Cataclysm: The Ret Paladin- AKA Multi-Box Burst PVP Machines.

[Mosg2]

Eh. Personally I don't think so, though it sounds like Mercbeast feels differently.

To me this team is about the conjunction of defensive/offensive abilities that let them be on a target indefinitely combined with Necrotic Strike. Howling Blast is amazing for putting out a lot of pressure on multiple people to stretch healers thin--To me though, even if they removed the AE component to it this team will be a winner. Necrotic Strike is going to be broken.

[Ualaa]

Howling Blast, and its ability to hit multiple targets for strong damage, is what makes this team for me. Unfortunately, I cannot see this ability remaining as it is (I hope I'm wrong).

At the moment, the team has a ranged spell cleave, and one that hits hard at that.
With Blood Tap, this is three attacks per DK as the opener.
And thereafter, additional Howling Blast AoE attacks as Frost Runes refresh or as targets are Cleansed of Frost Fever.

Clumped enemies will die fast, making this a killer group for all BG's... and fairly strong in arena, as you'll likely be able to hit at least two targets most of the time.



If Howling Blast were changed to single target damage, it would be very devastating for the team. There are a lot of other benefits, so I don't think it would break the team.

The pressure wouldn't be that much more than, or much different from other 4x DPS teams. In battlegrounds, equal or larger sized groups would be much more challenging.

The damage would be focused on one toon and not half the team. That alone will let any opposition with a Paladin present bubble the initial burst target, making them immune to damage.

The DK's switch to a new target, applying Necrotic Strikes which equates to fairly strong pressure. Most of the cooldowns, which were used initially to prevent CC's as the team closes, expire fairly quickly... which leaves strong DPS and anti-healing on whatever target the team attacks, but vulnerability to a lot of CC effects. The Pally can cleanse some of these, and anything like a Root is pretty useless because of Death Grip.

But suddenly, this looks like an interesting composition but not an overwhelming powerhouse.






Assuming greatly reduced healing in Cataclysm, where it is a precious commodity, and healers cannot in completely heal anyone in a GCD...

Do the DK/4x Rets look any better? The resilience increase killed their burst. Will the changes to healing make them stronger or weaker in relation to Pally/4x DK (or other compositions)?

Ret's can cleanse themselves and round-robin Freedom on the DK, which is mobility for a while. The 4x DK's probably have better ability to stay near the kill target thanks to Death Grips.

[Mosg2]

I think people are vastly underestimating the power of Necrotic Strike.

[Shodokan]

I think people are vastly overestimating the power of howling blast. Yes it is good, on a single character the spell is NOT BROKEN OR OVER POWERED at level 85! Only when we combine multiples of the class will it become that. Blizzard is not going to nerf an ability because a few multi-boxers are raping people with an otherwise balanced ability. If that were the case chain lightning, lava burst and a bunch of other moves would have been nerfed to the ground as well.

[Boylston]

How hard is howling blast hitting at L85 in the starter pvp blue gear scene? Normal/Crit?

I think if I rolled a team, I would probably play BGs as just 4xDKs. Would grab a friend to be my pocket healer on the larger BGs.

I struggle with 10v10-- one of the nice parts about 4xShamans is that we get some healing ability, 4xDPS, and don't take up an extra slot on the team by running a full 5. I'd rather quadbox in BGs for precisely that reason. I think this team might have issues without a healer in tow (or leading, as the case may be...).

[Mercbeast]

I think people are vastly overestimating the power of howling blast. Yes it is good, on a single character the spell is NOT BROKEN OR OVER POWERED at level 85! Only when we combine multiples of the class will it become that. Blizzard is not going to nerf an ability because a few multi-boxers are raping people with an otherwise balanced ability. If that were the case chain lightning, lava burst and a bunch of other moves would have been nerfed to the ground as well.

Ya, I agree with this. HB right now at 80 is insane for a single DK. At 85 it isn't at all. I really can't see HB nerfed JUST because of a small cadre of multi-boxed DK's. It is the cumulative power of HB that makes the team and for me it isn't even the AoE aspect. It is just the ranged component of it.

[Mercbeast]

How hard is howling blast hitting at L85 in the starter pvp blue gear scene? Normal/Crit?

I think if I rolled a team, I would probably play BGs as just 4xDKs. Would grab a friend to be my pocket healer on the larger BGs.

I struggle with 10v10-- one of the nice parts about 4xShamans is that we get some healing ability, 4xDPS, and don't take up an extra slot on the team by running a full 5. I'd rather quadbox in BGs for precisely that reason. I think this team might have issues without a healer in tow (or leading, as the case may be...).

I ran 4 DK's only at 78-79. I did fine and once you demonstrate the power usually a healer or two will make it a point to follow you around.

[Ualaa]

For me the AoE component is huge.

At 80th, the damage is a lot of pressure to heal several targets at once.

Even if the damage is minimal at 85th, 12x HB's is going to be some pressure...

But more importantly:
The AoE nature means several targets are Diseased (thanks to the glyph) and Snared (as long as Frost Fevered, thanks to a talent).
And it is very likely someone will cleanse Frost Fever, which is another Howling Blast.

So the opposition has several dotted/snared targets, who either live with it or instantly give you an extra HB.

[heyaz]

Ya, I agree with this. HB right now at 80 is insane for a single DK. At 85 it isn't at all. I really can't see HB nerfed JUST because of a small cadre of multi-boxed DK's. It is the cumulative power of HB that makes the team and for me it isn't even the AoE aspect. It is just the ranged component of it.

That brings up the question, is anyone running this comp in beta or is all the speculation about this being a good comp based on multiplying an insane ability at 80 x4? If it's more in balance for a single DK at 85 then it seems that it'd be less devastating for the whole comp as well.

[Svpernova09]

That brings up the question, is anyone running this comp in beta or is all the speculation about this being a good comp based on multiplying an insane ability at 80 x4? If it's more in balance for a single DK at 85 then it seems that it'd be less devastating for the whole comp as well.

Having done some PvP @ 85 w/ the first blue PvP set premades:

Burst isn't going to win matches @ 85. Unless they really change some mechanics across the board. Most PvP matches are a lot longer and require multiple CDs to line up to kill someone. It's going to be a focused assault with fast swaps to force healers to get behind and panic and use their fast, mana expensive heals to save someone. While stacked HBs may throw a lot of pressure on a single person, keep in mind inflated health values @ 85. In the blue PvP set I was running ~122k HP as a priest (self buffed)