notoriousthf
Born US, Raised Mexican
*NOTE THAT THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS*
By requests, I have recreated this into its own thread for better visibility.
-I am open to opinions concerning the tier list and class/spec information
-Please do not post stuff like "X spec is just bad". please be elaborate and provide reasons.
12/5/2018 : 6:30 PM CST
-Added some info to Monks - all specs
11/4/2018 : 5:41 PM CDT
-Changes to Mages and recommendations, added some notes
11/3/2018 : 12:16 PM CDT
-a few pros/cons to Warrior - all specs
11/3/2018 : 9:53 AM CDT
-a few pros/cons to Rogue - all specs
11/1/2018 : 5:08 PM CDT
-Minor talent update to Priest - Shadow
10/31/2018 : 8:11 PM CDT
-Minor updates to druid and hunter
10/31/2018 : 4:30 PM CDT
-Thread created
:Tier list subject to change based on patch/meta:
We will list the class specializations individually with pros/cons, talent rundowns and spec notes.
Druid - Balance
---------------
Spec Rating : 10/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-High burst damage with Starsurge
-moderate sustained damage with DoT spread
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Empowerments further amplify damage
Cons:
-low mana pool
-vulnerable to interrupts
-no crowd control
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-Solar Empowerment is AoE, which can break certain CCs
-requires Astral Power management
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Nature's Balance : Recommended
Generates Astral Power while in combat, and rebalances to 50% while out of combat. This provides more uptime on Starsurge.
Warrior of Elune : OK/Recommended
Makes next 3 Lunar Strikes instant and generate 40% more Astral Power on a 45 second cooldown. Useful for chasing targets while on the move.
Force of Nature : OK
Summons 3 treants in a targeted area which deal damage.
Notes:
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Druid - Guardian
----------------
Spec Rating : 2/10
Good4Wargames : No
Pros:
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT near Druid
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-low mana pool
-mediocre attack power scaling on skills
-vulnerable to interrupts ( casting Regrowth )
-no crowd control
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT, which can break certain CCs
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Brambles - OK/Recommended
Absorbs a set amount of damage and reflects it back. Also procs Hidden Satyr and Elemental Force
Blood Frenzy : OK
Thrashes now generates Rage for more Mauls
Bristling Fur : OK
Generates Rage on damage taken
Notes:
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Druid - Feral
-------------
Spec Rating : 4/10
Good4Wargames : No
Pros:
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Single target and AoE on-target DoTs
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Sustained damage through bleed DoTs
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT near Druid
-Tiger's Fury generates 20 energy and increases damage by 15%
Cons:
-low mana pool
-vulnerable to interrupts ( casting Regrowth )
-no crowd control
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT, which can break certain CCs
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
-Tiger's Fury is on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Sabertooth : TBA on 8.1
Blood Scent: OK?
10% increased crit chance in bleeding targets
Predator: OK?
Cooldown resets on Tiger's Fury when a bleeding target dies, and existing buff lasts 5 more seconds. This provides energy regen.
Lunar Inspiration: Recommended?
Moonfire can now be used while in Cat Form, scales off attack power, and costs 30 energy, providing another DoT that can be used from a distance.
Notes:
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Druid - Restoration
-------------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-moderate sustained damage with DoT spread
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Additional HoT with Rejuvenation
-High burst heal with Swiftmend
Cons:
-low mana pool
-vulnerable to interrupts
-no crowd control
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
-Swiftmend is on a 25 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Abundance : OK?
Reduces cost and increases crit chance of Regrowth for every Rejuv you have active.
You shouldn't be spamming these though, especially if your FCing in WSG.
Prosperity : OK/Recommended
Having a second burst heal available as an emergency is always nice. The cooldown reduction is useful as well.
Cenarion Ward : Recommended
As if 2 HoTs weren't enough, anyone taking damage while under this ward will generate yet another HoT. 30 second cooldown.
Notes:
Best suited as FCs for their strong healing and mobility.
----------------------
Spec Rating : 7/10
Good4Wargames : No?
Pros:
-moderate sustained ranged and pet damage
-Can gap close/escape with Disengage
-Incapacitation CC with Freezing Trap
-provides vision with Eagle Eye
-ranged slow with Concussive Shot
-Generate focus through Barbed Shot
Cons:
-Requires pet management to use Kill Command
-Small delay for Freezing Trap to arm; has a 30 second cooldown
-Disengage is a jump, which is affected by terrain; on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Killer Instinct : OK
Nice for use as an execute, but should not be reserved strictly for it.
Animal Companion : Recommended
An additional pet for more damage, and another source of Kill Command
Dire Beast : OK/Recommended
Temporarily summons a stronger pet while also boosting Haste temporarily
Notes:
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Hunter - Marksmanship
---------------------
Spec Rating : 8.5/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-moderate ranged sustained damage
-modarate burst damage with Aimed Shot
-Can gap close/escape with Disengage
-Incapacitation CC with Freezing Trap
-provides vision with Eagle Eye
-ranged slow with Concussive Shot
-Generate focus through Steady Shot
-less focus on pet if relying on Lone Wolf passive
Cons:
-Aimed Shot is a rather long cast and should be used with proper positioning
-Small delay for Freezing Trap to arm; has a 30 second cooldown
-Disengage is a jump, which is affected by terrain; on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Master Marksman : OK/Recommended
Free Arcane Shots for more burst after an Aimed Shot
Serpent Sting : OK
A magic type DoT
Murder of Crows : OK/Recommended
A DoT effect with a one minute cooldown that resets if target dies while under effect
Notes:
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Hunter - Survival
-----------------
Spec Rating : 8.5/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-Can play as melee and ranged
-moderate sustained damage
-Can gap close with Harpoon
-Can gap close/escape with Disengage
-Incapacitation CC with Freezing Trap
-provides vision with Eagle Eye
-slow with Wing Clip
-Generate focus through Steady Shot
Cons:
-requires pet management for Kill Command
-no focus regeneration skills
-Wing Clip is a melee slow
-requires micro-management switching between melee and ranged
-Small delay for Freezing Trap to arm; has a 30 second cooldown
-Disengage is a jump, which is affected by terrain; on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Viper's Venom :OK?
A chance to deal more initial damage with Serpent Sting
Terms of Engagement : OK/Recommended
Allows Harpoon to deal damage provides focus regeneration
Alpha Predator : OK/Recommended
Kill Command deals more damage and has 2 charges, but requires pet management
Notes:
Mage - Arcane
-------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-Massive sustained/bursty damage
-Escape/Gap closer with Blink
-Blink frees from stuns and roots
-AoE Root CC with Frost Nova
-CC with Polymorph
-AoE with Arcane Explosion to reveal stealthed units
-Arcane Barrage is instant, free, and consumes and arcane charges for 30% increased damage per charge
-Clearcasting makes Arcane Missiles free and channel .5 seconds faster (at 0 haste)
*Arcane Explosion has a 19% chance
*Arcane Missisles has a 28.4% chance
*Arcane Blast has a 5.2%, 10.4%, 15.6%, and 20.8% chance (depending on charges)
Cons:
-Cloth user; will die quickly
-Polymorph has a 30 yard range; can only be used on one target at a time; target regens quickly under effect; broken by damage
-Shapeshifted druids are immune to Polymorph
-vulnerable to interrupts; Blink also locks down as it is an Arcane spell
-Blink is on a 15 second cooldown
-Frost Nova is on a 30 second cooldown; can be broken by damage
-Arcane Missiles has a high mana cost at 142
-Arcane Blast has a stacking mana cost, up to 104 mana
Talent Rundown:
Amplification : Recommended
Deals an additional bolt of damage on a Clearcast Arcane Missiles without affecting duration.
Rule of Threes : Not Recommended?
You won't be casting Arcane Blast often since the majority of your damage comes from Arcane Missiles.
Arcane Familiar : OK?
The damage is inferior to what the other talents can provide, does not attack often, and cannot be controlled. The increased mana is nice, but it does not offset its use.
Notes:
Probably the craziest when it comes to dealing damage in a short period of time. Clearcasting tends to proc often, allowing for many free casts, but do be aware of your surroundings, and keep an eye on your Blink cooldown.
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Mage - Fire
-----------
Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? :
Pros:
-Potential burst damage with instant Pyroblasts through Hot Streak passive
-Fire Blast is instant crit providing a Hot Streak proc
-innate 15% increased crit chance with Critical Mass
-gap closer/escape with Blink
-Blink removes stuns and roots
-Scorch can be used on the move
-CC with Polymorph
-AoE root CC with Frost Nova
Cons:
-Cloth user; will die quickly
-Polymorph has a 30 yard range; can only be used on one target at a time; target regens quickly under effect; broken by damage
-Shapeshifted druids are immune to Polymorph
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Blink is on a 15 second cooldown
-Frost Nova is on a 30 second cooldown; can be broken by damage
-Pyroblast has a huge cast time outside of Hot Streak
-MASSIVELY reliant on crit chance, as Hot Streak requires two consecutive crits for instant Pyroblasts
-Scorch does very low damage
Talent Rundown:
Firestarter : Recommended?
Casting Fireball on a near full health target will result in a crit. Follow that up with Fire Blast (as soon as Fireball crits) to have a Hot Streak Pyroblast.
Pyromaniac: OK?
Having another Hot Streak Pyroblast results in massive burst, however its proc rate is rather low considering the requirements to build up Hot Streak.
Searing Touch : OK?
Makes Scorch into execution with 150% increased damage instant crits at targets below 30% health, which also procs Hot Streak.
Notes:
A high crit reliant specialization. Try to hold onto your Hot Streak Pyroblasts for targets that are being focused. Keep an eye on your surroundings as you are highly vulnerable with the high cast times on your spells.
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Mage - Frost
------------
Spec Rating : 5/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-Consistent slow with Frostbolt
-Ranged AoE slow with Blizzard
-AoE Root with Frost Nova
-innate increased crit chance against frozen targets with Shatter passive
-Ice Lance deals triple damage to frozen targets
-Blink removes stuns and roots
Cons:
-Cloth user; will die quickly
-Polymorph has a 30 yard range; can only be used on one target at a time; target regens quickly under effect; broken by damage
-Shapeshifted druids are immune to Polymorph
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Blink is on a 15 second cooldown
-Frost Nova is on a 30 second cooldown; can be broken by damage
-crit dependent as Shatter scales with crit
-Ice Lance deals low damage; Targets are required to be frozen for higher damage from Ice Lance, which is limited to Frost Nova
-Requires pet management
-Pet does not have Freeze, further limiting Frost's CC potential
Talent Rundown:
Bone Chilling : Not Recommended
Damage increases up to a mere 5%. Enemies that are slowed by Frostbolt are considered chilled. This talent falls off when you can't find targets to maintain the buff.
Lonely Winter : OK/Recommended
This talent removes the need for per management (removing pet altogether) to fix one of Frost's main issues: damage. 25% increase to Frostbolt and Ice Lance should help in sustain and burst damage. Choose this if you're going for a glass cannon build.
Ice Nova : Recommended
Instant ranged AoE root CC that deals high single-target damage. Targets are frozen for 2 seconds; however, it provides very little time to hit with Ice Lance, and may hit one if freeze remains unbroken. Mainly used if team needs extra crowd control. 25 second cooldown
Notes:
Even with around 25% crit, the chances to crit on a frozen target is around ~62%. I would say Frost Mage should remain as a crowd control tool, though it can still deal damage. Ice Nova should be the talent of choice
Monk - Brewmaster
-----------------
Spec Rating : 1/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-Gap close/escape with Roll
-Can heal with Vivify
-Slow with Keg Smash
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-low mana pool
-low damage pressure
-Melee
Talent Rundown:
Eye of the Tiger :
Adds additional damage with Tiger Palm while providing a HoT to monk
Chi Wave : Not Recommended?
A slow projectile that bounces between ally and enemy, healing and dealing damage respectively. Unreliable unless the two targets are next to each other.
Chi Burst :
Notes:
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Monk - Mistweaver
-----------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-Gap close/escape with Roll
-high sustained healing; Enveloping Mist is instant while channeling Soothing Mist
-High sustained damage
-Mediocre Ranged damage through Crackling Jade Lightning
Cons:
-Vulnerable to interrupts
-Melee
-No reliable crowd control (Other than knockback from Crackling Jade Lightning)
Talent Rundown:
Mist Wrap :
Since Enveloping Mist is equal to that of a high healing spell, converted into a HoT, this talent increases its healing potential and duration making it more potent, therefore increasing its mana efficiency.
Chi Wave : Not Recommended?
A slow projectile that bounces between ally and enemy, healing and dealing damage respectively. Unreliable unless the two targets are next to each other.
Chi Burst :
Throws a wave that deals damage to enemies and heals allies it comes across
Notes:
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Monk - Windwalker
-----------------
Spec Rating : 3/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-Gap close/escape with Roll
-Can heal with Vivify
-Disable slows target; roots target if used while slowed by Disable
Cons:
-low mana pool
-melee
Talent Rundown:
Eye of the Tiger :
Adds additional damage with Tiger Palm while providing a HoT to monk
Chi Wave : Not Recommended?
A slow projectile that bounces between ally and enemy, healing and dealing damage respectively. Unreliable unless the two targets are next to each other.
Chi Burst :
Throws a wave that deals damage to enemies and heals allies it comes across
Notes:
Paladin - Holy
--------------
Overall Rating : 7/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-5 second stun
-Decent healing
-8 second immunity
-Has instant heal through Holy Shock
-Consecration for revealing stealthed units
Cons:
-Stun has a 10yd range and is on a 1 minute cooldown
-no HoTs or shield spells
-Attack skills have rather long cooldowns
-Melee
-no gap closer/escape skills
-immunity comes with a long cooldown
-Only has 2 non-talent heals
-Holy Shock is on a 12 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Crusader's Might - OK
If you find yourself constantly in the middle of a fight, you can use this to lower the cooldown on Holy Shock. Note that the cooldown on Crusader Strike is still rather high.
Bestow Faith - Recommended
A good heal for predicting incoming damage. This is particularly useful on flag carriers when they are about to get hit.
Light's Hammer - OK
Does low AoE Healing and Damage. Stacks with consecration in terms of damage and can be used from a distance. Also helps with revealing stealthed units.
Notes:
Paladins lost a lot of its utility expansions ago after the loss of speed talents. Flash of Light is rather mana hungry and should be used sparingly. Holy Shock is your only instant heal and should be saved for on the move or as an emergency heal on an ally. Do not use it offensively unless it will help guarantee a kill. Due to its high cooldown, Hammer of Justice should be used after the enemy's trinket is down.
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Paladin - Protection
--------------------
Overall Rating : 1/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-5 second stun
-Decent healing
-8 second immunity
-Consecration for revealing stealthed units
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-Stun has a 10yd range and is on a 1 minute cooldown
-Attack skills have rather long cooldowns
-Melee
-no gap closer/escape skills
-damage is near negligible
-low mana for healing
-immunity comes with a long cooldown
-Takes extra damage due to tank spec debuff?
Useful Talents:
Holy Shield : Recommended
Block chance is increased, and is your only source of "chanced" damage reduction from magic attacks. Will reflect around 10% of your attack power as damage back to the attacker.
Redoubt : Not recommended
Avenger's Shield damage is negligible, and the increased block is not worth it since it does not affect magic attacks, which 19s is filled with at the moment
Blessed Hammer : Not recommended
The damage is avoidable, and the reduction on one auto-attack towards you is not worth taking this talent, especially when most of the attacks done to you are from magic
Notes:
Paladins lost a lot of its utility expansions ago after the loss of speed talents. The damage scaling on attack skills has also dropped exponentially. Avenger's Shield no longer silences, which was one of the only useful skills in its arsenal. Crusader Strike is dropped for Hammer of the Righteous, which has very low attack power scaling; it deals AoE damage while standing on Consecration, which can be either a boon or a pain due to it breaking crowd control. Due to its high cooldown, Hammer of Justice should be used after the enemy's trinket is down.
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Paladin - Retribution
---------------------
Overall Rating : 3/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-5 second stun
-Decent self healing
-8 second immunity
Cons:
-Stun has a 10yd range and is on a 1 minute cooldown
-Attack skills have rather long cooldowns
-Melee
-no gap closer/escape skills
-very low damage for a dps class
-low mana for healing
-immunity comes with a long cooldown
-lack of Consecration to reveal stealth
Useful Talents:
Zeal : OK
With your cooldowns being so high, your only other damage is through auto attacks. The increase in auto-attack speed will be useful if you can keep ToT.
Righteous Verdict : Not recommended
There isn't enough time to stack enough Holy Power to make this talent useful
Execution Sentence: Recommended
This is your only other attack aside from Judgment that you will have in your arsenal for executing fleeing targets if they have some distance built.
Notes:
Paladins lost a lot of its utility expansions ago after the loss of speed talents. The damage scaling on attack skills has also dropped exponentially, and with the increased cooldown on them as well, what used to be powerhouse damage now pales in comparison to other melee classes. It takes a while to stack up Holy Power to use Templar's Verdict ( and Execution Sentence if you chose the talent ) and chasing/escaping abilities are nonexistent, making retribution paladins an easy target. Due to its high cooldown, Hammer of Justice should be used after the enemy's trinket is down.
Priest - Discipline
-------------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames? : Yes
Pros:
-strong heals
-strong on-demand shields which also provide no cast delay from damage taken
-Penance can be channeled while moving
-access to Mind Vision
-AoE fear with Psychic Scream
-moderate sustained damage for a healer spec
Cons:
-cloth user; can be killed quickly if not focused
-vulnerable to interrupts
-no HoT's
-Penance has a 9 second cooldown
-Psychic Scream has a 1 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Castigation : Recommended
Provides faster healing/damage as well as one additional bolt
Twist of Fate : ?
Schism : OK
Can be used if your team needs additional damage on a focused target
Notes:
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Priest - Holy
-------------
Spec Rating : 7/10
Good4Wargames? :
Pros:
-strong heals
-HoT with Renew
-ranged single-target CC with Holy Word: Chastice
-AoE fear with Psychic Scream
-Instant massive heal with Holy Word: Serenity
-Instant damage with Holy Fire
-access to mind vision
Cons:
-Cloth user; can die quickly if not paying attention
-no shields
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Psychic Scream is on a 1 minute cooldown
-Holy Word: Serenity is on a 1 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Enlightenment : OK?
Mana regen is nice but mana management should not be an issue unless you're mindlessly spamming heals
Trail of Light : Recommended
Makes it easier to heal 2 focused allies at a time
Enduring Renewal : OK?
Refreshes Renew on target via Flash Heal. Saves time and mana, but should not be used strictly to refresh Renew.
Notes:
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Priest - Shadow
---------------
Spec Rating : 8.5/10
Good4Wargames : No?
Pros:
-AoE fear from psychic scream
-Shadowform provides 10% additional spell damage; reduces physical damage taken by 10%
-Mind Flay deals moderate sustained damage and slows target
-Access to Flash Heal
-Access to Power Word: Shield
-moderate burst damage with Mind Blast
Cons:
-cloth user; despite shadowform, can die quickly if careless
-low mana pool, limiting heals and shields
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Psychic Scream is on a 1 minute cooldown
Talent rundown:
Fortress of the Mind : OK
A small flat damage increase to Mind Flay and Mind blast. A nice option if opting for a straight glass cannon build
Shadowy Insight : Recommended
Resets and allows instant cast Mind Blast; can be very effective when burst needed to down healer/target. - MartinD738
Shadow Word: Void : OK
While nice to have 2 charges, the cooldown is increased quite a bit. Use wisely.
Notes:
Rogue - Assassination
---------------------
Spec Rating : 4/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-stealth class
-stun with Cheap Shot opener
-moderate sustained damage
-can incapacitate out-of-combat targets with Sap
-can interrupt with Kick
-can apply a self-HoT with Crimson Vial
-bleed DoT with Garrote opener
Cons:
-DoTs on rogue will remove stealth
-no gap closer/engage
-melee
-Crimson Vial is on a 30 second cooldown and costs energy
-Cheap Shot costs energy and can only be used while stealthed
-no CCs outside of stealth
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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Rogue - Outlaw
--------------
Spec Rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-stealth class
-stun with Cheap Shot
-moderate sustained damage
-potential burst damage
-increased passive Energy regeneration
-can incapacitate out-of-combat targets with Sap
-can interrupt with Kick
-can apply a self-HoT with Crimson Vial
-ranged slow with Pistol Shot
Cons:
-DoTs on rogue will remove stealth
-no gap closer/engage
-melee
-Crimson Vial is on a 30 second cooldown and costs energy
-Cheap Shot costs energy and can only be used while stealthed
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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Rogue - Subtlety
----------------
Spec Rating : 5/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-stealth class
-stun with Cheap Shot
-moderate sustained damage
-can incapacitate out-of-combat targets with Sap
-can interrupt with Kick
-can apply a self-HoT with Crimson Vial
Cons:
-DoTs on rogue will remove stealth
-no gap closer/engage
-melee
-Crimson Vial is on a 30 second cooldown and costs energy
-Cheap Shot costs energy and can only be used while stealthed
-no CCs outside of stealth
-relies on poison procs to deal damage
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
Shaman - Elemental
------------------
Spec rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames? : Yes
Pros:
-high mobility with Ghost Wolf
-access to ranged interrupt with Wind Shear
-access to AoE slow with Earthbind totem; can be used from a distance
-ranged caster
-moderate sustained damage
-high burst damage with Earth Shock
-can use healing surge
-provide vision with Far Sight
Cons:
-low mana pool
-requires maelstrom management through Lightning Bolts and Flame Shock
-deep focus on Earth Shock availability
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Lava Burst does not guarantee a crit on Flame Shock targets
-Wind Shear has a 30yd range, requiring overextension to use
Talent Rundown:
Earthen Rage : TBD in 8.1
Exposed Elements: OK
High damage on next Lightning Bolt after casting Earth Shock
Echo of the Elements : OK?
Lava Burst provides slightly more Maelstrom
Elemental Blast : OK?
A high damage spell that provides a small random secondary stat buff, but does not generate Maelstrom as far as I'm aware
Notes:
Having high instant burst damage with Earth Shock is incredible for sniping low health targets, but you must keep an eye on your maelstrom bar. A ranged AoE slow, ranged interrupt, high mobility with Ghost Wolf, and high DoT damage with Flame Shock makes Elemental quite fearful to deal with, but you must be aware of your positioning at all times.
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Shaman - Enhancement
--------------------
Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-High mobility with Ghost Wolf
-access to ranged interrupt with Wind Shear
-access to AoE slow with Earthbind totem; can be used from a distance
-high sustained damage
-can use Healing Surge for heals
-provides vision with Far Sight
-instant lightning bolts to interrupt bandages / keep enemy in combat
Cons:
-requires being in melee range
-low burst damage
-lightning bolt deals little damage
-low mana pool
-Rockbiter is your only source of Maelstrom
Talent Rundown:
Boulderfist : OK
Rockbiter damage is too low to benefit from increased damagebut at least it has 0.9 second reduced cooldown on Rockbiter usage for more Maelstrom.
Hot Hands : Recommended
A chance for higher Lava Lash damage at no cost, allowing for some moderate burst damage with high maelstrom. It requires consistent Flametongue uptime and ToT to proc Hot Hands.
Lightning Shield: Not recommended
Only affects melee attacks done to you to charge as you have no access to Stormstrike. Most in 19s use magic, making this talent almost irrelevant.
Notes:
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Shaman - Restoration
--------------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames? : Yes
Pros:
-High mobility with Ghost Wolf
-access to ranged interrupt with Wind Shear
-access to AoE slow with Earthbind totem; can be used from a distance
-moderate to high sustained damage
-They have Riptide for instant heal and HoT
-provides vision with Far Sight
Cons:
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Lava Burst does not guarantee a crit on Flame Shock targets
-Wind Shear has a 30yd range, requiring overextension to use
Talent Rundown :
Torrent : OK
Higher initial Riptide heal, however this is slightly inferior to the other talents.
Undulation : OK
If you find yourself spamming Healing Surge (which you shouldn't), a correctly targetted/timed 3rd cast can save a life.
Unleash Life : Recommended
Instant heal plus additional heal on next cast allows for healing on the move.
Notes:
Warlock - Affliction
--------------------
Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-ranged class
-nice sustained damage spread through DoTs
-Fear
-moderate self-sustain through Drain Life
-can generate Healthstones for group
-Agony occasionally provides soul shards, removing the need to consistently cast Shadowbolt
Cons:
-Fear has a 30yd range, has a cast time, affects one target at a time, and can be removed by damage ( including your DoTs and pet )
-cloth user; vulnerable to physical attacks
-vulnerable to interrupts due to standing still when casting
-no mobility skills
-no burst damage
-Drain Life does not heal you when damaging shields
-Unstable Affliction requires a soul shard and has a 5-target limit.
Talent Rundown:
Nightfall : Recommended
With the spread of corruption, Nightfall procs consistently allowing cast-free shadowbolts.
Drain Soul : Not Recommended
The damage is lackluster compared to Drain Life, and it replaces Shadowbolt. It's channeled, making you vulnerable to interrupts.
Death Bolt : OK
Deals a modest amount of damage, but comes at a 30 second cooldown and should only be used when your DoTs are freshly applied.
Notes:
As a DoT-spreading class, Affliction warlocks do well in applying pressure to healers. Fear must be used from a safe position and in range of your healers. When using DoTs, be aware that they can break your Fear, so know who your Fear targets are before spamming DoTs on everyone. Agony occasionally generates soul shards, allowing more Unstable Affliction casts.
______________________________________________________________
Warlock - Demonology
--------------------
Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-ranged class
-Also deals damage through pets
-Fear
-moderate self-sustain through Drain Life
-can generate Healthstones for group
-high single target sustained damage and some AoE damage
Cons:
-Fear has a 30yd range, has a cast time, and can be removed by damage ( including your pets )
-cloth user; vulnerable to physical attacks
-vulnerable to interrupts due to standing still when casting
-no mobility skills
-Drain Life does not heal you when damaging shields
-Pet deals a good portion of your damage, so must be maintained alive constantly.
-Costs 1 soul shard to resummon pet
-Most skills require soul shards
-no instant cast non-talent spells
Notes:
Dreadlash : OK
Dreadstalkers deal 25% increased damage and is AoE.
Demonic Strength: Recommended
Felguard will charge to target to cast an even greater Felstorm for massively increased damage in a 5 second window. Cannot be cast if Felguard is currently using Felstorm and is on a 1 minute cooldown.
Bilescourge Bombers : OK
At the cost of 2 soul shards, you can instant cast an aoe that deals damage every half a second for 6 seconds. Useful for revealing stealthed units and interrupting captures. Has a 40yd range with a 30 second cooldown.
Notes:
The only source of soul shards for Demonology warlocks is Shadowbolt, so it will be used very often. You spend most of the time casting as a demolock, so be wary of your surroundings, as this will make you an easy target for wind shears and kicks. Pets can break your fear, so use it on targets that are not focused.
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Warlock - Destruction
---------------------
Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-ranged class
-Burst damage through Chaos Bolts
-instant cast with Conflagarate with high soul shard fragment generation
-Fear
-moderate self-sustain through Drain Life
-can generate Healthstones for group
-Immolate generates soul shard fragments periodically
Cons:
-Fear has a 30yd range, has a cast time, and can be removed by damage ( including your DoTs and pet )
-cloth user; vulnerable to physical attacks
-vulnerable to interrupts due to standing still when casting
-no mobility skills
-Drain Life does not heal you when damaging shields
-Slower soul shard generation
-reliant on crit chance
-Conflagarate has a 13 second cooldown
-Chaos bolt, your burst spell, requires 2 soul shards to cast
Talent Rundown:
Flashover : Recommended
Conflagrate deals even more damage and adds an additional Backdraft charge
Eradication : OK
10% increased damage on Chaos Bolt'ed target is nice, but requires consistent ToT to make use of it
Soul Fire : Not Recommended
Deals low damage on a high cooldown. The 4 Soul Shard fragment generation does not make up for its use.
Notes:
High burst damage with Chaos Bolt and Conflagarate, but takes time to generate soul shards. Pets and Immolate can break your fear, so use it on targets that are not focused. Chaos Bolt has a 2.5 second cast time outside of Backdraft, so be wary when using it. Immolate can be used to passively generate Soul Shard fragments, so use it often.
Warrior - Arms
--------------
Spec Rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-moderate sustained damage
-gap closer with Charge
-Applies "Mortal Wounds" effect with Mortal Strike
-Execute deals high burst damage to low health targets at max rage consumption
-self healing with Victory Rush
Cons:
-relies on auto-attacks to generate rage
-no escape skills
-melee
-Victory Rush requires a kill to use
-almost all skills require Rage
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Warrior - Fury
--------------
Spec Rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-moderate sustained damage; dual wield 2H weapons with Titan's Grip
-moderate burst damage with Rampage
-Execute deals moderate burst damage to low health targets and generates Rage
-self-heal with Victory Rush; minor heal with Bloodthirst
-Bloodthirst generates Rage
-When Enraged, gives movement speed, haste, and damage increase
Cons:
-no escape skills
-melee
-Victory Rush requires a kill to use
-Rampage has a huge cost of 85 Rage
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Warrior - Protection
--------------------
Spec Rating : 2/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-gap closer with Charge
-AoE slow with Thunder Clap
-No cooldown on Devastate
-mediocre sustained damage
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-melee
-no escape skills
-Victory Rush requires a kill to use
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
By requests, I have recreated this into its own thread for better visibility.
-I am open to opinions concerning the tier list and class/spec information
-Please do not post stuff like "X spec is just bad". please be elaborate and provide reasons.
12/5/2018 : 6:30 PM CST
-Added some info to Monks - all specs
11/4/2018 : 5:41 PM CDT
-Changes to Mages and recommendations, added some notes
11/3/2018 : 12:16 PM CDT
-a few pros/cons to Warrior - all specs
11/3/2018 : 9:53 AM CDT
-a few pros/cons to Rogue - all specs
11/1/2018 : 5:08 PM CDT
-Minor talent update to Priest - Shadow
10/31/2018 : 8:11 PM CDT
-Minor updates to druid and hunter
10/31/2018 : 4:30 PM CDT
-Thread created
:Tier list subject to change based on patch/meta:
S Tier:
Druid - Balance
Tier 1 - Competitive Level:
Druid - Restoration (FC)
Hunter - Survival
Hunter - Marksmanship
Mage - Arcane
Monk - Mistweaver
Priest - Discipline
Rogue - Outlaw
Shaman - Elemental
Shaman - Restoration
Tier 2 Sub-competitive:
Hunter - Beast Mastery
Druid - Restoration (Healer)
Paladin - Holy
Priest - Holy
Priest - Shadow
Warrior - Arms
Warrior - Fury
Tier 3 - Still Viable:
Mage - Fire
Mage - Frost
Warlock - Affliction
Warlock - Demonology
Warlock - Destruction
Shaman - Enhancement
Tier 4 - Subpar Damage:
Rogue - Assassination
Rogue - Subtlety
Druid - Feral
Paladin - Retribution
Monk - Windwalker
Tier 5 (unreliable tier):
Druid - Guardian
Monk - Brewmaster
Paladin - Protection
Warrior - Protection
Druid - Balance
Tier 1 - Competitive Level:
Druid - Restoration (FC)
Hunter - Survival
Hunter - Marksmanship
Mage - Arcane
Monk - Mistweaver
Priest - Discipline
Rogue - Outlaw
Shaman - Elemental
Shaman - Restoration
Tier 2 Sub-competitive:
Hunter - Beast Mastery
Druid - Restoration (Healer)
Paladin - Holy
Priest - Holy
Priest - Shadow
Warrior - Arms
Warrior - Fury
Tier 3 - Still Viable:
Mage - Fire
Mage - Frost
Warlock - Affliction
Warlock - Demonology
Warlock - Destruction
Shaman - Enhancement
Tier 4 - Subpar Damage:
Rogue - Assassination
Rogue - Subtlety
Druid - Feral
Paladin - Retribution
Monk - Windwalker
Tier 5 (unreliable tier):
Druid - Guardian
Monk - Brewmaster
Paladin - Protection
Warrior - Protection
We will list the class specializations individually with pros/cons, talent rundowns and spec notes.
______________________________________________________________
DRUID
DRUID
______________________________________________________________
Druid - Balance
---------------
Spec Rating : 10/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-High burst damage with Starsurge
-moderate sustained damage with DoT spread
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Empowerments further amplify damage
Cons:
-low mana pool
-vulnerable to interrupts
-no crowd control
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-Solar Empowerment is AoE, which can break certain CCs
-requires Astral Power management
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Nature's Balance : Recommended
Generates Astral Power while in combat, and rebalances to 50% while out of combat. This provides more uptime on Starsurge.
Warrior of Elune : OK/Recommended
Makes next 3 Lunar Strikes instant and generate 40% more Astral Power on a 45 second cooldown. Useful for chasing targets while on the move.
Force of Nature : OK
Summons 3 treants in a targeted area which deal damage.
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Druid - Guardian
----------------
Spec Rating : 2/10
Good4Wargames : No
Pros:
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT near Druid
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-low mana pool
-mediocre attack power scaling on skills
-vulnerable to interrupts ( casting Regrowth )
-no crowd control
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT, which can break certain CCs
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Brambles - OK/Recommended
Absorbs a set amount of damage and reflects it back. Also procs Hidden Satyr and Elemental Force
Blood Frenzy : OK
Thrashes now generates Rage for more Mauls
Bristling Fur : OK
Generates Rage on damage taken
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Druid - Feral
-------------
Spec Rating : 4/10
Good4Wargames : No
Pros:
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Single target and AoE on-target DoTs
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Sustained damage through bleed DoTs
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT near Druid
-Tiger's Fury generates 20 energy and increases damage by 15%
Cons:
-low mana pool
-vulnerable to interrupts ( casting Regrowth )
-no crowd control
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-Thrash applies an AoE bleed DoT, which can break certain CCs
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
-Tiger's Fury is on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Sabertooth : TBA on 8.1
Blood Scent: OK?
10% increased crit chance in bleeding targets
Predator: OK?
Cooldown resets on Tiger's Fury when a bleeding target dies, and existing buff lasts 5 more seconds. This provides energy regen.
Lunar Inspiration: Recommended?
Moonfire can now be used while in Cat Form, scales off attack power, and costs 30 energy, providing another DoT that can be used from a distance.
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Druid - Restoration
-------------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-moderate sustained damage with DoT spread
-High mobility with Travel Form, Cat Form and Dash
-Can stealth in Cat Form
-Can shapeshift out of roots/slows at no cost
-Immune to Polymorph whilst shapeshifted
-Access to Regrowth; fast heal with a HoT
-Additional HoT with Rejuvenation
-High burst heal with Swiftmend
Cons:
-low mana pool
-vulnerable to interrupts
-no crowd control
-no instant gap closers/escapes
-any DoTs on Druid will remove stealth
-Dash is on a 2 minute cooldown
-Swiftmend is on a 25 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Abundance : OK?
Reduces cost and increases crit chance of Regrowth for every Rejuv you have active.
You shouldn't be spamming these though, especially if your FCing in WSG.
Prosperity : OK/Recommended
Having a second burst heal available as an emergency is always nice. The cooldown reduction is useful as well.
Cenarion Ward : Recommended
As if 2 HoTs weren't enough, anyone taking damage while under this ward will generate yet another HoT. 30 second cooldown.
Notes:
Best suited as FCs for their strong healing and mobility.
______________________________________________________________
HUNTER
______________________________________________________________
Hunter - Beast MasteryHUNTER
______________________________________________________________
----------------------
Spec Rating : 7/10
Good4Wargames : No?
Pros:
-moderate sustained ranged and pet damage
-Can gap close/escape with Disengage
-Incapacitation CC with Freezing Trap
-provides vision with Eagle Eye
-ranged slow with Concussive Shot
-Generate focus through Barbed Shot
Cons:
-Requires pet management to use Kill Command
-Small delay for Freezing Trap to arm; has a 30 second cooldown
-Disengage is a jump, which is affected by terrain; on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Killer Instinct : OK
Nice for use as an execute, but should not be reserved strictly for it.
Animal Companion : Recommended
An additional pet for more damage, and another source of Kill Command
Dire Beast : OK/Recommended
Temporarily summons a stronger pet while also boosting Haste temporarily
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Hunter - Marksmanship
---------------------
Spec Rating : 8.5/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-moderate ranged sustained damage
-modarate burst damage with Aimed Shot
-Can gap close/escape with Disengage
-Incapacitation CC with Freezing Trap
-provides vision with Eagle Eye
-ranged slow with Concussive Shot
-Generate focus through Steady Shot
-less focus on pet if relying on Lone Wolf passive
Cons:
-Aimed Shot is a rather long cast and should be used with proper positioning
-Small delay for Freezing Trap to arm; has a 30 second cooldown
-Disengage is a jump, which is affected by terrain; on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Master Marksman : OK/Recommended
Free Arcane Shots for more burst after an Aimed Shot
Serpent Sting : OK
A magic type DoT
Murder of Crows : OK/Recommended
A DoT effect with a one minute cooldown that resets if target dies while under effect
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Hunter - Survival
-----------------
Spec Rating : 8.5/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-Can play as melee and ranged
-moderate sustained damage
-Can gap close with Harpoon
-Can gap close/escape with Disengage
-Incapacitation CC with Freezing Trap
-provides vision with Eagle Eye
-slow with Wing Clip
-Generate focus through Steady Shot
Cons:
-requires pet management for Kill Command
-no focus regeneration skills
-Wing Clip is a melee slow
-requires micro-management switching between melee and ranged
-Small delay for Freezing Trap to arm; has a 30 second cooldown
-Disengage is a jump, which is affected by terrain; on a 30 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Viper's Venom :OK?
A chance to deal more initial damage with Serpent Sting
Terms of Engagement : OK/Recommended
Allows Harpoon to deal damage provides focus regeneration
Alpha Predator : OK/Recommended
Kill Command deals more damage and has 2 charges, but requires pet management
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
MAGE
______________________________________________________________
MAGE
______________________________________________________________
Mage - Arcane
-------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-Massive sustained/bursty damage
-Escape/Gap closer with Blink
-Blink frees from stuns and roots
-AoE Root CC with Frost Nova
-CC with Polymorph
-AoE with Arcane Explosion to reveal stealthed units
-Arcane Barrage is instant, free, and consumes and arcane charges for 30% increased damage per charge
-Clearcasting makes Arcane Missiles free and channel .5 seconds faster (at 0 haste)
*Arcane Explosion has a 19% chance
*Arcane Missisles has a 28.4% chance
*Arcane Blast has a 5.2%, 10.4%, 15.6%, and 20.8% chance (depending on charges)
Cons:
-Cloth user; will die quickly
-Polymorph has a 30 yard range; can only be used on one target at a time; target regens quickly under effect; broken by damage
-Shapeshifted druids are immune to Polymorph
-vulnerable to interrupts; Blink also locks down as it is an Arcane spell
-Blink is on a 15 second cooldown
-Frost Nova is on a 30 second cooldown; can be broken by damage
-Arcane Missiles has a high mana cost at 142
-Arcane Blast has a stacking mana cost, up to 104 mana
Talent Rundown:
Amplification : Recommended
Deals an additional bolt of damage on a Clearcast Arcane Missiles without affecting duration.
Rule of Threes : Not Recommended?
You won't be casting Arcane Blast often since the majority of your damage comes from Arcane Missiles.
Arcane Familiar : OK?
The damage is inferior to what the other talents can provide, does not attack often, and cannot be controlled. The increased mana is nice, but it does not offset its use.
Notes:
Probably the craziest when it comes to dealing damage in a short period of time. Clearcasting tends to proc often, allowing for many free casts, but do be aware of your surroundings, and keep an eye on your Blink cooldown.
______________________________________________________________
Mage - Fire
-----------
Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? :
Pros:
-Potential burst damage with instant Pyroblasts through Hot Streak passive
-Fire Blast is instant crit providing a Hot Streak proc
-innate 15% increased crit chance with Critical Mass
-gap closer/escape with Blink
-Blink removes stuns and roots
-Scorch can be used on the move
-CC with Polymorph
-AoE root CC with Frost Nova
Cons:
-Cloth user; will die quickly
-Polymorph has a 30 yard range; can only be used on one target at a time; target regens quickly under effect; broken by damage
-Shapeshifted druids are immune to Polymorph
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Blink is on a 15 second cooldown
-Frost Nova is on a 30 second cooldown; can be broken by damage
-Pyroblast has a huge cast time outside of Hot Streak
-MASSIVELY reliant on crit chance, as Hot Streak requires two consecutive crits for instant Pyroblasts
-Scorch does very low damage
Talent Rundown:
Firestarter : Recommended?
Casting Fireball on a near full health target will result in a crit. Follow that up with Fire Blast (as soon as Fireball crits) to have a Hot Streak Pyroblast.
Pyromaniac: OK?
Having another Hot Streak Pyroblast results in massive burst, however its proc rate is rather low considering the requirements to build up Hot Streak.
Searing Touch : OK?
Makes Scorch into execution with 150% increased damage instant crits at targets below 30% health, which also procs Hot Streak.
Notes:
A high crit reliant specialization. Try to hold onto your Hot Streak Pyroblasts for targets that are being focused. Keep an eye on your surroundings as you are highly vulnerable with the high cast times on your spells.
______________________________________________________________
Mage - Frost
------------
Spec Rating : 5/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-Consistent slow with Frostbolt
-Ranged AoE slow with Blizzard
-AoE Root with Frost Nova
-innate increased crit chance against frozen targets with Shatter passive
-Ice Lance deals triple damage to frozen targets
-Blink removes stuns and roots
Cons:
-Cloth user; will die quickly
-Polymorph has a 30 yard range; can only be used on one target at a time; target regens quickly under effect; broken by damage
-Shapeshifted druids are immune to Polymorph
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Blink is on a 15 second cooldown
-Frost Nova is on a 30 second cooldown; can be broken by damage
-crit dependent as Shatter scales with crit
-Ice Lance deals low damage; Targets are required to be frozen for higher damage from Ice Lance, which is limited to Frost Nova
-Requires pet management
-Pet does not have Freeze, further limiting Frost's CC potential
Talent Rundown:
Bone Chilling : Not Recommended
Damage increases up to a mere 5%. Enemies that are slowed by Frostbolt are considered chilled. This talent falls off when you can't find targets to maintain the buff.
Lonely Winter : OK/Recommended
This talent removes the need for per management (removing pet altogether) to fix one of Frost's main issues: damage. 25% increase to Frostbolt and Ice Lance should help in sustain and burst damage. Choose this if you're going for a glass cannon build.
Ice Nova : Recommended
Instant ranged AoE root CC that deals high single-target damage. Targets are frozen for 2 seconds; however, it provides very little time to hit with Ice Lance, and may hit one if freeze remains unbroken. Mainly used if team needs extra crowd control. 25 second cooldown
Notes:
Even with around 25% crit, the chances to crit on a frozen target is around ~62%. I would say Frost Mage should remain as a crowd control tool, though it can still deal damage. Ice Nova should be the talent of choice
______________________________________________________________
MONK
______________________________________________________________
MONK
______________________________________________________________
Monk - Brewmaster
-----------------
Spec Rating : 1/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-Gap close/escape with Roll
-Can heal with Vivify
-Slow with Keg Smash
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-low mana pool
-low damage pressure
-Melee
Talent Rundown:
Eye of the Tiger :
Adds additional damage with Tiger Palm while providing a HoT to monk
Chi Wave : Not Recommended?
A slow projectile that bounces between ally and enemy, healing and dealing damage respectively. Unreliable unless the two targets are next to each other.
Chi Burst :
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Monk - Mistweaver
-----------------
Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames : Yes
Pros:
-Gap close/escape with Roll
-high sustained healing; Enveloping Mist is instant while channeling Soothing Mist
-High sustained damage
-Mediocre Ranged damage through Crackling Jade Lightning
Cons:
-Vulnerable to interrupts
-Melee
-No reliable crowd control (Other than knockback from Crackling Jade Lightning)
Talent Rundown:
Mist Wrap :
Since Enveloping Mist is equal to that of a high healing spell, converted into a HoT, this talent increases its healing potential and duration making it more potent, therefore increasing its mana efficiency.
Chi Wave : Not Recommended?
A slow projectile that bounces between ally and enemy, healing and dealing damage respectively. Unreliable unless the two targets are next to each other.
Chi Burst :
Throws a wave that deals damage to enemies and heals allies it comes across
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
Monk - Windwalker
-----------------
Spec Rating : 3/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-Gap close/escape with Roll
-Can heal with Vivify
-Disable slows target; roots target if used while slowed by Disable
Cons:
-low mana pool
-melee
Talent Rundown:
Eye of the Tiger :
Adds additional damage with Tiger Palm while providing a HoT to monk
Chi Wave : Not Recommended?
A slow projectile that bounces between ally and enemy, healing and dealing damage respectively. Unreliable unless the two targets are next to each other.
Chi Burst :
Throws a wave that deals damage to enemies and heals allies it comes across
Notes:
______________________________________________________________
PALADIN
______________________________________________________________
PALADIN
______________________________________________________________
Paladin - Holy
--------------
Overall Rating : 7/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-5 second stun
-Decent healing
-8 second immunity
-Has instant heal through Holy Shock
-Consecration for revealing stealthed units
Cons:
-Stun has a 10yd range and is on a 1 minute cooldown
-no HoTs or shield spells
-Attack skills have rather long cooldowns
-Melee
-no gap closer/escape skills
-immunity comes with a long cooldown
-Only has 2 non-talent heals
-Holy Shock is on a 12 second cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Crusader's Might - OK
If you find yourself constantly in the middle of a fight, you can use this to lower the cooldown on Holy Shock. Note that the cooldown on Crusader Strike is still rather high.
Bestow Faith - Recommended
A good heal for predicting incoming damage. This is particularly useful on flag carriers when they are about to get hit.
Light's Hammer - OK
Does low AoE Healing and Damage. Stacks with consecration in terms of damage and can be used from a distance. Also helps with revealing stealthed units.
Notes:
Paladins lost a lot of its utility expansions ago after the loss of speed talents. Flash of Light is rather mana hungry and should be used sparingly. Holy Shock is your only instant heal and should be saved for on the move or as an emergency heal on an ally. Do not use it offensively unless it will help guarantee a kill. Due to its high cooldown, Hammer of Justice should be used after the enemy's trinket is down.
______________________________________________________________
Paladin - Protection
--------------------
Overall Rating : 1/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-5 second stun
-Decent healing
-8 second immunity
-Consecration for revealing stealthed units
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-Stun has a 10yd range and is on a 1 minute cooldown
-Attack skills have rather long cooldowns
-Melee
-no gap closer/escape skills
-damage is near negligible
-low mana for healing
-immunity comes with a long cooldown
-Takes extra damage due to tank spec debuff?
Useful Talents:
Holy Shield : Recommended
Block chance is increased, and is your only source of "chanced" damage reduction from magic attacks. Will reflect around 10% of your attack power as damage back to the attacker.
Redoubt : Not recommended
Avenger's Shield damage is negligible, and the increased block is not worth it since it does not affect magic attacks, which 19s is filled with at the moment
Blessed Hammer : Not recommended
The damage is avoidable, and the reduction on one auto-attack towards you is not worth taking this talent, especially when most of the attacks done to you are from magic
Notes:
Paladins lost a lot of its utility expansions ago after the loss of speed talents. The damage scaling on attack skills has also dropped exponentially. Avenger's Shield no longer silences, which was one of the only useful skills in its arsenal. Crusader Strike is dropped for Hammer of the Righteous, which has very low attack power scaling; it deals AoE damage while standing on Consecration, which can be either a boon or a pain due to it breaking crowd control. Due to its high cooldown, Hammer of Justice should be used after the enemy's trinket is down.
______________________________________________________________
Paladin - Retribution
---------------------
Overall Rating : 3/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-5 second stun
-Decent self healing
-8 second immunity
Cons:
-Stun has a 10yd range and is on a 1 minute cooldown
-Attack skills have rather long cooldowns
-Melee
-no gap closer/escape skills
-very low damage for a dps class
-low mana for healing
-immunity comes with a long cooldown
-lack of Consecration to reveal stealth
Useful Talents:
Zeal : OK
With your cooldowns being so high, your only other damage is through auto attacks. The increase in auto-attack speed will be useful if you can keep ToT.
Righteous Verdict : Not recommended
There isn't enough time to stack enough Holy Power to make this talent useful
Execution Sentence: Recommended
This is your only other attack aside from Judgment that you will have in your arsenal for executing fleeing targets if they have some distance built.
Notes:
Paladins lost a lot of its utility expansions ago after the loss of speed talents. The damage scaling on attack skills has also dropped exponentially, and with the increased cooldown on them as well, what used to be powerhouse damage now pales in comparison to other melee classes. It takes a while to stack up Holy Power to use Templar's Verdict ( and Execution Sentence if you chose the talent ) and chasing/escaping abilities are nonexistent, making retribution paladins an easy target. Due to its high cooldown, Hammer of Justice should be used after the enemy's trinket is down.
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PRIEST
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PRIEST
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Priest - Discipline
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Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames? : Yes
Pros:
-strong heals
-strong on-demand shields which also provide no cast delay from damage taken
-Penance can be channeled while moving
-access to Mind Vision
-AoE fear with Psychic Scream
-moderate sustained damage for a healer spec
Cons:
-cloth user; can be killed quickly if not focused
-vulnerable to interrupts
-no HoT's
-Penance has a 9 second cooldown
-Psychic Scream has a 1 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Castigation : Recommended
Provides faster healing/damage as well as one additional bolt
Twist of Fate : ?
Schism : OK
Can be used if your team needs additional damage on a focused target
Notes:
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Priest - Holy
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Spec Rating : 7/10
Good4Wargames? :
Pros:
-strong heals
-HoT with Renew
-ranged single-target CC with Holy Word: Chastice
-AoE fear with Psychic Scream
-Instant massive heal with Holy Word: Serenity
-Instant damage with Holy Fire
-access to mind vision
Cons:
-Cloth user; can die quickly if not paying attention
-no shields
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Psychic Scream is on a 1 minute cooldown
-Holy Word: Serenity is on a 1 minute cooldown
Talent Rundown:
Enlightenment : OK?
Mana regen is nice but mana management should not be an issue unless you're mindlessly spamming heals
Trail of Light : Recommended
Makes it easier to heal 2 focused allies at a time
Enduring Renewal : OK?
Refreshes Renew on target via Flash Heal. Saves time and mana, but should not be used strictly to refresh Renew.
Notes:
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Priest - Shadow
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Spec Rating : 8.5/10
Good4Wargames : No?
Pros:
-AoE fear from psychic scream
-Shadowform provides 10% additional spell damage; reduces physical damage taken by 10%
-Mind Flay deals moderate sustained damage and slows target
-Access to Flash Heal
-Access to Power Word: Shield
-moderate burst damage with Mind Blast
Cons:
-cloth user; despite shadowform, can die quickly if careless
-low mana pool, limiting heals and shields
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Psychic Scream is on a 1 minute cooldown
Talent rundown:
Fortress of the Mind : OK
A small flat damage increase to Mind Flay and Mind blast. A nice option if opting for a straight glass cannon build
Shadowy Insight : Recommended
Resets and allows instant cast Mind Blast; can be very effective when burst needed to down healer/target. - MartinD738
Shadow Word: Void : OK
While nice to have 2 charges, the cooldown is increased quite a bit. Use wisely.
Notes:
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ROGUE
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ROGUE
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Rogue - Assassination
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Spec Rating : 4/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-stealth class
-stun with Cheap Shot opener
-moderate sustained damage
-can incapacitate out-of-combat targets with Sap
-can interrupt with Kick
-can apply a self-HoT with Crimson Vial
-bleed DoT with Garrote opener
Cons:
-DoTs on rogue will remove stealth
-no gap closer/engage
-melee
-Crimson Vial is on a 30 second cooldown and costs energy
-Cheap Shot costs energy and can only be used while stealthed
-no CCs outside of stealth
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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Rogue - Outlaw
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Spec Rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-stealth class
-stun with Cheap Shot
-moderate sustained damage
-potential burst damage
-increased passive Energy regeneration
-can incapacitate out-of-combat targets with Sap
-can interrupt with Kick
-can apply a self-HoT with Crimson Vial
-ranged slow with Pistol Shot
Cons:
-DoTs on rogue will remove stealth
-no gap closer/engage
-melee
-Crimson Vial is on a 30 second cooldown and costs energy
-Cheap Shot costs energy and can only be used while stealthed
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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Rogue - Subtlety
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Spec Rating : 5/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-stealth class
-stun with Cheap Shot
-moderate sustained damage
-can incapacitate out-of-combat targets with Sap
-can interrupt with Kick
-can apply a self-HoT with Crimson Vial
Cons:
-DoTs on rogue will remove stealth
-no gap closer/engage
-melee
-Crimson Vial is on a 30 second cooldown and costs energy
-Cheap Shot costs energy and can only be used while stealthed
-no CCs outside of stealth
-relies on poison procs to deal damage
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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SHAMAN
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SHAMAN
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Shaman - Elemental
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Spec rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames? : Yes
Pros:
-high mobility with Ghost Wolf
-access to ranged interrupt with Wind Shear
-access to AoE slow with Earthbind totem; can be used from a distance
-ranged caster
-moderate sustained damage
-high burst damage with Earth Shock
-can use healing surge
-provide vision with Far Sight
Cons:
-low mana pool
-requires maelstrom management through Lightning Bolts and Flame Shock
-deep focus on Earth Shock availability
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Lava Burst does not guarantee a crit on Flame Shock targets
-Wind Shear has a 30yd range, requiring overextension to use
Talent Rundown:
Earthen Rage : TBD in 8.1
Exposed Elements: OK
High damage on next Lightning Bolt after casting Earth Shock
Echo of the Elements : OK?
Lava Burst provides slightly more Maelstrom
Elemental Blast : OK?
A high damage spell that provides a small random secondary stat buff, but does not generate Maelstrom as far as I'm aware
Notes:
Having high instant burst damage with Earth Shock is incredible for sniping low health targets, but you must keep an eye on your maelstrom bar. A ranged AoE slow, ranged interrupt, high mobility with Ghost Wolf, and high DoT damage with Flame Shock makes Elemental quite fearful to deal with, but you must be aware of your positioning at all times.
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Shaman - Enhancement
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Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-High mobility with Ghost Wolf
-access to ranged interrupt with Wind Shear
-access to AoE slow with Earthbind totem; can be used from a distance
-high sustained damage
-can use Healing Surge for heals
-provides vision with Far Sight
-instant lightning bolts to interrupt bandages / keep enemy in combat
Cons:
-requires being in melee range
-low burst damage
-lightning bolt deals little damage
-low mana pool
-Rockbiter is your only source of Maelstrom
Talent Rundown:
Boulderfist : OK
Rockbiter damage is too low to benefit from increased damagebut at least it has 0.9 second reduced cooldown on Rockbiter usage for more Maelstrom.
Hot Hands : Recommended
A chance for higher Lava Lash damage at no cost, allowing for some moderate burst damage with high maelstrom. It requires consistent Flametongue uptime and ToT to proc Hot Hands.
Lightning Shield: Not recommended
Only affects melee attacks done to you to charge as you have no access to Stormstrike. Most in 19s use magic, making this talent almost irrelevant.
Notes:
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Shaman - Restoration
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Spec Rating : 9/10
Good4Wargames? : Yes
Pros:
-High mobility with Ghost Wolf
-access to ranged interrupt with Wind Shear
-access to AoE slow with Earthbind totem; can be used from a distance
-moderate to high sustained damage
-They have Riptide for instant heal and HoT
-provides vision with Far Sight
Cons:
-vulnerable to interrupts
-Lava Burst does not guarantee a crit on Flame Shock targets
-Wind Shear has a 30yd range, requiring overextension to use
Talent Rundown :
Torrent : OK
Higher initial Riptide heal, however this is slightly inferior to the other talents.
Undulation : OK
If you find yourself spamming Healing Surge (which you shouldn't), a correctly targetted/timed 3rd cast can save a life.
Unleash Life : Recommended
Instant heal plus additional heal on next cast allows for healing on the move.
Notes:
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WARLOCK
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WARLOCK
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Warlock - Affliction
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Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-ranged class
-nice sustained damage spread through DoTs
-Fear
-moderate self-sustain through Drain Life
-can generate Healthstones for group
-Agony occasionally provides soul shards, removing the need to consistently cast Shadowbolt
Cons:
-Fear has a 30yd range, has a cast time, affects one target at a time, and can be removed by damage ( including your DoTs and pet )
-cloth user; vulnerable to physical attacks
-vulnerable to interrupts due to standing still when casting
-no mobility skills
-no burst damage
-Drain Life does not heal you when damaging shields
-Unstable Affliction requires a soul shard and has a 5-target limit.
Talent Rundown:
Nightfall : Recommended
With the spread of corruption, Nightfall procs consistently allowing cast-free shadowbolts.
Drain Soul : Not Recommended
The damage is lackluster compared to Drain Life, and it replaces Shadowbolt. It's channeled, making you vulnerable to interrupts.
Death Bolt : OK
Deals a modest amount of damage, but comes at a 30 second cooldown and should only be used when your DoTs are freshly applied.
Notes:
As a DoT-spreading class, Affliction warlocks do well in applying pressure to healers. Fear must be used from a safe position and in range of your healers. When using DoTs, be aware that they can break your Fear, so know who your Fear targets are before spamming DoTs on everyone. Agony occasionally generates soul shards, allowing more Unstable Affliction casts.
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Warlock - Demonology
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Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-ranged class
-Also deals damage through pets
-Fear
-moderate self-sustain through Drain Life
-can generate Healthstones for group
-high single target sustained damage and some AoE damage
Cons:
-Fear has a 30yd range, has a cast time, and can be removed by damage ( including your pets )
-cloth user; vulnerable to physical attacks
-vulnerable to interrupts due to standing still when casting
-no mobility skills
-Drain Life does not heal you when damaging shields
-Pet deals a good portion of your damage, so must be maintained alive constantly.
-Costs 1 soul shard to resummon pet
-Most skills require soul shards
-no instant cast non-talent spells
Notes:
Dreadlash : OK
Dreadstalkers deal 25% increased damage and is AoE.
Demonic Strength: Recommended
Felguard will charge to target to cast an even greater Felstorm for massively increased damage in a 5 second window. Cannot be cast if Felguard is currently using Felstorm and is on a 1 minute cooldown.
Bilescourge Bombers : OK
At the cost of 2 soul shards, you can instant cast an aoe that deals damage every half a second for 6 seconds. Useful for revealing stealthed units and interrupting captures. Has a 40yd range with a 30 second cooldown.
Notes:
The only source of soul shards for Demonology warlocks is Shadowbolt, so it will be used very often. You spend most of the time casting as a demolock, so be wary of your surroundings, as this will make you an easy target for wind shears and kicks. Pets can break your fear, so use it on targets that are not focused.
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Warlock - Destruction
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Spec Rating : 6/10
Good4Wargames? : No
Pros:
-ranged class
-Burst damage through Chaos Bolts
-instant cast with Conflagarate with high soul shard fragment generation
-Fear
-moderate self-sustain through Drain Life
-can generate Healthstones for group
-Immolate generates soul shard fragments periodically
Cons:
-Fear has a 30yd range, has a cast time, and can be removed by damage ( including your DoTs and pet )
-cloth user; vulnerable to physical attacks
-vulnerable to interrupts due to standing still when casting
-no mobility skills
-Drain Life does not heal you when damaging shields
-Slower soul shard generation
-reliant on crit chance
-Conflagarate has a 13 second cooldown
-Chaos bolt, your burst spell, requires 2 soul shards to cast
Talent Rundown:
Flashover : Recommended
Conflagrate deals even more damage and adds an additional Backdraft charge
Eradication : OK
10% increased damage on Chaos Bolt'ed target is nice, but requires consistent ToT to make use of it
Soul Fire : Not Recommended
Deals low damage on a high cooldown. The 4 Soul Shard fragment generation does not make up for its use.
Notes:
High burst damage with Chaos Bolt and Conflagarate, but takes time to generate soul shards. Pets and Immolate can break your fear, so use it on targets that are not focused. Chaos Bolt has a 2.5 second cast time outside of Backdraft, so be wary when using it. Immolate can be used to passively generate Soul Shard fragments, so use it often.
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WARRIOR
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WARRIOR
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Warrior - Arms
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Spec Rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-moderate sustained damage
-gap closer with Charge
-Applies "Mortal Wounds" effect with Mortal Strike
-Execute deals high burst damage to low health targets at max rage consumption
-self healing with Victory Rush
Cons:
-relies on auto-attacks to generate rage
-no escape skills
-melee
-Victory Rush requires a kill to use
-almost all skills require Rage
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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Warrior - Fury
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Spec Rating : 8/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-moderate sustained damage; dual wield 2H weapons with Titan's Grip
-moderate burst damage with Rampage
-Execute deals moderate burst damage to low health targets and generates Rage
-self-heal with Victory Rush; minor heal with Bloodthirst
-Bloodthirst generates Rage
-When Enraged, gives movement speed, haste, and damage increase
Cons:
-no escape skills
-melee
-Victory Rush requires a kill to use
-Rampage has a huge cost of 85 Rage
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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Warrior - Protection
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Spec Rating : 2/10
Good4Wargames :
Pros:
-gap closer with Charge
-AoE slow with Thunder Clap
-No cooldown on Devastate
-mediocre sustained damage
Cons:
-PVP Debuff for being tank spec (25% increased damage taken)
-melee
-no escape skills
-Victory Rush requires a kill to use
Talent Rundown:
Notes:
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