In normal World of Warcraft it is a huge problem, in Legion Remix it is non-existent: There are so many tanks that there is never a shortage.
One of the biggest problems of World of Warcraft is the distribution of players across the different roles. There are only a few tanks in the endgame – too few to supply all healers and DPS characters. This leads to long waiting times and frustration. But in Legion Remix there are so many tanks that many groups even set out with several of them.
To keep it that way, Retail WoW would need to take a page from Remix.
WoW Legion Remix is the tank paradise
Why are so many tanks playing in Remix? Of course, Remix cannot be directly transferred to Retail. After all, there are plenty of additional buff effects in Legion Remix, and tanks deal as much damage as most DPS characters. But precisely because it is so efficient, many play a tank here or at least try it out.
The essence is: Playing a tank is (like almost everything in Remix) extremely easy. There is no great responsibility, a high tolerance for mistakes, and almost no pressure as soon as the gear is good enough.
Why is there a tank shortage in Retail? Looking over at The War Within, you see a completely different picture. Tanks are in short supply, and most groups search for a long time for someone to guide them through the dungeons.
There are many reasons for this. Tanks are the role with the greatest responsibility, as they usually also have to set the course and make important decisions: How many enemies can be engaged at the same time? When to move on to the next group? Interrupting many enemy abilities often falls within the tank’s responsibilities.
This makes tanking difficult and poses an almost insurmountable challenge for newcomers. Because to practice tanking, you need a group of players willing to “train” a new tank – and that takes time.
What can Retail learn from Remix? What Remix shows is the willingness of many people to want to play a tank when the circumstances are a bit milder. If the gameplay is easier and less stressful, tanking automatically becomes more enjoyable.
Certainly, Retail cannot adopt everything from Remix, but at least a few small approaches could help. Because only when tanking no longer feels like a burden and instead the enjoyment comes to the forefront, along with a reduction in mental load, will tanks become attractive again. But in general, WoW could learn a few things from Legion…
