Breakfast topic: How do you learn tactics?
by Lesley Smith 
Jul 10th 2009 at 8:00AM
Once upon a time all you had to do to learn the tactics was play. Wiping on bosses and the depression of death, failure and repair bills can be a great motivator. At the same time, there are few unique boss fights in WoW. They all follow some kind of pattern and sometimes phases are even borrowed from other mobs. Others, such as Shade of Aran's Flame Wreath go down in lore and legend, even getting their own ever-so-catchy (nay beautiful) theme tune. I challenge anyone to move after having heard that (I even have that in iTunes and would play it just in case my raid forgot. No one ever did.).
So I wonder, constant readers, how do you learn tactics? I can read WoWwiki, for example, until I'm blue in the face but because of the weird way my brain is wired (don't ask), the only was I can truly learn tactics is in the fight itself. Yes, there's YouTube, there's the pre-boss-fight sit down where the raid leader does a run though the fight because no one bothered to take ten minutes to do some reading up. What methods do you use?
Filed under: Guilds, Breakfast Topics, Instances, Raiding, Bosses, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Orrine Jul 10th 2009 8:05AM
It's hard to understand tactics from the text you see. Video doesn't helps either - you just see spells spamming and moving without actually taking part in a fight. So I read tactics first to know basics of the and the most dangerous boss abilities. Then I cause 3-4 wipes on him and voila - I know everything :)
Cyanea Jul 10th 2009 8:08AM
To an extent, that's true. But rarely, people put out REALLY GOOD videos that explain fights really well (rather than a video labeled X Boss Explanation) and all it is is a low quality video so small, with bad music and no explanation whatsoever.
Tankspot videos are some of the amazing ones.
Cyanea Jul 10th 2009 8:09AM
To an extent, that's true. But rarely, people put out REALLY GOOD videos that explain fights really well (rather than a video labeled X Boss Explanation and all it is is a low quality video that's too small, with bad music and no explanation whatsoever).
Tankspot videos are some of the amazing ones.
(Fixed to make sense. I need to stop writing these things this early in the morning. Ugh.)
Jon Do Jul 10th 2009 8:53AM
Tactics?
1) Pull
2) Don't stand in the fire
3) ???
4) Roll for the loot
Magresda Jul 10th 2009 9:16AM
You, personally, cause 3-4 wipes on every new boss you encounter?
impurezero Jul 10th 2009 9:24AM
Looks like somebody doesn't get "jokes." :)
Clbull Jul 10th 2009 9:47AM
The only Tankspot tactic video I've watched was the Malygos one, and to be honest, that explained the fight and decent tactics for it to me better than other sources did. Even people doing raid roles other than tanking can learn a thing or two from these videos.
Marita Jul 10th 2009 12:12PM
For me it's hard to learn seeing a video, because I speak spanish, so if the videos are explained in english, I understand 40%
-crying because of videos with no subtitles- T-T
and the youtube one are so small, that is almost imposible to understand what's going on
kabshiel Jul 10th 2009 1:04PM
Tankspot videos are really informative. And the background music is always very soothing.
Cyanea Jul 10th 2009 8:06AM
Combination of reading strats posted online, but like you, that only does so much for me. Wiping a ton on the fight helps me learn better, and by then, my guild and I have usually come up with a tactic or two to try out.
bigsampson Jul 10th 2009 8:07AM
FIRST HAND EXP IS ALWAYS THE BEST... oh ya and tank spot is great too.
Nathanyel Jul 10th 2009 8:09AM
I, for one, hate "movie guides". The only thing they're helpful at is to show certain required movement ("don't stand in the fire/void zones")
evestraw Jul 10th 2009 8:12AM
i hit stuff. when people are running you probly should run to :D
Wyred Jul 10th 2009 12:50PM
As people say above, try the tankspot videos. Roughly 10x better than most of the videos out there. You still need to read up and actually experience the fight yourself, but seriously, try them.
nonentity Jul 10th 2009 8:12AM
Primarily by experiencing the fight. By now, whenever someone explains a tactic on Teamspeak, I usually don't listen anymore.
I just can't process like 5 or 10mins of straight "this will happen and this and this and you do that and that and and and bla blabla ...", I don't remember half of it.
Usually when those explanations start I go check bosskillers or wowwiki or whatever, by reading the tactics myself I remember it better.
Still, the best way is to experience the fight myself. When I see the fight one, max two times I know what to do, what to expect.
Of course, putting that into action still takes a bit, dodging effects etc. but that's just a matter of practice.
After a couple tries I know the fight and rarely get hit by AoEs etc. which is why it's just so frustrating when other people in our raid keep on dying because of such stuff, even after weeks or months of practice.
Whitewolf Jul 10th 2009 9:37AM
Overlong pre-pull decriptions... yeah...
I for one like the "bulleted" style, but there are unfortunate times I have to do an "overview" of the fight, then a,b,c quick points. That takes too long I think, but when I have a group of largely untested folks, its a must to risk putting the vets to sleep with.
I think its great to see the number of folks who come prepared and with some research of their own.
Note:
Remember, not every guild/raid leader does every boss the same way, so don't ignore their strategy comments.
Gordal Jul 10th 2009 8:16AM
To be honest, I rarely group these days (Just do my daily rounds and stock up on cash, then maybe work on an alt if I have time) but during those times when I do have to run instances I, at the very least, browse over the boss tactics on Wowwiki just to see if there's anything I should be wary about.
Otherwise, I just trail along. Apparently, I'm a adequate enough player to be able to react to anything untoward. Being able to flip my pet from "DPSDPSDPSDPS!" to "zomgtanklol" in less than a few GCDs has stopped the odd wipe from happening.
Argatroban Jul 10th 2009 8:20AM
Just like they taught in class. Read the material beforehand so the terms are familiar to you: read it on WoWWiki, or any other source of tactics you know... guild forums are good place to start, so everyone can use the SAME tactics.
Then when you show up for class and they start talking, it'll make a lot more sense.
As a secondary tank in my old raiding guild, it really behooved me to learn everyone's job, that's the hard part. You really have to do that from text and talking to people. When I first started tanking, it surprised me how little I understood the rotations, purposes, and even sometimes skill choices on certain boss fights. If you're not responsible for doing it, it's amazing how much slips by even astute raiders.
And tankspot videos saved my life.
zenmastermets Jul 10th 2009 8:22AM
I joined my first guild recently and started casual 10-man raiding in Naxx. Since I had never seen Naxx before I read Wowwiki and watched Tankspot videos for all bosses, and I made notes on my responsibilities (melee). Nonetheless, it is very different to suddenly be in-fight, but a couple of things have really helped: 1. Deadly Boss Mods, 2. a very patient guild full of people like myself. We wiped 5 times on Heigan the Unclean last night. No one got angry. No one called another person a noob. We laughed at our failures, and we got better and better with each attempt to do The Dance - so maybe we will get him down tonight.
The best way to learn is to do it with people who are learning just like yourself.
I also made myself a valuable member by; 1. being polite, 2. coming prepared with flasks, fish, etc, and, 3. gearing myself up with epics off the AH and with exalted gear from factions.
Hairfish Jul 10th 2009 8:30AM
Someone should make a chant of your #2. That's what guilds *should* do and be for members. Two thumbs up.