Mulitboxing Class Selection FAQ
Class Selection FAQ
The purpose of this FAQ is to explain some of the concepts above and beyond normal class selection that factor into selection of classes for multiboxing. This FAQ represents the current conventional wisdom of multiboxers (conventional wisdom can and will change.. if you really think a combination can work, try it). I will cover both using a class as a main versus an alt, as well as specs.
Some rules of thumb:
1) Melee characters are best used as your main
2) Melee characters as alts are at best painful (and at worst, a horrible idea)
3) More classes usually means less optimal usage but more coverage of needed abilities
4) PVE setups tend toward more varied groups because encounters can be planned to maximize your different classes
5) PVP setups tend towards more homogenized groups because it's easiest to use 1 or 2 classes to their full potential.
One Boxing
Play a Night Elf Hunter. Roll on Magtheridon. Find and attack members of the zerg!
Dual/Tri-Boxing
ANY GROUP WILL WORK! As a duo or a trio, you won't really be running instances, just using the group to minimize downtime and plow through quests. Every class can solo to 70 so every pair or threesome of classes can get to 70 in the same way. PLAY WHAT YOU WANT.
Just choose classes for your alts that are easily macroable (see class overview) and you'll have little problem making a highly effective group. Normal class synergy applies. There are so many combinations that would be effective that it'd be silly to name them all. Just stay away from difficult-to-macro alts and you'll be fine. Here are some of the general tips:
1) Have at most one melee class, make it your main
2) Choose classes that will help minimize downtime (ie if you want a warrior main, choose a shaman over a warlock as a partner)
3) Choose classes that have good synnergy (rogue/druid has great synnergy. Mage/Warlock.. not so much)
4) In my opinion, when in doubt, shaman are awesome. You get ankh and rez!
Quad Boxing
Why aren't you 5-boxing? If the answer was "because I want to fill up the last slot with another player to make my group as good as possible" then you probably already know what you are doing and don't need this guide. In any case, almost all of the below advice applies to you.
5-Boxing
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: PVE OR PVP?
What this question really boils down to is more like this: do you want to be a good team for general PVP/arenas/BGs or do you want to run heroics and be able to beat every boss in every instance along the way?
There really are two different subgroups of boxers... many (like me) seem to enjoy beating all the 5-man content in the game at the right level, and others (like xzin) who want to melt peoples faces. Which group are you in? If you want a single group that can do both as best as can reasonably be expected, I suggest going with a PVE group and choosing a Druid as your tank because that way you can spec him into balance or resto for PVP.
PVP setups are almost universally setup as a group consisting of 5 of the same class, or 4 dps-alts of the same class and a differing main char as support. The reason is quite simple.. in PVP there is little time for planning and you need to extract the maximum out of each character to do well. More classes = more difficult to use to maximum effect. Playing 5x a single class is sorta like playing 1 character with 5x damage. It's much more effecient.
PVE setups are almost universally setup as a trinity group of a tank (as main), a healer, and 3x dps. PVE groups tend to have at least 3 classes, and often 4 (and potentially 5). This is because the added breadth of extra classes can be taken advantage of by pre-planning complicated or difficult encounters. The ability to plan your strategy ahead of time allows you take advantage of the extra classes. PVE group should -always- have the tank as the central character.
An Overview of the Classes from a PVE Multiboxer perspective
Tanks (CHOOSE ONE. MAKE IT YOUR MAIN)
1. Paladin - Almost universally considered the best 5-man tank in the game, and the best multiboxer tank. Really covers up for the general weaknesses of multiboxers. It's low maintence, requires little micro, and holds agro on tons of mobs easily so you don't have to concentrate too hard on adds.
2. Druid - Often considered a close second for tanking a PVE multibox group. You have semi-AOE tanking abilities but you bring -alot- of flexibility to the table. You can spec-switch to resto and become a pretty decent pvp group!
3. Warrior - Generally seen as too micro intensive and their weaknesses (many-mobs at once) coincide with fatal conditions for multiboxers. If you like and/or are an experienced warrior, don't be too afraid, there are many successful multiboxer PVE groups that use warriors as tanks.
4. EVERYONE ELSE - If you want to tank heroics, go with one of the above three. Yes, some people can do some things with other group makeups, but the above three are the only reliable way to -tank- heroics.
Healer (CHOOSE ONE. MAKE IT AN ALT. HARD TO GO WRONG)
Priest - Probably the most popular choice because of their excellent AOE healing. This is incredibly useful for AOEing alts and generally cleaning up huge messes you've made on bad pulls. Also a spirit buff and fort!
Shaman - Mana totems and healing totems are yummy. Decent AOE heal makes them a good choice, as well.Tremor totems can make certain encounters infinitely more workable. And they are good healers. And ankh! Probably the second most popular main healer for PvE groups.
Druid -They are great healers and provide a ton of utility. The only problem: 30-min battle-rez. You -need- another member of the party that can rez if you want a druid as main healer. Either paladin maintank or dps-shaman.
Paladin - They are awesome single target healers so they'll work great healing your main when everything is going right. Total lack of AOE heal can be painful, though. I strongly suggest a prot paladin main, though because AOE tanking will help offset the need for AOE healing. Least popular.
DPS (CHOOSE THREE.)
Top Tier (good and often used)
Mage - CC. AOE. Nuking. Teleports. Water. Easily macroable. Pretty much perfect, huh?
Warlock - Decent CC. AOE. Decent Nuking. Pets. Summoning. Soulstone. Stam buff. Easily macroable. DOTS! Still pretty perfect, huh?
Hunter - Decent CC. Decent AOE. Good dps. Pets. SPEED BUFF (heh).
Ele Shaman - High pain. Good synergy with other shaman.
Level 2 (good but less frequent)
Hunter - They aren't as popular likely because they've only recently become usable (2.3 removing deadzone). They are probably as viable as the above.
Priest - En masse priests are better dps than alone. Holy nuke priests and/or VE shadow priests if you have a bunch can be effective.
Moonkin Druid - Totally underrated in my book. Decent CC. Great DPS. Need to drink so you'll need a mage. Uses leather so less wasted drops.
Advanced usage only!
Rogue - Would make some encounters insanely easy. Others would be impossible. Difficult to use.
Warrior/Paladin/Feral-Druid - Difficult to use, no reason to not use a rogue instead.
Most common setups:
Tank/Priest/Some-Mix-of-Locks-and/or-Mages
Tank/Priestx4 (holy-nuke or shadow)
Tank/Shamanx4
Paladin is the most common tank. Shaman subbing in for priest is also fairly common.
An Overview of the Classes from a PVP Multiboxer perspective
There's really only two types of successful PVP setups:
CLASS x 5 (shaman is, by far, the most common, probably followed by druid)
-and-
HEALER, DPS x 4 (priest as healer is, by far, the most common, with either mage or warlock as the dps)
A 3-class PVP team would be difficult but not entirely impossible. If you are thinking of going this route, it's probably wise to post your thoughts on the forums and get some feedback.
Most common setups:
Priest/Lockx4
Priest/Magex4
Shamanx5
Druidx5
10-boxing
Well. Welcome to the big leagues, huh? I don't have advice at this level. I don't think you are gonna run Kara solo so you probably aren't interested in PVE. If you are, more power to you. You get a boss down, I'll buy you a twelve pack.
As for PVP, mass anything and let me watch the videos. Please
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What would make a good N-box combo?
See above!
Which should be my main....?
See above!
If I want to have a N as my main, what would be good alt(s) to go with him?
See above!
Can warlock-pets/shaman/hunter-pets/chuck-norris tank heroics?
See above!
What do most multiboxers think of class X?
See above!
Hey! I run with <insert crazy class combination> and I've done XYZ no problem!
Tell us about it! People with unconventional class setups who find success are a huge source of new info.
*updated 1/08. Added paladin/shammie group. Added druidx5 pvp group.
Re: Mulitboxing Class Selection FAQ
Quote:
Originally Posted by kalih
One Boxing
Play a Night Elf Hunter. Roll on Magtheridon. Find and attack members of the zerg!
ROFL! Yes, this is a good suggestion. Remember to attack TM or XR every so often so we can come steamroll you, then you can go make a movie and post it on the Mag/General forums where other allies can call you names.
Nice write-up. ;)
