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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsMore tanking changes for warriors
by Matthew Rossi 
Feb 16th 2010 at 2:00PM
This is interesting to me for two reasons. First, because it's a fairly rapid statement of intent compared to past issues, where months could pass before anyone would address an issue (Thunder Clap only hitting four targets, for example, which was a huge problem for warriors for most of BC) and secondly because it highlights the domino effect that changing class abilities can have and showcases just how difficult class balance really can be. They knew even when they were making the change to Devastate that this might be necessary, but they understandably wanted to roll out any changes in an incremental way.
My expectation is either a threat buff for Revenge (which, frankly, isn't really all that interesting a change), a DPS increase (which isn't likely) or perhaps a small bit of AoE viability like a cleave effect. That last bit would be a good way of adding some AoE bite without replicating the paladin model which we've already been told is a touch over the top.
Filed under: Warrior, Analysis / Opinion, News items
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
rkaliski Feb 17th 2010 4:09AM
You on crack?
grugan Feb 17th 2010 7:55AM
I play a protection warrior and I do not want or need more aoe threat. Part of the game is to react to the challenges thrown up by running raids and heroics. That's why we have taunt, vigilance, mocking blow and stuns.
What I want to see is competitive dps with the other tanks or better survivability than other tanks if we're doing less damage (block still needs fixing).
Pala tank is easy mode, bear tank imo is just too dull, DK tank is proving to be interesting but for my playstyle and why I love warrior, nothing is as awesome as a protection warrior slapping mobs with his shield.
It seems to me the problem here is caused by the pvp nerf to shield slam, leads to devastate buff, leads to revenge falling out of use, leads to potential revenge buff.
I still use revenge because of the baked in threat and because it's boring spamming devastate all the frikkin time.
Greenjojo Feb 17th 2010 9:48AM
I'm not sure there's anything wrong with warrior tanks. I don't seem to have a problem holding threat, though the Devastate buff was nice.
I've ran on my other toons with plenty of bad warrior tanks. The problem seems to lie in the fact that most warrior tanks target one mob and expect to hold everything they pull... Thunder clap, Sw, tab around smash a couple devastates/cleaves etc - move onto the next pull. DPS also has to realize that it takes 1 or 2 seconds to grab threat.
iraowens Feb 17th 2010 12:47PM
Lots of good stuff being kicked around here, when I started my Prot Warrior it was out of frustration with my Druid always getting his ass kicked. I loved casting but didn't really ride it out...maybe someday I'll return to my lonley Druid.
I turned to a Warrior and knowing that a Tank was needed for our guild I ponyed up.
I think bottom line is adjusting to someones playing style and class, people in my guild have been understanding of this and because we're friends we adjust to each others styles and make it work in return I make sure that they don't die.
I love tanking and I love smashing things in the face, I even love hearing "Hey can't you hold aggro?" from a pug group where the hunter is doing 5k damage before I even have the mob pulled.
More AoE damage would be cool but if I have someone burning down adds before I'm allowed to pick them up...chances are their going to die and thats fine by me if your being unreasonable and not letting me do my job.
Good groups consist of people who know the strengths and weaknesses of their class, the Prot Warrior still has much to add to the WoW...just take a look at HoR, imo that place was made for a Prot Warrior.
...SilveR
Noscy Feb 17th 2010 6:07PM
As a off-spec Prot Warrior who does heroics as the said spec to jump the queue, I have come to the conclusion that there is to much downtime between our 2 big hitting aoe abilities.
Situations that come to mind are, additional trash being pulled whilst fighting others, when your Challenging Shout is down and all other aoe abilities are on cool down, and they run right past you straight at the healer, barring one if you managed to get the taunt off.
Now there are 2 things that can happen.
Give Revenge and aoe effect of some kind, Lash sounds good. This makes for a good ability to buff as it doesn't get used by any other spec to my knowledge apart from tanking. Or even more using Revenge can remove the current cooldown of Shock wave whatever...
Second thing and probably more impacting on the other specs and pvp is buff Cleave. Ie Swipe like effect and lower rage component, but I cannot foresee this seeing the light of day...
MaxConstantine Feb 18th 2010 8:34AM
Those complaining about warrior threat doesn't have a clue... It's Cake now incomparison to pre-BC or even BC prior to the addition of Shockwave and T-clap target limiters. If you have difficulties with AOE aggro in 5 mans, just stop setting poor examples and switch classes already.
Big Shoe Feb 18th 2010 1:37PM
I've played a Prot warrior since vanilla, and while our AoE threat is much better now than it was back then, it is still markedly inferior to that of the other three tanking classes. Regardless of skill, class mechanics simply do not favor the warrior in large pulls. That is the point that needs addressing by Blizzard, not how balanced a pure PvE spec like Prot is in arenas.
Big Shoe Feb 18th 2010 2:24PM
I won't even try to argue that warriors can out AoE the other classes, but they are still great single target tanks, and when played properly, their AoE threat will get the job done. Last week, I was in an ICC pug, and the other tank was a death knight who was holding aggro so well that I couldn't even Taunt a trash mob off him and keep it for more than a second or two. Normally, I would have been impressed, but throughout the run, he made some less than civil comments in raid chat about how "fail" warrior tanks were compared to DKs, using his "leet aggro" to justify his claims. When someone went AFK to smoke, people began to chat, and it came to light that the top three DPSers (two rogues and a hunter) were all Tricking and MDing the DK tank. The next three pulls were giant skeletons spawned by traps, and each was to be pulled individually by the DK. I asked that the Tricks and MDs be kept in reserve on these pulls in case of trouble. In all three cases, I gave the DK a three second head start, then pulled off him with my normal rotation. He finally conceded that warrior tanks "still suck but are okay sometimes," and the threat dumps were shared more evenly thereafter. I can attest many players I have met in pugs do see warriors as the worst of the four tanking classes, and this bias alone could cause problems for warriors in the days ahead. Based on my anecdotal experiences in pugs, DPSers seem to dislike warrior tanks, while healers dislike DK tanks. But even so, I'll keep tanking until they take away my shield. That bench may be in sight, but not all warrior tanks are ready to sit on it just yet! :-)
Lansow Feb 22nd 2010 6:23PM
AoE tanking on a warrior is not difficult if you pay attention and learn your class.
Paladins are NOT better tanks than warriors. They have a fraction of the utility(no disarm, gap closers, less stuns, less silence, interrupts, etc), and while many lame tanks will complain that their Ardent Defender "cheat death" proc is OP, consider that they can't use it as an "Oh @&^#!" button like we can with Last Stand/Shield Wall/Battlemaster's trinket.
Don't sell the warrior class short just because you haven't opened up your toolbox and experimented with all we have to offer.
L2P. Simple.
Ryan Singer Feb 22nd 2010 6:39PM
@ Parl:
I can't believe you were voted up for this tripe:
"In HOR, warrior tanks are at a decided disadvantage when you're tanking the 5 adds that come from different sections of the room."
We are not at a decided disadvantage. L2P with ALL your tools. Heroic throw the mage(now silenced and following you), charge and disarm the hunter(no ranged weapon = following you), intercept the melee(you DID spec warbringer, didn't you?), thunderclap, backpeddle 2 steps, Shockwave, target and shield bash the priest(silenced), cleave, thunderclap, devastate, concussion blow the priest(stunned), tab to the melee, etc.
Seriously, don't come in here complaining about your class being inferior in an instance that was practically designed for it and expect to not have people throw it right back in your face.
If you're really been MT since vanilla I expect you to know how to play your class better than 3 button spam, really.
L2P. Simple.