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Priest: Priestess with braided hair in white and gold armorMage: Mage with brown hair casting purple arcane magic

Priest vs. Mage

First class

Priest

Second class

Mage

Key differences

  • Only the Priest can heal.
  • Both fight at range.
  • Both wear cloth.
  • Both are similarly beginner friendly.
  • The Mage does better solo.
  • Both are open to the same number of races (6).

At a glance

At a glancePriestMage
RolesHealer, DPSDPS
ArmorClothCloth
Combat styleRangedRanged
Playable races66
Talent treesDiscipline (Healer), Holy (Healer), Shadow (DPS)Arcane (DPS), Fire (DPS), Frost (DPS)
Beginner friendly3/53/5
Solo play3/54/5

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

Priest

The Priest is WoW Forever's classic healer and always in demand. Shadow offers a strong alternative for damage and solo play. New: the Gnome Priest.

Learn more about the Priest ›

Mage

The Mage is a ranged caster in WoW Forever with lots of damage and control that conjures its own food and water. New: the Orc Mage for the Horde.

Learn more about the Mage ›
⚔ Let them fight in the arenaClass Quiz

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Priest or Mage?

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

What is the difference between Priest and Mage?

Only the Priest can heal. Both fight at range. Both wear cloth.

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