Hardcore Raider Re-Roll

[MackMaynee]

Just to save everyone the time. I am a long-time hardcore raider that is joining a US top 50 guild for SoO. I have not raided since DS, and am behind on gear. Because of this, I have the liberty to reroll. I will be playing DPS, and will NOT be going back to Rogue. Looking at patch notes I have an idea of what I foresee being strong, but was wondering if any of you fine individuals could help me on making a decision. Ranged or Melee does not matter, just raw output damage. I will be behind on the legendary so keep that in mind as certain classes (see; Elemental Shaman) falls behind without the meta/cape.

Thanks in advance everyone!

[Tehterokkar]

Warlock, best utility, best damage, what more can you ask for?

[Rucati]

Mages and Warlocks have been strong all expansion, I see no reason why they won't continue to be. All three Mage specs are pretty decent, Fire is ahead at higher ilvls, but Frost and Arcane can both do decent DPS. Warlocks are also strong in all three specs, Demo is absolutely nuts with UVLS on some fights with Doom crits, and the other two specs are strong as well from what I've seen. So both of those are pretty safe bets in my opinion.

[MackMaynee]

I should probably mention: After discussion with some of the best mages in the world, I feel Mage will fall off in SoO with the barrage of incoming nerfs to fire. I also am not too fond of PvE Warlock, I find it very monotonous, and hate Demo. Destro isn't too bad but something feels really boring about Warlock

I really appreciate the IMMEDIATE feedback, I just am being pick because I don't want to get geared and change my mind. I was thinking about Elemental Shaman (even if I'm so far behind) Frost DK, WW Monk and maybe Brewmaster.

[Tkain]

trinket stays as is and mage will be only dps in soo

nerf mages as much as you want as long as the trinket isnt nerved they will be too op

[Rucati]

Well, DKs are okay but not the greatest, they are probably better than other melee aside from Rogue though. Monk DPS is alright but they don't offer much utility, I'd probably Monk DPS below DK for melee. Ele Shamans are strong, but they improve a ton with the meta gem, that being said you can probably hit 90 and get the 3k Valor part of the legendary done before 5.4 comes out, and 5.4 will increase drop rates so you can probably get the meta after a couple weeks in 5.4 to help catch back up, so it probably won't be a massive problem.

Brewmaster isn't DPS but since you mentioned it, it's insanely fun to play, in my opinion the most fun tank class right now. High skill cap though, if you're bad you are worthless and get wrecked, if you're good you feel unkillable. Or, at the very least, you feel strong. They're the second strongest tank, but that's only because Paladins are broken, if Paladins get changed at all then Monks will probably be one of the top tank classes.

[vaccine]

WW Monks are dull as hell and don't feel the slight bit monk like. I also wouldn't choose melee over ranged as you'll be much more likely to get benched.

Warlocks are incredibly strong all expansion, and also provide a ton of utility that mages don't, not to mention being far more survivable. Warlocks tend to be the ranged brought in for gimmicks/stacking throughout WoW so you'll likely always have a raid spot.

Ele shaman are okay but I find them far too squishy. It's always our shaman that bite the dust first to random mechanics. I also find the play style very very dull.

Hunters are a bit weak but supposedly getting a buff soon.

To be honest Warlocks are your best bet, followed by mages. But if you don't like either of those I'd wait for the damage pass to see where classes are after the dust settles. Even a large mage nerf is going to leave them strong with Amplification trinket (unless they mess with Combust/Glyph of Combust again). Frost mages new mastery is pretty cool though weak and an aoe nerf currently, we're hoping the damage pass will buff Frost and remove the Frostbolt debuff stacking requirement. Arcane is still neutered by RoP and it looks like the mage level 90 talent reworks they promised are delayed till next expansion so whilst it's strong if you can stand still the whole fight, any sort of medium movement requirement (lots of fights from the PTR videos) you're going to suffer horribly.

[Tehterokkar]

Shadow Priests, Hunters, Boomkins and for melee side: Warriors, Enhancement Shaman, WW Monk

For the ranged, easiest to play is Shadow Priest, Hunter is the hardest(to play perfectly), boomkins are fairly simple, but with a bit more complexity than Shadow Priest.

For Melee, Warriors bring valuable CDs for raids, and Executing for "OVER 9000!!" style can be fun, Enhancement Shamans have the best burst in the game but lack in AoE and WW Monks have really good AoE but really just lack in DPS.

As for other Melee, you didn't want to play a Rogue, DKs are absolute crap at the moment, Feral rotation has never been easy to execute in a realistic encounter and for Retris, they are Ok-ish, bring a good raid CD, but that's about it.

If you are applying for a 10m guild, then you REALLY have to consider the Raid Utility you bring, because more often than not, that gives you the raid spot.

[Morbycakes]

I should probably mention: After discussion with some of the best mages in the world, I feel Mage will fall off in SoO with the barrage of incoming nerfs to fire. I also am not too fond of PvE Warlock, I find it very monotonous, and hate Demo. Destro isn't too bad but something feels really boring about Warlock

I really appreciate the IMMEDIATE feedback, I just am being pick because I don't want to get geared and change my mind. I was thinking about Elemental Shaman (even if I'm so far behind) Frost DK, WW Monk and maybe Brewmaster.

DK is probably the best choice there. However, do note that if you are intending to gear up in ToT before SoO gear comes out, you will want to play Unholy. The thing that will make Frost so good next tier is the 4p set bonus paired with the 39% CD reduction trinket. Until then, Fabled Feather of Ji-kun Unholy using proper Disease snapshotting will be better. The potential of you getting these items very early into the tier may be very low so I would recommend gearing towards Unholy until you get the items you need to go back to Frost. Also, the stacking Crit Trinket in SoO plus Feather for Unholy will be rather good as well until you can get better. The Crit trinket itself is slightly stronger than a Heroic TF Feather for Unholy and allows the Festerblight playstyle to continue being viable, if not optimal, into SoO progression.

Think that about covers it.

[Rucati]

Shadow Priests, Hunters, Boomkins and for melee side: Warriors, Enhancement Shaman, WW Monk

For the ranged, easiest to play is Shadow Priest, Hunter is the hardest(to play perfectly), boomkins are fairly simple, but with a bit more complexity than Shadow Priest.

For Melee, Warriors bring valuable CDs for raids, and Executing for "OVER 9000!!" style can be fun, Enhancement Shamans have the best burst in the game but lack in AoE and WW Monks have really good AoE but really just lack in DPS.

As for other Melee, you didn't want to play a Rogue, DKs are absolute crap at the moment, Feral rotation has never been easy to execute in a realistic encounter and for Retris, they are Ok-ish, bring a good raid CD, but that's about it.

If you are applying for a 10m guild, then you REALLY have to consider the Raid Utility you bring, because more often than not, that gives you the raid spot.

I wouldn't agree with any of this to be honest. Spriests are one of the worst range classes, their damage is abysmal. Hunters are middle of the pack, and so are Boomkins. Warriors are mediocre melee. Melee goes Rogue -> DK -> Enh -> Warrior/Ret -> Monk according to just about everybody. Rogues are amazing right now, DKs are strong, Enh is strong, Warrior/Monk/Ret are all pretty much even, but Monks don't have any raid utility, every group wants at least one Paladin and Warriors give Banners which are good for the group, but Warrior DPS itself is kinda meh.

[Greyce]

Shadow Priests

LOL

For the ranged, easiest to play is Shadow Priest

ROFL

So wrong.

[Deleted]

the strongest will always be the pure dps classes... and a mage/warlock/rogue are always at the top pretty much every teir, mage especially

[Coar]

Top 50 US isn't even in the slightest bit "Hardcore"

[Tehterokkar]

LOL

ROFL

So wrong.

When was the last time you played a Shadow Priest?

2 DoTs on target, 1 ability on CD, 1 finisher with no chance of playing smart with orbs(eg. current Paladin HoPo system) and 1 spam ability, also AoE = spam 1 button.

You only have 1 CD also, which is Shadowfiend.

Very simple and primitive, little decision of saving Orbs for trinket procs that might happen, otherwise you could lose out on Mind Blasts.

[cFortyfive]

Frost DK, WW Monk

Seems somewhat pointless to ask for advice stating it is all about "the output" and ignoring the clearly strongest choices. I mean seriously considering frost dks ? And monks while being entirely ridiculous right now on single target are getting another rework and god knows where it will end. Nobody knows yet where exactly the balancing dart will land.

Warrior/Monk/Ret are all pretty much even

Monks currently outperform every plate dd on a single target with ease.

[Mirri]

Mage/ rogue/ warlock for highest dps in game if that's all you are looking for. They are not necessarily the most fun specs in the game.

[Deleted]

Forgot to mention 10 or 25 man, as you'll have more options in 25 man then 10 man regarding class wise.

- Damagewise ranged (mage/warlock) if your going for RAW power.

[Greyce]

When was the last time you played a Shadow Priest?

2 DoTs on target, 1 ability on CD, 1 finisher with no chance of playing smart with orbs(eg. current Paladin HoPo system) and 1 spam ability, also AoE = spam 1 button.

You only have 1 CD also, which is Shadowfiend.

Very simple and primitive, little decision of saving Orbs for trinket procs that might happen, otherwise you could lose out on Mind Blasts.

Hmm, lemme think... A few hours ago I think since spriest is my main. More lol'ing at your suggesting spriest to the OP. But Lock and Mage are just as, if not easier than, spriest. And higher on the charts.

[Rucati]

Monks currently outperform every plate dd on a single target with ease.

Warriors provide banners, 30% crit damage for the whole raid outweighs Monk single target DPS. Ret Paladins I wouldn't take unless you didn't have a Prot/Holy Paladin, but you kind of need a Paladin in your raid in one form or another. That's why I said they're pretty much even.

[Redmage]

Mage or Warlock are both strong choices, choose whatever appeals to you the most honestly.