MoP 5.4 Class Balance on Live US Ladder

[Romney]

Here is something I posted on the WoW forums.

Since 3v3 is the "balanced" arena bracket, I took a look at the ladder last night (12 Dec 2013). Here is what I saw:

1,008 toons listed; 2658cr - 2143cr; US Ladder only.

Highest Rating currently achieved by each spec:
(showing us the rating-cap per spec?)

2658 Holy (Pala)
2652 Restoration (Druid)
2648 Subtlety
2624 Frost (Mage)
2604 Marksman
2585 Destruction
2584 Restoration (Sham)
2578 Arms
2576 Holy (Priest)
2564 Affliction
2561 Mistweaver
2551 Retribution
2501 Enhancement
2465 Elemental
2458 Feral
2448 Unholy
2405 Survival
2370 Shadow
2309 Arcane
2303 Balance
2281 Windwalker
2247 Disc
2231 Beast Master
2230 Fire
2224 Fury
2206 Demonology
2190 Assassination
2143 Combat


Spec representation on the ladder: (raw number listed in [#])
[169] 16.9%...Arms
[110] 11.0%...Frost (Mage)
[87] 8.7%....Marksman
[86] 8.6% ....Restoration (Sham)
[85] 8.5%....Restoration (Druid)
[69] 6.9% ....Holy (Pala)
[67] 6.7% ....Subtlety
[59] 5.9% ....Holy (Priest)
[49] 4.9% ....Affliction
[35] 3.5% ....Elemental
[33] 3.3% ....Enhancement
[27] 2.7%....Unholy
[25] 2.5% ....Feral
[25] 2.5% ....Mistweaver
[18] 1.8% ....Shadow
[12] 1.2% ....Retribution
[12] 1.2% ....Destruction
[5] 0.5% ....Disc
[4] 0.4% ....Balance
[4] 0.4% ....Survival
[4] 0.4% ....Fire
[4] 0.4% ....Windwalker
[3] 0.3% ....Beast Master
[1] 0.1% ....Arcane
[1] 0.1% ....Assassination
[1] 0.1% ....Combat
[1] 0.1% ....Demonology
[1] 0.1% ....Fury

Specs that have been able to be played to the top 10 spots:
Rdruid (3)
Hpally (2)
Subt (2)
Frost Mage (1)
Marks (1)
Destro (1)

Specs that have been shown to break into the top 100 spots:
Arms (15)
Rdruid (13)
Marks (10)
Frost Mage (9)
Hpriest (9)
Rham (9)
Affliction (9)
Subtlety (7)
Hpally (5)
Feral (3)
Mistweaver (3)
Enhancement (3)
Elemental (2)
Unholy (1)
Retribution (1)
Destruction (1)

Specs that have zero representation in the top 100:
Blood
Frost (DK)
Balance
Guardian
Beast Master
Survival
Arcane
Fire
Brewmaster
Windwalker
Protection (Pala)
Disc
Shadow
Assassination
Combat
Demonology
Fury
Protection (War)

Specs that have zero representation within the top 250 spots:
Blood
Frost (DK)
Balance
Guardian
Beast Master
Fire
Brewmaster
Windwalker
Protection (Pala)
Disc
Assassination
Combat
Demonology
Fury
Protection (War)

Specs that have zero representation within the top 500 spots:
Blood
Frost (DK)
Guardian
Brewmaster
Protection (Pala)
Assassination
Combat
Demonology
Protection (War)


- I would love to hear what further analysis can be derived here.

Thank you for reading, if you disagree with any numbers (and ladders do change) please feel free to add your own data. Rock on PvPers

[Boricha]

What is your argument? It's not balanced because there isn't equal representation between all specs in the game? The only class that feels like it is poorly balanced for arena with all specs is DK to me. Many of the unranked specs in your later lists are tanking specs which Blizzard does not want to be viable in pvp, especially not arena. I agree with it to an extent because being unable to kill someone who is mostly unable to kill you is aggravating, but I do understand the appeal of pvp on a highly defensive based character.

[Romney]

My only statement on this data so far is that if you so desire to break into to higher ratings: here are the classes with which people have so far been able to do so.

BLUF: Play Subtlety/Frost mage/Arms/Marks or heal(but not as Disc or MW)

[oh yeah.... and.... Priest DPS & Monk DPS need buffs; all other classes have a DPS spec demonstrated to be top 100 capable]

pps: Shamans are good in any spec atm.

[Senathor]

I don't know what we're supposed to do with these stats. My DK is still among the worst classes in the game. QQ

[Romney]

Mes has shown DK can be played at least as high as 2448 mmr and be ranked as high as #66 US. What do you mean when you say "Among the worst classes in the game."?

I think I agree with you though; I'd love to see other specs for DK viable past 2k.

[Rucati]

Gotta give props to the Fury Warrior. Though I doubt he actually plays Fury.

But yeah, not a whole lot to say, it's honestly kind of balanced. Monks are kind of trash, their DPS spec can't stay on targets long enough and they die in like five seconds, and MW is actually good, but not many people play it and it has to be played in certain comps I think. DKs are mediocre, they can only play two comps, and neither are particularly strong. They die far too fast, but if you go overboard with a survivability buff then they become absurdly OP because of all the damage and control they bring.

[zenga]

But yeah, not a whole lot to say, it's honestly kind of balanced.

Overall it's balanced. On the top it's far from balanced with warriors/mages however. With the exception of priests as you stated.