If you strictly look at the SimC rankings and raid logs from late Legion, the hierarchy looked like this:
Why it felt "Better": Many players look back at Legion 7.3.5 DPS as "better" than modern WoW because the classes felt complete. The Artifact Weapons (like the Dreadblades for Rogues or Fangs of the Devourer) gave each spec unique mechanics that were stripped away in later expansions. You didn't just play a Rogue; you played a Shadow Dance Rogue with traits that fundamentally changed how the spell worked.
In summary: If you wanted to be the absolute best in 7.3.5, you rolled a Subtlety Rogue for raids or an Outlaw Rogue for dungeons.
If you forced us to crown one spec as the king of ilvl 735, with the caveat that you must "get better" to unlock its potential:
The phrase "wow legion best dps 735 better" contains a hidden truth: 735 is the level where gear stops carrying you and skill takes over. You can have the theoretically best spec (Affliction), but without proper stat weights, relics, legendaries, and rotation discipline, you will be outperformed by a well-played Frost DK or Feral.
Your action plan to get better at 735:
Stop chasing "best spec" lists. Start chasing perfect execution. At 735, the player is the final multiplier—and that multiplier has no cap.
Now go log out in the Dreamgrove, reforge your gear, and break the 1.2M DPS barrier.
FAQ:
Article last updated: For patch 7.3 PTR. Subject to change.
World of Warcraft: Legion Patch 7.3.5, the meta revolved around the final raid, Antorus, the Burning Throne, and the powerful Tier 21 set bonuses. The "best" DPS depends on whether you are looking at multi-target raid encounters or high-level Mythic+ utility. Top Ranged DPS
Ranged classes dominated many of the complex, movement-heavy encounters in Antorus.
Affliction Warlock: Widely considered the "king" of Patch 7.3.5. Their damage output in multi-dot and AoE scenarios was unmatched, and their self-sustain was so high it sometimes allowed groups to drop a healer in Mythic+.
Balance Druid: Highly valued for its consistent AoE, massive utility, and the ability to excel in "spread-cleave" fights like the Coven of Shivarra.
Shadow Priest: Similar to Affliction, they thrived on multi-target fights. They often sat near the top of logs for encounters like the Felhounds of Sargeras. wow legion best dps 735 better
Arcane Mage: Saw a significant rise in rankings during this patch, especially on fights where high burst or specific target priority was required. Top Melee DPS
The Tier 21 set bonuses significantly boosted several melee classes, making them competitive even in ranged-favored raids.
Windwalker Monk: Arguably the strongest melee spec in 7.3.5. They possessed incredible burst, high mobility, and benefited massively from combining the Tier 21 set bonus with the legendary helm (Storm Spirit's Hood).
Assassination Rogue: Excelled in single-target and priority-damage scenarios, frequently topping logs for bosses like Garothi Worldbreaker and Aggramar.
Enhancement Shaman: A strong contender for consistent high-end damage, particularly on fights with frequent target swapping.
Fury & Arms Warrior: Both specs remained highly viable, with Fury often preferred for its high burst windows during Execute phases. 7.3.5 Antorus Raid Statistics
Based on high-end raid logs (95th percentile), the following specs frequently held the highest average DPS across all boss encounters: Primary Strength S-Tier Affliction Warlock Multi-dotting, survivability S-Tier Windwalker Monk Burst AoE, mobility A-Tier Balance Druid Consistent cleave, utility A-Tier Assassination Rogue Single-target, target priority A-Tier Shadow Priest Spread multi-target Mythic+ Performance
For Mythic+ in 7.3.5, the "God Tier" often included specs that could handle high-mobility requirements and provide critical utility:
Subtlety Rogue and Outlaw Rogue were prized for Shroud of Concealment and high utility.
Frost Mage remained a staple for its crowd control and slowing capabilities.
Havoc Demon Hunter was highly valued for its massive AoE burst and short cooldowns. Legion Remix Best Classes Tier List - Skycoach
In patch 7.3.5 of World of Warcraft: Legion , two specializations stood at the absolute top of the performance tiers: Affliction Warlock for ranged and Windwalker Monk for melee.
While the patch mostly focused on a massive leveling revamp and a new legendary acquisition system, the Tier 21 set from Antorus, the Burning Throne, solidified the end-game meta. Top Ranged DPS: Affliction Warlock
Affliction Warlocks were arguably the strongest spec in the game during this period. If you strictly look at the SimC rankings
: They dominated multi-target and council-style fights (like the Coven of Shivarra) due to their "multi-dot" capabilities.
: Their self-healing and damage reduction were so high that they could sometimes survive high-level Mythic+ keys without a dedicated healer. Other Notables Shadow Priests Balance Druids
were also high-tier performers, especially on fights with high uptime for multi-targeting. Top Melee DPS: Windwalker Monk
Windwalker Monks surged to the top thanks to the synergy between their Tier 21 set bonus and the legendary helm, Katsuo's Eclipse
: They excelled in both single-target and AoE scenarios, making them highly versatile for both the Antorus raid and high-end Mythic+ content. : Their high mobility and the
stun made them essential for Mythic Dungeon Invitational-level play. Other Notables Assassination Rogues Enhancement Shamans
often traded top spots on specific single-target or pure melee-friendly fights like Garothi Worldbreaker. Notable Patch 7.3.5 Changes Legendary Catch-up : You could now buy specific legendary tokens for 1000 Wakening Essences
from Arcanomancer Vridiel in Dalaran, making it much easier to "finish" your character's power. Combat Resurrections
: In Mythic+, combat resurrections became a shared team resource with a 10-minute recharge. Leveling Revamp : This patch introduced zone scaling
across the entire game world, significantly changing the way players leveled new characters. stat priority for one of these top-tier classes?
Patch 7.3.5 of World of Warcraft: Legion marked the final balance stage for the expansion, centering heavily on the Antorus, the Burning Throne raid and the power jump from Tier 21 armor sets. This period defined the "best" DPS classes not just by raw numbers, but by how well they scaled with late-expansion secondary stats and powerful Legendaries. Top-Tier DPS Specializations
While most specs were viable, two stood out as the undisputed kings of 7.3.5 due to their performance in both Antorus and high-level Mythic+.
Affliction Warlock: Widely considered the strongest ranged DPS. They excelled in multi-dot scenarios and AoE fights within Antorus. Their damage output often surpassed other classes significantly in these encounters, and their high self-sustain made them nearly indispensable for high-level Mythic+ keys.
Windwalker Monk: The premier melee choice. Benefiting massively from their Tier 21 set bonus and the legendary helm, Windwalkers dominated both single-target and AoE fights. Their high mobility and utility further cemented their "S-Tier" status. Antorus Raid Performance Why it felt "Better": Many players look back at Legion 7
In the context of Antorus, performance varied based on encounter mechanics. For pure single-target "Patchwerk" style fights, simulation data suggested different leaders compared to actual raid logs. Encounter Type Top-Performing Specs Pure Single Target Fury Warrior, Enhancement Shaman, Shadow Priest High burst and scaling with Tier 21 gear. Cleave / Multi-Dot Affliction Warlock, Shadow Priest, Balance Druid Strong spread-AoE and "Council" fight performance. Heavy Movement Beast Mastery Hunter, Windwalker Monk High damage uptime while navigating mechanics. The Impact of Tier 21 and Legendaries
Patch 7.3.5 was the peak of the Artifact and Legendary systems. For many specs, the "best" DPS was only achievable with specific combinations:
Set Mixing: Some classes, like Marksmanship Hunters, found the highest damage by combining the Tier 21 4-set with the Tier 20 2-set.
Legendary Dependency: The difference between an average and "best" player often came down to having core legendaries, such as the Windwalker's helm or specific bracers for Mages and Rogues. Honorable Mentions
Shadow Priest: Remained a powerhouse for prolonged execute phases and multi-target fights.
Assassination Rogue: Consistently ranked near the top for high-end Mythic progression due to its strong single-target and reliability.
Balance Druid: Highly valued for its AoE and raid utility, particularly in the later half of the Antorus raid.
Title: WoW Legion: The Truth About "735 Better" and How to Actually Top the DPS Meters
Posted by: MythicMelder
If you’ve been in trade chat or raid pugs lately, you’ve probably heard the chant: “735 or kick,” “item level 735+ only,” “735 better.”
Let’s clear this up right now: In Legion (Patch 7.3.5), 735 is not a real, consistently achievable item level. The absolute highest realistic ilvl for fully mythic-geared players at the end of Antorus was around 970-985. So if someone says “735 better,” they either:
But I think you meant: “What is the actual best DPS in Legion when your gear is ‘better’ (i.e., maxed out)?”
Here’s the no-nonsense, patch 7.3.5 tier list for Mythic Antorus (the final raid). This is where “better gear” actually matters.
Even with an S-Tier spec, you won’t achieve “735 better” DPS without these five optimizations: