Quote Originally Posted by 'Schwarz',index.php?page=Thread&postID=139262#post 139262
I would think a "normal" team (1 tank 1 healer 3 dps) would have a hard time keeping up with the damage of a 5 dps team.
This is an obvious truth. In PvP especially, a 5-shaman team will outperform the mixed group with a tank and healer. It's why PvP should be discussed separately, they are two totally different animals.

However, long term thinking, I'd rather think more about goals like running heroics and/or smaller raids at 80, than of the leveling process to 80, or the normal instances at 80. Blizzard's already made it clear that they intend non-heroics to be "easier." While I haven't played a group at 80, I wouldn't be willing to bet all my future time assuming that a tank won't be needed. (Nor that a hunter pet will tank a heroic, given Blizzard's comments.)

For a "normal" instancing team (one with a tank and a healer), you've got three dps slots to fill. The synergy between most of these are excellent, while two of the same will just override each other:
Elemental Shaman
Warlock
Balance Druid
Mage

I'm not sure of the damage output or debuffs a shadow priest casts to know if they fit in well there or not. I need to find out if the debuff from Earth and Moon stacks with Curse of Elements... If they don't, then a mage's group buffs may be too minor to include.

Edit: Earth and Moon does NOT stack with Curse of Elements. The spell penetration from CoE gives it a slight edge on bosses, apparently, but the warlock won't be giving the spell damage and haste to the rest of the casters.