Melee DPS Overview - Tips and Specs

By Rebdull Updated: 2022/02/23

RebdulMelee Role and Class Overview

stand in close proximity to your enemies.

use primarily instant damage dealing abilities.

interrupt enemy spell casts more frequently than ranged damage dealers or healers.

Some perks of being a melee damage dealer include…

being able to deal damage on the move as long as you are in melee range of your target

being excluded from some boss mechanics that force you away from the boss.

Some things to consider before deciding to pick a melee damage class...

Being in the melee cluster sometimes means it is hard to see important harmful visuals due to clutter.

Interrupting usually falls on the shoulders of the melee to take care of.

Melee damage dealers have a small range, usually not more than 8 yards, making it cumbersome or impossible to damage far away targets. This can sometimes lead to situations where a good portion of your time is spent running after your target. Some players may find this extremely irritating.

Positioning

Melee deal the most damage while in close proximity of the boss. While some classes have some abilities that reach outside of melee range, melee weapon attacks and abilities cannot be completed outside melee attack range (generally 5 yards).

Melee must stand behind the boss. Melee attacks can be parried when in front of the boss.

Battle for Azeroth Damage Dealing Stats

Critical Strike- An attack that Critical Strikes deals twice as much damage as a normal attack.

Haste-Reduces the global cooldown and time between melee weapon swings. Some classes abilities are also affected by haste.

Mastery- Varies by specialization but modifies each classes damage.

Versatility- Increases the damage you deal as well as your healing and absorbs while decreasing damage taken.

What Melee Class should I pick?Death Knight

Frost Guide | Unholy Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsFrostUnholyPlaystyle FrostRemorseless WinterObliterateObliterateHowling BlastFrost FeverFrost StrikeUnholyVirulent PlagueFestering StrikeScourge StrikeFestering WoundFestering WoundDeath CoilNotable Defensive CooldownsAnti-Magic ShellNotable Offensive CooldownsFrostPillar of FrostEmpower Rune WeaponUnholyArmy of the DeadDark TransformationUnique QualitiesDeath GripEnhancement Shaman

Enhancement Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsPlaystyleLava LashStormstrikeWindstrikeNotable Defensive CooldownsAstral ShiftNotable Offensive CooldownsFeral SpiritUnique QualitiesHexPurgeBloodlustReincarnationFeral Druid

Feral Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsPlaystyleRipRakeShredFerocious BiteNotable Defensive AbilitiesBear FormSurvival InstinctsNotable Offensive CooldownsTiger's FuryBerserkUnique QualitiesStampeding RoarHavoc Demon Hunter

Havoc Demon Hunter Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsPlaystyleFel RushDemon's BiteAnnihilationChaos StrikeEye BeamNotable Defensive AbilitiesDarknessBlurNotable Offensive CooldownMetamorphosisUnique QualitiesVengeful RetreatRetribution Paladin

Retribution Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsPlaystyleBlade of JusticeCrusader StrikeJudgmentTemplar's VerdictDivine StormNotable Defensive AbilitiesDivine ShieldShield of VengeanceNotable Offensive CooldownsAvenging WrathUnique QualitiesLay on HandsRogue

Assassination Guide | Outlaw Guide | Subtlety Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsAssassinationOutlawSubtletyPlaystyleAssassinationDeadly PoisonMutilateGarroteEnvenomRuptureOutlawAmbushRoll the BonesSinister StrikePistol ShotDispatchSubtletyShadow DanceShadowstrikeShadowstrikeBackstabNightbladeNotable Defensive AbilitiesFeintCloak of ShadowsNotable Offensive CooldownsAssassinationVendettaOutlawAdrenaline RushSubtletyShadow BladesSymbols of DeathUnique QualitiesTricks of the TradeFleet FootedSurvival Hunter

Survival Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsPlaystyleWildfire BombSerpent StingRaptor StrikeKill CommandNotable Defensive AbilitiesExhilarationAspect of the TurtleNotable Offensive CooldownsCoordinated AssaultUnique QualitiesHarpoonWarrior

Arms Guide | Fury Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsArmsFuryPlaystyleArmsOverpowerMortal StrikeSlamExecuteFuryRaging BlowBloodthirstRaging BlowWhirlwindRampageExecuteNotable Defensive AbilitiesArmsDie by the SwordFuryEnraged RegenerationNotable Offensive CooldownsArmsColossus SmashBladestormFuryRecklessnessUnique QualitiesHeroic LeapChargeRallying CryWindwalker Monk

Windwalker Guide

ResourceArmorPreferred WeaponsPlaystyleTiger PalmBlackout KickRising Sun KickFists of FuryNotable Defensive AbilityTouch of KarmaNotable Offensive CooldownsTouch of DeathChi BurstUnique QualitiesTranscendenceFlying Serpent KickRoll

Tags: PvE

Comments

Comment by Redband

Under "Warlords of Draenor Damage Dealing Stats";
Multistrike is wrong, it is 33% damage, not 30%.

Comment by Brunhill

Unholy DKs also have and use Outbreak to spread diseases, so that needs to be corrected in the summary. Dark Transformation does not use runes but is activated by the player using five Death Coils. Unholy is also the only DK class to have a permanent pet (ghoul) and a Gargoyle for added dps (3 min CD). Very strong in WoD currently.

Windwalker: Expel Harm also generates Chi and is used when health is below 80% for a heal as well. Also Storm, Earth, and Fire is a AOE skill and of course, Spinning Crane Kick are not mentioned.

Nice attempt to summarize the melee classes all in one place, but a little more in depth info would make this a much more informative guide for someone who is considering trying a melee class.

Comment by Maerlyns

You shouldn't forget "Anti-Magic Zone" for Death Knights. For DPS DKs that can be a really important talent choice in some fights.

Comment by Azshen

This guide has Arms Warrior abilities listed under Fury, and Fury abilities listed under Arms. Maybe someone who understands the class should proofread these guides before they're posted.

This guide needs more depth of detail regarding how to play melee. Everything listed here is information you already have just playing the game and reading tooltips. Minus, of course, all the mistakes.

Comment by broddog

Thanks for taking the time to make this.

Comment by kjn2day1

Thanks for making this, I hope Demon Hunter will be added.

Comment by LongRifle

I run an Unholy DK and have the following for melee, breath of Sinderosa, and death and decay have been replaced with Defile. Death Grip (yank em), Asphyxiate (choke em) and defile (bake em) combo'd are devastating. The Gargoyle and Army of the dead are nice to attack and take the heat off, and the Anti magic shield can be a life saver. PVP love to root you, so un-root or un-fear with the Desecrated Ground, and mind freeze stops the casting.
Outbreak (ranged) and Plague Strike (melee) both infect with Blood Plague and Frost Fever, while Plague Leech sucks it back off to rejuvenate two of your death runes.
Scourge strike, festering strike, death strike and soul reaper are all melee weapons 1 round each does ~100k damage alone.
All Baleful armor at 695 with enchantments of 100 multistrike, a 705 Greataxe, Wild gladiators medallion of tenacity and Wild Combatants medallion of tenacity (are good for 800 and 549 stamina), an archmage tent, and a talador Surf and Turf, and I run around at 555K health, (889 in Ashran (War spear) on-buffs...)

Good hunting

Comment by 1486232

thank you this guide was very helpful as i am currently learning to play as a dps monk and I have never played as one before.

Comment by Lixil

Man .. i really like the changes on Fury Warrior, for real.

I played Warrior since TBC and i didn't get that amount of fun since WOLK. The mobility and the skills that not requiere insane amount of rage are too much fun, specially when it was difficult to generate rage on WOD.

Comment by RSN90

Guide says that Sub Rogues use Run Through as one of their finishing moves. It should be Eviscerate. Run Through is Outlaw-only.

Comment by Kraulgar

Just a heads up for the author; Raging Blow is listed twice under the playstyle section of the Fury Warrior.

Comment by Azbott

The returning and new Buffs/Debuffs may be worth noting.

Melee DPS Overview - Tips and Specs

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