The Dracthyr Evoker is the new class added to World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, and the first Race/Class hybrid in the entire game. All Dracthyr are Evokers, and all Evokers are Dracthyr. Players are limited to only one Dracthyr Evoker character per server, and may only create one across the entire game until they get a character to level 50.
In World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, the Dracthyr Evoker begins at level 58 in a unique starting zone called The Forbidden Reach. After completing the introductory quest line they are sent to their chosen faction's main city, much like the Pandaren before them. Here's how players can make the most of this new class.
The Basics of the Evoker Class
Combat & Magic
The Evoker is a chain armor-wearing class that utilizes a new spell type known as "Empower." This allows them to charge their spells by holding down the activation button, which can have a number of different effects depending on the spell. Some spells might deal more damage or strike additional targets when charged in this way, for example.
Evokers may equip any of the following weapons: Daggers, Staves, Fist Weapons, One-Handed Swords, One-Handed Axes, and One-Handed Maces. They are able to equip offhand items, but are not able to dual wield.
Evokers also use the power of the five Dragonflights, with each of their abilities being color-coded Red, Blue, Green, Black, and Bronze, respectively. This is important, as Evokers gain abilities as they level up. These can modify or strengthen entire "Colors" of spells, so knowing which power comes from which Dragonflight is very important. While this might sound a little overwhelming, players can rest assured that they will be introduced to their powers at a good pace throughout The Forbidden Reach, allowing them to understand their powers better before entering the rest of the game.
Evokers have two resources, Mana and Essence. Mana works as it does for other spellcasters, serving as the main resource spent when casting spells. Essence is a special resource that regenerates at a rate of 1 per 5 seconds, and Evokers may only store 5 Essence at a time. Certain talents will allow Evokers to generate Essence more quickly, and it is spent to activate certain abilities such as Essence Burst.
Specializations
Evokers have access to two specializations, the ranged damage-dealing "Devastation" Evoker, and the healing-focused "Preservation" Evoker. Devastation Evokers will predominantly focus on using the power of the Red and Blue Dragonflights to assail enemies with powerful attacks from a distance. Preservation Evokers mainly make use of the Green and Bronze Dragonflights' powers to restore and strengthen their allies.
The Devastation Evoker
Devastation Evokers are ranged damage-dealers, using a variety of breath attacks to inflict damage on multiple targets and apply damage over time effects. They make heavy use of the Red and Blue Dragonflights' powers. One of the most important moves for the Devastation Evoker is Fire Breath, which deals immediate damage and also inflicts damage over time via burning. When Empowered, Fire Breath will deal more immediate damage but less damage over time. Devastation Evokers should try to keep the Fire Breath DOT on their targets at all times if possible.
Disintegrate is the best way for Evokers to spend their Essence. It deals a ton of damage, applies a damage over time effect, and slows the target. Essence Burst can be activated whenever Living Flame or Azure Strike is used, and Essence Burst allows players to cast Disintegrate or Pyre without spending any Essence. Generally, it's better to use Disintegrate since Pyre simply doesn't perform as well.
The Dragonrage talent is a very powerful addition to the Evoker, that allows them to launch Pyres at three different enemies and set the chance of Essence Burst triggering to 100% for a short time. This makes it much easier to bring out Disintegrate for free and also does lots of extra damage. It's right in the middle of the talent tree, and should definitely be grabbed as soon as possible. Another excellent talent from the Devastation tree to aim for early is Eternity Surge. This powerful attack can inflict a ton of damage and strikes multiple targets if fully Empowered.
Devastation Evoker builds can be adjusted to allow for improved single target damage or AOE damage as required, though many of its available talents are best used for AOE damage.
The Preservation Evoker
Preservation Evokers are the healing specialization for the Evoker class, primarily making use of the powers of the Green and Bronze Dragonflights. Preservation Evokers specialize in bursts of short cooldown healing while also making use of damaging spells, most notably Living Flame, to trigger Essence Burst. Preservation Essence Burst makes one of their Essence spending spells free to cast when activated, and has a 20% chance to trigger whenever they use Living Flame. Living Flame can also be used to heal an ally, making it a very versatile spell.
Their most powerful healing spell, with a 4-minute cooldown to prevent them from spamming it, is Rewind. This Bronze Spell heals 50% of all damage taken in the last 5 seconds in a 40 yard circle centered on the caster, potentially undoing some serious harm if timed well. Meanwhile, Dream Breath is a powerful directional heal that applies healing over time, and can be charged to apply more of the healing immediately, and is a key piece of any Preservation Evoker's kit. Using Hover to reposition and set up for Dream Breath is excellent in fights where the group is moving around a lot.
With spells like Echo to heal and multicast another single-target healing spell, and Spiritbloom to allow for single or multi-target healing as the situation requires, the Preservation Evoker is a powerful healer indeed. One particularly useful ability is Stasis, which duplicates and stores the next three helpful spells cast (except for Rewind, unfortunately). Once this is done, it can be reactivated at any point within 30 seconds to instantly recast those spells on the same targets, making it tremendously useful and versatile when used correctly.