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Are you tired of constantly battling HTOC? Why not change your perspective and explore the status and situation of various classes in Icecrown Citadel (ICC)? This issue focuses on cloth armor classes—Priests, Warlocks, and Mages—to see what opportunities and challenges they face in this challenging raid.
Priest
Holy Priest (Holy)
The Holy Priest, commonly referred to as “Holy”, may still struggle to stand out in ICC raids due to the lack of the crucial damage reduction artifact known as “Suppression”, resulting in limited opportunities for participation.
Shadow Priest (Shadow)
Shadow Priests can maintain a position in raids thanks to the powerful functionalities provided by “Vampiric Touch” for mana regeneration, healing, and damage increase. Their healing and damage reduction effects can mitigate the negative impacts of certain boss skills in ICC. Among various classes, Shadow Priests have a high DPS ceiling but also a low floor, meaning they require skilled player operation. Additionally, Shadow Priests compete for gear with other spellcasting classes, making them more suitable for players who are adept and willing to invest in gear.
Discipline Priest (Disc)
Discipline Priests maintain a solid position in ICC raids. With their strong single-target damage reduction and group shielding capabilities, they become indispensable to the team, typically reserving 1-2 spots for Discipline Priests in raids. The cost of spirit gear for cloth armor is relatively affordable, and the operation of Discipline Priests is not overly complex, allowing them to handle occasional team member losses with ease, making them ideal for players seeking a relaxed gaming experience.
Warlock
Affliction Warlock
In the early to mid-stages of the ICC version, Affliction Warlocks perform exceptionally well in terms of DPS. However, in the later stages, their growth potential is somewhat inferior compared to top DPS classes like Fire Mages and Retribution Paladins. Nevertheless, 1-2 spots will still be reserved for Affliction Warlocks in the raid. However, the operation of Affliction Warlocks is relatively complex, and the required gear is expensive, making them more suitable for skilled players willing to invest money.
Destruction Warlock
Destruction Warlocks have mediocre DPS performance during the ICC period. However, they possess a unique advantage: as long as they can ensure their own survival and that of their pet, they can provide strong support to spellcasting teammates, making them a solid backbone for spellcasting teams. Therefore, there will be exactly one spot for a Destruction Warlock in the raid. Aside from some hit gear, their gear competition mainly comes from Discipline Priests, and for Destruction Warlocks, the focus is primarily on stacking spell power, making them suitable for players who do not have high DPS expectations.
Mage
During the ICC period, Mages essentially only have Fire Mage as a talent option. Due to the explosive increase brought by the green attributes, Fire Mages achieve a significant boost in DPS. Among spellcasting classes, Fire Mages firmly hold the title of “top spellcaster”. Although melee DPS classes like Retribution Paladins, Feral Druids, and Fury Warriors perform excellently, Fire Mages’ position in the spellcasting domain is unshakeable. Because of this, the gear required for Mages is expensive, and only with top-tier gear can they achieve optimal output. Generally, raids will provide 2-3 spots for Mages, but even so, many Mages still struggle to secure a spot in raids. Therefore, Fire Mages are more suitable for dedicated players who are determined to play as Mages.
This concludes the analysis of the status of cloth armor in Icecrown Citadel. Fellow players, which class will you choose to venture into ICC raids? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section and discuss strategies for conquering ICC together!
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