A player has decided to play the hardcore mode of WoW Classic totally wrong. He is indeed a mage, but uses no spells at all. He fights his way through the opponents piece by piece only with his staff and engineering tools. And somehow it works: He has completed the first third.
This is the strange challenge:
- The Reddit user SnooCakes5828 posted a picture of his mage “Meleemageez” at level 20 with the comment: “no spells.”
- The special thing: the user is playing WoW Hardcore, a mode where you cannot die, otherwise the character is simply gone.
- Why is he doing this? Probably for the challenge that comes with it. Because mages are really not cut out for such a venture.
By the way, the first player to reach level 60 in WoW Classic HC was a mage with a risky build – but at least with spells.
How does it work? Basically quite simple: SnooCakes picks an opponent and beats him up. He repeats this over and over again, piece by piece. As he shows, it works; it just takes forever.
The player explains that he uses no spells at all – not even defensive ones. He only allows himself bombs and other gadgets from the engineering profession. SnooCakes explains he can not only defeat opponents clearly at his level but also those around his level: “I just have to be extra careful.”
Already forgoing spells, meaning all the abilities of the mage, is a big challenge. The class itself also brings further difficulties for exactly this challenge:
- Mages can only wear cloth armor, which provides almost no defense.
- The choice of weapons is also limited; shields for more defense are not allowed, nor are two-handed weapons (except for staves).
- SnooCakes opts for “Melee Only” – which means staves are also prohibited. This additionally misses useful stats.
Instead of intelligence, the actually most important stat for mages, SnooCakes focuses on stamina, strength, and agility. This way he can survive better and deal at least a bit more damage.
“Sounds like a warrior with extra steps”
Among other players, the self-imposed challenge receives equal parts admiration and disbelief. Some congratulate SnooCakes on his success and are amazed that he has lasted so long.
Others think this particular challenge is quite questionable. One could at least do a “Only Professions” run; that would be somewhat entertaining. But just beating up mobs without anything seems rather boring.
That mages are not made for something like this seems to add to the appeal. Even before SnooCakes, at least one other player tried the exact same thing in hardcore mode. The dwarf mage even reached at least level 40 (via YouTube).
Players coming up with challenges for themselves is nothing new. In WoW Classic HC, a player reached level 60 naked and without talents. The trick here was that it was a hunter who at least has a fighting companion with his pet.
The whole idea behind the challenges is even older. Already in the ancient RuneScape, there was the “Ironman” challenge in different degrees. The easiest one avoids most loot, the hardest one avoids pretty much all features including a bank. And even here there are people who complete everything: Player spends 19,100 hours and 8 years in MMORPG – Has to justify that he is not a “loser”
