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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: The tanking shortage
by Allison Robert 
Dec 3rd 2008 at 8:00AM
I've seen several Death Knights already at 80 on my realm (and to my everlasting horror, two of them in my guild beat me to 80), but haven't noticed any real difference in the number of tells in trade and LFG searching for a tank. Whenever I see these, it's hard not to wonder what's going on. While it's much too early for the majority of leveling DK's to have had a big impact on 5-man tanking between 70 and 80, most of the ones I've seen at 80 are rerolled DPS and have continued in that role. Some would like to tank but just don't have the gear to withstand the damage of a high-level dungeon. Others have privately admitted that, while they're willing to give tanking a try, having to learn it at 80 with an impatient group that just wants to get through a dungeon is a daunting prospect. Still others really do just prefer to DPS.
I think I'm watching this more closely than anything else developing in Wrath; I think it's going to say a lot about whether you really need a certain personality to enjoy tanking, what people see as fun in the game, and what was actually causing the "tanking shortage" in the first place.
Filed under: Druid, Paladin, Warrior, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Breakfast Topics, Instances, Features, Death Knight
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 12)
William Sagemire Dec 3rd 2008 8:27AM
Lately I've seen a shortage of both healers and tanks for heroics runs.
It's the same as always. We'll have 3 DPS (two of which are usually a tank-able or heal-able classes) and never be able to find anyone to fill the tank or healer roles.
Also, I haven't seen many mages or rogues lately. What's up with that? Maybe it's just my realm.
zedwards Dec 3rd 2008 6:31PM
As a resto druid and one of the first healers in my raid group and guild to ding 80...I have not had a moment to myself to fish/train/quest. As soon as I log I get nabbed. That would be ok if everyone was geared and def/crit capped, but right now it is just painfully trying to see which heroics certain people can get through. So no pugs for me but with everyone in blues, it is not easy.
Fedya Dec 3rd 2008 8:28AM
I play a tank (warrior) and it seems that I can find groups with same ease as it was before. Nothing changed, it might be quite opposite.
We have a few DKs in our guild but none of them are willing to tank.
Our used-to-be prot Pallies enjoy Retribution now, no tanks there.
The only bear druid we had pre-Wrath is still lvl70 so it ended that only few warriors tank now.
Thant might be very bad thing for most people but I love it! :)
Todd Dec 3rd 2008 8:29AM
I've heard that Death Knights "can" tank, but have yet to see ANY Death Knight in that role.
Mjolk Dec 3rd 2008 8:46AM
I do think enjoying tanking is about one's personality. I have been a tank for nearly 2 years now, and as most tanks I know I don't have to be in the spotlight but I do like to be in control of things. Being a tank lets you decide the tempo, which mobs to pull and what to CC. I'm too much of a controlfreak to let someone else do that.
HalcyonGT Dec 3rd 2008 8:36AM
Gotta tell ya...nothing will make you re-roll / re-spec faster than a craptacular series of PuGs where you as the tank get screamed on for doing your job. To say nothing of running an instance for some defensive / stamina gear and in classic style...some asshat in the group needs or ninjas the loot.
I love being a tankadin...but GODDAMN if you aren't a tank in a guild...FUCK tanking PuGs.
MauroDiogo Dec 3rd 2008 8:40AM
Its a good thing my main is a feral druid. I find it really easy to get places in PUGs and (dont want to sound big headed by this but) since I tank OK for a PUGGd tank people usually just add me to their friends lists and ask me to come back when they go on new runs.
And about the DK Tanks - DK DPSrs situation I think it mainly comes down to gear. Some of my in gam friends have DKs but are not willing to tank because they just dont have the right gear for it. And theres no point in having really because they are still levelling up and they are mainly DPS specced. soo yeh just voicing my opinion :)
Mauro - Kilrogg EU
Kerranin Dec 3rd 2008 8:40AM
I am a Paladin and levelled as protection spec. figuring it would be a shit-load easier than holy. It was, and I had a lot of fun tanking instances.
Since hitting 80 though, I've had to go back to Holy simply because our guild has loads of tanks and very little healing. In short, the healer shortage exists on my server too. (Draenor-EU)
Got to say I agree with a previous assessment, lots of time spent improving the tanking classes and making DK's overpowered :), but bugger all time spent on healing classes.
tgruss Dec 3rd 2008 8:54AM
i have a lvl 75 blood DK and i have gotten a full tanking and dps set from questing and dungeons. I have tanked every pug ive joined since ramps and i will continue on tanking through end game!!!!!
i have few problems tanking, i might be in trouble if all my CDs are on cool down but its pretty rare for me to be less than 1/2 health. If you come across a DK who just sucks at tanking, than there are two things that are to blame. First thing to do is look at gear. Most DKs think they can tank and dps in the same gear, very wrong. Second is they probably have no idea how to tank as a DK or how to tank in general. If you think u got a scrub on ur hands try giving some tanking advice (keeps all mobs in front of you, icebound fortitude!, drop dnd when possible, pestilence, blood boil, etc). Also, some dks might lack tanking talents. If your a DK and want to tank its important to max out two or three talents to be up to par with other classes.
For all the other tanking DKs, keep up the good tanking, we still have yet to gain a positive rapport from the rest of the tanking community.
PROTPALA282 Dec 3rd 2008 8:47AM
What about the dam healer shortage
popeguilty Dec 3rd 2008 8:48AM
I'd be more convinced that there's a shortage of tanks if I didn't still constantly hear "FROST IS THE TANKING TREE YOU CANNOT TANK IF YOU'RE NOT FROST"
Woif Dec 3rd 2008 8:54AM
You mean that if more people realized all DKs specs can tank? Or did I misunderstand?
popeguilty Dec 3rd 2008 9:30AM
Right.
Aylia Dec 3rd 2008 8:51AM
Too many tank in the guild, on the realm and for the PuGs. Healer shortage, though (Defias Brotherhood-EU RP-PvP).
Distri Dec 3rd 2008 8:54AM
The problem I'm finding on Ghostlands[EU] is a serious lack of healers (or maybe just healers that are willing to heal a DK tank...)
I made a DK specifically for tanking (my other characters are a resto druid and rogue).
Since I've hit 80, just by spending a bit on the AH and a couple of instance runs, I've got to 540 defense, 22k health, 22k armor unbuffed. All I need now is some healers so I can go play!
suus Dec 3rd 2008 11:07AM
and you are one damn good tank m8 ;)
VSUReaper Dec 3rd 2008 8:53AM
First off, there isnt a tank shortage. There is an over-population of idiots.
Usually in wow, there are 3 kinds of player: good players, average players, and horrible players. Those 3 players usually fall into this category for dungeons: good players are in guild runs only, avg players will do guild runs but will not be afraid to pug every now and then, and the bad players will always pug.
My low pop server is a perfect example (seeing as most people there are either cutting edge raiders or casuals) people are just now hitting 80 after the initial surge of raiders did. You open up LFG, and in each one there is about 6 tanks, 12 DPS, and no healers. Its all average and bad players. I get a regular run ready to go last night, grab my friends, and still have a dps spot open. Look in LFg, and grab one of the 4 dps (the other 3 already have bad reps for being bad players - hear that Blizz? I didnt choose a class, I choose the player, and they all still suck). The entire time we are in the instance, the mage we pugged cast only Blizzard. No bolts, lances, nothing but aoe. Chalk up another person to bad playing.
As for DK tanks, people are willing to wait for them to try and learn, but they need to be willing. People are tired of inspecting "tank" DK's to see dps gear (or gear that they have no right to be wearing) and then listen to them whine about not being able to take a hit. As it is, a couple of the DK's in my guild have asked me to teach them to tank, but other going out there and trying it on their own, I dont know how I am supposed to do that other than tell them to get 540 def and spread aggro around.
bovie Dec 3rd 2008 8:54AM
DK need decent gear to tank, so while they are leveling normally run as DPS. Unless the tank outgears the instance, its more than likely the tank will need any tanking drops, and the DK would be an asshat to need it over the tank, likewise the tank needing dps gear over the dps. So it becomes a vicious circle, the more they level the less appropriate gear they will have to tank, making it very hard to get into it, unless done so by a decent guild.
The healer shortage is everywhere, but it seems to be a result of people speccing dps while leveling, with the ultimate aim to heal at 80. So 70 -79 its tough getting healers, but we should see an improvement as more people hit 80
Rekranar Dec 3rd 2008 8:54AM
Balnazzar has plenty of tanks... its healers were lacking
marla Dec 3rd 2008 9:55AM
I'd also say that there is more a healer shortage than anything, from what I can tell. My guild is overflowing with tanks and wannabe tanks, but we sometimes have to bring along alt or pug healers. Same in LFG...there will be a bunch of tanky people and only one healer.
Luckily, I am a healer, so I don't mind so much!