Analysis of Arena Representation

Analysis and Review/Overview of Arena Representation Statistics.

Note: Representation percentages are weighted by class population versus where they are expected to be in class representation.

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Overall

255-345% is balanced (indicated by *)

 

1. Druid - 540.50%
2. Priest - 463.50%
3. Rogue - 381.10%
4. Warlock - 354.30%
5. Warrior - 300.40%*
6. Shaman - 226.80%
7. Mage - 200.70%
8. Paladin - 196.60%
9. Hunter - 136.20%


By bracket
85-115% is balanced (indicated by *)

2200

2v2
1. Druid - 276.0%
2. Warlock - 149.2%
3. Rogue - 144.2%
4. Warrior - 130.4%
5. Priest - 113.3%*
6. Hunter - 43.0%
7. Shaman - 37.8%
8. Paladin - 19.7%
9. Mage - 8.7%


3v3
1. Druid - 184.0%
2. Rogue - 175.1%
3. Priest - 164.8%
4. Mage - 96.0%*
5. Warlock - 93.2%*
6. Warrior - 90.7%*
7. Shaman - 50.4%
8. Hunter - 50.2%
9. Paladin - 29.5%

5v5
1. Priest - 185.4%
2. Paladin - 147.4%
3. Shaman - 138.6%
4. Warlock - 111.9%*
5. Mage - 96.0%*
6. Druid - 80.5%
7. Warrior - 79.3%
8. Rogue - 61.8%
9. Hunter - 43.0%


1850

2v2
1. Druid - 184.0%
2. Rogue - 154.5%
3. Priest - 133.9%
4. Warlock - 121.2%
5. Warrior - 90.7%*
6. Shaman - 75.6%
7. Paladin - 68.8%
8. Mage - 61.1%
9. Hunter - 50.2%


3v3
1. Druid - 138.0%
2. Rogue - 154.5%
3. Priest - 133.9%
4. Warlock - 102.5%*
5. Paladin - 88.4%*
6. Shaman - 88.2%*
7. Mage - 87.3%*
8. Warrior - 85.0%*
9. Hunter - 50.2%


5v5
1. Priest - 154.5%
2. Shaman - 138.6%
3. Paladin - 137.6%
4. Warlock - 102.5%*
5. Druid - 92.0%*
6. Mage - 87.3%*
7. Warrior - 85.0%*
8. Rogue - 82.4%
9. Hunter - 50.2%

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Overviews and Analysis:

-- It appears that Mages are VERY balanced in 3v3 and 5v5 overall. Warlocks, also, are the second-most balanced class in the game at this point in time. Believe it or not, Warriors are the most balanced class in the game, overall.

-- Druids are officially the most overpowered class in WoW Arena; currently, Hunters are officially the most underpowered.

-- Casting needs reworking in some way shape or form to allow casting classes to keep up with classes based on Instant casts. (See the bottom of this post, or ctrl+f "invsca")

-- I feel a lot of the weakness of the Hunter class is that we have the only true white damage in the game (I say "true" because I don't believe Wands should be the base of a caster's DPS) that we must be standing still to move. The current Auto Shot would be similar to making Slam (with 2/2 Improved) a Warrior's auto attack with a cooldown, rather than what it is now. Being able to Auto Shot while moving would see a strong increase in Hunter ability in Arenas without throwing their DPS completely out of whack (by, say, buffing AP coefficients or other sorts of DPS buffs).

-- Mages are substantially weak as in 2v2 as a result of Druid activity; as Druids became more strongly represented, Mages became obsolete, as 2v2 games became less about burst and more about outlast. On top of this, Druid chain-shifting trumps Frost Mage shatter combos. I believe buffing Spellsteal is a step in the right direction, but giving Mages some sort of incentive to go deeper into Arcane (i.e. buffing Arcane Blast or adding another Arcane nuke) would be a great solution. Why do I suggest this? With the buffs to Improved Blink, the mana pool improvements in Arcane, and more importantly, the mana regeneration buff (which I believe needs to be reworked similar to Dreamstate) would make this tree more solid if Mages could count on their DPS being solid as the spec, especially the burst. Cold Snap, Ice Barrier, and Water Elemental simply can't be given up by a serious Arena Mage in 90% of cases. But enough of that rant.

-- Hunter is the only class in the bottom 4 on every chart, and are receiving zero documented buffs in 2.4. Rogues are being buffed in 2.4, despite them being over-represented. Paladins and Shamans are getting well-deserved buffs. Mages are getting buffed in the wrong places, given where they're weak. Based on the comps Mages play in 3s and 5s, Mage burst needs to be toned down while their overall DPS needs a buff, and their ability to outlast needs a buff.

-- Paladins have gone completely to Hell in 2s and 3s, while Druids and Priests are definitely on the rise. 2.4 will not change much for Paladins, I predict, as one solid heal per 15 seconds (Holy Shock) is not going to bring Paladins back to the forefront; Paladins are still too easily controlled.

-- I believe the nerfs to Druids in 2.4 will bring down Druids' "Overall" percentage down by a fair amount; however, they will still be the strongest class in WoW. Mana Drain nerfs will bring Warlock and Hunter activity down; the mana drain and PI nerf will bring Priest activity down. Mutilate buffs will bring Rogues up slightly. Mana drain nerfs and other Mage buffs will bring Mages up slightly. Paladins will go up very slightly from the Holy Shock buff, and the "Turn Evil" buff.. Shamans will move up from the Restoration buffs and the nerfs to Priests and Druids. (For my predictions on %s after 2.4, see the bottom of this post, or ctrl+f "2.4pred")





invsca------------
Radikal's quick-review of instants vs casts. (paraphrased slightly for melee classes) ( http://www.radikalnoise.com/ )
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Druid 540.50% - instant spells
Priest 463.50% - instant spells
Rogue 381.10% - instant abilities
Warlock 354.30% - instant spells
Warrior 300.40% - instant abilities
Shaman 226.80% - cast spells
Mage 200.70% - cast spells
Paladin 196.60% - cast spells
Hunter 136.20%
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2.4pred----------
My predictions for class representation, post-2.4.
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1. Druid - 480% (was 540%, -60)
2. Priest - 420% (was 463%, -43))
3. Rogue - 410% (was 381%, +29)
4. Warlock - 335% (was 354%, -19)
5. Warrior - 330%* (was 300%, +30)
6. Shaman - 270% (was 226%, +44)
7. Mage - 220% (was 200%, +20)
8. Paladin - 211% (was 196%, +15
9. Hunter - 120% (was 136%, -16)
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