In the latest PvP mode of World of Warcraft, tanks are a big problem. However, Blizzard believes they can get it under control.
For many years, PvP fans in World of Warcraft have demanded a “solo queue”, a way to register for rated PvP alone. This is now possible – but many are still dissatisfied. The new problem: Tanks make the game hell for everyone else in solo mode. They can simply do too much.
Blizzard has commented on the issue and remains quite firm: Tanks will not be excluded from the mode.
What type of game mode is this? The “mixed solo”, in English “Solo Shuffle”, is a PvP mode that can only be registered for alone and is still ranked. A total of 6 players play several rounds in changing teams of 3. This way, everyone must play with each other and simultaneously compete against everyone else. At the end of the 6 matches, the player who has emerged as the winner most often wins the most rating.
What is the problem? The general goal in Solo Shuffle is clear: to stomp an opponent into the ground as quickly as possible. Usually, this is the player with the fewest hit points.
But tanks cause particular problems in this mode. Not only are they significantly more resilient, but they often have massive self-healing, can even heal their teammates, and still deal solid damage. They are particularly strong in this mode as the “Jack of all trades” and can lead to a lot of frustration for everyone else playing healers or DPS characters.
The players’ demand was therefore clear: Tanks should be excluded from Solo Shuffle.
What is Blizzard changing now? In the official WoW forum, Blizzard has commented on the tank problem. They acknowledge the issues but want to make one thing very clear:
We want to make it clear that excluding tanks from Arena or the mixed solo is not an option we are considering. We create content that is available to everyone, regardless of their specialization, and there are players who enjoy only one class or specialization. We do not want to isolate these players and believe that there are other design options we can explore instead.
Instead, Blizzard wants to introduce new rules in the mixed solo that should go live in World of Warcraft next week (November 16):
- Protection Paladins will now be considered “healers” and will only be sorted into parties where the other healer is also a Protection Paladin.
- All other tanks will now be classified as DPS characters and there can be a maximum of one tank-DPS character in the match.
Player reactions are mixed: The players’ reactions to this decision are rather varied. While many welcome that Blizzard at least acknowledges the problem, others are dissatisfied. They demand the direct exclusion of tanks from this mode, as they are simply impossible to balance. Some voices from the post in the WoW forum:
- “I’m glad that the toxic people were proven wrong and tanks are still allowed.”
- “If there’s no chance you’ll exclude tanks from this mode, then balance them better so that it’s fun to fight against them. Currently, fights against tanks are only fun for one: the tank.”
- “I want to emphasize that excluding Dragonflight from my budget and paying $15 a month more is an option I am considering.”
What do you think? Should tanks be allowed in the “mixed solo”? Or do tanks have no place in this PvP mode?
