With all the new changes to things like replenishment and AOE tanking and trying to equalize all the different classes DPS, healing and tanking, what’s going to be the new lynchpin class?
linch•pin or lynch•pin (lĭnch’pĭn’)
n.
1. A locking pin inserted in the end of a shaft, as in an axle, to prevent a wheel from slipping off.
2. A central cohesive element: Reduced spending is the linchpin of their economic program.
So far for certain encounters, for example… CoT: Mount Hyjal, you do really need a Paladin tank for AOE’ing the waves. For ZA and the Lynx boss, frenzied shot was a must have or else you were healing a lot more.
While in these cases, they were boss by boss and situational and personally, I don’t see an overall trend through the Burning Crusade of one class being extremely important over others. I am guessing shadow priests were very important for mana, and Shaman were important for Heroism/Bloodlust, especially in later on 25-mans.
But in the Wrath of the Lich King, what will be the one class that everyone stacks or can’t do without?
I’m still leaning towards paladins, be it healer, tank or (now) DPS. With the lack of Blessing of Salvation one might argue otherwise, but I believe the fact that they provide an aura, buffs that help each class with whatever they do (Mana regen/Attack Power/Sanctuary). Additionally they can be a mana battery through Judgment of the Wise. I believe that in every 10/25-man you’re going to want at least 1 paladin.
Secondary though, I believe that a Shaman might be the other class all around wanted for DPS or healing because of Heroism/Bloodlust and now raidwide totems, they are going to be able to provide a lot for the entire raid in terms of everything, DPS and healing which makes tanking easier. Everyone wins. Although because of the changes where Heroism/Bloodlust causes a 5 minute debuff, you might only want one shaman though.
So, I ask again, with all the recent changes, what is going to be the lynchpin in your raid group that you can’t live without in Wrath?
lynchpin. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved October 05, 2008, from Dictionary.com website:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lynchpin
