So, do you think we can discuss the different specs already?

[Margooya]

Do we have enough experience in the bracket now to discuss the pros and cons of all the specs?

Or should we wait a tad more, to see more geared toon of all specs, and have more "data" to judge from?


Bringing it up because to be honest, I enjoy reading what people have to say on such subjects, even if I dont always follow the meta (and regret it later ).


I'll start with my experience so far. My toons are not greatly geared yet, but I had a very bad time on my rogue, while having a much better time on my hunter. I'm still clumsy on my rogue, so that's a big part of it I suppose, but my hunter's gear is worse. Yet, much easier to play, and more effective.

Quick thing on the hunter, I'm trying a range Survival spec, it's decent so far. I use arcane shot instead of raptor strike and stay at range during big battles. I switch to 2H melee when it looks safe to do so, but to be honest, range seems good enough as is. Wondering how it'll be with enough mastery/vers, it could be a decently durable range toon.

 

[Eleannor]

I suspect there might be some changes in 9.1 (similar to 8.1, when XPOff brackets were reintroduced and epic drops and quest rewards were implemented).

It could another pass at professions (since the Relics of Time system feels a bit unpolished), changes to the Dungeon Finder (some are not queueable through the menu and many didn't like not being able to queue all for expansions dungeons) and minor changes to the way skills are distributed when you level up (some new baseline skills could be introduced and some old be rearranged).

 

[Magrain]

I aint no expert or any of that sort but, i played Warlocks ever since Wrath. And prob 90% of my experience up untill now.
For a 20s experience, I prefer Destruction because his burst is very good. Does great damage and its one of those specs that scales too damn well with Mastery (Soul Fire's damage pre nerf of the ilvl44 gear used to do over 5K, now its 1.3-2K bec im still not geared properly). Both Chaos Bolt and Soul Fire are a great mixture of Mastery along side the Broken Elkk horn trinket. One of which my ass threw it away thinking i can get the Ghost dragon trinket, which i still cant mind you. But Destruction suffers greatly in AOE, as the spec doesnt have any ability to AoE many mobs, only hopes you spamming is Immoliate to every target around you.
Affliction isnt bad either, does great damage but not as bursty as Destro, however Aff has much higher Mastery than Destro, can even reach up to 80%+ static without any boosts of trinkets or buffs. Aff exceeds very well in AOE thanks to his Malefic Rapture ability, but Aff is sometimes annoying in pvp due to the sheer fast fuckery everything is going on. Thats why aff takes time to yield damage. Hence why as a lock, Haste is your friend.
Only downside of warlocks is that Fear is the only form of CC they have. No interuppting spells which 80% of the classes now have, like pummel etc.
I never played Demo bec i dont like it, makes me a more beta warlock depending on demons to do the job for me. BDSM spec.
(Edit: Destruction's Mastery can go as far as 50-70%, Affliction's Mastery can go beyond as 60-80% but dont be an idiot like me, dont go full mastery, save some haste stats bec less than 15% will hinder your slow ass spells like Chaos bolt and Soul Fire)

 

[Tom Ganks]

I’d personally be to know what class/spec would be the best for farming ilvl 28 gear. I made a lvl 24 balance Druid.

 

[Bethdachef]

I’d personally be to know what class/spec would be the best for farming ilvl 28 gear. I made a lvl 24 balance Druid.

I also made a balance druid for that purpose and then I realised some of BOEs I was after needed a DH with spectral sight so I have started leveling a DH too.

 

[Germinus]

My personal opinion - lvl 20 - mainly pvp dps.
-Solo pvp in bg. Top.
1. Bm / mm hunt. Alot kiting and dmg, easy to rotate and kill 1-3 ppl solo.
2. Feral. 1v1 just dot root heal repeat. Fun.
3. Rogue. Stunlock and repeat.
4. Arms. Ms - execute.
-Group pvp bg. Top.
1. Mm hunt. Nothing to say on that.
2. Afli lock. That cleve dmg.
3. Boomy. Stock up and release all surges while offheal.
4. Arcane. Just slap slap.

 

[Cleatuss]

Do we have enough experience in the bracket now to discuss the pros and cons of all the specs?

Or should we wait a tad more, to see more geared toon of all specs, and have more "data" to judge from?


Bringing it up because to be honest, I enjoy reading what people have to say on such subjects, even if I dont always follow the meta (and regret it later ).


I'll start with my experience so far. My toons are not greatly geared yet, but I had a very bad time on my rogue, while having a much better time on my hunter. I'm still clumsy on my rogue, so that's a big part of it I suppose, but my hunter's gear is worse. Yet, much easier to play, and more effective.

Quick thing on the hunter, I'm trying a range Survival spec, it's decent so far. I use arcane shot instead of raptor strike and stay at range during big battles. I switch to 2H melee when it looks safe to do so, but to be honest, range seems good enough as is. Wondering how it'll be with enough mastery/vers, it could be a decently durable range toon.

survival hunter is fun. that is all i have so far.

 

[Havagudwun]

I’d personally be to know what class/spec would be the best for farming ilvl 28 gear. I made a lvl 24 balance Druid.

I also made a balance druid for that purpose and then I realised some of BOEs I was after needed a DH with spectral sight so I have started leveling a DH too.

Go feral tank (bear) and choose the Brambles talent. It's like pally retribution aura so you get aoe dmg + tags for far mobs or when bots are farming. can cast moonfire in bear form and swipe for abig aoe dmg. Makes it so you can pull 20+ mobs and end with 100% hp no problem, non stop. Also frenzied regeneration for a huge almost instant heal if you get low.
Droods dont have aoe starfall before 34

 

[Bestworld]

Do we have enough experience in the bracket now to discuss the pros and cons of all the specs?

Or should we wait a tad more, to see more geared toon of all specs, and have more "data" to judge from?


Bringing it up because to be honest, I enjoy reading what people have to say on such subjects, even if I dont always follow the meta (and regret it later ).


I'll start with my experience so far. My toons are not greatly geared yet, but I had a very bad time on my rogue, while having a much better time on my hunter. I'm still clumsy on my rogue, so that's a big part of it I suppose, but my hunter's gear is worse. Yet, much easier to play, and more effective.

Quick thing on the hunter, I'm trying a range Survival spec, it's decent so far. I use arcane shot instead of raptor strike and stay at range during big battles. I switch to 2H melee when it looks safe to do so, but to be honest, range seems good enough as is. Wondering how it'll be with enough mastery/vers, it could be a decently durable range toon.

Rogue is indeed one of those classes that's not wam bam pew pew ezpz.

It's a very niche play style and takes some practice.

So, if you're not into the mind games and the subtle strategic plays, and overall strategic gameplay over sitting in mid and pumping numbers, then rogue is indeed not a class you'd find "fun".

Rogue is as much about "making plays happen" as opposed to "making plays yourself". While they technically can do both, they for sure shine at the first one.

Communication, getting the proper saps, where to be, when to be there, who to open, when to play D, when to play O, who and when to escort etc. etc.

Because you're a stealth class with important tools, people will have certain expectations. Because even the gap between a mediocre and good rogue is fkn huge. Now imagine the gap between a bad and a good rogue.

It's way easier to be a mid class, because by being in mid and pressing damage abilities (even if you're bad), is still better than being a bad rogue that does absolutely nothing.

 

[toskosa]

Hunter is a very high skill floor class I wouldn't recommend it for new players for it is an extremely complex class to perform at even a base level of other classes. Honestly in terms of difficulty all 3 hunters specs are 10/10 for difficulty to do well with. But if you decide to roll one dont come complaining about how weak they are or how hard you have to work to do well with them.

I think the only class more complex then hunter right now is arcane mage.

 

[Daltert Moropi]

so much content now, so little time to literally find out the best one other than what was op last expansion.

 

[Malgibbon]

I also made a balance druid for that purpose and then I realised some of BOEs I was after needed a DH with spectral sight so I have started leveling a DH too.

Can't help but ask - what BoE's did you need spectral sight for?

 

[Bethdachef]

Can't help but ask - what BoE's did you need spectral sight for?

I've been looking for max agility trinkets and came across Mangler's Mark. Wowhead isn't up to date because I know it also gives a secondary stat (mastery) and with luck a socket too. The best farming option according to Wowhead is Astry Fallenbough a demon that is disguised as a NE. My druid does not have any ability to expose hidden demons that I know of so made a DH instead

 

[Havagudwun]

@Bethdachef That trinket is an area drop. It can drop from any mob that can drop a green in Val'Sharah.
The reason that specific mob might have a higher drop rate for some items is because drop rates on wowhead are only updated by people using their addon, and since that mob needs a DH ability to be seen, it has been looted less times and shows higher rates on items looted more often. Complete RNG for the area.
My drood boe farmer has pulled a few of those trinks off the grell in the area.
That item can also roll crit, versa and haste, so you're lookin at a possible long grind hopin for even a basic mastery proc'd one.
[doublepost=1607086788,1607084277][/doublepost]

Stormheim loots, just an example that shows you can get those stats on the trink you're wanting in any area, from any mob.

 

[Yayo]

@Bethdachef That trinket is an area drop. It can drop from any mob that can drop a green in Val'Sharah.
The reason that specific mob might have a higher drop rate for some items is because drop rates on wowhead are only updated by people using their addon, and since that mob needs a DH ability to be seen, it has been looted less times and shows higher rates on items looted more often. Complete RNG for the area.
My drood boe farmer has pulled a few of those trinks off the grell in the area.
That item can also roll crit, versa and haste, so you're lookin at a possible long grind hopin for even a basic mastery proc'd one.
[doublepost=1607086788,1607084277][/doublepost]

Stormheim loots, just an example that shows you can get those stats on the trink you're wanting in any area, from any mob.

I've been looking for max agility trinkets and came across Mangler's Mark. Wowhead isn't up to date because I know it also gives a secondary stat (mastery) and with luck a socket too. The best farming option according to Wowhead is Astry Fallenbough a demon that is disguised as a NE. My druid does not have any ability to expose hidden demons that I know of so made a DH instead

As shown, all zones drop a +7agi/int/str + 10 secondary trinket with a chance to socket Have fun farming

 

[Bethdachef]

Thanks for the advice folks, I know Wowhead is not the powerful database it once was but had hoped the trinket had a better drop chance from that demon. I have yet to start the BOE grind, instead I concentrated on BOPs and professions. I am ready for farming now

 

[Sosodreamer]

Any initial thoughts on healing classes? Especially before i grind out multiple druid sets?

 

[xanx]

Hunter is a very high skill floor class

As op as hunt is, this is true. Proper pet management isn't performed by most "top tier" hunters, nor are focus/mouseovers. It definitely is a very high skill cap class but you won't see it played at this level often as its fotm.

 

[Bestworld]

As op as hunt is, this is true. Proper pet management isn't performed by most "top tier" hunters, nor are focus/mouseovers. It definitely is a very high skill cap class but you won't see it played at this level often as its fotm.

Hunter has a high skill cap, but not a high skill floor.

It's easy to participate in mid and do "enough" in order to contribute towards a win. This is not true for all classes, meaning their skill floor is higher, because they have it harder in order to contribute to the same extent. That's what skill floor means. You're confusing it with skill cap / ceiling.

If you want to get into specifics about what sets hunters apart, it's not boiled into micro management. Macro management matters a lot more overall. While micro plays is an indicator of skill, and one can appreciate the subtle plays, there are way bigger impacts for hunters. I'd rather have someone who has a better understanding of that than someone who go told to use mouseover / focus aimed shot in mid.

Hunters have track humanoid, which means your minimap is a hack waiting to be exploited properly. Every time you make a mistake it's so much worse, because you have an abundance of information available to you, not to mention that your role is fluid between mid and objectives.

You are a bully that is supposed to make it significantly harder for others to get free crosses and almost any solo dps getting across for free to set up escorts or helping an EFC is your problem. At the very least you keep your team updated.

With track hidden, you are also very efficient in sniffing out stealthies, so keeping an eye on when boomies (or resto if they are playing mid at the time) etc. goes for a break, it's a part of your job to see if you can catch them being cocky with their pathing, and on d, cut off certain pathways completely.

I'm not saying micro management is uselss, but it's not at the top of the list of what sets hunters apart, unless you're talking what sets top hunters apart from other top hunters, because they already understand the macro gameplay.

Fact is, tldr; hunter has a high skill ceiling, not floor.

 

[xanx]

Hunter has a high skill cap, but not a high skill floor.

I'm not saying micro management is uselss, but it's not at the top of the list of what sets hunters apart, unless you're talking what sets top hunters apart from other top hunters, because they already understand the macro gameplay.

Fact is, tldr; hunter has a high skill ceiling, not floor.

I agree, I figured this was implied though. Hunters are a nuisance regardless of skill level and have a high floor as you mention. All I’m saying is that you very rarely see hunters play at peak performance like some other classes.