WoW Rookie: Raid 101
WoW Rookie is brought to our readers to help our newest players get acclimated to the game. Make sure you send a note to WoW Insider if you have suggestions for what new players need to know.
It's been brought to my attention that there are rookies of all levels. Recent columns have covered very basic topics such as instance play, group etiquette, and account security. Once you get to level 70, you'll have several options including solo play, PvP, and instance raiding. Raiding is a major part of the game, but can be somewhat overwhelming at first.
Raid instances vary from ten, twenty, twenty-five, and forty players. These instances are similar to five-person dungeons but require considerably more coordination. Ever player must work in concert to bring down challenging bosses, and they are typically rewarded with excellent gear for their efforts.
10-Man Raids | |
Level 60 | |
Level 70 | |
Level 70 | |
20-Man Raids | |
Level 60 | |
Level 60 | |
25-Man Raids | |
Level 70 | |
Level 70 | |
Level 70 | |
Level 70 | |
Level 70 | |
Level 70 | |
Level 70 | |
40-Man Raids | |
Level 60 | |
Level 60 | |
Level 60 | |
Level 60 | |
Level 60 |
Twenty and forty-man raids were popular prior to the Burning Crusade, when the level cap was set to 60. Most of the endgame content you will likely experience will be ten or twenty-five man raids until Wrath of the Lich King is released. Some players still enjoy going back to older raids for nostalgia, experience, and loot.
Coming prepared is important when doing instances, but it is doubly important when raiding. Players should at a minimum bring food, water, reagents, and bandages. Mages are often called upon to provide conjured provisions, but you should bring along your own just in case. Player should also bring along necessary potions, elixirs, and flasks. Alchemy is a handy skill to have when raiding.
Elixirs are similar to potions with longer lasting effects. They are divided into battle and guardian elixirs. Guardian elixirs do not stack with other guardian elixirs and battle elixirs do not stack with other battle elixirs. Here are some great elixirs for the endgame raiding.
Elixir | Effect |
Decreases the magical resistances of your spell targets by 30 for 1 hour. Guardian Elixir. | |
Regenerate 16 mana per 5 sec for 1 hour. Guardian Elixir. | |
Increases all Stats by 15 for 2 hrs. Battle Elixir. This effect only works on the Sunwell Plateau. | |
Increases shadow spell damage by up to 55 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. | |
Increases armor by 550 for 1 hour. Guardian Elixir. | |
Increases attack power by 90 and decreases stamina by 10 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. | |
Increases Resilience Rating by 30 for 1 hour. Guardian Elixir. | |
Increases your Agility by 35 and your critical strike rating by 20 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. | |
Increases Intellect and Spirit by 30 for 1 hour. Guardian Elixir. | |
Increases fire spell damage by up to 55 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. | |
Increases frost spell damage by up to 55 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. | |
Increases the effects of healing spells that you cast by up to 50 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. | |
Increases maximum health by 250 and restores 10 health every 5 seconds for 1 hour. Guardian | |
Increases your Strength by 35 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. | |
Increases spell damage and healing by up to 24 and spell critical strike rating by 24 or | |
Increases attack power by 60 for 1 hour. Battle Elixir. |
Flasks are like super elixirs that persist through death. Because Flasks work as both guardian and battle elixirs, only one can be active at any given time. Some of your Flask options include:
Flask | Effect |
Increases spell damage caused by Arcane, Holy and Nature spells by up to 80 for 2 hrs. | |
Increases maximum health by 500 and defense rating by 10 for 2 hrs. | |
Increases mana regeneration by 25 mana per 5 seconds for 2 hrs. | |
Increases mana regeneration by 25 mana per 5 seconds for 2 hrs. | |
Increases attack power by 120 for 2 hrs | |
Increases maximum health by 500 and defense rating by 10 for 2 hrs. | |
Increases mana regeneration by 25 mana per 5 seconds for 2 hrs. | |
Increases mana regeneration by 25 mana per 5 seconds for 2 hrs. | |
Increases resistance to all schools of magic by 35 and all stats by 18 for 2 hrs. | |
Increases spell damage caused by Arcane, Holy and Nature spells by up to 80 for 2 hrs.* | |
Increases maximum health by 500 and defense rating by 10 for 2 hrs.* | |
Increases mana regeneration by 25 mana per 5 seconds for 2 hrs. * | |
Increases spell damage caused by Shadow, Fire and Frost spells by up to 80 for 2 hrs.* | |
Increases attack power by 120 for 2 hrs.* | |
Increases damage done by magical spells and effects by up to 70 for 2 hrs.* | |
Increases Agility by 20, attack power by 40, and Stamina by 30 for 2 hrs.** | |
Increases Agility by 20, Strength by 20, and Stamina by 30 for 2 hrs.** | |
Increases Intellect by 20, Stamina by 30, and grants 8 mana per 5 sec. for 2 hrs.** | |
Increases Intellect by 20, Stamina by 30, and healing by up to 44 for 2 hrs.** | |
Increases critical strike rating by 20, Strength by 20, and Stamina by 30 for 2 hrs.** | |
Increases Intellect by 20, Stamina by 30, and spell damage and healing by up to 23 for 2 hrs.** | |
* Only active in Tempest Keep, Serpentshrine Cavern, Caverns of Time: Mount Hyjal , Black Temple and the Sunwell Plateau. | |
** Only works in the Blade's Edge Mountains Plateaus and Gruul's Lair. | |
Communication is the key to raiding. Raid leaders orchestrate the group. It is very important to know your specific role in the raid. Since all players must pull their weight in boss fights, if you have any questions, be sure to ask them before the encounter begins. It's definitely preferable to slow the raid a little by asking questions than to slow it a lot by causing the group to wipe.
Most boss fights have tried and true strategies for successful completion. You may be asked to review a fight via web pages or videos by players who have mastered the encounters before. Do not expect to lead raids early on. You will most likely have to learn the fights and raid management by experiencing them first hand before you attempt to call the shots yourself.
Don't expect to be invited to instance raids as soon as you reach level 70. You should make sure you have adequate gear and skill for the raid. As you continue through the raid progression, you must improve your gear before you move on. If you want to begin raiding, you should look for a guild with similar interests and goals. Many raiding guilds require applications and trial periods before joining or acquiring full membership.
You may occasionally be asked to join a raid outside your guild. This can be a handy way to prove your worth when applying to a guild.
Know your raid's rules for loot distribution. Some raids allow anyone present who needs the gear that drops to roll for it. Dragon Kill Points (DKP)*** is another common method of spreading the wealth. When using this method, players accumulate DKP for each raid they are involved in. Players can trade their DKP for dibs on choice loot. Zero sum, spend all, spend enough, probabilistic, and effective are all methods of DKP scoring. If you're not sure how your raid uses DKP, it's ok to ask.Different loot distribution methods are used to ensure the fairest distribution of gear for players' efforts.
Next week's column will give more information about your voice chat options. Most raids will not allow players that do not have their preferred method of communication.
*** Although there are relatively few actual Dragon bosses in WoW, the conventional term, DKP, persists from previous MMORPGs.
