Without excessive class stacking (max 2 of each), I tried to compose the ideal 10-man BG setup. Please share your thoughts.
Flag carrier:
Guardian Druids may be the obvious choice with their extreme mobility, high survivability in Bear Form with Thick Hide and decent utility through Bear Hug, Roots and Rejuvenation. However, I'm certain that a Brewmaster Monk would be the optimal choice. Outside of being the only class capable of providing the 5% stat buff, they also have a spammable AoE slow (Dizzying Haze), which outside of serving as a decent method of peeling for any healers defending with you, allows them to escape big groups of enemies with their high mobility. Additional utility and support is gained by speccing Tiger's Lust at the cost of personal mobility, and for when things get dire, they have a strong defensive cooldown (Fortifying Brew) as well as Clash, a charge that stuns all nearby enemies on impact.
Damage dealers:
I believe an Affliction Warlock is absolutely required, being the highest utility class in the bracket. They can provide their entire team with Healthstones (20% HP - 3 charges), offer dispel protection through UA (which is important for a team with several DoT classes), can disarm enemies with their pet and resurrect team mates during battle with Soulstone, have a ranged fear with no cooldown and the extremely powerful Curse of Enfeeblement, which also has no cooldown. Their burst might be nonexistent, and they are probably worthless in any 1v1 fight, but their spread pressure in a group situation when combined with all the above mentioned utility makes them a key figure in group play.
Selfexplanatory is the need for a Shadow Priest and Balance Druid. They bring immense burst, spread pressure and off healing as well as the spell haste aura. The Shadow priest also supplies the team with 10% stamina and strong CC regardless of which talent they pick. Druid roots are also very useful in a bracket where few classes have the opportunity to break them without a dispel.
I'm not certain which Mage spec would be best, but what I am sure of is that it would be a good idea to bring one. Counterspell, Frost Nova and Polymorph all bring great opportunities for the team. I'm leaning to either Arcane with a 6-stacked Arcane Barrage hitting for 232% damage and cleaving to 6 additional targets, or Frost providing shatter combos along with an additional (ranged) Frost Nova.
While Hunter damage is not as strong as it used to be, the class has gained a lot in other areas. I believe a well-played BM Hunter has the ability to lock down several targets for prolonged periods of time having Scatter Shot, Intimidation, Narrow Escape, Bad Manner (Monkey Blind) and one additional form of CC / interrupt from their second pet. Hunters are also valuable for having a ranged, undispellable slow with 100% uptime. Their damage is not as bad as people make it out to be, and throw Roar of Sacrifice into their tool kit, and they are close to being necessary for a team.
The last DPS spot is in my opinion best suited for an Arms Warrior. They have two inherent weaknesses, one being the lack of a slow, the second being their reliance on healers. Both of these problems are eliminated in a group environment, and with how strong healing is at the moment, Mortal Strike can greatly increase the chance of landing a kill. They also have Pummel and respectable burst, with Execute guaranteeing a kill on any target that goes below 20%. The fact that they can stay in Defensive Stance (25% damage reduction) without having their damage affected in any serious way makes them excel in the middle of the brawl, allowing casters and healers to keep a safe distance from the fight. Their mobility and ability to swap is also prime regardless of which talent they pick.
Healers:
A Resto Shaman is absolutely required because of Purge. They also have Wind Shear and the 10% HP buff (not to be confused with 10% Stamina from Priests), plus good mobility and survivability. Frost Shock is also quite valuable in a bracket where slows are not something every class can apply or get out of.
The last two spots are rather easy choices, with a Resto Druid and Disc Priest both having strong group healing and single target burst healing. The Druid is great for defending with the FC with its ability to stealth and get out of sticky situations. The Disc Priest allows the team to have a Psyfiend and Mind Control (or two Psyfiends) while also being able to support burst.
The ideal composition then seems to be:
Brewmaster Monk
Arms Warrior
BM Hunter
Shadow Priest
Aff Lock
Balance Druid
Frost Mage
Disc Priest
Resto Druid
Resto Shaman
On that note, WTB some 10v10 premades for 24's in EU.
Flag carrier:
Guardian Druids may be the obvious choice with their extreme mobility, high survivability in Bear Form with Thick Hide and decent utility through Bear Hug, Roots and Rejuvenation. However, I'm certain that a Brewmaster Monk would be the optimal choice. Outside of being the only class capable of providing the 5% stat buff, they also have a spammable AoE slow (Dizzying Haze), which outside of serving as a decent method of peeling for any healers defending with you, allows them to escape big groups of enemies with their high mobility. Additional utility and support is gained by speccing Tiger's Lust at the cost of personal mobility, and for when things get dire, they have a strong defensive cooldown (Fortifying Brew) as well as Clash, a charge that stuns all nearby enemies on impact.
Damage dealers:
I believe an Affliction Warlock is absolutely required, being the highest utility class in the bracket. They can provide their entire team with Healthstones (20% HP - 3 charges), offer dispel protection through UA (which is important for a team with several DoT classes), can disarm enemies with their pet and resurrect team mates during battle with Soulstone, have a ranged fear with no cooldown and the extremely powerful Curse of Enfeeblement, which also has no cooldown. Their burst might be nonexistent, and they are probably worthless in any 1v1 fight, but their spread pressure in a group situation when combined with all the above mentioned utility makes them a key figure in group play.
Selfexplanatory is the need for a Shadow Priest and Balance Druid. They bring immense burst, spread pressure and off healing as well as the spell haste aura. The Shadow priest also supplies the team with 10% stamina and strong CC regardless of which talent they pick. Druid roots are also very useful in a bracket where few classes have the opportunity to break them without a dispel.
I'm not certain which Mage spec would be best, but what I am sure of is that it would be a good idea to bring one. Counterspell, Frost Nova and Polymorph all bring great opportunities for the team. I'm leaning to either Arcane with a 6-stacked Arcane Barrage hitting for 232% damage and cleaving to 6 additional targets, or Frost providing shatter combos along with an additional (ranged) Frost Nova.
While Hunter damage is not as strong as it used to be, the class has gained a lot in other areas. I believe a well-played BM Hunter has the ability to lock down several targets for prolonged periods of time having Scatter Shot, Intimidation, Narrow Escape, Bad Manner (Monkey Blind) and one additional form of CC / interrupt from their second pet. Hunters are also valuable for having a ranged, undispellable slow with 100% uptime. Their damage is not as bad as people make it out to be, and throw Roar of Sacrifice into their tool kit, and they are close to being necessary for a team.
The last DPS spot is in my opinion best suited for an Arms Warrior. They have two inherent weaknesses, one being the lack of a slow, the second being their reliance on healers. Both of these problems are eliminated in a group environment, and with how strong healing is at the moment, Mortal Strike can greatly increase the chance of landing a kill. They also have Pummel and respectable burst, with Execute guaranteeing a kill on any target that goes below 20%. The fact that they can stay in Defensive Stance (25% damage reduction) without having their damage affected in any serious way makes them excel in the middle of the brawl, allowing casters and healers to keep a safe distance from the fight. Their mobility and ability to swap is also prime regardless of which talent they pick.
Healers:
A Resto Shaman is absolutely required because of Purge. They also have Wind Shear and the 10% HP buff (not to be confused with 10% Stamina from Priests), plus good mobility and survivability. Frost Shock is also quite valuable in a bracket where slows are not something every class can apply or get out of.
The last two spots are rather easy choices, with a Resto Druid and Disc Priest both having strong group healing and single target burst healing. The Druid is great for defending with the FC with its ability to stealth and get out of sticky situations. The Disc Priest allows the team to have a Psyfiend and Mind Control (or two Psyfiends) while also being able to support burst.
The ideal composition then seems to be:
Brewmaster Monk
Arms Warrior
BM Hunter
Shadow Priest
Aff Lock
Balance Druid
Frost Mage
Disc Priest
Resto Druid
Resto Shaman
On that note, WTB some 10v10 premades for 24's in EU.
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