How did you decide on your team?

[orianthi]

I wish there is a separate group composition topic here, it’s the most difficult thing for me - i’ve started 5boxing last month and i still haven’t decided on my team …or server until now. I initially used 2 of my level 80s but can’t really gauge how well my team composition is when running level 50 instances. After a 2-yr break from WoW i thought experiencing every instance will be lots of fun so i have to start my team from level 1 on one of those “new players” server for the closest new realm feeling.

I started like everybody with 4 shammies and a paly, but they didn’t get up to 20 - it felt like i’m really just playing 1 toon with the shammies, not much tweaking and diversity (which i felt i needed when i was fighting those nature immune elementals). I then created a team of paly, priest, shamy, lock and mage - aargh then there goes again those magic immune mobs at SFK and the mage that was supposed to address downtime with conjured water was the one causing downtime with mana breaks.

I then made another team composed of paly, shamy, 2xlocks and hunter (my current team). This team has no downtime but it’s hard to make it work for PvP (on paper), they have an unlimited and diverse source of damage except that the hunter and his pet seem to have minds of their own and don’t assist the master but always pull the next group. These are not the only teams i’ve made they are just the ones that i’ve gotten to 30+ and seemed to have potential. I’ve never really found an instance any team can’t finish (up to SM at least) but i guess i’m looking for the most all-around team.

I keep reading about this DK+4xRet (or DK+3xRet+shamy(wind shear+grounding)/druid(lotp) for me) and makes me want to build another team. I have one team that had a rogue in it and it got stuck on the stairs when they were fighting Archmage Arugal (after teleport) in SFK thus i’m afraid to try heavy melee team again.

I can make the best team that i can settle with for PvE but they’re not usually the best team for PvP or vice-versa. So how were you able to decide which team to stick to, what were your deciding factors aside from the fun factor?

[lofblad]

I'm running a pally tank, priest healer, and a dps team consisting of a balance druid, an arcane mage and an elemental shaman.

I chose this team for the gear diversity, the buffs and the utility. Warlocks are great, but they don't bring the utility skills that my combination does.

The gear diversity is also handy (cloth/leather/mail) so the dps won't have to fight over boss drops.

[orianthi]

I agree on bringing gear type diversity so it’s easier gearing your team. When i was building my latest team i considered 1 physical dps aside from the tank and 2 magical dps. The physical dps was a no-brainer for me because i never considered melee since i just started mboxing thus i brought in a hunter. For the caster positions I brought in 2 warlocks, my main reason is they never ran out of mana (i include life tap in my rotation) and they are very flexible. With healthstones, soulstones, pets, pet buffs/abilities i thought they bring in more utilities/flexibility than the rest of the casters. I picked a shaman to be my main healer due to the obvious diversification of gear.

The first one to ran out of mana with this team is the hunter but that doesn’t require me to stop for a mana break, i just switch to viper and continue. I may be missing on a few buffs but so far there is no encounter that i think they were required. Four of them are also ranged types so it doesn’t burden my healer that much and i never do life taps more than it would make my healer complain. My only issue with this team is during PvP but i haven’t experienced PvP with this team so i don’t know what adjustments to make. I just wish there is a DK to death grip those that exploit my hunter’s melee zone, fear is unreliable.

[ollee]

Myself, I'm just Dualboxing a double mage at the moment, but will be starting a Frost Mage, Priest, Warrior Tank, hunter, and warlock as soon as i can afford the monthly payment.

[EaTCarbS]

If your RAF hasn't run out, level as many toons as you can to lvl 60 and then experiment with different teams then. It will give you a nice pool to choose from.

[Teál]

I think the issue with getting stuck on the stairs is a strategy thing more than anything else... Also as far as the down time with the mage goes... just buy the water til you are a higher level and get better spells. Do not make or drop a team based on little things like that... Play the team you have the most fun with. I personally like simple team make-ups. Unless you are trying to 5 box 10 man content I think the idea of synergy is over rated... I mean every time you get a new skill/lvl or piece of gear you might have to change your macros all around... ugh...
For me my enjoyment comes from playing the game... not trying to figure all the details out every other day until you hit the level caps. Once you hit that you are good to go and you can really get a feel for how the game can be played as a team

[orianthi]

that’s exactly my point, the melee needs more attention in most fights in switching to and from follow, IWT, positioning, etc., (or maybe just my playstyle) i would prefer ranged for now. but like i said, there isn’t an instance yet that they weren’t able to finish so i might come back to the melees later.

right now, i find it surprisingly fun to have a team of priests (holy/disc) at least in the late 30s. my actual team is composed of 3x priests + ele shaman + paly tank. i like the idea of not having a dedicated healer with a dps/healer hybrid, so basically 4 are doing dps most of the time and make up for their not being pure dps. i guess it’s the same idea with 4x shamans but i’m having more fun with 3 or 4 priests, i guess it has something to do with hots, aoe and shields and them not being expected to do dps.

my holy/disc priests out dps my ele shamans with same gear level but i’m afraid that will change as i reach higher levels (spells and talents). that is what i’m afraid of, it is expected but if 3x priests + 1 shaman +tank can do most heroics (including those with enrage timers) then i should be fine with it and pursue this team.

can anyone who have tried this team at higher levels share their experiences with them, their shortcomings and dps compared to other teams if possible at endgame levels. i’ve searched the net but it’s mostly at 60-70s level and i’m mostly interested in pve for this team since i still have my other teams to pvp with.

[Ualaa]

For PvE, I have yet to find anything close to:
- 1x Prot Pally, 1x Warlock (Destro initially, Demo once geared), 3x Elemental Shaman.

For PvP, you have two strong choices:
- 4x Elemental Shaman, with someone else playing healer.
- 1x DK, 4x Ret Pallies.

Not saying these are the only options, far from that. Just these are the current most powerful compositions.

I'm running:
- Pally, Warlock, 3x Elemental
- 5x Feral Druid
- 4x Warlock, 1x Priest
- 5x Priest
- 5x Hunter
- Priest, Mage, Druid, Shaman, Shaman
- 5x DK

If you wanted one team for all aspects...
I'd go either: DK/4x Ret or Druid (dual spec Feral-PvE / Boomkin-PvP) & 4x Elemental.

[orianthi]

i have most of those compositions since i am sticking with these 2 teams:

TEAM#1 :: SHMN|LOCK|SHMN|SHMN|PALY
TEAM#2 :: PRST|SHMN|PRST|PRST|DKNT

sometimes or maybe oftentimes i mix them together or with some alts (druid, hunter, mage) but i think i’m going to stick with the teams above until 80. i have geared 80s (at least before ICC) on my non-RAF accounts that i can transfer should i change my mind later although except for a mage (only 72). they are spread on different servers though so i want to avoid doing this.

i had 5x druids (alliance since i don’t like taurens that much) just for the stealth and 3x hunters but most likely i won’t have time to level them anymore. i have 4 80 paladins but the ret style of play doesn’t appeal to me (at least solo not boxing), i don’t know if there’s a difference since they will be slaves if i’m boxing them. hmm, i have 2 80 DKs as well …if only server transfers are free (i’m not even sure yet that i like my current server - stormscale).

i’ll stick to these two teams for now and maybe another team once the cataclysm is out and/or if there is a new server.

Ulaa, why “Demo once geared” with the warlock? is there a new talent/skill/ability or just demonic pact (over replenishment), i’m not up to date with endgame anymore - i quit after Ulduar, i am starting over with RAF accounts and i haven’t even reached 40 yet on my highest teams. thanks!

[diamond]

I have a few teams on the go but have decieded to try out pally/4 priests basically for the simplicity of itand will try my best to stick with it to lvl 80.

Five shamans was cool but missed a tank and could use the dungeon finder without one. I found 5 pallys to be a bit awkward with the interacting melee, they tend to run off and stuff, and my PC isnt the best ( need to get a 64bit system and more memory and possibly new gfx cards ) .

Some of my levels are all over the place so have deleted a few toons and started from scratch again. Hopefully by time cata comes out I will have at least one decent lvl 80 team .