WoW: The War Within – Top Earthen Classes Ranked

In World of Warcraft: The War Within, the Earthen emerge as the latest Allied Race, offering a new array of possibilities for players. After unlocking the Earthen by completing a series of quests and reaching the maximum level, you'll face an exciting decision: which Earthen class should you choose?

While every class is playable for Earthen characters, their racial bonuses make Tank roles particularly advantageous. Additionally, some classes align more closely with Earthen lore than others. Below is a comprehensive ranking of the best Earthen classes, with a focus on both gameplay and lore.

Available Earthen Classes

Among the thirteen playable classes in WoW, nine are available to Earthen characters:

- Hunter

- Monk

- Mage

- Priest

- Paladin

- Rogue

- Shaman

- Warlock

- Warrior

The missing classes—Death Knights, Demon Hunters, Druids, and Evokers—are excluded due to lore considerations. Each of the available classes has a plausible reason for being accessible to Earthen. For instance, Paladins and Priests could have been inspired by the Light from Arathi in the Isle of Dorn, while the Mage class fits well with their origins.

S-Tier Earthen Classes

Paladin, Warrior

Earthen racial abilities, while generally not game-changing for most endgame activities, offer significant benefits for Tank roles. The enhanced Well Fed bonus from Ingest Materials and the Titan-Wrought Frame racial ability are particularly noteworthy. The Titan-Wrought Frame boosts your base Armor value by 10%, which is comparable to a single cast of Ironfur for Guardian Druids. Although this bonus is modest, it is more impactful in Tank roles, making Earthen Tanks highly desirable.

Top Non-Tank Earthen Classes

Mage, Shaman, Hunter, Priest, Monk

For the remaining classes available to Earthen, the distinctions are more subtle. The following classes are particularly fitting for the Earthen:

- Mage: Arcane magic originates from the Well of Eternity, a source of Azeroth’s power that also created the Earthen. This connection makes the Mage class a natural fit for Earthen characters.

- Shaman: Given that Earthen are infused with Arcane power from Azerite and have a connection to Azeroth’s elemental forces, playing a Shaman aligns well with their lore, even if they don't communicate with Elemental Lords like other Shamans.

- Hunter: On the Isle of Dorn, Earthen learn to bond with Storm Gryphons, suggesting a natural inclination towards the Hunter class and its exploration of beastly bonds.

- Priest: An Earthen quest in the Isle of Dorn reveals an Earthen’s interest in the Arathi faith, hinting that some Earthen might turn to the Priesthood. This also applies to Paladins, though the Light is not exclusive to Earthen.

- Monk: Training under a Monk in Dornogal establishes a precedent for the Monk class among the Earthen. While the Mistweaver specialization seems less fitting, the Brewmaster spec benefits from the Earthen’s 10% Armor buff, making it a viable choice.

Earthen Classes That Don’t Quite Fit

Rogue, Warlock

Although Earthen can theoretically be any class due to their departure from tradition, some class choices seem less appropriate:

- Warlock: The Warlock class, associated with the Burning Legion, doesn’t align well with Earthen lore. Although one might argue that Earthen could be tempted by the Void, the Warlock’s connection to the Twisting Nether feels somewhat disconnected from the Earthen’s origins.

- Rogue: Earthen Rogues, like Tauren Rogues, are an unusual combination of race and class. The idea of a stone character sneaking around seems implausible, though there are Smugglers and Rogue-like characters in The War Within that provide some precedent. Moreover, Rogues are currently one of the least-played classes, which may further discourage choosing an Earthen Rogue.

With this guide, you'll be better equipped to choose the Earthen class that best suits your playstyle and aligns with the rich lore of WoW: The War Within.