurance cuts Sprint and Evasion cooldowns by 60% with two points. Since November 2 every rogue learns Poised at 18 (out of combat at full energy, your next Energy ability costs 10 less) and Shank at 24, an off-hand strike that generates energy. Composure adds up to 10 more to Poised, and Flash of Steel (41-45) makes Shank generate more energy and come back faster. Hack and Slash (34-38) replaces Classic’s separate sword, mace, fist and dagger specializations: swords and axes get extra attacks, daggers and fist weapons get crit, maces get armor penetration, so you can use whatever drops. Precision has three ranks for 3% hit instead of Classic’s five ranks for 5%, and Dual Wield Specialization is now two ranks for 50% more off-hand damage.
Priest Leveling Talents: Shadow
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Spirit Tap 5, Improved Shadow Word: Pain 2, Shadow Focus 3 | In beta |
| 20-25 | Mind Flay (20), Improved Mind Flay 2, Improved Mind Blast 3 | In beta |
| 26-30 | Shadow Weaving 3, Improved Mind Blast 4, Vampiric Embrace (30) | In beta |
| 31-40 | Improved Mind Blast 5/5, Shadow Focus 4, Devouring Contagion 2, Darkness 5, Shadowform (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Shadow Focus 5/5, Discipline: Twin Disciplines 5, Silent Resolve 2, Mental Strength 3, Improved Power Word: Shield 3, Meditation 3, then Early Demise 2, Silence | Untested |
Forever moves Shadow’s best leveling tools earlier. Vampiric Embrace is now the 16-point talent (30-second duration, and a 30-second cooldown since October 15), so you have it at 30 in this order, and Shadow Weaving raises only the Shadow damage the target takes from you, by up to 10%. Improved Mind Flay was redesigned on October 15: each Mind Flay tick now deals 10 or 20% more than the one before. Blizzard’s Priest spotlight also makes Devouring Plague baseline for every priest at 20, which is why Devouring Contagion is worth two points; since October 15 it spreads Devouring Plague to two nearby enemies. At 41 to 60, Mental Strength (moved up to row 2 on October 15, up to 10% Intellect) fills the points that open Discipline’s third row for Improved Power Word: Shield.
Shaman Leveling Talents: Enhancement
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Thundering Strikes 5, Mental Dexterity 3, Ancestral Knowledge 2 | Changed at launch |
| 20-24 | Elemental Weapons 3, Ancestral Knowledge 4 | In beta |
| 25-30 | Stormstrike (25), Improved Ghost Wolf 2, Flurry 3 | Changed at launch |
| 31-40 | Flurry 5/5, Mental Quickness 2, Maelstrom Weapon 5, Rage of the Farseer (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Improved Stormstrike 2, Shamanistic Focus, Ancestral Knowledge 5/5, Anticipation 3, Spirit Weapons, then Elemental: Concussion 5, Elemental Devastation 3, Convection 4 | Untested |
Enhancement’s leveling changes the most, because Stormstrike moved from the 31-point slot to the 16-point slot: you get it at 25 instead of 40, and since November 2 it hits for 150% weapon damage on a 6-second cooldown. Thundering Strikes adds crit to spells and attacks, and Mental Dexterity turns up to 150% of your Intellect into attack power. Improved Ghost Wolf, which makes Ghost Wolf instant and usable indoors, moved down to row 4 on November 2, so it now comes at 26 and 27 instead of 20 and 21. Maelstrom Weapon (35-39) procs twice as often since the same notes and takes 20% off the cast time and cost of your next Lightning Bolt per stack, up to five, so a full stack means a free, instant Lightning Bolt between swings.
Mage Leveling Talents: Frost
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Improved Frostbolt 5, Ice Shards 5 | In beta |
| 20-24 | Ice Lance (20), Improved Frost Nova 2, Frost Channeling 2 | Changed at launch |
| 25-30 | Shatter 3, Ice Block (28), Frost Channeling 3/3, Fingers of Frost 1 | In beta |
| 31-40 | Fingers of Frost 2/2, Cold Snap, Arctic Reach 2, Precision 3, Frostbite 2, Ice Barrier (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Frostbite 3/3, Improved Blizzard 3, Improved Cone of Cold 3, Winter’s Chill 5, Fire: Incineration 5, then Permafrost 3 | Untested |
Frost is the safest mage leveling tree, and Forever gives it a burst combo by level 30. Ice Lance, the 11-point talent, deals 300% more damage to frozen targets again since November 2 (200% from October 15) and now has an 8-second cooldown shared with Fire Blast. Shatter adds 50% crit chance against frozen targets, and Fingers of Frost gives your chill effects a 15% chance to treat your next two spells as if the target were frozen. Frost Nova into Ice Lance becomes your main burst, and Ice Block sits in the 16-point slot. Piercing Ice was removed on November 2, so its points went to Frost Channeling, and Precision (three ranks, 6% spell hit) replaced Elemental Precision. Ice Barrier at 40 now also raises your Frost damage by 15% for a minute. Frostfire Bolt is a baseline spell from level 40, not a talent. Frost Blast, added at level 24 in the October 15 build, was removed again before launch.
Warlock Leveling Talents: Affliction
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Improved Corruption 5, Improved Drains 3, Suppression 2 | In beta |
| 20-24 | Fel Concentration 3, Suppression 4 | In beta |
| 25-30 | Nightfall 2, Suppression 5/5, Improved Bane of Agony 2, Siphon Life (30) | In beta |
| 31-40 | Soul Siphon 3, Pandemic 1, Shadow Mastery 5, Wrack (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Pandemic 3/3, Malevolence 5, Soul Harvest 2, Improved Life Tap 2, Amplify Curse, then Demonology: Demonic Embrace 5, Fel Vitality 3 | Untested |
Affliction keeps the Classic drain-tank style and makes it stronger. Corruption is instant at 14, Improved Drains (Classic’s two drain talents in one) adds 20% to Drain Life, and Fel Concentration gives a 70% chance to ignore pushback while you drain behind your Voidwalker. Malediction (5% periodic damage) became Grim Reach, a range talent, on October 15, so its points now go to Suppression for up to 5% hit and less threat, and Shadow Mastery (35-39) now adds 10% Shadow damage, twice its old value. After the beta cap, Soul Siphon adds 12% Drain Life damage per Affliction effect on the target, up to 36%, and Wrack, the new 31-point talent, is a DoT that also raises your other Shadow DoT damage by 10%.
Druid Leveling Talents: Feral
| Levels | Talents (ranks) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 | Ferocity 5, Thick Hide 3, Furor 2 | Changed at launch |
| 20-25 | Feral Swiftness 2, Sharpened Claws 2, Savage Fury 2 | In beta |
| 26-30 | Predatory Strikes 3, Blood Frenzy 1, Leader of the Pack (30) | Changed at launch |
| 31-40 | Blood Frenzy 2/2, Predatory Discipline, Natural Instinct 2, Rend and Tear 5, Shifting Power (40) | Untested |
| 41-60 | Furor 5/5, Shredding Attacks 3, Feral Charge, Natural Reaction 5, Primal Bite, Lacerate, then Restoration: Heart of the Wild 5, and Brutal Impact 1 | Untested |
Feral covers both halves of druid leveling: Bear Form from 10, Cat Form from 20, both from class quests (steps in our WoW Forever class quests guide). Ferocity makes Maul and Claw 5 rage or energy cheaper, Furor (in the Feral tree since November 2, swapped with Heart of the Wild) gives rage when you shift into Bear Form and keeps energy when you shift back to Cat Form, Feral Swiftness adds 30% Cat Form run speed, and Leader of the Pack sits at 21 points, so you have it at 30 instead of 40. Berserk was removed on November 2. The 31-point row now holds two talents, Primal Bite for bears and Shifting Power for cats, which needs Predatory Discipline; this build takes Shifting Power at 40 and Primal Bite later. The same notes raised Shred, Claw, Rake, Rip and Ferocious Bite damage by about 25 to 30% and gave Ferocious Bite a new rank at 24. Method’s beta guide also names Feral the fastest druid leveling spec.
What Changed Since the Beta: October Builds and Launch
Blizzard’s development notes for October 1, October 8 and October 15 and its launch notes of November 2 changed several talents in these builds; the builds above include all of them. October changes that the launch build reversed are left out.
| Build | Change | Effect on these builds |
|---|---|---|
| November 2 | Improved Tactical Mastery 3 ranks, Bloodthrill 2 ranks (10/20%), Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 2/4/6%; Flurry no longer needs Death Wish | Arms order rebuilt; Improved Charge fills the gap |
| November 2 | Paladin trees reshuffled: Conviction 3 ranks for 6% crit, Sanctified Judgement to row 2, Twist of Light replaced by Unsealed Wrath (needs Repentance), Champion of the Light 12 to 60% of Intellect, Vengeance stacks to 5 | Retribution order rebuilt around Unsealed Wrath at 40 |
| November 2 | Rogue: Efficient Strikes and Coup de Grace (renamed), Dual Wield Specialization 2 ranks for 50%, Murder removed, Lethality 2 ranks; new Poised (18), Shank (24), Composure and Flash of Steel | Combat order rebuilt around Shank |
| November 2 | Improved Ghost Wolf moved to row 4; Stormstrike 150% weapon damage on a 6-second cooldown; Maelstrom Weapon procs twice as often; Mental Dexterity up to 150% of Intellect | Improved Ghost Wolf now at 26-27 |
| November 2 | Piercing Ice and Frost Blast removed; Ice Lance 300% against frozen targets with an 8-second cooldown; Elemental Precision became Precision (6% hit); Ice Barrier adds 15% Frost damage | Frost points moved to Frost Channeling and Precision |
| November 2 | Berserk removed; Primal Bite and Shifting Power are the 31-point talents; Furor moved into Feral, Heart of the Wild into Restoration; Lacerate is a talent; Rend and Tear 3 to 15% | Feral takes Shifting Power at 40 |
| October 1 | Fury rebuilt: Lingering Rage, Furious Precision and Gore Drinker added, Death Wish now required for Flurry; basic attack crits give 100% more rage | Fury becomes a real dual-wield option; crit means more rage |
| October 1 | Tiger’s Fury and King of the Jungle removed, Shifting Power added | Shifting Power is a 31-point talent since November 2; Improved Shifting Power is gone |
| October 1 | Soul Harvest renamed and now actually grants its mana regeneration | Worth its two points late |
| October 8 | Rage from taking damage rebalanced for 20 to 40% armor instead of 50% | Questing warriors get more rage |
| October 8 | Unleashed Fury now increases pet damage | Beast Mastery’s 20-24 points finally work |
| October 8 | Natural Instinct (was Predatory Instincts) adds spell healing equal to up to 25% of Intellect | Stronger Feral self-heals |
| October 8 | Retribution Aura back to its Vanilla damage, about a third less | A small loss for Retribution |
| October 8 | Deep Wounds required for Impale again | Matches the Arms order |
| October 15 | Malediction replaced by Grim Reach (Affliction spell range) | Warlock points moved to Suppression |
| October 15 | Shadow Mastery doubled to 10% Shadow damage | Affliction’s 35-39 points worth more |
| October 15 | Improved Mind Flay ramps each tick by 10 or 20%; Vampiric Embrace cooldown 30 seconds; Improved Power Word: Shield moved to row 3, Mental Strength to row 2 | Priest Discipline order adjusted |
FAQ
How many talent points do you get in WoW Forever?
WoW Forever gives 51 talent points, one per level from level 10 to 60, the same as Classic. The Talented Legacy perk starts the points up to five levels earlier, but the cap stays at 51.
Is there a WoW Forever talent calculator?
Yes. Fan-made WoW Forever talent calculators exist, for example SeeMeta’s and Icy Veins’. Check that a calculator shows the live trees: Blizzard reworked six of the nine trees on November 2, after most calculators were built from beta data.
How do WoW Forever talents differ from Classic?
WoW Forever keeps the three-tree layout but adds a 16-point milestone, makes buff talents such as Blessing of Kings and Divine Spirit baseline, and merges weapon specializations into single talents. For class rankings, see our WoW Forever tier list; for the route, follow our WoW Forever leveling guide, and the WoW Forever hub lists every launch guide.
Sources: Blizzard’s class spotlights for Priest and Warrior, Mage and Shaman and Rogue and Warlock, and Blizzard’s development notes (October 1, 8 and 15, November 2). Talent data from the live client (build 1.60.1.70790, November 4), earlier checks against beta builds 1.60.1.70374 and 1.60.1.70450; Method’s druid guide. Image: Blizzard Entertainment.