Best World of Warcraft Expansions, Classes, and Tips for New and Returning Players

Finding the best World of Warcraft experience depends on what players want from Azeroth. Whether someone is returning after years away or stepping into the game for the first time, the choices can feel overwhelming. Eight expansions, dozens of classes and specs, multiple servers, and two factions all compete for attention.

This guide breaks down the top expansions worth playing, the strongest classes for different playstyles, and practical tips to help anyone hit the ground running. World of Warcraft remains one of the most popular MMORPGs in 2025, and there’s never been a better time to jump in, or come back.

Top World of Warcraft Expansions Ranked

Not all World of Warcraft expansions hit the same. Some redefined the game, while others left players scratching their heads. Here’s a quick ranking of the best World of Warcraft expansions based on story, gameplay systems, and player reception.

Wrath of the Lich King consistently tops most lists. The Arthas storyline delivered emotional weight, and raids like Ulduar and Icecrown Citadel set a gold standard. Class balance felt solid, and the Death Knight class arrived as the game’s first hero class.

Legion comes in as a close second. Artifact weapons gave each spec a unique identity, and the order hall campaigns added depth. Mythic+ dungeons debuted here, changing endgame content forever. The Burning Legion’s return felt epic without becoming exhausting.

Mists of Pandaria surprised many players. Critics dismissed it as “the panda expansion,” but the storytelling proved sharp and the zones gorgeous. Challenge modes and flexible raiding kept hardcore and casual players engaged.

The War Within, released in 2024, marks the current expansion. Early reception has been positive, with Delves offering a new solo and small-group activity. The story digs into Azeroth’s underground regions and continues the Worldsoul Saga.

Burning Crusade holds nostalgic value. Flying mounts, Outland, and the first 25-man raids changed World of Warcraft fundamentally. It hasn’t aged as well as Wrath, but it remains a fan favorite.

Expansions like Shadowlands and Battle for Azeroth sit lower on most rankings. Borrowed power systems frustrated players, and storylines felt disjointed. Still, both had bright spots, Shadowlands’ Castle Nathria raid earned praise, and BfA’s island expeditions appealed to some.

Players returning to World of Warcraft should start with current content but can revisit older expansions through Timewalking events or Chromie Time leveling.

Best Classes to Play in World of Warcraft

Choosing a class shapes the entire World of Warcraft experience. Each of the thirteen classes offers distinct gameplay, and the best World of Warcraft class depends on preferred role and playstyle.

Best Classes for Beginners

Hunter remains the go-to recommendation. Pets handle tanking duties while leveling, and the rotation stays simple. Beast Mastery hunters can move while dealing damage, which reduces the learning curve.

Paladin offers flexibility. Players can tank, heal, or deal damage depending on spec. Retribution Paladin provides strong self-healing and straightforward burst windows.

Druid appeals to players who hate committing. Four specs cover every role, tank, healer, melee DPS, and ranged DPS. Instant flight form and travel form make getting around easier.

Best Classes for Endgame Content

Death Knight dominates in both tanking and DPS roles. Blood DK self-sustain makes it forgiving for new tanks. Frost and Unholy both perform well in raids and Mythic+ dungeons.

Priest covers two healing specs with different styles. Discipline excels at preventing damage, while Holy focuses on reactive healing. Shadow Priest brings solid damage and useful utility.

Evoker, the newest class added in Dragonflight, has carved out a strong niche. Preservation Evoker brings unique healing mechanics, and Augmentation Evoker buffs group damage in a way no other spec matches.

Best Classes for PvP

Rogue has always thrived in player-versus-player combat. Stealth, crowd control, and burst damage create a deadly combination. Subtlety Rogue rewards skilled players with high outplay potential.

Mage offers three viable PvP specs. Frost Mage control and Fire Mage burst both perform well in arenas and battlegrounds.

The best World of Warcraft class eventually comes down to personal preference. Try a few before committing to one main character.

Essential Tips for Getting Started

New and returning players face a lot of information. These tips help cut through the noise and get into World of Warcraft faster.

Don’t skip the tutorial. Exile’s Reach teaches basic mechanics efficiently. Even veterans benefit from the refresher after long breaks. The zone takes about an hour and drops decent starter gear.

Pick up professions early. Gathering professions like Mining and Herbalism generate gold while leveling. Crafting professions become more valuable at max level, but starting early builds skill points.

Join a guild. Solo play works fine, but guilds provide social connections, faster dungeon queues, and access to perks. Most servers have guilds specifically for new players.

Use the Group Finder. World of Warcraft’s Group Finder tool matches players for dungeons and raids. Queue times vary by role, tanks and healers get instant queues, while DPS may wait longer.

Learn keybinds. Clicking abilities works at low levels but fails in endgame content. Bind frequently used abilities to comfortable keys early. Many players use 1-5, Q, E, R, F, and modifier combinations.

Read quest text occasionally. World of Warcraft’s story improves when players understand context. At minimum, read the main campaign quests. Side quests can be skimmed.

Install essential addons. Deadly Boss Mods (DBM) warns players about raid and dungeon mechanics. WeakAuras tracks cooldowns and procs. These two addons improve gameplay dramatically.

How to Choose the Right Server and Faction

Server and faction choices matter less than they used to, but they still affect the World of Warcraft experience.

Server Types

Most players should choose a Normal server. PvP servers no longer exist as a separate category, War Mode toggles world PvP on or off regardless of server type. RP (roleplay) servers attract players interested in character-driven storytelling and in-character interaction.

Server population affects auction house activity and guild availability. High-population servers offer more options but may have login queues during expansion launches. Medium-population servers balance community size with stability.

Faction Choice: Alliance vs. Horde

The Alliance and Horde have different aesthetics, capital cities, and race options. Gameplay differences between factions are minimal in 2025. Cross-faction play allows grouping with friends regardless of faction for most content.

Alliance appeals to players who prefer classic fantasy races. Humans, Dwarves, Night Elves, and Draenei anchor the roster. Stormwind serves as the main hub.

Horde attracts players drawn to monster races and underdog narratives. Orcs, Trolls, Tauren, and Forsaken define the faction’s identity. Orgrimmar functions as the central city.

Pick based on aesthetics and friend groups. The best World of Warcraft experience happens when players like their character’s appearance and can group with friends easily.

Allied Races

Both factions offer Allied Races unlocked through gameplay achievements. Void Elves, Lightforged Draenei, Vulpera, and Zandalari Trolls expand options. New players should start with core races and unlock Allied Races later.