Threat Mechanics

Tanking mechanics are split between Survivability mechanics (mob hitting player) and Threat mechanics (player hitting mob).

This page is specific to Threat Mechanics.

Common Definitions

Aggro

The current target of the mob being tanked

Threat

Imaginary points that contribute toward defining Aggro

• In most situations, the player with the highest threat will have aggro.
• For the sake of defining threat, a standard of 1 damage = 1 threat is used.
• Actions can cause non-integer amounts of threat.

Threat Table

The list of players a mob is tracking threat for.

• If you are in combat with a mob, you are on its threat table.
• Some actions require you or your target to be on a mob's threat table before they will add to your threat.

Actions that cause you to be added to a mob's threat table include:

• Body Pulling - e.g. getting too close to an aggressive mob or linked mobs that is/are out of combat.
• Dealing Damage to a mob
• Debuffing a mob - with exceptions: Hunter's Mark, Mind Vision, and Mind Soothe will not place you on threat tables.
• Healing a friendly target already on a mob's threat table.
• Buffing a friendly target already on a mob's threat table.
• Raid boss combat pulse - every 2 seconds, raid bosses in combat put everyone in the instance into combat and onto their threat table.
• In-combat proximity - some mobs will periodically put players around them into combat and add them to their combat table. Not all mobs do this.

Common Actions that cause Threat

Doing Damage

Every 1 point of damage done causes 1 threat.

• This is the standard around which all other threat values are defined.

Healing

Every 1 point of healing causes 0.5 threat.

• Healing threat is split among all mobs that the healing target is in combat with.
• Healing threat is applied to the healer.

Buffing

Applying buffs and debuffs causes varying amounts of threat.

• Buff threat is split among all mobs that the buff target is in combat with.
• Debuff threat is applied only to the mobs being debuffed.
• Reapplying buffs and debuffs continues to cause threat.

Power gains

Most special effects that cause gain of mana, rage, or energy cause threat.

• This includes mana potions, rage potions, and thistle tea.
• This does not include hp5 or mp5 effects such as troll racial or drinking.
• Power gains threat is split among all mobs that the gainer is in combat with.
• Power gains are not affected the same way by threat multipliers (stances, e.g.) as other abilities.

Threat Multipliers

• Battle Stance threat multiplier is 0.8x
• Defensive Stance threat multiplier is 1.3x
• Defiance Talent 5/5 threat multiplier is 1.15x

Threat multipliers are multiplicative

• Example: Defensive Stance 1.3x and Defiance Talent 5/5 1.15x taken together results in (1.3x)(1.15x)=1.495x threat multiplier

Aggro Thresholds

• To become the new aggro ("rip") at MELEE range, you must be 10% above the current aggro.
• To become the new aggro ("rip") at RANGED range, you must be 30% above the current aggro.