Tanking in World of Warcraft can be exhausting. But worse than the dungeons are often the players and how they behave.
In order to be successful in dungeons in World of Warcraft, a complete group of three damage dealers (DDs), one healer, and one tank is necessary. However, particularly the latter do not make up 20% of all players, which is why the wait for a tank can be long. Worse still, when the tanks don’t feel like “tanking for randoms”. But is that really surprising when they are constantly being attacked from all sides?
In recent days, I have been playing my twink more often, a Demon Hunter tank. Demon Hunters are – in my view – still quite simple to master, whether as a DD or tank, making them the perfect second character for me.
Because I also like to play as a substitute tank for the guild, I now also enjoy doing this in random groups. Whether in heroic or mythic dungeons, I generally enjoy tanking. I have fun jumping into groups of enemies, setting the pace, and taking a large part of the responsibility for the group.
As a tank, you bear the blame – I won’t play with that
However, I am by no means perfect – the tank is just my twink. When I usually play PvE content in WoW, I do so with a stable guild group. We are also relatively solid in Mythic+ and I can unleash the sadistic demon within me as a Shadow Priest. For M+ we also have our own ways of approaching dungeons and do not orient ourselves 100% to the current meta strategy.
We have our “own ways” and therefore those are also the routes I use as a tank when I play one myself. I know them, I can handle them – they may not be perfect, but they lead to the goal.
When I then have to read an “idiot tank, this group shouldn’t be played on M0” in the group chat, my eyebrows raise.
If the same fire mage then thinks he has to take over pulling with his loosely thrown fireballs while I’m still waiting for the healer’s mana, my expression freezes.
Once I let him get away with it. The second time I quickly whisper to the druid healer “shadow mimicry” and pray that he understood the instruction – which often works.
Then the fiery gentleman can gladly take over tanking for a few seconds and see how far he gets when his Frost Nova wears off and the Ice Block melts.
Please don’t get me wrong. I like it when dungeons are completed relatively quickly. Especially in Mythic+ that is also important. But in heroic or “M0” dungeons, there is absolutely no reason not to wait for the healer’s mana or simply wait for the dead DD who has to run back because he got overly enthusiastic and released his spirit.
A touch of arrogance – because I am important
With tanking also comes a touch of arrogance, because I know: I am important to the group. If the group loses me, they will wait quite a while for a replacement. I, on the other hand, can quickly find a new group and might already be through the next dungeon, while the fire mage is still waiting and insulting everyone in the chat who is not as superior as he is.
I also value my free time too much to let myself be scolded by strangers. If I mess something up – okay. Then I take that on my chin. I apologize and try to do better. I also like to receive tips if you can skip a group or if I simply overlook something.
However, if a DD with ants in his pants just can’t go fast enough and he has to insult in the group chat as well, I am very quick to consider starting a vote to kick.
The nice thing is: If the other players are not friends, most of them will join my kick request. Because no one wants to anger the tank. And DDs are replaceable within seconds. They are like sand at the beach; I am the pearl in the shell.
More responsibility, more pressure – less fun?
Furthermore, the fact that tanks carry more responsibility for the group.
And yes, I know. DPS players also have responsibilities in the group and not insignificantly. DDs have to play the mechanics, time interrupts perfectly, and – especially on high key stones – also deliver solid performance to complete everything within time. I usually play DD, so I get it all that DPS classes are also important.
However, there are a number of tasks that especially tanks must fulfill, which automatically come with a touch more responsibility because:
- Tanks set the pace of the dungeon
- Tanks keep an eye on the healer’s mana
- Tanks give the direction and decide which trash groups to engage
At least in all these aspects, the DPS players can relax and take it easy.
Moreover, tanks do not participate in the “game of big numbers,” where players rejoice over large critical hits and start a race in the DPS meter. As a primary DPS player, it is quite difficult to escape that.
Tanking simply lacks a “fun component” that you have as a DPS player when mobs melt under your damage. Moreover, tanks currently have less fun anyway, as they only run away now.
Tanks are frustrated, even in the community
It seems that this opinion is also shared in the WoW community. In the subreddit, for example, there are almost daily stories from tanks whose patience is at its end and who give up. They say goodbye to random groups and only go with their guild. For instance, Lux-Fox wrote a few hours ago (via reddit):
At this point, WoW has several dozen dungeons and you would be surprised how often I get toxic messages from DPS players because I am a bad tank (imagine being as easily replaceable as a DPS and crying about the tank, even though you have not taken damage). All this just because I do not know every single dungeon by heart. It’s always the DPS players who complain, as the healers appreciate that I keep the mobs away from them and support them with self-healing, which usually makes it an easy run for them.
I also have addons installed to ensure that I always see the aggro status of all enemies and my runs are usually smooth. […]
Despite all this, you insult tanks and berate them instead of showing them how they could improve. I leveled through dungeons to level 50, but I will never play with random players as a tank again. Maybe I’ll try again in 10 years.
Similarly describes it the warrior sin_theta (via reddit):
I have been playing Protection Warrior since Wrath of the Lich King. […] I love tanking and probably always will. But when it comes to Mythic+, I just can’t anymore. To specify, I almost always find a group. I have a few friends who play, but not enough for a full group. I am not the best tank, but I know I am okay.
I know everything would probably be better if I joined a guild and had a solid, stable group for Mythic+. But the constant trash pulls from DPS players, the insults when I die to those very enemies, the complaining when I don’t pull fast enough (even though we are well within time) or because I am too fast, all of that has taken its toll.
I am done with tanking in M+. I should be enjoying this, but it’s just toxic now.
Be nice to the tanks, then you will have them longer
To summarize: Be nice to your tanks. They are players who generally just want to successfully complete a few dungeons and they are not dependent on you. The simple truth is: Most of you need a tank, but tanks don’t need you. Because DPS players are as common as sand on the beach. So stay friendly, even if the tank isn’t “perfect” in your eyes. Because if you start complaining, you are miles away from it yourself.
What have your experiences with tanks in WoW been like? Or are you one yourself? What are your experiences with random groups?
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