My arena teams!

So, I am back now! :) All settled in (pay no attention to all those full boxes in the second bedroom) and ready for some blogging + warcraft good times!

I figured with season 4 now in full swing I would share my past arena teams and how they fared! I will rate (1-10 scale)Burst, Survivability, Control, Synergy and Ability to succeed. I will rate my experience and then what I feel it would be like with great gear.

Score Key for what rating one might expect:
0-19 < 1400
20-29 < 1500
30-35 < 1650
36-44 < 1800
45-49 < 1900
50 = own everyone

1. Marksman Hunter + Moonkin
- Bursting: 7 - 10
- Survive : 5 - 7
- Control : 6 - 6
- Synergy: 4 - 4
- Success : 3 - 3
Tally: 25 - 30

2. Survival Hunter + Moonkin
- Bursting: 8 - 10
- Survive : 7 - 8
- Control : 8 - 10
- Synergy: 6 - 7
- Success : 6 - 8
Tally: 35-43

3. Survival hunter + Resto Druid
- Bursting: 4 - 4
- Survive : 7 - 8
- Control : 5 - 6
- Synergy: 2 - 4
- Success : 2 - 4
Tally: 20 - 26

4. Survival hunter + BM Hunter
- Bursting: 8 - 10
- Survive : 4 - 5
- Control : 4 - 5
- Synergy: 2 - 2
- Success : 2 - 4
Tally: 20 - 26

5. Survival Hunter + Subtle Rogue
- Bursting: 5 - 6
- Survive : 9 - 10
- Control : 4 - 5
- Synergy: 3 - 3
- Success : 2 - 3
Tally: 23 - 27

6. Marksman Hunter + Combat Rogue (Current)
- Bursting: 8 - 10
- Survive : 5 - 7
- Control : 4 - 5
- Synergy: 7 - 8
- Success : 3 - 6
Tally: 27 - 35

7. Shockadin Healer + Subtle Rogue (I am the holy pally)
- Bursting: 3 -6
- Survive : 7 - 9
- Control : 3 - 4
- Synergy: 4 -5
- Success : 4 - 8
Tally: 21 - 32

8. Shockadin healer + Arcane Mage
- Bursting: 6 - 7
- Survive : 4 - 6
- Control : 4 - 6
- Synergy: 3 - 5
- Success : 4 - 5
Tally: 21 - 29

9. Shockadin healer + Frost Mage
- Bursting: 7 - 9
- Survive : 6 - 9
- Control : 5 - 7
- Synergy: 8 - 9
- Success : 6 - 8
Tally: 32 -42

10. Shockadin Healer + Moonkin (current)
- Bursting: 5 - 10
- Survive : 6 - 9
- Control : 4 - 6
- Synergy: 8 - 10
- Success : 6 - 9
Tally: 29 - 44

Hunter Summary: In short, being an arena 2v2 hunter is hard. i have yet to meet a 2v2 hunter with over 1800 rating. i have seen them with nice 3v3 and 5v5 team ratings though. It is very hard to roll with healer + hunter unless you are both geared extremely well and practice regularly. Without dedicated practice and such, the hunter really needs a hybrid or second strong dps partner. Honestly, if you want to succeed with as little work as possible as the hunter, then simply go to the 3v3 format!

If I had to recommend teams to avoid: Any team, where you are reliant on the healer. Mana burn, drain and sting are so deadly to a hunter team and it makes your ceiling low (again, unless you pour your heart and soul into memorizing what to do). I am casual, so these teams are simply frustrating. if you did take a healer, then go with a paladin. They aren't easily taken out and blessing of freedom can really make life easier.

Teams I would highly suggest trying are good hybrid teammates. Elemental shamans and moonkins especially. Nothing like someone to help burst and throw some game changing heals + poison cleanses your way! Also, the Hunter + Warlock team would be quite intriguing to try.

Shockadin healer Summary: First let me say that I love being a killing holy paladin. I could never be a traditional Holy Pally (in 3v3 I may try my best to do so). A Shockadin Healer is a Paladin who goes 41/20/0 - or - 40/0/21 and Heals while being a good source of dps help.

I would avoid trying to convince a healer you are worthy of their heals! :) No matter what you do you are still a minor DPS source most of the time. What a shockadin can do well is interval bursting. Basically every judgement + Holy shock moment you can spray anywhere from 1500-4000 dmg on an enemy in 1 Second (since judgements do not count towards the global cooldown). So, find another dps, you are still technically the healer.

Teammates I recommend would definately be your high + limitless DPS folks. Such as Warlocks using the Imp as a mana battery, Rogues, and DPS Warriors (centers?). Above all, I would actually search out skilled DPS partners. I mean, any skilled DPS will work as long as they know how to both fight for a quick win and fight in a long drawn out battle of attrition. The best advantage you have is that you are helping DPS while still having the healing gear!

I will do a 3v3 summary as well! Watch for it. :)

New house!

Just a quick update! This past weekend we closed (my girlfriend and I) on our first house! It is a beautiful English inspired old style brick condo (2BR 2 bath) in a wonderful area. Some thing to note:

- Sleeping on a mattress in your living room instead of moving the bed frame = priceless (and very underrated)

- Carrying furniture up to a third floor = hire movers next time

- Shopping at best buy after you just got paid = not smart

- Moving in with a crazy woman = exciting? :)

- Trying to convince a woman of the worth of your futon = impossible? (sorry guys, even with a $200 frame and $200 mattress...still worthless!)

More updates will come soon as we are nearly settled! :)