Shaman Tank?

[Deleted]

The fact that every single talent that had anything to do with tanking was removed? The same way any talent that encouraged 2handed enhancements was removed.

I know but what's stopping them from reviving and combining those playstyles in a new spec? Kind of like Survival Hunter.

[Rhinopotamus]

I know but what's stopping them from reviving and combining those playstyles in a new spec? Kind of like Survival Hunter.

Let him go, he will never realize that he has lost the argument, and that at any moment Blizzard could make the decision to actively create new specs for each class.

[frogger237]

The only problem I see with them adding new specs to classes now would be legion lvling as they would either have to make new artifact weapons, give them shitty greens making them much harder to lvl, or requiring you to be 110+ to unlock the new spec or what ever. And if we lose our weapons at the end of the expansion I don't think they would take the time to make more for outdated content.

[Deleted]

I know but what's stopping them from reviving and combining those playstyles in a new spec? Kind of like Survival Hunter.

Because the spec dosn't need it, nor the idea that warlocks should have a tanking spec. It dosn't fit the class

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Let him go, he will never realize that he has lost the argument, and that at any moment Blizzard could make the decision to actively create new specs for each class.

Except it's not happening, but whatever floats your boat

[Maletalana]

The only problem I see with them adding new specs to classes now would be legion lvling as they would either have to make new artifact weapons, give them shitty greens making them much harder to lvl, or requiring you to be 110+ to unlock the new spec or what ever. And if we lose our weapons at the end of the expansion I don't think they would take the time to make more for outdated content.

Even still I think it's doable. Imagine the argument for adding JUST Shaman tanks, compared to creating fucking Tinker as a class. It's actually believable that Blizz could and would devote time to working them in, rather than bullshitting some brand new niche whatever.

shoehorning shaman tank in? Shaman used to off tank, that's an inarguable fact. Yes, they got rid of shaman tanking stuff, just like they got rid of melee hunter, and flip flopped frost / blood for DK tank, and split feral into 2 dif specs. Shaman tanking feels at least equal to surv hunter being melee in terms of viability, so CLEARLY it's not a terrible idea. There's no arguing that.

I understand some people HATE thinking of new ideas, for some reason, and don't get me wrong, some ideas are fucking terrible *COUGH TINKER COUGH* but this actually seems pretty viable.

I want to see a post that's a paragraph or two long that details why shaman tanking would not be viable. All the negative posts on here are 1 or 2 sentences that aren't thought out its crazy. Before you post a persuasive-themed opinion, think about what your opposition is going to say, and be ready to counter that. If you cant counter your own opinion, neither can your opposition.

/end crazy rant

<3

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Because the spec dosn't need it, nor the idea that warlocks should have a tanking spec. It dosn't fit the class

That's all fine and good though, I do not want to see a warlock tank, a hunter tank, or a mage healer.

In my opinion those are a little too far fetched. Any "Pet tanking" that existed in the past was largely gimmicky and not intended use of abilities, like ice-block mage pulling. Yes that happened, but you cant make an argument for adding a tank spec for mages just cuz they can ice block lulz.

Pets tanking was always intended to be for solo content, hence why you have alternate "dps" demons (, and pet talent trees for hunter).

To con down your mage healer ideas floating out there, other than the literal sentence of "mages could reverse time to heal wounds back up", what would the class actually look like? How would the differ from current specs? Why should this iteration of healing spec exist in the game alongside what we already have? What niche is not represented with the current kits?

You cant just say, rename all of Holy Pal's abilities and call it a time mage healer. It has to exist as a different entity and spec. They did a great job in my opinion creating MW monk. Personally I don't like the theme of throwing tea at people and calling it healing, but to have a spec that feels similar to resto druid, heavy hot focus, but have channels in there too is very unique. I love the MW aoe heal, its so different from all the other aoe heals that other classes have. Also disc is very unique both in its previous state and its new current. Old way was to prevent damage in the first place, rather than reverse it, and new is to heal through dmging enemies.

How would a mage reverse the damage done, and how would that kit feel, how many abilities do you have, etc.


This is why I see shaman tank being so viable. The kit is there, weve seen it used in as recently as Wrath, and there's only a few kinks to work out before its ready for beta usage. Need to figure a whole new artifact and shit? sure, but that's not as much work as inventing 3 new ones. Shaman is already there, and I'd argue that Thrall in early WoW was a tanky enhance shaman, and Doomhammer is fucking 2 hander damnit.

ok, rant #4 is over

[thatguy181]

I'd 100% be on board for having a tank spec for my Shaman.

I don't think it's likely, but would definitely be very supportive of it.

[Zoldor]

As someone who tanks often I always welcome a new tank class into the mix and I don't see any flavor reason not to add it in to the current game. Yeah, they aren't the traditional tank class in fantasy, but I feel like with the powers they draw upon they could be.

Could put them somewhere between Pally and Warrior maybe. Use some active damage reduction a big DR and a little bit of self healing, could be interesting and I don't see a good set of reasons to say hell no. Balance is balance and they do what they think is right. I'd rather see some new specs than another class, I just don't care about any more possible classes.

[Sorrior]

A new ranged class, preferably a healer class would be nice. rather that than an awkward shoehorned tank spec to shamans

Not shoehorned at all I first tanked when everyone in my group died in ICC back during wrath. I kites the value boss to death swapped NY oh for a shield popped earth elemental and rockbiter

Shaman has always been a bit tanks till recently tbh.

I say give us an earth ascendant form as tanks let our spirit wolves heal us again for a self sustain tank style give us rockbiter weapon back and you have the basics of a potentially great tank.

[Murderdoll]

Yeah and lets bring back 2H Enhance as well!

[Ealyssa]

What if they decided to add extra specs instead of new class next time? You never know. More tanking and healing specs are always nice.
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Sure, it would be super nice. But a nightmare to develop. Think about the time and energy to create 12 news specs. They couldn't even think of a third spec for DH, multiple this by 12. Sure some class have some ideas allready in the air (ranged paladin dps, shaman "earth" tank, etc.). But thinking them is just the small part of the work. Now you have to think about game mechanics you can create around them. How would X spec different than the other of the same role.

And once this gigantic ammount of work is done (while also creating the whole new expansion at the same time) there will be another big ammount of work to balance everything after launch. We are in this phase in Legion, where some specs are in deep need of balancing. With 12 new specs and the 36 allready in game. That's on a titanic level.

So is it possible ? Sure, everything is. Maybe legion will have 15mio sub for 2 years long and Blizzard go crazy with making the next expansion.
But is it even remotely probable ? Nope, the chance is nearly 0.

And I would switch to shaman tanking in a heartbeat if it was announced (playing tank as main role)

[KevtheWise]

While it would be nice to have, I don't think its going to happen at this point. Nothing really indicates that Bliz wants to go that direction. And as most people have said, that would be a whole nother spec to create. WOuld probably cost us a raid tier.

[Boxkar25]

As a long standing enhancement player I have always hope for a tank spec myself. I've always enjoyed tanking as a secondary role and I think it could fit with shaman as a theme. Why? Because it's a video game!

On a less silly note though, I get many other people's issues with the idea. Not needing another tank spec in the game or that the elements have all been covered to some extent by the existing 3 specs. But, for me personally one of the reason so long ago I took this spec up was because it had the "potential" to tank. And once again it being a fantasy role-playing game, where gnomes can survive being stomped on by a dragon or a giant, hunters can tame an extremely hungry T-rex and the list goes on, that anything in this game would be possible.

While I doubt it would happen, I can tell you right now if it ever does I will play in all seriousness no other class.

[AsapShocky]

I would like to see 2h enhancement as well as tank. Since they removed hybrid specs they would need to really create a whole new spec. Though I dont see tanking coming over 2h enhance seeing as though the creation of a whole new artifact weapon(s) would need to be created.

[Deleted]

would play.

it could happen, but I remember them stating (after the hunter/rogue rework surfaced) they weren't planning on doing major reworks anytime soon and they are very hesitant about it. would be awesome though, but please do not separate elements along spec lines. I like using all elements across all specs, in fact they should make it more pronounced if you ask me. And having a class that can use shield tank with a 2-hander sounds a bit silly to me.

[Omians]

would be nice to have a Tank that isnt in the Leather or Plate Categories of armor for a change lol

[Deleted]

In vanilla shamans could do some offthanking back when mail armor meant something (it was around 40% DR not the weak 25 we have now)

[Dundebuns]

I remember tanking up to Uldaman on my Shaman in Vanilla. It was possible, but tricky, because you had no AoE abilities to grab multiple mobs. Was still fun though.

[Maletalana]

would play.

it could happen, but I remember them stating (after the hunter/rogue rework surfaced) they weren't planning on doing major reworks anytime soon and they are very hesitant about it. would be awesome though, but please do not separate elements along spec lines. I like using all elements across all specs, in fact they should make it more pronounced if you ask me. And having a class that can use shield tank with a 2-hander sounds a bit silly to me.

blood dks use 2 handers and have bone shield around them, literal same concept, just change bones into lightning orbs and sword into mace

[Littleshashi]

Are you naysayers CRAZY? We're playing in an expansion that has melee hunters, a class with 4 specs, a class with 2 specs, dynamic zone levels, mob sharing, instanced resource nodes, no spec restrictions, and flexible talents.

Yet adding back in a Shaman tanking spec - an idea that has game precedent and perfectly believable class flavor - is something blizzard would "never do."

Right.

[Thedoja]

I tanked ZA/ZG 5-Man back in Cata with my Shaman - Hard swapping weapons with pre-Rockbiter enchants, dropping Earth Totem, Using UE Taunt, Self Heals and armor pots. Was tough and not at all sustainable, but fun.

I see Enh tanking now as totally viable flavor wise. Just make it very Earth element dominant. Like our shield block is an uppercut hammer swing that brings a slab of rock jetting from the ground to absorb a blow. Spinning rocks around our bodies like Lightning Shield. Skin like Rock cooldowns.