WoW PvP Classes of the Month - Rogue and Hunter edition

Starting from this month, I will compose a segment specifically dedicated to explaining the roles of each class in PvP combat. This month, I shall begin with my 2 favourite classes, the rogue and the hunter. WoW is a very diverse game, with most players developing their own playstyle as they progress within the game. In PvP combat though, each class with have specific duties to perform in order to ensure that your team will perform well.

Rogue

The rogue class is very unique in general. They rely heavily on their ability to stealth, disallowing enemy detection so that they can easily get the first attack in. Rogues are a very complex class, with a very steep learning curve and so you won't be likely to see many new players playing a rogue. Instead, most rogue players are already veterans at the game and will be able to utilize a rogue quite effectively.

 In order to be an good rogue, one must utilize the stealth ability to the best of the its ability. Stealth essentially allows the player to be completely undetectable until he opens an attack or is very, very close to the target already. Several of the rogue's best attacks are only usable while in stealth mode.

Below lists the most common openers (first attack used against opponent, will take yourself out of stealth). 

1. Cheap Shot - This ability stuns the enemy for 3.5 seconds. This ability is extremely useful because it disallows the enemy from performing any action at all for the duration. Healers will not be able to heal, and damage dealers will not be able to do any damage. 

2. Garrote - Silences the enemy target, disallowing them from casting any magic for 3 seconds. This will only be used on magic classes such as mages and warlocks. This will effectively prevent those classes from doing anything for the whole duration.

3. Ambush - Deals massive damage to the enemy. An ability used to attempt to kill the target in a short amount of time, or attempt to finish off an already wounded enemy. 

4. Sap - Incapacitate the target - Preventing all action for 8 seconds. The target will recover from this effect when damage is dealt. This ability is essentially use to take a target out of the action for an amount of time.

The main role of the rogue in PvP battles to help his team lock down enemy targets with a myriad of stuns, incapacitates, blinds, poisons and silences. They can also kill targets quite easily if they wish to forgo using the aforementioned abilities. Their ability to come out of nowhere and kill a target before he can react is one of the reasons why the rogue is quite often the most feared, and also most hated class in WoW. In team fights, the rogues will simply try to stop the team's healers, or simply try to kill targets on low HP. Rogues can also run the flags in capture the flag modes because of their speed. Furthermore, a rogue will not be able to go toe-to-toe in a fight against heavy armour classes such as warriors and paladins and must be willing to use cat and mouse tactics to gain the upper hand.

As a result, rogues are often regarded as a cowardly class to play. However, the players who believe this are usually inexperienced and do not understand the true roles that the rogue plays in the team. Their efforts are often under-appreciated. However, if you simply enjoy the playstyle of the class and do not really care about recognition of others, this is the class for you. 

Hunter

The hunter is another damage dealing class in WoW. The hunter class is a ranged class, usually wielding a bow or a gun. Hunters also have the option of using a pet to help in combat. The pet itself can offer a range of unique abilities to the hunter depend on the type of pet that the hunter wishes to tame. The hunter class seems quite simple at first and thus attract the majority of newer players. However, it is usually considered to the class that is the easiest to learn but one of the hardest to master. 

The strength of the hunter lies in its power to kill targets from afar. Hunters are a dedicated damage dealer class with limited crowd-control abilities. However, they make up for this with the pure amount of damage that they can deal from range. Like most other ranaged classes, the hunter can be easily killed should melee classes get too close and so they must use their arsenal of abilities to keep targets as far away as possible. This way, they can deal maximum damage to their targets while staying away from their attacks.

In PvP combat, the hunter will be considered the primary damage dealer. In team fights, their job will be to simply kill enemies. They also offer some useful skills such as interrupts and traps. The most noteworthy hunter skills include;

1. Aimed Shot - The hunter charges up their bow to deal damage to the enemy target. Charges up for about 2 seconds.

2. Kill Shot - Deals a massive amount of damage to a wounded target (<35% hp). This is one of the hunter's most feared abilities as it will mostly kill the enemy in one hit. Opponents must make sure to stay above 35% hp.

3. Frost Trap - Places a trap on the ground that is invisible to enemies. The first enemy to step on the trap will be frozen in place for 8 seconds.



However, in high level PvP, hunters are often required to defend bases. This is because of their ability to keep multiple enemies at bay while giving their team enough time to arrive and offer help. Thus, hunters are notoriously known as the base defenders at this level of play. Because of this, at least one hunter is required to have a successful team.

Hunters have one of the most important roles in group PvP, and as a result they are generally very sought after. To be a good hunter player in WoW, you must know your role in battles and do not do anything that is not designated to you.


That is all for this month's WoW PvP Classes of the Month. Stay tuned for next month's mage and priest edition.


-Albert Lan