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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsMighty Battle: Rogue and Shaman Tier 9 sets
by Zach Yonzon 
Jul 23rd 2009 at 3:00PM
While I've outlined my criteria for judging the armor sets, we've spiced things up with a reader poll to see which armor you guys like and from the results thus far it looks like the Horde have gained a good edge in the voting. Is it a result of faction-bias? Are the armor sets really that much better for the Horde? Hit the jump to find out!
ROGUE
We'll take a look at the Alliance version first, as we've done in the past few days. This time we're looking at a leather armor set identical to the Druid set, albeit with different coloration. The dark blue coloration with bronze highlights is pretty elegant and gives off a different vibe than previous Rogue sets. Though the bladed shoulders are reminiscent of past tier armor, the rest gives off a more tailored look. The pockets on the shoulders are utility belt-ish, and while we're on that track, the mask gives off a Batman vibe. Or crow-man. Either way, I think it works.
The Horde set is decidedly more rough around the edges and gives off more of a 'brawler' feel, lending itself better to a Combat spec, as opposed to the Assassination and Subtlety vibe of the Alliance set. The large stitching gives it a more leather feel than the Alliance one, which looks like cloth. One beef I've got with this set are the brightly glowing shoulders. Why would a Rogue, a master of stealth, announce his presence with sun lamps?
Verdict: The Horde set looks great, no question, but the Alliance set feels more Rogue-ish. The Alliance slips past this one.
Round 2: Faction
There isn't much going for the Alliance set here other than the blue and gold coloration. Because it lacks the kilt or skirt of the Druid version, there isn't enough Elvish filigree to 'theme' the armor. The Horde Rogue set is rust-colored with charcoal, which also echoes the red and black hues of the Horde, but in addition to that, Horde symbol design elements are scattered throughout the armor set. The cool thing is that the Alliance version evokes a more 'civilized' feel as opposed to the more primal tone of the Horde version, which works for both armor sets.
Verdict: By virtue of a few more Horde symbols, the Horde take this round.
Round 3: Overall Look
I know more than a few of you aren't fans of the corseted look, but I really, really like it. Yes, it looks phenomenally better on female characters, but it works well for male toons, too. And some armor really are tied together in that manner. It's different, it looks unlike any armor we've seen in the game so far, actually. On the other hand, as cool as the Horde armor is, there's nothing particularly memorable about it. It gets points for raised leg armor, but otherwise it isn't distinctive. At least Tier 8 had that bald man helm to make it stand out.
Verdict: I'm scoring this one for the Alliance simply because it carries a distinctive style as opposed to the generic cool-and-spiky assemblage of the Horde.
Winner: Alliance 2-1
SHAMAN
Round 1: Class
If anybody looked at the Alliance armor, they'd be hard-pressed to say what class it actually represents. For one thing, it lacks any of the signature elements - pardon the pun - of a Shaman tier set. None of the colors evoke shamanism, and the teal doesn't even feel natural. On the other hand, it is an alien race wearing this set, so the teal just might be fitting. The only thing this set has going for it is the kilt, which for many players is a very shamanistic thing.
Its counterpart blatantly rips off from the awesome Cataclysm armor sets, using a similar helm style and utilizing molten earth elements on the shoulders and gloves, replacing what would be chitin on the Hunter armor. It distinguishes itself from the Hunter armor more than mere coloration, which is great. The only downside to this set? Pants. I'm sure Enhancement Shaman would enjoy it, but watch the caster Shamans groan.
Verdict: Horde scorch the Alliance on this front.
Round 2: Faction
Sure, there are those signature lion heads on the Alliance tier shoulders, but even they look off with this set. Their colors don't even match the entire armor. Removing the symbols might even do this particular set some good. On the flip side, we've got the Horde Shaman armor which has one Horde symbol-like thing on the chest. That's it. For those of you who'd like to argue that it looks very Horde-like, I encourage you to imagine this set on a Draenei. It would look awesome and not Horde-exclusive at all. Never mind that there's just too much indigo on this set for it to evoke red bloodthirst.
Verdict: Symbols notwithstanding, both sets are faction fail.
Round 3: Overall Look
Fine, some of you guys seem to like the boat shoulders. I don't. The Shredder helmet seems alright, though, but that's about it. Overall, the combination of teal, orange, and lavender trims is just awful. It looks like, as one commenter put it, "a jar of jelly beans." I consume copious amounts of Jelly Belly, but I don't want it on my armor set. Contrast this with the Cataclym redux of the Horde Tier 9. Even though the indigo isn't very Horde-like, it adds a great contrasting color to the set that brings out the molten lava. The only thing that would make this set perfect would be a kilt... and don't rule that out just yet. The files are only data-mined, which means there could be a kilt version out there somewhere.
Verdict: Horde shocks the Alliance version big time!
Winner: Horde 2-0-1
BATTLE RESULTS THURSDAY: 5 Horde vs. 5 Alliance
By my reckoning, the Horde have won three match-ups - Death Knight, Hunter, and now the Shaman sets - while the Alliance have scored three of their own with the Druid, Paladin, and Rogue sets. Both factions score even by tying on the Mage and Priest sets, bringing the total tally to 5 points apiece. Of course, our polls indicate a totally different trend, and we'll recap everything this weekend when you've all had a chance to give your call. Tomorrow we conclude Mighty Battle when the Warlock and Warrior sets clash head to head! Stay tuned and don't forget to vote!
Round 1: Class
If anybody looked at the Alliance armor, they'd be hard-pressed to say what class it actually represents. For one thing, it lacks any of the signature elements - pardon the pun - of a Shaman tier set. None of the colors evoke shamanism, and the teal doesn't even feel natural. On the other hand, it is an alien race wearing this set, so the teal just might be fitting. The only thing this set has going for it is the kilt, which for many players is a very shamanistic thing.
Its counterpart blatantly rips off from the awesome Cataclysm armor sets, using a similar helm style and utilizing molten earth elements on the shoulders and gloves, replacing what would be chitin on the Hunter armor. It distinguishes itself from the Hunter armor more than mere coloration, which is great. The only downside to this set? Pants. I'm sure Enhancement Shaman would enjoy it, but watch the caster Shamans groan.
Verdict: Horde scorch the Alliance on this front.
Round 2: Faction
Sure, there are those signature lion heads on the Alliance tier shoulders, but even they look off with this set. Their colors don't even match the entire armor. Removing the symbols might even do this particular set some good. On the flip side, we've got the Horde Shaman armor which has one Horde symbol-like thing on the chest. That's it. For those of you who'd like to argue that it looks very Horde-like, I encourage you to imagine this set on a Draenei. It would look awesome and not Horde-exclusive at all. Never mind that there's just too much indigo on this set for it to evoke red bloodthirst.
Verdict: Symbols notwithstanding, both sets are faction fail.
Round 3: Overall Look
Fine, some of you guys seem to like the boat shoulders. I don't. The Shredder helmet seems alright, though, but that's about it. Overall, the combination of teal, orange, and lavender trims is just awful. It looks like, as one commenter put it, "a jar of jelly beans." I consume copious amounts of Jelly Belly, but I don't want it on my armor set. Contrast this with the Cataclym redux of the Horde Tier 9. Even though the indigo isn't very Horde-like, it adds a great contrasting color to the set that brings out the molten lava. The only thing that would make this set perfect would be a kilt... and don't rule that out just yet. The files are only data-mined, which means there could be a kilt version out there somewhere.
Verdict: Horde shocks the Alliance version big time!
Winner: Horde 2-0-1
BATTLE RESULTS THURSDAY: 5 Horde vs. 5 Alliance
By my reckoning, the Horde have won three match-ups - Death Knight, Hunter, and now the Shaman sets - while the Alliance have scored three of their own with the Druid, Paladin, and Rogue sets. Both factions score even by tying on the Mage and Priest sets, bringing the total tally to 5 points apiece. Of course, our polls indicate a totally different trend, and we'll recap everything this weekend when you've all had a chance to give your call. Tomorrow we conclude Mighty Battle when the Warlock and Warrior sets clash head to head! Stay tuned and don't forget to vote!
Patch 3.2 will bring about a new 5, 10, and 25 man instance to WoW, and usher in a new 40-man battleground called the Isle of Conquest. WoW.com will have you covered every step of the way, from extensive PTR coverage through the official live release. Check out WoW.com's Guide to Patch 3.2 for all the latest!Filed under: Rogue, Shaman, Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Humor
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
Dharmabhum Jul 23rd 2009 4:54PM
LOL. i lolled irl at this.
Noscy Jul 23rd 2009 7:46PM
even Steve Wonder thinks the colours are bad
Otome Jul 23rd 2009 3:32PM
Good thing my Rogue is a female Nelf then. I like how it looks on them.
Glowing shoulders on a master of stealth = fail. I don't care what anyone says.
But the Horde legs are awesome looking.
Halkalla Jul 23rd 2009 3:37PM
Although the Horde set definitely beats out the Alliance on this one, both look like a fail to me. The Horde set feels like a sloppy color blind merger between the aforementioned Cataclysm sets and the old school Tier 1 Earthfury.
silentfox Jul 23rd 2009 3:48PM
The Alliance rogue set is so pretty ^_^. It's the first set I've actually thought was pretty in the game. Minus the helm. The corset and belt buckley and bags thingy works very nicely on a rogue. It would be nice if they made a halloween costume out of it so I could wear it in real life too.
garfunkel Jul 23rd 2009 3:51PM
noooooo, even more boat shoulders!
bah
XionFyre Jul 23rd 2009 3:53PM
Hmm... don't get me wrong, the Horde rogue is nice, nothing against it.
...but the Alliance rogue is beautiful... It actually has me playing my rogue... Just so unique, yet to me, it screams Rogue... Intrigue, suspense, and daring exploits...
jwscott54 Jul 23rd 2009 4:01PM
Rogue set on a female character is gonna look better than on a male character i think...
which is crazy, considering it's named after VanCleef.
Still looks awesome though.
Boz Jul 23rd 2009 4:02PM
Anytime a rogue shoulder has a glow - unless the "glow" is black - is reason enough for a /facepalm. It's a stealth class, you know, shadowy? Dark? Vanish? Glowing shoulders kinda detract from the effect.
noelkytty Jul 23rd 2009 4:05PM
GJ, Blizzard. With a few exceptions, I have watched Rogue tier sets look better on the way up to T7, but since, they have been looking progressively worse. I realize that stats are of utmost importance when it comes to gear, but come on.. I want to know that my monthly subscription is paying partially for an art department, not "art as a side project and afterthought".
By the way, nothing screams "stealth" quite like bright glowing yellow bling bling on your shoulders.
habutai Jul 24th 2009 12:14PM
I play enhancement shaman, and well, these sets just speak volumes about what blizz thinks of shaman with this xpac: we are jokes. Why else would we (on both sides) be put in the most clownishly coloured and looking armour sets? And please. Please. PLEASE. Stop putting shaman in dresses! It is /chain mail/, not silk.
Also, the writer tries to validate the colour scheme of the Ally set by saying that Draenei are alien and so this represents their alien world? I seem to remember Orcs coming through the dark portal from Draenor as well. Not that their colour scheme is much better, but at least it doesn't have that ugly teal. Ugh.
theRaptor Jul 23rd 2009 4:11PM
As a spriest I would kill for either of the rogue sets (the corset would really work on a female forsaken). Though the helmet on the horde rogue makes him look like he is about to go play some Blood Bowl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Bowl).
Is it just me or are nearly all the helmets crap? Why does every class seem to have a plate style helmet?
I have to give props to blizz though for attempting to make it look like we are actually wearing armour (eg the thigh pads). One of the best bits of WAR was that armour changed the model and wasn't just a new skin.
ash Jul 23rd 2009 4:13PM
I sense a little too much bias for the horde on some of these polls. It's not such a big deal, cause for the most part I either agree or could split the difference with the poll results, but oh man that horde rogue set does not work. Besides maybe the helmet and color scheme, the whole outfit is killed by those shoudlers! I just can't see how people could consider that rogue-ish gear. Maybe if it glowed red or oozed black -- right now it looks like it belongs on a pally.
anewformation Jul 23rd 2009 4:15PM
For T10 sets for rogues they should have like "robe of the assassin" and have it be altairs costume from Assasins creed lol.
On a side note the horde shammy shoulders are bigger than his midbody. WTF
TiM Jul 23rd 2009 4:31PM
They just need to bite the bullet and give us read hoods and trenchcoats
Mordockk Jul 23rd 2009 4:17PM
Ya the tier 9 set sucks. I really like the idea of faction specific armor but I have a deathknight and a pally I raid with and I am not looking forward to the extrememly uggly things shooting out of hte helm and shoulders.
looks like something I would draw while bored in a classroom...
::::and now I'll draw big blades on the shoulders and helms, yipeee:::::
TiM Jul 23rd 2009 4:23PM
As an avid player of the Mortal Kombat games back in the day, when I first saw the rogue set I didn't immediately think bird. I actually though of Scorpian. To me it seems more a steampunkish Scorpian armor set, which is just fine with me since my NE rogue is an engineer. And besides, I think its an upgrade over the whole dead baby eating my face T8.
Mordockk Jul 23rd 2009 4:31PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpion_(Mortal_Kombat)
nahhhh def not like scorpion but would be sick if they did make it look like the scorpion/subzero/reptile models from MK. They def need to look more like ninjas.
as far as the t8 rogue helm, ya its gross.
TiM Jul 24th 2009 3:50PM
I didn;t say exactly like scorpian. i said a steampunkish scorpian. Steampunk. As in a victorian era interpetation of a modern day look. The metallic shoulders and the ballroom type mask lend to it.
jealouspirate Jul 23rd 2009 4:35PM
My main is a Draenei Shaman and I LOVE the T9 set, it's my favorite of them all.
I know the colouration is a bit different, but get a screenshot of a Draenei wearing that in the Crystal Hall of the Exodar and I think it would make more sense to people.
Shaman sets shouldn't be restricted to colours of the elements. I'm glad to see a little innovation with a Draenei touch in this one.
I think the Horde Shaman is pretty generic and uninteresting, like most of the T9 Horde stuff.