With over 15 years of content to experience, World of Warcraft has no shortage of awesome armor. Almost every new raid comes with a set for every class to don. Some have incredible bonuses, making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. It isn’t just the DPS increase that makes certain armor iconic though.
Many tier sets have become legendary for their looks, coveted by dedicated transmogrifiers everywhere. Some classes are lucky enough to have many gorgeous enviable tier sets (Warlocks!) and others have very few to choose from (Hunters). To keep the list more balanced, we’ve limited entries to one per featured class. Here are 10 of the most epic tier sets available in World of Warcraft.
10 Judgment
When you think of a holy warrior of the light, the paladin’s Judgement set comes to mind. Their Tier 2 armor drops from a combination of Molten Core, Onyxia, and Blackwing Lair. However, the most iconic pieces like the shoulders and the robe drop from the last two bosses in BWL. In Vanilla, this armor alone made other classes quiver with envy.
Judgment captures the essence of a high-end raider with its red and gold motif, accented by chains and swords. However close it may teeter towards the edge, it never crosses the line into gaudy territory. Unlike some of the more over-the-top, gigantic and glowing armor of today, Judgement is just understated enough while adhering to class fantasy.
9 Corruptor
Like the Judgement Set, the Warlock’s Tier 5 armor defined everything their class was meant to be. Tokens obtained from bosses within Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep could be exchanged for this demonic set. Every warlock drooled over players with this garb. Not only did it look awesome, but not too many people were able to complete those raids enough times to complete the set. Owning a full set of Tier 5 was a status symbol.
Still, let’s not overlook how awesome this armor is. The giant spikes adorned with tiny skulls screams of some ritualistic sacrifice. For those making their living enslaving demons, that’s a good thing. Black and red robes made the warlock look mystic, evil, and stained with blood.
8 Dreadnaught
Speaking of status symbols, nothing was more of a head-turner than Tier 3. Naxxramas, the final raid of Vanilla, barely saw any guild capable of cleansing its plague-infested halls. Few were capable of killing even a few bosses, let alone facing off against Kel’thuzad. Seeing anyone in Tier 3 was impressive, but Warriors had one of the best-looking sets ever made.
It beautifully matched the theme of the Lich King’s necropolis. The skull shoulder pads and thick helmet were statement pieces that managed to not look tacky due to their more subtle color palette of black and blue. Before the third expansion, owning the Dreadnaught armor was the only way to cosplay as a Death Knight!
7 Blind Absolution
Legion’s Tomb of Sargeras raid saw graphical overhauls for many of TBC’s iconic tier sets. One of the best redesigns was that of Blind Absolution, the Priest Tier 20. Originally released as Tier 6, the tokens dropped mainly from the Black Temple. Blind Absolution, specifically the Normal Mode coloration, remains very faithful to the original.
The lines are simply crisper, the details more noticeable, and the colors more vibrant. Although not pictured, the belt saw the most significant changes. It became slightly bulkier with its jewel-adornments. Tier 20 Normal looks just like Tier 8, only prettier.
6 Frost Witch
There are a few Shaman sets that deserve to be considered epic. We just love Frost Witch for its naturalistic themes. Whoever is wearing Tier 10 looks a bit like a frozen buck. Considering that Tier 10 was released during Wrath of the Lich King, we think that’s pretty thematically consistent. Technically, the blue version of the armor is considered Tier 10.5.
To get it, the item level 251 version of a piece plus a Protector’s Mark of Sanctification needed to be given to Matilda Brightlink in Dalaran. This meant obtaining the armor required a combination of purchases, drops from Icecrown Citadel and Vault of Archavon. While the red version was higher quality, the blue version was the best looking.
5 Scourgelord
Another Tier 10 look, the 25 Normal version of Death Knight Tier 10 made players feel epic. The recolors (red, yellow, and purple) had the same design but just looked so much worse. While many people are sick of the blue Death Knight transmog, it’s obvious why so many choose a black and blue motif.
The colors are integral to the class. It looks almost like Lich King roleplay. For a Death Knight, that’s a pretty understandable look. Other plate-wearing classes can get the red and purple lookalike set, but blue is reserved for the original.
4 Nordrassil
Druids have always been one with nature, and few other sets present that theme as well as Nordrassil. Their Tier 5, found in Serpentshrine Cavern and Tempest Keep, made Druid players happy in its beautiful simplicity. Previous sets like Cenarion and Stormrage took the natural look a bit too far, giving Druids giant antlers or bulky leafy shoulder pads.
Nordrassil still gave some antlers, but the helmet looked more like a well-fitted crown. The green and brown of the robes and shoulders resembled tree bark and leaves without overtly throwing “I am one with the forest” in your face. Plus the little pops of purple added interest to the design in all the right places.
3 Bloodfang
Paladins weren’t the only ones who received an iconic set in Blackwing Lair. The Rogue’s Tier 2 set, Bloodfang, became a staple for style-enthusiasts across Azeroth. Black and red, as shown with the Warlocks, are two colors that just fit together perfectly.
The dark look helps Rogues blend into the shadows. The large hood conceals their identity, while the leather looks flexible enough to provide perfect mobility. On the whole, Bloodfang is fairly simple. It looks like the regalia of a master assassin. We wish it was always so easy to look this good.
2 Red Crane
It’s hard to deny the similarities between the Red Crane set and Raiden from Mortal Combat. With the hat, the shape of the shoulders, the color scheme, and even the shirt, there’s quite a bit of inspiration here. The Monk’s Tier 14 takes that look and infuses it with giant energy orbs. It looks almost sci-fi in its execution. Most of the Monk’s tier sets are kind of campy. This one is no different, but at least it’s also pretty fun.
1 Demonbane
Yes, the mythic version of the Demon Hunter’s Tier 20 is excessive. Yes, it has giant fell spikes coming out of the shoulders and the gloves. Yes, that is a blindfolded skull on his belt buckle. Yes, it is quite revealing on both male and female models. Yes, we like it anyways.
Firstly, the impractical ax-shaped helmet was a serious design risk that only Demon Hunters could pull off. Something about the simple yet sexy chest armor speaks to us. The armor can be toned down by keeping only the shoulders, gloves, or belt, and swapping the others with simpler pieces. Either way, we respect the concept behind the set.
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