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Hunter: Night elf woman with long blue hair and face markings in green armorDeath Knight: Hooded death knight with a glowing blue eye and dark plate armor

Hunter vs. Death Knight

First class

Hunter

Second class

Death Knight

Key differences

  • Only the Death Knight can tank.
  • The Hunter fights in melee or at range, depending on the specialization.
  • The Death Knight fights in melee.
  • The Hunter wears mail, the Death Knight plate.
  • The Hunter is more beginner friendly.
  • Both do similarly well solo.
  • More races can play the Hunter (26 instead of 23).

At a glance

At a glanceHunterDeath Knight
RolesDPSTank, DPS
ArmorMailPlate
Combat styleMelee and rangedMelee
Playable races2623
SpecializationsBeast Mastery (DPS), Marksmanship (DPS), Survival (DPS)Blood (Tank), Frost (DPS), Unholy (DPS)
Beginner friendly5/54/5
Solo play5/55/5

These ratings help you pick a class. They are not a DPS ranking, and balance shifts with every patch. How we rate ›

The classes in short

Hunter

The Hunter is a ranged fighter with an animal companion and is widely seen as the easiest class in WoW, especially as Beast Mastery. It can only deal damage but is extremely strong solo.

Learn more about the Hunter ›

Death Knight

The Death Knight is a plate fighter with dark magic, one of the most forgiving tanks as Blood and a melee damage dealer as Frost or Unholy. Strong self-healing makes it very sturdy solo.

Learn more about the Death Knight ›
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Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Hunter or Death Knight?

Neither class is better in general. The Hunter is more beginner friendly. Both do similarly well solo. In the end, what matters is which playstyle you enjoy more.

What is the difference between Hunter and Death Knight?

Only the Death Knight can tank. The Hunter fights in melee or at range, depending on the specialization. The Death Knight fights in melee. The Hunter wears mail, the Death Knight plate.

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