Healing Fury Tanks: A Simplified Guide

Hey dudes. Silvite Soltis here. And I'm back with another simplified guide for all of you healers out there.

Does your guild still struggle with threat? Do warlocks constantly pull Broodlord Lashlayer into the ranged group? Is your tank an iron juggernaut that hits like a wet noodle? Well, there's a solution for these issues that you might have heard of: dual-wield fury tanking.

Why Dual-Wield Fury Tank?

Basically, a warrior that foregoes the shield for an offhand weapon will generate a ton more threat, as he's hitting more often and getting hit a lot harder. This, however, makes the healers' work a lot harder, so it could cause a host of other problems. Luckily, having experienced this shift in my guild, I've learned a few tricks that can make healing these berserkers a lot easier for your team.

Before getting into it, though, remember to follow my blog by adding yourself to my mailing list below, so you know when I write more guides and other content like this. There's a lot more coming as we blaze through AQ and Naxx, and I'm sure you'll want to stay informed. But anyway, without further ado, let's get right into the tips...

Tip #1 - Healing Team and Assignments

First off is the absolute most important thing to keep in mind as your guild works toward having a dual-wield fury tank - the healing team and their assignments. In the current iteration of Classic, we're seeing an increase in the "less healers is more" mindset. And while this can have its benefits in terms of overall dps, it can be detrimental to raid survivability. So, what can be done?

First off, you need to ensure you've got balance in your healing team - around 5 priests, 5 paladins/shamans, and 2-3 druids. Your healers need to be transparent about their specs, +healing, preferred healing styles, and gear. Then, once your team knows who's got what, you have to start setting up healing assignments.

Recently, it seems that there are lots of healers relying on addons such as HealCommsClassic to basically remove the need for healing assignments. And while these addons are wonderful for helping healers avoid wasting mana on overhealing, they can cause confusion about who is healing whom. As such, it's important to have healing assignments arranged for fights, and even trash packs, where your guild plans to use a DW Fury tank.

About two months ago, I took on the job of doing healing assignments for my guild  - Exodus on Mankrik-US. And through careful consideration and lots of discussion with guild leadership, we found that having 7-8 of our healers focused on spamming the tank during boss fights, with only 3-4 other healers focusing on raid heals, was the ideal way in which to make sure the MT was always topped off - no matter how many hits he was taking. If you are doing these assignments, make sure to set up a few priests and shamans (if Horde) to keep the 25% armor buff up on the tank at all times, as it can make or break him. Your highest +healing druid should constantly keep HoTs up on the tank as well, and you should assign one priest with high +healing and improved renew to keep that HoT up on the tank at all times as well. Finally, make sure you have at least one priest (preferably not the renew priest) to keep an eye on Power Word: Shield - as this bubble can be used in an emergency to save your tank, or to reduce incoming damage like Firemaw's Shadowflame ability. Personally, I keep this job for myself, as I'm deep-discipline, baby!

Tip #2 - Use Fast Heals

Now that you've got a healing team assembled and assignments sorted, it's time for the actual healing. DW Fury tanks take a lot more damage than their shield-bearing counterparts, and generally have a bit less health as well. As such, it's important that they are constantly getting healed up to full. In order to do this, those who are assigned to tank heals MUST NEVER stop healing. That means using the fastest heals you have available as often as you can.

First and foremost, know if you have a specific job as a healer - the renew priest, the HoT druid, etc. Then, find a rank of the fastest heal that you can spam constantly for a good 90 seconds straight without going out of mana. For me, it's Flash Heal Rank 2, but you can also alternate to a higher rank for emergency situations if needed (FH R7 for me). Druids are at a bit of a loss here, as they only have Healing Touch, but priests, paladins, and shamans can all work together to make sure the tank is constantly getting a heal of 500 every 0.2 seconds or so.

Ideally, mana shouldn't be much of an issue, as the tank should be able to generate so much threat that DPS can go ham on the boss. However, if mana does become a problem, you should make sure to have pots, innervate assignments, and more at the ready. Even Superior Mana Potions can make a difference!

Tip #3 - Target of Target (and Mouseover Macros)

Alright, the third tip is a bit of a simple one, but important nonetheless. Sometimes when a tank is running DW Fury, he'll just get completely roflstomped. And while this hopefully won't happen too often, it's important to be able to continue healing the next target(s) as fast as possible. For that reason, it's important to make sure you target the boss and keep Target of Target enabled so that you can quickly swap to the new tank (or warlock, whichever is 2nd on threat).

It's also very helpful, in this situation, to make sure you're using mouseover macros like the one I mentioned in my previous "Healy Priest Tips and Tricks" guide:

/cast [@mouseover,exists]Flash Heal(Rank 2)

If you keep your mouse cursor hovering over the enemy's target like I do, you can keep spamming whoever is taking the damage at all times. Keep in mind that for fights like Vaelestrasz (where the target changes occasionally) spamming heals on the Target of Target might result in some random healing of a rogue or mage, but it's still better than risking a loss of your 2nd tank immediately after the first. So...yeah.

Tip #4 - Communication!

Finally, my last tip is one that should be very clear to anyone raiding in an MMORPG like WoW Classic: Communicate! Talk with your tanks about when you think they NEED to have a shield, or when they might be able to swap to their offhand weapon. Odds are if you speak with them, you'll get a good idea about when they take the most damage, when threat isn't a huge issue, and more.

Currently, Blackwing Lair is the most challenging raiding content available in Classic. And while typical dragon fights like Firemaw and Nefarian can be DW tanked fairly easily, others like Chromaggus are definitely more suited for the Sword-and-Board tanks. In any case, and especially going forward, discuss your tanking and healing strategies together as a guild to decide on the best approach for you. Communication will take you very far.

Final Thoughts

Thanks for taking the time to read this guide, and good luck healing your fury tank. In my opinion, dual-wield tanking is one of the most interesting new methods of fighting these old bosses that I've seen in my many years of playing this game. It adds a new level of complexity to the encounter, while also making it finish much faster, if done correctly. And really, that's what the new meta seems to be all about. In any case, I hope you found this guide useful or interesting. If you liked it, or have any feedback for me, let me know by leaving a comment down below. If you'd like to see more content like this in the future, add yourself to my mailing list as well, or subscribe to my YouTube channel if you prefer video content instead. In any case, thanks for reading, have an awesome day, and catch you next time!

Take it easy!

Top 5 - Zul'Gurub Drops

Hey dudes - Silvite Soltis here, back with another Top 5 post for your reading pleasure.

As you're all aware, Phase 4 has officially arrived - giving us all a fantastic "new" catch-up raid. And though I'm sure most of us have already beaten the Blood God Hakkar into a bloody pulp several times by now, I doubt many have collected all of the items they desire from this troll city. (Personally, I've done five runs in the past two weeks.) Given that some of the items in Zul'Gurub are so powerful compared to what's available in the likes of Molten Core and Blackwing Lair, raiders will no doubt continue to raid this place for months to come.

Zul'Gurub

So, in celebration of this (old) new content, I thought it might be fun to discuss what I feel are the best item drops one can obtain in ZG. In order to make this list interesting, however I will only include immediately equippable drops from the bosses, as certain items like the Zandalarian Hero Charm from the Heart of Hakkar quest, and the Primal Hakkari Idols used for the head and leg enchantments are simply too amazing to compare. Also, I will NOT include more than one item from Hakkar, as the final boss of a raid ALWAYS has the best loot and it would be pretty boring to just list off his loot table. Finally, I can't stress enough that this Top 5 list is entirely my opinion, so feel free to share your own Top 5 ZG drops in the comments down below - and add yourself to my mailing list for good measure, if you like this and want to see other content like it. But yeah, with those disclaimers out of the way, let's get right into the list...

#5 - Zulian Tigerhide Cloak (Venoxis)

It's a great cloak!

A drop from the second boss of Zul'Gurub, the Zulian Tigerhide Cloak starts off our list with an absolute bang. This cloak is AWESOME for all physical dps classes - rogues, warriors, hunters, and more. Considering that until this point, good quality melee cloaks were pretty scarce at endgame and only one other cloak had +hit on it (the Puissant Cape from Azuregos to be specific), it's a welcome addition to just about everyone's character screen.

So yeah, even though it isn't much to look at, this cloak is awesome. And with how easily it can be obtained, it definitely deserves a spot on this list.

#4 - Thekal & Arlokk's Grasps (Thekal and Arlokk)

As if we needed another reason to eat Frosted Flakes...

Have you ever hit something so hard that you turned into a freaking tiger? No? Well now you can! The dual-fist Primal Blessing weapon set Thekal's Grasp and Arlokk's Grasp is, without a doubt, one of the coolest pair of items throughout all of Zul'Gurub, and possibly Classic itself.

These items drop from two of the High Priests that must be defeated as you progress through the raid - Thekal and Arlokk. And though their stats aren't really anything to write home about, they provide decent damage and speed for fist weapons and have an ultra-cool proc that turns you into a beefy tiger-man.

What's not to love about these weapons? They're GR-R-REAT!

#3 - Zanzil's Band & Seal (Venoxis and Bloodlord Mandokir)

Dat hit tho!

Taking the number three spot, we have the caster DPS ring set, Zanzil's Concentration. At first glance, these items seem pretty lackluster - just 11 spell damage, some intellect, and a paltry amount of Mp5. However, these rings are all about one thing - that spell hit!

When one equips both the Band and the Seal, you're looking at a whopping 3% spell hit, which puts your caster a good portion of the way toward your hit cap. And if you combine these rings with the newly introduced Bloodvine Garb crafted by tailors, you can pretty much rest assured that your spells won't be resisted, meaning bigger numbers and ever-better parses!

Honestly, all of the ZG Ring sets have their perks - lots of healing and stats on the Primalist rings, great stamina and defensives on the Overlord's Resolution, and decent hit and crit on the Seal and Band of Jin. However, the sheer amount of spell hit - the most valuable stat for caster DPS by far until hit cap - makes this particular pair of rings just that much better, in my opinion.

And that's why it's up here at number 3...

#2 - Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds (Hakkar)

Just....so good!

Alright, I have to say again that ALL of Hakkar's loot is amazing, so this was hard to narrow down. However, I absolutely had to give the number 2 spot on this list to Zin'rokh. This epic 2-hander from the Blood God himself is most definitely the most iconic weapon within this troll raid - even moreso than that snake staff from the panther boss that I personally adore.

Looks-wise, it's no contest - this item is a beast. It's massive, glowy, and has jagged edges, making it all that much more intimidating when you see a warrior charging at you with it. But more than the looks, the stats this weapon boasts are insane! For an item that drops in a 20-man raid that can be pugged easily in under 2 hours, 72 attack power and a solid 3.8 weapon speed is pretty nuts. And really, the only 2-handed sword that compares to this monster is the infamous Ashkandi that drops from Nefarian in BWL. So whether you're playing a hunter or a dps warrior, you can bet you'll be excited to see this weapon drop from Hakkar's beaten-down corpse. But no matter how amazing Zin'rokh might be, it's still only number 2 on my list...

Honorable Mentions

Before we get to the number 1 spot, though, here are just a few honorable mentions:
All the other Hakkar loot (because really, it's all amazing)

Primalist Rings (because I'm a biased healer)

Nat Pagle's Fish Terminator (because seriously, it's just too funny)
Will of Arlokk (because I think it looks awesome)

#1 - Literally Everything off Jin'do

He may be trollin', but his loot isn't!

Oh! Plot twist! In sifting through all of the items in ZG, I came to realize that one boss in particular has the greatest items in the entire instance - so many awesome pieces of loot, in fact, that I couldn't choose any one of his drops for a spot. Jin'do the Hexxer, the optional second-to-last boss of Zul'Gurub, is an immensely fun encounter that provides the biggest challenge in the instance, other than perhaps Hakkar himself. And while most of us currently raiding ZG regularly can probably steamroll him with our BWL gear, he still drops some of the most amazing items in the entire raid:

First off, his epics are, quite literally, epic! Jin'do's Evil Eye and Hexxer are two of the best healer items until AQ - even outranking most BWL items! His Bag of Whammies offhand and Judgement staff offer lots of spell damage and, again, that coveted spell hit stat that all casters love. But his amazing loot table doesn't stop there, as the blues are great too: The Hexxer's Cover, Bloodstained Coif, Bloodtinged Gloves, Bloodsoaked Gauntlets (lots of Blood off this guy...), and more are all excellent items that anyone would be hard-pressed to replace anywhere other than in the highest-end raids. So, no matter what your class is - Jin'do is your man, mon!

Oh yeah, and he also drops the idol for the enchant on top of all that...so...yeah...it's pretty much no contest. Jin'do's entire loot table is definitely my number 1.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it - my Top 5 Zul'Gurub Drops. Honestly, this list was really hard to make, as ZG has so many absolutely amazing drops. And even though I sort of cheesed the number 1 spot, I think that fact only stands as a testament to how excellent this raid's loot is. Blizzard clearly learned from their itemization mistakes by the time Zul'Gurub was conceived originally, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we all appreciate it. No matter what class you play, or what content you enjoy, you can definitely get some great items here - be it gear, sets, enchants, or consumables. It's pretty great...

Anyway, that's it for today. If you liked this post and would like to see more in the future, add yourself to my mailing list below! While you're down there, leave a comment letting me know your top 5 drops in ZG as well, as I'd love to know what you think and why. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates when I release new content as well, and consider checking out my videos over on YouTube, as I eventually turn all of these posts into videos over there. In any case, thanks for reading, enjoy Zul'Gurub, and as always...

Take it easy!

Zul'Gurub is Coming! Why Phase 4 Will Be AWESOME!

Here we come, Hakkar!

Hey dudes, Silvite Soltis here. And today, I'm back with another quick discussion post.

As we all know, Phase 3 has been out for a while and Phase 4 is set to release sometime this month. And while many of us may have only just defeated the Lord of Blackrock in BWL, there's a lot of reason to be excited for this progression into the next chapter of Classic. So, today I thought it might be fun to talk about some of the reasons that I, in particular, am very hyped for the upcoming content addition to WoW Classic.

Let's get right into it!

Reason 1 - Troll Raid!

Alright, so first and foremost, we're getting a new raid in Phase 4, which I'm sure everyone is super-stoked to sink their teeth into. Zul'Gurub, the first of two 20-man raids in Classic, is a troll raid located along the eastern border of Stranglethorn Vale. With 10 unique encounters (one of which has 4 different possible bosses), a plethora of awesome loot, and, most importantly, a super-short 3 day lockout, ZG is an absolute godsend for raiders everywhere who crave something new between the massive 40-man BWL farm and the eventual Temple of Ahn'Qiraj.

Though I'm quite limited in terms of free time to take on this jungle raid, I'm really looking forward to squaring off against the Gurubashi trolls with my own proud Darkspear! Plus, with my guild of well-equipped raiders, it'll be even more fun to steamroll through as fast as possible. I can't wait!

Reason 2 - Awesome Catch-up Loot

Dat set bonus tho...

Just like all raids, one of the most highly anticipated aspects of Zul'Gurub is, of course, the amazing loot. Unlike the hit or miss items in many of the dungeons and throughout Molten Core, the gear in ZG is powerful, and well itemized for the different classes and specs of Classic. Some of the items on offer are just perfect for those slots you're missing - and of course for gearing alts up fast.

Personally, I'm excited for the Primalist ring set - the Band and Seal - for my priest, and the Zulian Stone Axe and various mail int+AP pieces for my enhancement shaman...whenever I can get him capped, that is!

Reason 3 - New Enchants

Possibly the most important things getting introduced along with Zul'Gurub for raiders like me are the various new enchantments for our helms, legs, and shoulders. No longer will we need to farm Dire Maul, Scholomance, and other old dungeons with no upgrades just to get a paltry 8 damage and healing here or 1% dodge chance there. Instead, we can simply collect some dolls in our voodoo adventures, and BAM - Stamina, Hit Chance, and increased spell and attack power for everyone! Granted, competition for the items needed will definitely be fierce, but so long as you run ZG a few times, you're bound to pick them up eventually!

Mmmmmm +Healing!

Moreover, those of us who grind all the way to Exalted reputation with the Zandalari Tribe, will finally be able to get our hands on some amazing shoulder enchantments - 18 spell power, 30 attack power, or 33 healing, to be specific! Sure, exalted won't be easy to attain, but it will give us all a reason to keep doing ZG, even if/when we're all fully geared to the teeth.

Reason 4 - More Raid Crutches!

All the crutches!

But wait! There's more! As if all the new gear and enchants coming with Zul'Gurub weren't enough, we're also getting more consumables and ANOTHER world buff! - the Spirit of Zandalar! Healers will rejoice as we'll finally have the long-awaited Mageblood Potion and Brilliant Mana Oil that will help keep our teams alive for longer, which will no doubt help us in these later tiers of raiding! What's more, casters will all be scrambling to craft the Bloodvine Garb for that much-needed spell hit - a stat that is unfortunately missing on many of the otherwise best raid gear until this point.

These great items, combined with the enchants and other awesome loot provided by ZG and the Zandalar Tribe will make our BWL clears, and subsequent progress into AQ and Naxx, that much faster and easier. And I'm really looking forward to it!

Reason 5 - Gives a Reason to Finish Leveling Alts

Just a bit more...

All of the gear, enchants, and consumables are wonderful boons to my main, but one of the biggest reasons I think that Phase 4 will be amazing is the simple fact that it will provide me (and I'm sure many others) with a reason to finally finish leveling up our alts.

Personally, the prospect of running a bunch of dungeons on my paladin or shaman just to collect enough gear to be able to step into an alt raid, then spending several hours a week clearing that raid just to get 0-2 pieces of loot out of it has always been a big put-off. So really, I only really worked on leveling my alts as a fun side activity, with no goal in mind other than maybe capping someday. With ZG on the horizon, however, these characters have a 1-stop-shop for loot, enchants, and more.

So, while I'm sure most of us will prioritize getting everything we need for our mains out of ZG first, it will eventually be an awesome place for us to take our alts - which again, I'm super stoked about. But, of course, reaching exalted on my priest comes first...

Final Thoughts

I definitely won't be killing this guy...

So, there you have it. 5 reasons why Phase 4 will be awesome. Zul'Gurub is bringing with it some of the greatest items that Classic will have on offer for the majority of the playerbase and it's really about time! From the Zandalarian Hero Charm to the Zin'rokh, Destroyer of Worlds, we're getting a lot in this epic new era of Classic content. It's also worth noting that we'll also be getting the Emerald Dragons in Phase 4, providing the top-end guilds with another layer of competition for their limited spawns, and thus loot. They'll provide great gear for guilds planning to go hardcore into AQ-40, but since I'm guessing most of us won't ever be able to get a kill on them, I think they're nearly as significant as the other upcoming phase 4 content. Of course, I could be wrong, and I wish luck to any guilds that plan to try for the tags on them!

Anyway, that's all I've got for today. For me, phase 4 is definitely going to be an exciting chapter in the life of Classic, but I'd love to know what you all think. Are you excited for ZG and the dragons, or frustrated at the blazing saddles speed at which Blizzard is churning out the Classic content? Let me know by leaving a comment down below! If you enjoyed this post, and would like to see more in the future, add your email to my mailing list while you're down there - or follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates! Finally, consider checking out my YouTube channel, if you prefer watching this type of content instead of reading it. In any case, thanks for reading, enjoy phase 4, and as always...

Take it easy!

Top 5 - Raid Bosses Currently in WoW Classic

Hey dudes, Silvite Soltis here. And today, I've got another top 5 post for your reading pleasure.

Since BWL has been out for over a month, and many guilds have handily slain Nefarian and his minions, I thought it might be a good time to look back on the foes we've faced thus far in Classic. As always, keep in mind that these are my opinions - based purely off my enjoyment of these encounters. As such, I'd love to know which of the currently available bosses are your favorite and why, so please leave a comment down below sharing yours!

But anyway, with that out of the way, let's get right into my Top 5 Raid Bosses Currently in WoW Classic:

#5 - Baron Geddon

Baron Geddon

Starting off our list is the 5th boss of Molten Core - the fire elemental known as Baron Geddon. Famous for wiping many a raid group back in the day with his ability Living Bomb, Baron Geddon is one of the fights I always look forward to when raiding Molten Core. Compared with the first four bosses in this raid, Baron has quite a few mechanics to be mindful of - Ignite Mana, the pulsing fire AoE, and, of course, Living Bomb to name a few. All of these pose a decent threat to an underprepared raid team, and I'm sure we've all seen that one raid member who starts running the wrong way with a skull over his head...

Sure, he doesn't drop the best loot - other than one of the bindings needed for Thunderfury - but the fight is engaging and entertaining, a reward in and of itself in my opinion. And that's why I put the Baron here at number 5.

#4 - Ragnaros

Ragnaros, the Firelord

Awakened too soon to fight our ready and waiting raid teams, Ragnaros the Firelord is an absolutely fantastic finish to the first raid of Classic. First off, there's a ton of lore surrounding this guy - enslaving dwarves, burning a giant chunk of the Eastern Kingdoms, and nomnoming on Thunderaan being some of my personal favorite tidbits. As a boss fight, however, he still packs quite a punch.

As anyone who has vanquished the Firelord will already know, the initial setup and preparation is what this encounter is all about. And though there are a few other encounters in MC where positioning are important (such as Baron and Garr), the Ragnaros fight takes it to an entirely new level. Spread out, hug a buddy, and be ready to get pingponged around by fire blasts which may or may not kill you, depending on if you used a fire potion. The unprepared will fall, but those who plan well ahead just might be rewarded with their tier 2 pants...

So yeah, he's got a pretty awesome fight...so long as you beat him before the submerge. And that's why I ranked him at number 4.

#3 - Broodlord Lashlayer

Broodlord Lashlayer

Alright, so Raggy is pretty awesome and I'm sure most people expected to see him on this list, but I doubt many expected to see this one. Immediately following the infamous Suppression Room, the third boss of Blackwing Lair stands waiting. Broodlord Lashlayer is an absolute beast of a boss for those who aren't ready - my raid team included. His aggro range is deceptively massive, which means many accidental pulls are made by raiders who have just barely finished the gauntlet.

Yeah, I've got some fun memories of our Suppression Room progression, but my favorite aspect of this fight isn't just the many facepulls, it's the mortal strike ability.

All too often as a priest healer, I simply need to spam Heal and Flash Heal, depending on the urgency. With Broodlord's Mortal Strike and the heavy tank damage, I get to make good use of Power Word: Shield for a change. With the constant tank swapping and lack of reliable timers, I can say I always really enjoy this fight when we get to it.

So yeah, this epic climax to the Suppression Room is my number 3.

#2 - Onyxia

Onyxia, the Broodmother

Whelps! Left side! Even side! Many whelps! Now, handle it! Without a doubt, Onyxia is one of the greatest and most iconic fights in all of WoW Classic. With an absolutely epic backstory (for Alliance anyway), 3 unique phases, and fantastic loot, the broodmother of the black dragonflight is an all-around amazing experience.

As a healing priest, there's not much to do for the first phase, but that swiftly changes once Onyxia takes off. Wanding to help dps, healing fireball damage, and, of course, watching out for deep breaths that kill half the raid are all things that keep me engaged during the fight. Of course, the most intense part of the fight is the transition from air to ground, when she needs to be picked back up and brought back into position. No matter how many times guilds do this, it always seems that a certain rogue or warrior starts opening up a bit too soon, only to get everyone else breathed on.

But once she falls, the feeling is incredible - watching every survivor scramble to the dragon's corpse to see if their tier 2 helm dropped is one of the staples of my raiding experience in Classic thus far. And though the fight is really very easy now with BWL out, I still enjoy doing it every week. For this reason, as well as the amazing Alliance attunement quest chain that leads to this phenomenal fight, I have to rank it as my number 2.

There's one boss that I believe trumps the Ony encounter, though. But before that, here are a few honorable, and dishonorable, mentions.

Honorable Mentions

Firemaw - Though he eats your raid initially, it's fun learning the different ways to position him.
Gehennas - He's a loot pinata, but one with some minor awareness of Rain of Fire that keeps you on your toes.

Chromaggus - A big bad dragon doggo with lots of unique mechanics.

Dishonorable Mentions

Razorgore - This fight is too long and frustrating to be a first boss of a raid. Also, biased because it took us like 14 attempts to down him the first time...
Shazzrah - Just hate this guy with his damn insta-gib arcane explosions right after teleporting. Never seen a 'clean' kill.

#1 - Nefarian

Nefarian, Lord of Blackrock

And at number 1, I've put the Lord of Blackrock himself. The son of Deathwing, brother of Onyxia - Nefarian.

As a character in the lore, this guy is legit - experimenting on dragons, enslaving orcs, and generally just being a badass are all great reasons to love, or hate, him. And as a boss, he's no joke either.

Nefarian is the final boss of Blackwing Lair, currently the most difficult raid available in Classic. With so many tough encounters in BWL, getting to him is hard enough as it is, but his fight is yet another challenge. Initially, you need to kill a bunch of his lackies - simple drakonids that come in a rainbow of colors. When he reveals his dragon form, however, you're in for the fight of your life.

Nefarian has a shadowflame ability, which requires all raiders to have their Onyxia Scale Cloaks equipped to avoid, which is an interesting quirk of this boss - you have to kill his sister in order to be able to take him down yourselves. In addition, he's got class call abilities - a different one for every class in Classic - that he periodically casts throughout the fight. Mages turn into giraffes, priests damage their healing targets, etc. This means that every week, the fight will be slightly different. But my favorite part about this fight isn't the calls' mechanics, but the actual calls themselves...

He taunts you when he uses them:
"Priests! If you're going to keep healing like that, we might as well make it a little more interesting!"
"Hunters and your annoying pea-shooters!"
"Warriors, I know you can hit harder than that! Lets see it!"

But, of course, the best part of any boss fight isn't the fight itself - it's the loot. And Nefarian has got some of the most amazing items in the game - Ashkandi, Neltharion's Tear, and of course, the tier 2 chestpieces. No matter what class you play, you definitely want to beat this bad boy.

As you all probably know, I never actually raided back in Vanilla. And though I did face off Nefarian back in early 2014 on a private server, I've always wanted to officially defeat him. Now that Classic's out, and my raid team is progressing through BWL, I know that I've got my chance again. This time, for sure, I'll defeat this big baddie - and achieve the final of my Classic goals!

(And just in case you're asking: no, I haven't beaten him yet.)

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it - my top 5 raid bosses currently in Classic. While I listed quite a few here, I will say that I think all of the raid bosses in Classic have their own special place in my heart - even those dishonorable mentions I threw in there. That being said, these 5 are definitely my favorites, whether it be for lore reasons, mechanics specifically tailored to me playing a priest, or aesthetics. If you thought I should've included a different boss, or have your own top 5 bosses list, let me know by leaving a comment down below. I'd love to hear your reasons.

But anyway, that's it for today. If you liked this post or found it interesting, feel free to follow my blog by adding yourself to my email list. Alternatively, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates when I create additional content here, or over on YouTube. In any case, thanks for reading, have an awesome day, good luck beating those bosses. And as always...

Take it easy!

My Thoughts Going Into Phase 3

Hey dudes. Silvite Soltis back again with another post for your reading pleasure.

Nefarian, Final boss of Blackwing Lair

As you all know, Classic's been out for almost 6 months at this point. And since Phase 3 is imminent (and possibly out by the time I hit publish on this post), I thought it might be fun to just jot down some of my thoughts about the game until now. Especially since I've never really discussed the different phases much previously. So, before we all hop into Blackwing Lair and try to get those ultra-epic lewts, let me just take some time to tell about my thoughts going into Phase 3.




--------------------------------------------------

As many of you know, my initial goals when Classic released was to reach the level cap during phase 1, begin raiding, and collect my full Prophecy set and Benediction. However, due to my limited time for playing the game I'd so long awaited, I wasn't able to meet that first goal. When the early release of Dire Maul was announced, with Phase 2 officially starting not long after, I was really bummed out, but it really pushed me to level as fast as I could, given my circumstances.


Well, luckily I reached level 60 and got into raiding not long after Phase 2 officially launched. And while I was still a bit bummed that I missed the initial Dire Maul rush, it felt great to finally raid Molten Core and Onyxia's Lair as relevant content. Overall, I found a lot of satisfaction with the game after finally capping.

Like...what happened with the phases? (Credit to classicwow.live)

Fast forward a bit to December 2019, and we got the announcement that Phase 3, the one with Blackwing Lair, would be launching in "Early 2020". Initially, I was furious with this news, as I'd only recently hit level 60 and had hardly even touched Molten Core. After comparing the Classic releases of the other content, like DM and battlegrounds, to their original release dates in vanilla, I felt like Blizzard was rushing out the phases and not really letting players experience it in an authentic manner. I was especially worried because, to me, "Early 2020" sounded like a mid-late January release, and with only one viable day for raiding, I thought I might have to make a choice between either finding a new guild that would continue doing MC on that day, or move into BWL without completing my second main goal - Prophecy and Benediction.

The Next Chapter...

Well, here we are with BWL about to launch, and I can say that I was definitely a bit too hasty in my initial reaction to that news. This phase's February release means that it's coming roughly five and half months after Classic's launch, only about two months sooner than Vanilla's Patch 1.6. Sure, it's not 100% true to the initial launch, but considering that most of us didn't have much actual progression in tier 1 content this time around, the timing seems pretty much right.

5/8 Prophecy AND Benediction Obtained!

Basically, what I'm saying is that though I thought Blizzard has been rushing Classic content, the release of Blackwing Lair and the rest of Phase 3 content seems like it's coming at a good time. Personally, I'm super-excited for this new chapter of Classic. Despite not having my full Tier 1 set - 5/8 as of right now - I'm ready for something new. And I'm sure that many of you out there who have been clearing MC in under 2 hours for the past few months are right there with me.


In addition to the new raid, I'm excited about a few other things coming to the game in this phase too! The Sunken Temple class quests, while not really beneficial for  my priest at this point, will give my shammy alt something to work on when I get him up to the early 50s. The Darkmoon Faire, while not necessarily something I was ever really interested in, will be a fun place to go hang out in whenever it comes to Mulgore, if only to listen to the music while chitchatting with my guild.

Most importantly, though, is that we'll start having overpowered BWL-geared raiders running with alts and newbies through Molten Core and Onyxia - boosting those toons' gear faster than ever before. Despite being old content in Classic as soon as BWL and beyond are released, the fact that MC contains so many amazing items (including tier 2 legs, some trinkets, and more) makes it impossible for certain raiders to pass up. Phase 3 is going to be a great time to have a fresh 60 in Classic, that's for sure!

Did somebody say...?

And, of course, we'll all finally get to see people running around Ironforge and Orgrimmar with, you guessed it, Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker! What a time to be enjoying Classic!






--------------------------------------------------

So, there you have it. My thoughts going into this new chapter of Classic's life. Overall, I'm pretty excited, as you can probably tell, but I'd like to know what you think. Are you excited for something new, nervous about the challenges that await in Nefarian's evil lair, or annoyed by the slightly early release of this 15 year old content? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment down below. If you liked this post, add yourself to my mailing list below, or follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates when I post new content. Also, consider checking out my videos over on YouTube, as that's where all of these blog posts end up roughly a week or so after their writing.

Thanks for reading, have an awesome day, and as always...

Take it easy!

Top 5 - Overlooked Healer Items

Hey dudes. Silvite Soltis here with another top 5 post for you!

Over the past couple of months of raiding and getting back into my regular content creation, I've been looking over a lot of items in WoW Classic. And though there are a ton of great items that everyone knows about, thanks to the prevalence of Best-in-Slot lists, I've also noticed that there are many items that get forgotten - despite being nearly as good as other items!

So today, that's what we're going to take a look at - my Top 5 Overlooked Healer Items in WoW Classic. Just to be clear, I'm mostly focusing on pre-raid items that rarely (if ever) get mentioned and that can be more easily obtained than the pre-raid BiS counterparts. I'll also try to only mention a slot once, as to make this top 5 more informative for healers looking for particular slots. Finally, I'm only including items that ALL healers can utilize, so expect a bit of cloth to be mentioned. But anyway, with those disclaimers out of the way, let's get right into it!

#5 - Archlight Talisman (Neck)

Alright so, as healers we all know that we're probably going to run Strat Undead about a million times to try and get some great items. However, if you have terrible luck like a couple of my guildmates, you may never see the Animated Chain Necklace drop. So, what can you do?

Well, luckily, there's a quest reward that is completely RNG free and has decent stats for healers: the Archlight Talisman from the Battle of Darrowshire quest chain.

Now, I know that it doesn't compare at all to the awesome necklace from Strat, but let's face it - RNGeesus hates some people. And though it has no +healing on it, the stats it does have could be the difference between life and death in some fights. Sure, you have to get a raid together to finish the final portion of the quest chain, but again, it's a guaranteed reward that you can get for free even before you hit 60 if desired.

But if you ARE dead set on running Strat a couple hundred times for your neck, there are a few more underrated items you should definitely keep an eye out for...

#4 - Dungeon Set Pieces (Bracers, Belts, Legs, and Boots)

At number 4, we've got a three-for: the dungeon set bracers, belts, and legs. Since healers are constantly going to want to run Strat Undead for their Animated Chain Necklace, Robes of the Exalted, and other amazing items, they may come across these items along the way. Though the bracers and belts are random trash drops, and only a few of them even drop in Strat Undead, they are BoE and can usually be found on the auction house for fairly cheap. The best ones for healers are definitely the clothy ones - Dreadmist, Magister's, and Devout - due to their balance of intellect, stamina, and spirit. However, the other sets may be useful depending on your class.



When it comes to the legs, however, the odds of getting something decent are definitely in your favor here. Baron Rivendare always drops one of the nine set legs, so depending on your healer, you could potentially get a decent pair of pants in just a few runs while trying to scoop up your BiS neck and robes. Of course, the Devout Skirt isn't anywhere near as popular as Senior Designer's Pantaloons, or good for that matter, but if you need pants or pure stats, the dungeon legs are a pretty safe bet.

#3 - Green 'Of Healing' Items (Especially Wands/Offhands)

Dragon Finger of Healing is AWESOME!

Next up on this list is the often overlooked, highly underrated green 'of Healing' items. Though I'm not personally a big fan of having a giant +healing number with no stats, these items can be invaluable when you just can't get a drop. And for some slots - like the priest wand - they are just downright Best in Slot for a long time.

When I was nearly 60, I bought a bunch of these items and had them ready in my bank for when I made the swap over to healing. And though I didn't end up needing all of them, they provided a much-needed backup plan for slots when gear just didn't want to drop in dungeons. What's more, I actually continued using a Mystical Orb of Healing (+31 Healing) until I got Benediction only a couple of weeks ago. And still use my Dragon Finger of Healing (+18 Healing) even now going into Blackwing Lair.

So, keep an eye on the auction house for these when they pop up. You might just be able to fill an elusive slot with a good chunk of +heals!

#2 - Eye of the Beast (Trinket)

Alrighty, in the number 2 slot we've got the trinket that all casters should most definitely have if they plan on raiding at all in Classic - the all-too-common, but often overlooked, Eye of the Beast trinket from the Horde Onyxia attunement quest, and the Alliance quest General Drakkisath's Demise.

In the world of min-maxing that we are currently playing in, most healers opt for trinkets with healing or spell power such as the Dire Maul trinkets, Second Wind, Burst of Knowledge, or Briarwood Reed. However, since this item is both guaranteed (as it's a quest reward) AND provides a solid 2% spell crit for damaging and healing spells, it shouldn't be underestimated.  I can't count the number of times that a quick Power Word: Shield and Flash Heal crit combo has saved my tanks from utter annihilation.

Sure, more +healing is always great, but critical heals are also badass, in my opinion. And that's why this awesome trinket is up here at number 2.

#1 - Dreamweave Set (Head, Gloves, Chest)

The Dreamweave Set is, without a doubt, the most commonly overlooked bunch of healer items in Classic, despite it actually being fantastic for healers and caster dps alike. These three items - the Circlet, Gloves, and Vest - are all cloth (meaning all healers can use them), have 18 or more spell damage and healing, and can be equipped as early as level 40 (the helm, 45). The mats to craft them are all relatively cheap, and you can typically find them on the auction house for anywhere from 3-10 gold per piece, depending on your server's economy. Really, they're just awesome items that healers should definitely consider picking up as they approach level 60.



Look, in a perfect world, healers will all get a Cassandra's Grace, Hands of the Exalted Herald, and Robes of the Exalted before stepping into Molten Core and Onyxia's Lair. Unfortunately, the world isn't perfect. And while there are tons of other pieces of loot that healers could obtain instead of those Pre-Raid BiS items once they reach level 60, the fact of the matter is that these three items remain really solid up until raid gear is obtained. Personally, I'm still using the Circlet and Gloves to this day, 3 months after crafting them in the first place. They're cheap, easy to craft, and just all-around wonderful items for healers to use.



And that's why I had to place them here, at number 1...

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it: my top 5 overlooked healer items in WoW Classic. Though none of these items are quite as good as their BiS counterparts, I can definitely say that they're still quite good and can provide you healers with a nice alternative to no-lifing in dungeons before stepping into raids. Of course, if you want to be the best of the best, like no one ever was, you can do that, but with BWL just around the corner, it's only going to get easier to get into MC and Ony to collect those sweet sweet purples. So...why not just get some decent gear instead?

Anway, that's it for today. If you liked this list, or have any other pre-raid healer items that you think I should've included here, let me know by leaving a comment down below. I read every one. If you'd like to see more content like this in the future, add yourself to my mailing list down below, or follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates. Check out my videos over on YouTube, if you prefer video content over written words, and be sure to subscribe while you're at it!

Thanks again for reading. Have an awesome day, and as always...

Take it easy!

Classic Holy Priest Tips and Tricks!

Hey dudes. Silvite Soltis here. And today, I've got a new type of post for you!

Over the past few months, I've been enjoying the hell out of my main class, the priest. And while it seems that everything that can be learned in this game has already been figured out, I've also noticed that a lot of people make things harder than they need to be. So, in this post, I thought I'd share a few tips about playing a healing priest that you might not be aware of.

Let's get started, shall we?

Tip #1 - Mouseover Macros

In the world of addons and clicky keybinds, it seems that many people forget that mouseover macros exist. These types of macros, which can be written for any spell you want to cast in Classic, allow you to simply mouse over a target taking damage and press the appropriate keybind: no addon required!

The mouseover macro is as follows:

/cast [@mouseover,exists]Spell

This is good for raids, dungeons, or even PVP. Best of all, you can choose which ranks of spells are cast by simply adding it in parentheses:

/cast [@mouseover,exists]Spell(Rank x)

Note that there's no spaces between the brackets or parentheses!

So, a rank 4 Heal spell would look like this:

/cast [@mouseover,exists]Heal(Rank 4)

All in all, it takes a bit of setting up, but by making these macros for all of your main spells (Renew, Heal, Greater Heal, Flash Heal, Power Word: Shield), you can save yourself a headache of setting and remembering a bunch of weird Shift-CTRL-Left type combinations used by many healing addons. It's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.

Tip #2 - Downranking - Which ranks for what?

So, everyone knows about Downranking at this point, but one of the hardest things for many priests seems to be figuring out exactly which ranks to use. So, to keep it simple...

• Heal (Rank 2) for low, consistent damage.
• Heal (Rank 4) to keep the tank up.
• Flash Heal (Rank 4) for bursty raid healing.
• Flash Heal (Rank 7) for those "Oh shit" moments in tank healing.
• Renew (Rank 6) for raid healing (rarely used)
• Renew (Rank 9) for tank healing (if you're specced for Imp Renew)
• Power Word: Shield (Rank 10) for tanks OR other damage prevention (because if you need to prevent it, it's probably a lot).
• Greater Heal (Rank 4) for when the tank needs a HUGE heal. Use Inner Focus first to save mana (if needed)!!!

Make some mouseover macros for each of these and bind them to your preferred keys. Easy-peasy. Also, you can play with different ranks based on your mana pool and +healing, but these ones have been the ones I've found most consistently effective throughout my gearing process.

Tip #3 - Go for Power Infusion (if your guild doesn't have a PI priest yet)

In the current era of min-maxing everything, many priests go deep holy in order to be the best healers they can possibly be. But there's another super-viable healing spec that can really benefit your raid that you should consider if you haven't already: the Power Infusion spec!

Power Infusion is an insanely powerful buff for casters and healers alike. Boosting damage and healing by 20% for 15 seconds can really give your raid the edge it needs in MC, BWL, and beyond. Your casters will love you, and you can be sure that you'll keep your raid spot so long as you are the sole proprietor of this amazing buff. Sure, your healing won't be as strong, but with enough other deep-holy priests, that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

For good measure, here's the mouseover macro that I currently use when casting Power Infusion. Feel free to copy+paste it into a macro for yourself:

/cast [@mouseover,exists]Power Infusion
/run SendChatMessage(format("Power Infusion on %s!!!",select(1,UnitName("mouseover"))),"WHISPER",nil,select(1,UnitName("mouseover")));

Enjoy being an even more valued member of your raid team!

Tip #4 - Pre-Raid BiS Is NOT Always Best!

Again in this age of min-maxing, it seems that everything is constantly "all about that BiS". And while pre-raid best in slot items are undoubtedly very powerful, people seem to forget a very important aspect of best in SLOT - it's the best item for a slot, not always the best combination of gear to have overall.

A couple of weeks ago, I happened to pick up the Robes of Prophecy, a big downgrade compared with my Robes of the Exalted from Strat Undead. My healing went down by 46 from that swap alone. The stats, however, more than made up for it. I was able to heal for longer without going out of mana, looked cooler, and am one piece closer to my 5piece bonus.

Many Pre-Raid BiS items, like Gloves of the Exalted Herald or The Hammer of Grace, are simply big pools of +healing. In my experience, however, a balance of the high stam/int/spirit set pieces and high +healing items is vastly superior overall simply due to the sustained healing that results. So mix and match pieces. Keep some of those high-stat items and swap as needed!

Tip #5 - Keep Fade Handy (so you don't need to spec for reduced threat)

I can't count the times I've seen a priest in a raid get healing aggro from a Lava Giant when a tank mysteriously dies and gets eaten alive. The ones that don't are typically specced into the reduced threat talent in the discipline tree, sacrificing things like improved Power Word: Shield or stun resistance. There's a better way, priests: keep Fade handy!

I'm sure this is common sense to many of you, but sometimes common knowledge isn't all that common. So, just a reminder that we have an awesome threat reduction tool at our disposal! Use it!

Personally, I always keep it bound to my 'Q' key, just in case! ;)

Tip #6 - Flash Heal is Your Friend

Ok, last tip for today! We all know that mana conservation is important and that Heal ranks 2 and 4 are among the most efficient heals we can use. However, as many of the fights in Classic, at least in Molten Core, end fairly quickly, you should definitely make use of Flash Heal to keep people up.

This is something that I only recently realized myself - as I was always trying to keep my mana sustained throughout fights. As my guild improved its speed in downing bosses, though, I noticed that I could typically heal better, and obviously faster, by using Flash Heal. Sure, it somewhat snipes the other healers, but it ensures that those who need heals get them in time. And it looks a lot better on parses, so...yeah.

Obviously keep an eye on your mana pool, but don't be afraid to use a few quick Flash Heals to recover from bursty damage!

Conclusion

So, there you have it: 6 tips for playing your holy priest that you might not have though about. Obviously, there's a lot more you could do if you're willing to research all the nit and gritty, but I think these are some of the more important ones that all healy priests can make use of. As always, if you have any tips for playing this magnificent class, feel free to leave a comment down below, as we can always learn from each other. I'm by no means perfect at the class, and love learning new things as I play this fun, 15 year old video game.

But yeah, that's it for today. If you liked these tips or found them useful, feel free to add yourself to my mailing list down below for more posts like this in the future. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates on content, and check out my videos over on YouTube if you prefer that form of content, as I turn all of my posts into videos shortly after writing them here. Thanks for reading, have an awesome day, and as always...

Take it easy!

Top 10 - Classic Staves

Hey dudes. Silvite Soltis back with another list for you today!

Everyone knows that WoW Classic is all about the journey - leveling to 60, doing dungeons with your friends, and raiding with your guild for hours at a time. But, of course, that's only part of the picture, isn't it? After all, isn't one of the biggest goals - in any video game - to be the best you can possibly be? Well I believe so, and I'm sure many of you agree with me. As such, I thought it would be fun to look at some of the most iconic loot that Classic has to offer.

Of course, I've already made a Top 5 Tier sets, and covered dungeon sets extensively. So in this post, and a few more in the series I have planned, I decided to go through my favorite weapons in World of Warcraft: Classic. Keep in mind that these are just my opinions, and that these lists are based on my taste in the visuals and the feeling of accomplishment these items award. Eventually, we'll look at the swords, daggers, ranged weapons, and more, but for now, let's get right into it: starting with the staves!

Crescent Staff

#10 - Crescent Staff

Many Horde characters, especially casters, will tell you how iconic this staff is to their early leveling experience. Though simple in design, the Crescent Staff is a reward from the main quest line of the Horde's second dungeon, Wailing Caverns. Of course, the Staff of Orgrimmar comes first in one's leveling journey, but this staff from collecting the gems of the Serpent Lords is considerably more powerful and is likely the first blue new Horde players will equip in their leveling journey. Those triple-sevens are nice, the damage is decent, and it's looks are unparalleled in those early 20s...

Staff of Westfall

#9 - Staff of Westfall

Similar to the Crescent Staff for Horde, the Staff of Westfall is often the first blue item that many Alliance players obtain. It's a reward from the epic Defias Brotherhood quest chain, spanning the zones around Stormwind and concluding in the Deadmines - the first dungeon that most players have traditionally experienced. This staff, though simple in design, feels like a just reward for us adventurers who uncovered the secrets of that rogue organization of former stonemasons, stormed their base, and took out their leader in order to protect our beloved kingdom. And it's for that reason that I've included it here, at number 9...

Staff of Hale Magefire

#8 - Staff of Hale Magefire

There's not much to say about this staff. I just love the design of the staff holding up an encircled magic flame. Actually there are a few staves like this - such as Staff of Metanoia, for example - so really, number 8 could be any of those. It's really just a cool looking staff, in my opinion. And it's one that I hope I get to rock on an alt someday...

Warden Staff (the stats really make it imo)

#7 - Warden Staff

The only non-caster staff on this list, the Warden Staff is a unique and widely sought after staff for any and every feral tank in Classic. Though simple in design, the stats and the simple fact that it can be used all the way from level 43 through Naxxramas by those big, lovable bears is reason enough in my book to give it my personal seal of approval. An interesting staff with great utility for one of my favorite classes.

Staff of Dominance

#6 - Staff of Dominance

This epic staff, crackling with arcane power, is a mage's wet dream. A drop from Golemagg the Loot-Giver in Molten Core, this staff exudes an aura of absolute domination - hence its name. When I first saw someone walking around Ironforge with this staff back in vanilla, I remember thinking how amazing it looked. And now that I'm experiencing MC with my guild over on Mankrik, I can say that this was a much sought-after item...until we got Mageblade drops 4 weeks in a row, that is...

In short, it's a cool looking staff with great stats that MC raiders all love.

#5 - Will of Arlokk

Will of Arlokk

Though not yet available in Classic (releasing with Zul'Gurub later this year), the Will of Arlokk has got, in my opinion, one of the coolest designs of any staff in the game. The head of this staff is a freaking cobra! What more is there to say about it?

The looks aren't the only awesome thing about it though! It's got great stats for healers (especially druids) - with tons of spirit and plus healing for those fights that just drag on. What's more, it can possibly be obtained once every 3 days, since ZG is on a shorter reset timer than other raids in Classic. Oh, and did I mention it's a freaking snake staff! Live out your Jafar fantasies, healers!

Headmaster's Charge

#4 - Headmaster's Charge

Heading into the final stretch of my list here, we have the one epic that I REALLY wanted to get back in the day. As you might know from seeing some of my Top posts, Scholomance is, by far, my favorite dungeon in Classic. And from the final boss, Darkmaster Gandling, this epic staff drops. This weapon is fairly simple in design, especially when compared to the epic-looking staves in the raids later on. But as a dungeon drop, it looks awesome. The horned skull with a spiny backbone just looks so sinister! Plus, it has the unique on-use effect of buffing your party's intellect - a great boons for warlocks and priests when a mage proves oh-so-elusive.

Pretty much, it's just the cool looks and the epic quality of this dungeon drop. Love it.

Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian (Mage)

#3 - Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian

Because it had to be up here, right? The legendary Greatstaff of the Guardian, Atiesh, is possibly the most iconic staff in all Warcraft lore. It's right up there with Gorehowl and Frostmourne in its name recognition and is the best weapon for priests, druids, warlocks, and mages all the way up through Tier 4 content (assuming Classic continues into BC, that is).

Obtaining this birdie-stick is no easy feat, though. To collect it, one must be in a hardcore raiding guild farming AQ40 and Naxxramas to collect the base, head, and splinters needed to reassemble this bad boy. The work is definitely worth it, though, as each class that can potentially wield this powerhouse gets its own variation - complete with different stats, abilities, and, of course, ribbons!

As simple as the design is, Atiesh deserves a spot on any top weapons list simply due to its sheer badassness. And that's why it's here at number 3! But, of course, that leaves 2 more staves to discuss...

Staff of the Shadow Flame

#2 - Staff of the Shadow Flame

This. Staff. Is. Epic!

With one of the most badass models in all of Classic, and absolutely insane stats, it's hard to argue with how amazing the Staff of the Shadow Flame is. First of all, it's got everything your caster could want: intellect, 2% spell crit, and a whopping 84 plus damage and healing. You can expect that every mage, warlock, and more will be banking their DKP for this bad boy.

The stats aren't everything, though! This staff's model is one of the coolest in all of WoW! With the dragon skull atop a spine of sinister spikes, it instills fear into one's foes from a distance. Combine this with some warlock tier 2, and you'll look like one bad mother too!

Sure you could get the Shadow Wing Focus Staff from the 3 drake encounters of BWL, but that ear of corn on a stick just doesn't compare with this masterpiece of raid loot from the Lord of Blackrock himself. It is, most definitely, a fitting piece of loot for the vanquishers of Nefarian!

Benediction

#1 - Benediction / Anathema

Ahh, was there every any doubt? Benediction and Anathema are, without a doubt, my absolute favorite staves in World of Warcraft. The amazing, healing golden color of Benediction is iconic of the healers in any Classic guild, and the sinister shadowy sparkles of Anathema give away a shadow priest from 10 miles away.

Anathema

Technically two staves, this priest pair is the epitome of an epic staff. The item required to unlock the quest chain, the Eye of Divinity, drops from the penultimate boss of the first raid of Classic - Molten Core's Majordomo encounter. After finally getting this item (seeing probably 34 Petrified Leaves in the process), the priest can travel to Eris Havenfire in the Eastern Plaguelands to complete a quest unlike any other in Classic - the Balance of Light and Shadow. Only after saving 50 peasants while not letting even 15 perish can one obtain the Shard of Nordrassil. And when the hopeful priest combines this fragment of the World Tree with both the Eye of Divinity and an Eye of Shadow (a difficult item to obtain in its own right), Benediction, and thus also Anathema, is finally awarded.

Obtaining these powerful staves is a rite of passage for every priest in Classic. The feeling when an Eye finally drops for your guild, the exhilarating rush of adrenaline when healing the peasants during the quest, and the feeling of accomplishment when you finally combine those items and obtain that shiny staff at the end all make for an unforgettable experience. Sure, there's the legendary Atiesh and the fantastic staff from Nefarian which are both amazing weapons, but for me, and many others, Bene-thema reigns supreme. And that's why it's my number 1 pick for Classic Staves of World of Warcraft: Classic!

Conclusions

So, there you have it: my Top 10 Staves of World of Warcraft Classic. Obviously, there are tons more staves, and even more weapons, available in the game, but these are just my personal favorites. Classic is a huge game, after all, and with so many players, we're bound to have different preferences though. As always, I'd love to know which staves you think are the coolest, most interesting, or favorite in a different way, so feel free to leave a comment down below with your own opinion as well.

But, that's it for today. If you enjoyed this post and feel that it inspired you to go out and get a magic stick, feel free to add yourself to my mailing list to get notified about the next post too! Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for other updates, and consider checking out my videos over on YouTube as well, if you're into that sort of thing. Thanks a lot for reading. And as always...

Take it easy!