The Colosseum: Korgath speaks, pt II
Battlemaster Squanky is the Hunter in the 3rd rated Arena team, Monday Night Arena. Not only does this Hunter server as a successful example of Hunters in the Arena, Squanky actually uses different Hunter specs for each brack. Squanky is a Survival Hunter while in 2v2s, but swaps to a Marksman spec for 3v3s.
WoW.com: Who are your teammates right now? What's the general plan behind your composition? What challenges does your team have? How do you prefer to run your comp?
Squanky: In 2v2, I play with Reddin, a priest. Our general plan behind Priest/Hunter (I am Survival) is based on CCing the healer while DPSing their own DPS.
The optimal CC rotation is Scatter Shot, then Freezing Arrow, then Fear, then Wyvern Sting. However, depending on who they attack, we have to use these CCs defensively on the DPS. Usually, double DPS teams beat us and any Prot Pally team is hard to beat.
In 3v3, I play with Reddin and Renee. Renee is a Retribution Paladin. In 3v3, however, I am Marksman Hunter. For Priest/Ret/Hunter against most teams, we just try and burst someone down inside a Repentance, Wyvern Sting, and Silencing Shot rotation on their healer. If this isn't working, we will switch targets when my Aimed Shot is off CD and repeat the process. Any Cleave team that tries to zerg down Reddin is a problem for us.
WoW.com: What's your opening strategy? What do you like to do as soon as the gate opens?
Squanky: In 2v2, I keep a Frost Trap down near the pillar, alter, or the center of the Ring of Valor, and wait for them to make the first move.
We rush and try to get a rogue out of stealth if we face a rogue team. In 3v3, we just keep a Frost Trap down and wait for them to charge. We talk about who we are attacking and who is CCing first.
WoW.com: Which mods do you use -- how have you customized your screen?
Squanky: Gladius, Xperl, Dominos, Power Auras, and Party Ability Bars are my most helpful Arena AddOns. Best way to describe my UI is that it looks like a U all around my character. (Party frames on the left my HP and targets' HP under character,with Gladius on the right.)
WoW.com: How do you work out target designation? (Does someone call it out, or is everyone on their own to figure it out?)
Squanky: I normally call the target and switches, but Renee will call something out if he has a different idea.
WoW.com: How do you schedule your playtime? Do you try and work during "good times to queue?" Is this different now than in previous seasons?
Squanky: Since it's the summer we don't really have to schedule our games. We just play when everyone is on and wants to play.
We won't play for long if the opposing teams teams are high risk low reward (2 point wins with 20 point losses).
WoW.com: What's been the biggest change in your strategy between each bracket of ratings? (1500s, 1600s) Is there a big change for this season?
Squanky: Since MMR doesn't reset between seasons, I haven't been able to play in the lower brackets at all, but between 2300-2800 MMR there is still quite a difference in skill that can be noticed.
WoW.com: What signals to you that you need to radically change strategy midmatch? (And how do you accomplish that change?)
Squanky: Any time I go out of mana and noone is dead is a huge signal that we are going to lose unless we change our strategy.
Normally I just drop Frost Traps until I have enough mana to burst again then I can CC healer.
WoW.com: What's the key for your composition's strategy? Are there multiple tactics you can use?
Squanky: In 2v2, there's not much we can change (can't really nuke down a healer with this comp). The main change is deciding between Freezing Arrow or Frost Trap. With Freezing Arrow on their healer we try and nuke DPS and with Frost Trap we try to kite DPS and out damage the heals.
In 3v3, all we can really do is burst someone down and if that doesn't work choose a new target to nuke.
WoW.com: You hear a lot about clicking versus binding. Which skills do you still click, which do you tend to bind?
Squanky: Only thing I click on are bandages, water, and my mount. My skills are bound around my movement keys(1-4, S1-5, SA-D, C1-3, R, SR, Q, E, Z, SX, SC, C, and V.)
WoW.com: What are you trying to improve?
Squanky: Biggest thing I'm trying to improve on are the little mistakes that can cost us a game.
