Any suggestions for 5v5 arena?

[Memnoch]

This is a post to indulge my other addiction - PvP. I recently joined an arena team made up of some of my guildies. All of us are decently geared for starters (S2, some S3 with a couple S4 pieces) but so far we are having a hard time of it - I think our win ratio is like 30% or something stupid like that.

Basically the "core" team is:

- me (shadowstep swords rogue)
- BM hunter
- holy pally
- feral druid

And the ring-ins are one of:

- enhance shammy/frost mage/BM hunter (so sometimes we have two hunters)/warlock

Personally, I think I'm doing pretty well - I do my job and do the dps and do the CC. I'm usually the last to die while doing the most damage. The problem is I'm probably the expert on pvp (these guys are all pve whores) and I'm fairly new to the arena side of things in terms of coordination. I can coordinate all the BGs really well as I know them inside out and have run hundreds of them. But my grand total of arena experience is 14 games.

Each of us has at least 260-360resil. We are on vent and can talk our strategy but it all falls apart in terms of execution.

Now I realise 5v5 is a bit chaotic, and we're just doing it for a bit of a laugh, but being as competitive as I am I hate getting pwned. Are there any general strategies that can be employed in 5v5?

Eg.

- useful addons (I have only Proximo so far). I'd love something that allows you to identify who the other team toons are without having to mouse over them
- strategies vs specific teams (eg do you always focus fire the healer first or CC him and then focus on one of the DPS)
- team composition (I think we're really weak on the heals)
- who do you CC first? I think we have some decent CC with hunters, lock, rogue and mage options but who do you CC first?
- do you charge out or wait inside your starting area? Do you pillar hump like everyone else does?
- positioning?

[Lavindathar]

Arena just isn't my strong point.

But, you don't wanna be looking at 5v5 mate. In 5v5, do whatever you find fun.

Your points and rating come from 2v2, where rogues own.

Find yourself either a Resto Druid/Shadow Priest or another Rogue partner.

And in 3v3 Rogue/Mage/Priest is very very good.

But tbh, just play 5v5 for fun, get the serious points from 2v2

[Memnoch]

I heard you get the most points in 5v5 though - you can have a lower 5v5 rating and still get more points than 2v2.

I do have a 2v2 team as well but my partner sucks - he's enhance shammy (refuses to be resto) and he usually dies within 10secs even though he has 250 resil. Then it becomes 2v1 and I have to fight both of them (although I'm pretty good at fighting 2ppl, when it's 2 frost mages or a disc priest + anyone I just can't do it.

[Lavindathar]

Yes you get more points -

5v5 = 100%
3v3 = 90%
2v2 = 80% of the points I believe.

But trust me Mem, go 2v2. Ditch your shaman partner, whether he sucks as a player or not is irrelevant, hes the wrong class.

Get a Resto Druid to be honest. You will win 7 games for every 10 you play, if your both "ok" players.

you will easily hit 1700-1800 rating, without too much trouble.

Where as at 5v5 youll end up with 1500 or lower judging by your records.

And youll get so many more points at 1800 rating 2v2 than 1400 5v5.

Trust me!

[Memnoch]

OK, some more advice then. How do I gracefully ditch my shaman partner if he's a member of my guild and has been for a while? I want to do it, but I'm also rising in the guild in terms of rank and I don't want to cause ripples at this point.

[Kakero]

You'll earn at least 300++ points per week if you lose all your 10 matches in 5v5.

You'll earn at least 200++ points per week if you lose all your 10 macthes in 2v2.

Tell your partner you are aiming for a high rating. If he's not keen on aiming for the top. Get a new one. Who knows you might find a better partner.

Tip : Get a druid as partner.

When I was still in 5v5, I was in combat spec and have to charge out like a warrior. My target is usually healers or warlocks. This however isn't good as combat is a bad spec for arena or pvp for that matter.

[Memnoch]

Originally Posted by Kakero You'll earn at least 300++ points per week if you lose all your 10 matches in 5v5. You'll earn at least 200++ points per week if you lose all your 10 macthes in 2v2. Tell your partner you are aiming for a high rating. If he's not keen on aiming for the top. Get a new one. Who knows you might find a better partner. Tip : Get a druid as partner. When I was still in 5v5, I was in combat spec and have to charge out like a warrior. My target is usually healers or warlocks. This however isn't good as combat is a bad spec for arena or pvp for that matter.

2v2 I don't have an issue personally, its just that my partner is a bit of a pvp noob. It usually ends up as 1v2 after he dies. I've often taken on those odds in BGs anyway when they are defending a tower or flag. I know how to use my CCs to take one guy out of the fight while taking on another. In fact, I almost feel like I would do a better job as 1v2 because a few times my partner broke my CC (eg. my sap or blind) when we were supposed to be focus firing the other person.

[Lavindathar]

The point is, rogue/resto druid will never lose 10 games in a row. Especially at 1500 rating. You'd get 9 wins out of your first 10 games.