I am concerned that there’s a prevailing memory of warriors being overpowered in the later stages of Vanilla and Classic. Players are hesitant to support buffs or much-needed enhancements in self-sustain or maneuverability for warriors, fearing a return to the imbalances seen in the final weeks of Vanilla or Classic. However, I believe the crux of the issue is that we still have 6-8 months before a similar situation could unfold.
Warriors desire competitiveness in each phase, just as other classes, and if adjustments are needed in phases 2 or 3 to achieve this, even if it requires subsequent nerfs in the final phase, then so be it. Both Blizzard and the player base must recognise that warriors aren’t the formidable force at level 40 or 50 as they are at level 60. In earlier versions of retail, hardly anyone created warrior twinks; instead, the preference was for priests, mages, rogues, and hunters because they excelled as all-around better classes before unlocking their full potential.
It’s essential to bear in mind that not every warrior is part of premades with feral druids and priests to enhance their viability in PvP. While there is a concern that buffing warriors might make them overpowering when supported by ferals and priests, Blizzard must take proactive measures without fearing potential consequences 6 to 8 months down the line. This is particularly crucial given that warriors are currently perceived as the least useful PvP class in the game.
A recurring point in all my forum posts is the noticeable cooldown gap between abilities in WoW SoD. The current experience feels akin to Warriors playing WoW Classic while everyone else enjoys playing WoW Cataclysm. A prime illustration of this is the stark contrast between [Dispersion] and [Shield Wall].
Dispersion: You disperse into pure Shadow energy, reducing all damage taken by 90% . You are unable to attack or cast spells, but you regenerate 6% mana every 1 sec for 6 sec. Dispersion can be cast while stunned, feared or silenced and clears all snare and movement impairing effects when cast, and makes you immune to them while dispersed.
Shield Wall: Reduces the damage taken from melee attacks, ranged attacks and spells by 75% for 10 sec.
When examining these abilities side by side, it’s evident that they share similarities in usage, both being employed when under pressure. However, the notable difference arises from their cooldown durations. Dispersion boasts a mere 2-minute cooldown, whereas Shield Wall demands a lengthy 30-minute cooldown. The stark contrast means that a player can activate Dispersion 14 additional times before a warrior can access Shield Wall for a second time. Such a significant gap in cooldowns is, without a doubt, unacceptable.
Another noteworthy aspect regarding warrior defensives is the process involved in activating them. Warriors are compelled to switch to defensive stance, equip a shield, and only then gain the ability to mitigate 75% of incoming damage. In the current PvP meta, which revolves around swiftly bursting down opponents, the timing becomes a critical issue. More often than not, by the time warriors actually need to press [Shield Wall], they are either already dead or at such a low health threshold that utilising it would render the 30-minute cooldown virtually ineffective. The crux of this issue lies in the significant number of GCDs needed to execute this defensive ability.
The last point to emphasise is that warriors aren’t seeking to become overpowering forces. Our goal is simply to play our class in PvP and have a fair chance against certain classes. Presently, warriors are the sole class lacking a rock-paper-scissors dynamic with any other class. They find themselves in a position where they are inferior to every other class and specialisation in the game.
I’m genuinely eager to hear the community’s perspective on this matter. Do you think warriors should endure patiently until the final weeks of SoD to have a fighting chance in PvP? Or are we collectively in agreement that warriors should be elevated to the playstyle akin to Cataclysm that others are currently enjoying, with a subsequent review in later phases?
