Ask WoW Insider: How to PuG Heroics
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 27th 2008 at 6:00PM
I've just rejoined an endgame guild (my Hunter just recently hit 70), and while I used to run Heroics pretty often on my Shaman with my old guild, my new guild is much smaller -- while I like them a lot, they aren't as much into running instances as I am, so endgame instance runs are few and far between with them.So I'm left to PuG Heroics on my own, and I'm having the same problem deviate_delight is: getting into PuG Heroic groups isn't proving to be easy. I'm a good player, and my gear is pretty good (OK, to be truthful, it's probably a little low, and I just need to keep running non-Heroic stuff a little more until I get luckier with loot drops), but for some reason, I'm having a tough time making my way into Heroic groups.
So let's put the question out to you readers: any advice for players like me and d_d on how to start Heroic dungeons without guildies to run with? Anyone have a strategy for getting a good, regular Heroic group together, or how to make it so that Heroic runners seek you out when they need a DPS (or tank or healer or whatever you are)? Heroics are great places, full of good loot and badges and all kinds of things that can help immensely with the endgame, but with the wrong people, they can really ruin your day. How can we get a group that works?
Previously on Ask WoW Insider...
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Guilds, Odds and ends, Instances, Raiding, Ask WoW Insider
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Mask Aug 27th 2008 6:02PM
Pugging heroics is easy. Just make sure to bring a repair bot and a lot of spare gold!
Naix Aug 28th 2008 10:59AM
Pugging heroics is easy now. Everyone has Kara gear and just doing Heroics for fun. Once on a Mech run with my Warlock I was expected to Banish and enslave the bomb guys. One of my banishes was resisted and the other guy on Vent was freaking out. Once we cleared that part he said "Oh you have some PVP gear so you must be noob" and then quit. We cleared the rest of the instance with a hunter we replaced him with.
Fire Aug 29th 2008 5:11PM
I wish I could tell you some good news. I am an enhancement shaman with BT dps numbers/gear and I get mages in 70 blues taken over me because they can sheep.
GantisaLegendandCool Aug 27th 2008 7:15PM
Find a tank first that you know is decent, and the rest is generally easy to get.
j10jep Aug 27th 2008 6:10PM
My best advice would be: don't.
John Lawless Aug 27th 2008 6:11PM
LFG works pretty well for me on my server if I'm pugging it. If you think you're gears low, then you should run some reg instances first. It will be even more difficult getting into pug's on your toon if you're in a heroic and people don't think you're holding your own weight. Before you hit 70, you should have a couple of decent healers and tanks on your friends list... if not, go out and make some. It really pays off when you only have to find 2 dps for a pug, plus you'll have experience running with the same tank and heals. Also, use the note section in LFG to sell yourself.
Bonovox Aug 27th 2008 7:40PM
I agree with John, if you do more regular instances, you'll get to know players on your server. If you have a good run and appreciate a players skill, tell them so and let them know you'll put them on your friends list for future runs. they will like that and probably reciprocate. I've lost count of the number of times I'll have someone I ran an instance with weeks back whisp me out of the blue asking me to join them. I have a large list of (non guild) players that i've instanced with now, and most of them are happy to do a run with me. This makes the transition to Heroics that much easier.
Clint Aug 28th 2008 9:44AM
I tanked many many many pugs. A lot of the people I met along the way did the exact same thing John and Bono are describing. After a good run, one or more of the PUGs would whisper me saying they would add me to their friends list and I would do the same (especially if it was a healer). The more PUGs you do, the easier they become because you get to know sort of a good 'pugging network' - which I guess means you gradually transition from pugging to grouping with good non-guildies.
Draenors Aug 27th 2008 6:16PM
Kids, don't do pugs!
gton Aug 28th 2008 3:48AM
i run loads of pug heroics, and som groups are even better then guild heroic runs, you just gotta check out your pug members a bit, if you see your tank has crap gear, id say you better thank kindly and leave the group as taht are the worst pugs.. for those that say dont do pugs at all: you are just spoilt, take som risks
hoviboy Aug 27th 2008 8:11PM
win
Arktic Aug 27th 2008 6:28PM
Problem with PUGs is now that BC has been out for so long, most people have already been through the instance a bazillion times, so if you aren't "geared" you aren't accepted because alot of people now are just looking for a fast run and the bonus badges you get from the daily. WoW has turned into and elitest society, which should be reset for a time once WotLK comes out.
Advice on getting a good group together?
Don't judge players by their gear.
When you have good players in your group, add them to your friends list. Eventually you will have a solid number of firends who are good at what they do. (Trust me, when someone whispers you and says: "I grouped with you last week and thought you were an awesome , would you like to group up again for another heroic?", it makes them feel good and all the more likely to join up.)
Stick with it, put yourself into the LFG queue and do some dailies, battlegrounds, or other questing, you'll be picked up eventually, (assuming there are even people wanting to run the same instance as you on the given day.)
jrb Aug 28th 2008 8:12AM
dpoyesac, thank you for saying what i was about to.
i've been playing this game on and off since release, and am only just at 68 with my current main.. it'll be the first i take to 70. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that people appreciate good hunters if only because there are so many bad ones out there that know little more than autoshot.
When played well we'll save a wipe many a time... but then, what class can't say that?
Omestes Aug 28th 2008 3:18PM
Agreed. The other night, during the time that LFG is completely dead, decided to PUG HRamps with a oomkin healer, and prot pally who just dinged 70. We only got about 5 pulls in, but it was still probably more fun that most of the PUGs I've done lately (does anyone still play for mere fun anymore?).
Yesterday, on the other hand, I did the PUG from hell with a bunch of uber geared folk (healer in T6, tank in mostly T5, complimented with arena gear), and we wiped on every other pull. We went through 4 people because they didn't realize you had to be keyed, or were saved to it already.
Odd, the badly geared PUG was infinitely more fun. But then again, I'm one of those odd people whose looking forward to WoLK mostly to have instances be challenging again (read: wipe over and over).
Nick S Aug 27th 2008 6:28PM
At this point in the game, most players seem to have Heroics more or less under control. I haven't had a really bad PuG in a while.
Mith Aug 28th 2008 4:59AM
Agreed
Rowan Aug 27th 2008 6:30PM
Don't wait for a group, find a group.
Use the LFM interface (never the LFG interface). And see what groups are forming and ask the leader if they need a competent hunter. Or ask a healer/tank if they want to start a group.
But waiting for someone to ask you? Never gonna work.
Marcelo Abans Aug 27th 2008 6:30PM
PUGing Heroic instances is as simple as making sure your have a competent tank and a good healer and dps willing to listen to direction. As a Warrior tank I make it really clear I take no shit and if directions aren't followed or you become a liability you will be kicked from the group. If the group falls apart because of it then you saved yourself the aggregation as well as gold. I generally will add healers to my buddy list 1st as they take the longest to adjust to a tank's play stay and skill. DPS well those are a dime a dozen and can be easily replaced. The Key thing you need to have is a Good leadership, if your tank doesn't have it then don't bother..
Calaana Aug 27th 2008 6:29PM
Don't be a hunter. Everyone and their mom is a hunter. Your trying to get picked here, not ignored along with the 900 other fish.
Better gear. You said it yourself, you don't have the good stuff and people only want the best dps they can find.
Roll a decent tank. Sometimes I wish you could have more than one invite box to come up, just so I could see how many invites I get at once.. and if it stands up to the whispers.
Have friends. Yes, I know it goes against every law of being a wow player, but at your level this is pretty much a must.
Just my two bits.
Chris Aug 27th 2008 6:45PM
"Don't be a Hunter"
Exactly!
YOU got the benefit of ezmode leveling all the way to 70, so now YOU get to reap the rewards: i.e. being almost completely useless to a group, having your reputation tarnished by all the 13 year-old belf/nelf hunters and being one of a thousand others who can bring just as much to the table as you can.
Meanwhile, those who slogged it out leveling a priest/shaman/druid/paladin/warrior will get into groups without ever having to touch LFG - people will headhunt you.