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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsGuest Post: How to succeed in dungeons without really trying
by Aiden James Kosciesza 
Jan 3rd 2011 at 2:00PM
Make no mistake: Early Cataclysm dungeons are not the faceroll that we experienced at the end of Wrath. Not only have everyone's gear levels dropped dramatically relative to the content, but Blizzard has returned to a more BC-style design philosophy wherein crowd control really matters and one live mob can make the difference between an easy pull and a very difficult one.
Of course, the ideal solution is to read up on the dungeons beforehand and make sure you're prepared for them, but we don't live in an ideal world. Sometimes, you'll wind up in a random dungeon that you weren't expecting, and you haven't had time to research. Additionally, dungeon guides don't always give tips for trash, and trash pulls now require some coordination. Luckily, instance design does not expect you to have an encyclopedia in your head. An alert dungeoneer can succeed on the fly by following a few simple tips.
Be up front and ask questions. If you zone into a dungeon you're doing for the first time, say so. A simple "first time in here" will let other players know that you're still learning the mechanics of the instance and may need guidance. It's always possible that an impatient member will drop group or, worse, vote to kick you, but trust me: You don't want to go through the dungeon with that person anyway. The vast majority of groups will be relieved that you spoke up and will offer information throughout the zone. When you come to a boss you haven't seen yet or don't remember, a quick "Does this guy do anything special?" should be enough to get the tips you need. If none of your group members are forthcoming, you'll have to rely on general dungeon knowledge to get you through.
Know your CC. If you're a DPSer, make sure you know all of your class's crowd control options and have them ready in a convenient place on your action bars. If you're a tank or someone who is leading an instance, it's probably a good idea to be familiar with all crowd control options, but if you're not, ask the group who has CC at the beginning of the dungeon. The person leading should assign a mark to each CCer and keep the assignments consistent throughout the run. If you are a DPSer who has a useful CC ability but the tank is forging bravely ahead, speak up and mention your capability. It could mean the difference between an easy pull and a trash wipe.
Get DBM. The Deadly Boss Mods addon is an essential tool in any dungeoneer's arsenal. If you're quick-witted or a veteran of other WoW dungeons, DBM's announcements will help you know what to do even if you've never seen the dungeon before. Healers will especially appreciate the announcement of special boss abilities, as these almost always cause the group to take more damage and a heads-up can help the healer compensate. DPS will be warned not to stand in the fire and when to interrupt boss spells.
Don't stand in bad things. As we all know, if the floor changes color at the boss's behest, it's time to move your butt and get to a safer spot. Fire, shadow, falling rock, water, arcane magic -- all of these are examples of Things You Don't Want To Stand In. Most players are pretty good about not standing in the fire, but it's important that you keep your eyes open, even on trash pulls. Don't overwork the healer's mana by being slow to move. Also, melee DPS especially should be aware of the mob's proximity abilities. If you're standing in front of something that is hurting you, move out of the way.
Stand in good things. Cataclysm has introduced a new dynamic to the old not-standing-in-fire strategy: good fire. Some of the healing classes have gained new AoE heal abilities that show up as spell graphics on the ground -- but these are the good kind. If your healer casts one of these spells, such as Efflorescence, Power Word: Barrier, or Healing Rain, it'll show up as a shiny spell graphic at a fixed location. If it's possible and convenient amidst your other responsibilities on the fight, move into these spell graphics so that you benefit from the AoE heals.
Watch your health. If you're not the healer, it's important to watch your own health. If you notice that you're taking a lot more damage than usual, you may be standing somewhere you shouldn't be. Awareness is key. It's also a good idea to have potions, bandages, or self-healing cooldowns ready, but do not use them unless necessary. Cataclysm healing is not about keeping players at full health, and if you use your self-healing abilities when you are not in immediate danger of dying, you're just wasting the healer's mana; he or she was probably in the middle of healing you.
Follow the leader. If you're the only one new to the dungeon, chances are the other players know things about the encounters that they've either forgotten or neglected to tell you. If you see everyone else moving to a certain spot, moving out of a certain spot, or switching DPS to an add, be the sheep and follow along. Awareness is still key! It could save your party from a wipe.
All of these tips notwithstanding, it's still a good idea to read a guide for dungeons you have yet to visit. WoW Insider has some great guides up for you to peruse, and it doesn't take long to give them a once-over. However, if you zone into an instance and draw a blank, these tips will help you make the most of it. Good luck and have fun!
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from leveling up a new goblin or worgen to breaking news and strategies on endgame play.Filed under: Cataclysm, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
RetPallyJil Jan 3rd 2011 2:51PM
"Go where everyone else is"
"Hit what everyone else is hitting"
"When in doubt, hit the boss"
"Don't stand where it hurts"
Those simple concepts have let me bluster through many a raid boss I had no clue about.
Aigarius Jan 3rd 2011 2:55PM
Except when there is stuff where you need to spread out ...
DoubleCrit Jan 4th 2011 2:05PM
Been saying this for years.
Scooter Jan 3rd 2011 3:12PM
CC hasn't only improved in dungeons. It has become all around good in PvE. A lot of elites were immune to CC and now aren't. My Mage can actually solo the big 500k hp dude provided I don't make any mistakes. How you ask? Well the spell "Slow" now works on a lot of the elites whereas before nearly everything would be unaffected by it.
Simply put people go out and get some practice.
Sunaseni Jan 3rd 2011 3:18PM
Is it really that hard to just pay 100% attention to encounters where 4 other people are relying on you? Maybe it's just me, but my motivation for learning all I can isn't so I can personally do better and show off (okay, maybe a little bit), but I don't want to waste time for 4-24 other people. I don't think it's too much to ask that everyone knows their utility before walking into an instance, and figure out when's a good time to use them.
An example is the drake in Stonecore, no DPS should ever take damage. Yet, every single melee I've run with took excessive damage (i.e. a non-zero amount) from the lava because they've never noticed that the dust clouds preceeded the lava pools. I don't think it's too much to ask to devote full attention to the encounters and the various visuals to try and figure out best ways to do things when, again, people are relying on you to make the run as smooth and fast as possible.
This isn't a casual/hardcore issue. It's a courtesy issue. You don't need to be hardcore to have the courtesy to do the best that you can for other people's sake.
Matt Jan 3rd 2011 3:21PM
Although this might require more work than most people are willing to put into the game, use index cards to make a quick guide for each boss or each dungeon you might encounter. Keep them at your desk or wherever you play WoW, and you'll have a reference at hand that doesn't require you alt-tab out and load a page.
Jestin Jan 3rd 2011 3:22PM
"Know your CC. If you're a DPSer, make sure you know all of your class's crowd control options and have them ready in a convenient place on your action bars."
Excellent point, but may I also add "know and understand how your abilities have changed." I was healing Heroic SFK last night and had a warlock who simply refused to Fear any of the mobs because they were undead. While in the past, undead mobs would always be immune, they aren't anymore.
And please, please PLEASE try and glyph your CC abilities. There's nothing worse than Fearing a mob and have it run off and aggro a few other packs.
Jeff (Not that one ^ ) Jan 3rd 2011 3:29PM
Built in WoW voice chat is trash.
Jeff (Not that one ^ ) Jan 3rd 2011 3:30PM
Yeah, way to not post as a reply like I told you to. This was in response to a comment on page 1 about having separate LFD for people who use the WoW voice chat system.
Lee Weaver Jan 3rd 2011 4:04PM
There is nothing wrong with built in voice chat for 5 mans. the quality is fine for that purpose, it's not like we need cd quality sound for 5 person voice communication.
Jeff (Not that one ^ ) Jan 3rd 2011 4:54PM
When I was questing with my friend, just the two of us, the quality was horrible--as was the lag. Skype was better than the built-in client.
Stormsinger Jan 3rd 2011 3:39PM
General rule I've followed for all Cata instances is (almost always*) interrupt it, purge it, stun it, cc it, spellsteal it. Anyone that can do their part in that makes a great PUG for heroics.
* Some restrictions apply. Void in SFK and SC. Do not remove this tag under penalty of law.
nieboh Jan 3rd 2011 9:37PM
After an encounter in heroic stonecore our priest (healer) gave me a heads-up for the future. "Don't spellsteal the Elementium Bulwark right away or I can't dot myself and I get stunned and can't heal." I had just been merrily spellstealing away.
Pam Jan 3rd 2011 5:12PM
Stop Thunderfking stuff from under the solar beam if you are not prepared to interrupt it.
That is just as bad as the tank moving out from under it.
Surtr Jan 3rd 2011 3:53PM
The BossInfo addon is also a good recommendation. It'll tell you generally what to do for a boss you're not familiar with.
Wartowne Jan 3rd 2011 3:57PM
Also, I find it to be particularly enlightening to ask what a particular strategy was if a boss went very smoothly and you didn't catch why exactly. Ex in BRC the fire dance boss, you can keep the adds from spawning if he maintains the heated debuff from frequent, quick trips through the fire. Now I will spread this info to all groups I join that might struggle there.
Neirin Jan 3rd 2011 4:20PM
I was once in a random dungeon group where it was the healer's first time and they said so at the start. One of the dps players started a vote-kick almost immediately when they saw the first time thing... I've never seen a vote-kick fail so fast. It's the start of a new expansion, even some of the people who hit 85 early on haven't seen some of the heroics more than a few times die to RNG for the random. The kicker kept complaining about the healer's inexperience for the next several pulls (despite all of them going quite smoothly) until we all got tired of it and kicked him. If having to wait for another monstrous queue doesn't teach him a lesson, nothing in this game will.
Animate Jan 3rd 2011 4:54PM
Sounds like a rank I had the other day. I zoned in in the middle of the first boss fight in throne of tides. Tank shots at me for not healing him even though I was and continued to berate me after he and I died. We kicked him so fast once we zoned back in.
newyorkwku Jan 3rd 2011 4:35PM
"Don't stand in bad things." Hahaha! This is pretty much the first rule of any fight. I've been in several dungeons where this the staple explanation. :)
Thank goodness Blizzard listened and brought some of what we loved about BC back to playing styles.
iceveiled Jan 3rd 2011 4:37PM
Tanks...please learn about hunter freezing trap. It takes a second of being at a mobs feet before it will actually arm, thus making trapping moving foes difficult. If you expect me to freezing trap with my trap launcher after you tell the mage dpser to "sheep pull" don't get pissed if I can't trap my guy, especially if it's a caster which I can't kite to my manually placed freezing trap with a distracting shot.
this is driving me absolutely nuts in pugs.
Let me me pull with with my trap launcher, and let the easier-to-do CC's (sheep) go immediately after.