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Threat Mechanics

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Cleavis edited this page Aug 19, 2019 · 29 revisions

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

This page is specific to Threat Mechanics.

Officially confirmed by Blizzard

Source: https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/new-bug-battle-shout/249633/2

  • The threat generated by Battle Shout is not capped at 5 party members and is increased when affecting targets such as Hunter and Warlock pets within the same party.

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 generate 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 Generate Threat

Doing Damage

Every 1 point of damage done generates 1 threat.

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

Healing

Every 1 point of healing generates 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 and Debuffing

Applying buffs and debuffs generates varying amounts of threat.

  • Threat is generated for each buff applied (e.g. Battle Shout)
  • 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 generate threat.

Power gains

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

Threat Values

Research into threat values was conducted as recently as the final stress test, WoW Classic build 1.13.2.31407 by applying spells to establish aggro and observing how much damage and/or healing was required to rip aggro. Threat values refer to threat applied in addition to any damage done. Values are normalized to 1.0x multiplier and are rounded down to the nearest whole integer.

Spell Rank Threat
Battle Shout 1 1
Thunder Clap 1 13
Heroic Strike 2 31
Hamstring 1 22
Sunder Armor 1 47
Battle Shout 2 12
Shield Bash 1 43
Demoralizing Shout 1 11
Revenge 1 83

Note: Several of the above spells generate non-whole-integer values of threat. Confidence in threat values to the nearest decimal value will require more work in the future. Values are floored to the nearest whole integer for consistency.

Battle Shout

  • Like other buff mechanics, Battle Shout generates more threat the more targets it buffs.
  • Buff targets must be in combat with the mobs you wish to generate threat against.
  • Battle Shout threat is not capped at 5 party members and pets.
  • Guardians do not receive shout buffs (Gnomish Battle Chicken, Mechanical Yeti, etc.)

Tests

Stance Multipliers

  • Threat Range corrected for 1.1x melee rip threshold
Stance Warr Dmg Dmg Threshold Dmg Rip Threat Range Multiplier
Battle 42 36 38 32.73 - 34.55 0.78x - 0.82x
Battle 43 37 38 33.64 - 34.55 0.78x - 0.80x
Battle 35 30 32 27.27 - 29.09 0.78x - 0.83x
Defensive 37 52 53 47.27 - 48.18 1.28x - 1.30x
Defensive 32 45 46 40.91 - 41.82 1.28x - 1.31x
Defensive 10 14 15 12.73 - 13.64 1.27x - 1.36x

Aggro Thresholds

  • Uses healing = 0.5x Threat per point healed.
  • Threat Range corrected for 1.3x Defensive Stance Threat Multiplier.
Stance Warr Dmg Healing Threshold Healing Rip Healer Position Threat Range Threshold
Defensive 102 256 307 Melee 98.5 - 118.1 0.97x - 1.16x
Defensive 71 156 207 Melee 60.0 - 79.6 0.85x - 1.12x
Defensive 108 269 324 Melee 103.5 - 124.6 0.96x - 1.15x
Defensive 97 311 365 Ranged 119.6 - 140.4 1.23x - 1.45x
Defensive 116 391 442 Ranged 150.4 - 170.0 1.30x - 1.45x
Defensive 116 338 393 Ranged 130.0 - 151.2 1.12x - 1.30x

Battle Shout Testing

  • Rank 2 Battle Shout (Threat = ~12)
Test # Shout Targets Times Shouted Mobs in Combat Threat Range Observed
1 1 1 1 10.23 - 12.50
2 2 3 1 68.75 - 75.57
3 1 2 1 22.99 - 27.19
4 1 1 1 11.19 - 15.38
5 1 1 2 5.59 - 6.99
6 1 2 2 11.89 - 12.59
7 4 1 1 47.57 - 48.27
8 6 1 1 71.84 - 76.73
9 6 1 1 71.70 - 75.90

Improved Demo Shout

  • No difference in threat was observed with Improved Demoralizing Shout.
Spell Rank Imp Talents Trials Threat Range Observed
Demoralizing Shout 1 0/5 5 11.19 - 11.54
Demoralizing Shout 1 1/5 4 11.30 - 11.32

External References

Kenco's Guide @ Satrina's

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