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.