Pally ranged Threat

[schlange]

I read on some of the posts that a pally makes a super tank for a 5m box party with the shammy providing heals and dps. It was said that the pally has range threat. What exactly does the pally do to get range threat?

I have not played a pally yet so have a lot to learn about how they build threat and how they can range the threat. Any build ideas for a good prot pally for 5 boxing with 4 shammy?

[Remote]

Lots of good information in this thread: http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=2683

Pallys have a ranged attack on a 30 second cooldown that bounces to hit multiple targets similar to chain lightning. It's good for pulling and getting initial agro. Since it is holy damage, its threat is amplified by 150%(or so) if you're protection specced.

[Vyndree]

Avenger's Shield (http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=31935).

Keep in mind it's a talent you get in the prot tree at level 50.

Pallies have zero ranged threat before then, however you might be confusing the fact that they also have a ranged taunt (http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=31789) at level 14 that's on a longer cooldown than most taunts, but work on multiple mobs that are focused on the same friendly.

The only other way for pallies to ranged pull pre-50 would be engineering (you don't have to level it, just make cheap lowbie bombs), and exorcism on undead(not players)/demon mobs, and various trinkets (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=11905) that are on long cooldowns.

[raylion]

I'm actually quite interested in this too, I'm levelling a pally (currently 62) to tank for my shammies but would like tips dealing with ranged mobs. As the shammies have no CC is the best policy to get out of LOS and make the mobs come to you and gain aggro that way? I would use Avengers Shield to pull and try hit the casters for intial aggro but obvously this becomes a question of luck if there are more than 3 mobs.

I've tried a couple of instance runs to practise like Ramparts etc (luckily my shammies are 70 and well geared so can get me out of trouble if I screw up) but I'm not sure I've got the tactics right for casters and am just running out of LOS. Is there a better way?

Reading the normal WoW forums they don't really cover tactics when you have zero CC and as I've never played a true tank class before any advice would be appreciated.

[Fizzler]

I'm actually quite interested in this too, I'm levelling a pally (currently 62) to tank for my shammies but would like tips dealing with ranged mobs. As the shammies have no CC is the best policy to get out of LOS and make the mobs come to you and gain aggro that way? I would use Avengers Shield to pull and try hit the casters for intial aggro but obvously this becomes a question of luck if there are more than 3 mobs.

I've tried a couple of instance runs to practise like Ramparts etc (luckily my shammies are 70 and well geared so can get me out of trouble if I screw up) but I'm not sure I've got the tactics right for casters and am just running out of LOS. Is there a better way?

Reading the normal WoW forums they don't really cover tactics when you have zero CC and as I've never played a true tank class before any advice would be appreciated.

My brother is a 70 Pally prot tank. When it comes to group aggro they are the best but are limited in their ability to pull with the shield being the best method.

My brother will usually go in toss his shield and if there are ranged mobs he will go LOS to pull them closer or take the melee to the ranged and consecrate there.

[Vyndree]

is the best policy to get out of LOS and make the mobs come to you and gain aggro that way?

Yes, and warriors/druids should pull in this same manner if the mob they're pulling is a caster/hunter that won't walk into melee range normally.

For a 4x shammy 1x pally group, I often leave a single caster un-tanked if they don't have any aoe abilities or aren't an arcane-missles type caster, as 4 grounding totems can easily take care of any spells.

[Los]

body pulling is a very viable way, with some range you can also add a judgement on to the mob, still a -bit- ranged

[kayb]

I prefer to tank ranged mobs with my ranged dps, in heroics at least, and if there's a mixed group of mobs. Takes some of the incoming damage away from the tank. Basically ranged mobs are extremely weak compared to melee mobs, so it doesn't matter what you tank them with.

Nuking down an untanked target can be a very effective method of gaining control of a pull. For example: In Shattered Halls you will want to nuke down the hunters or those casters with fear (unless cc'ed) right after the Legionaire, and not bother too much with tanking them, cause you're already tanking 2-3 melee dudes, and turning your butt to them to run over to the ranged guys will get you crushed.

[raylion]

Thanks for the feedback guys, has been very useful to get your opinions! :-)

[kalih]

The only other way for pallies to ranged pull pre-50 would be engineering (you don't have to level it, just make cheap lowbie bombs), and exorcism on undead(not players)/demon mobs, and various trinkets (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=11905) that are on long cooldowns.

Don't forget about the blood elf racial on mobs with mana. I've found it quite useful and the cooldown is plenty short enough.

[Squiggoth]

I am a noob to shaman, would it make sense in a 1 pally, 4 shaman setup (the setup I plan to do) to have the Pally pre-consecrate and have 1 shaman do a Purge, or something light on the aggro, just to give an initial pull? The consecrate should provide enough aggro to pull the non-Purged mobs and the Purged one can be meleed by the paladin to get him off the Shaman.

Or is there another Shaman "aggro" that is less...."aggro" than something like Purge?

[Jusa]

I run Pal/Priestx4 and when i got one out of concecrate range i just silence. Have you tried just shocking the caster to get them inline?

[Vyndree]

I am a noob to shaman, would it make sense in a 1 pally, 4 shaman setup (the setup I plan to do) to have the Pally pre-consecrate and have 1 shaman do a Purge, or something light on the aggro, just to give an initial pull? The consecrate should provide enough aggro to pull the non-Purged mobs and the Purged one can be meleed by the paladin to get him off the Shaman.

Or is there another Shaman "aggro" that is less...."aggro" than something like Purge?

Shocks are very short range. Lightning bolt rank 1 would work. Paladin taunt is on a longer cooldown than warrior/druid.

IMO, making cheap dynamite out of cheap lowbie mats is more than plenty for range pulling pre-Avenger's Shield. Once you hit 50, you can drop your un-leveled engineering and pick up something else if you so choose.