This post will get quite dense so if you don't like reading, stop now.
Ok, so you made it this far, so you might get something out of this after all. =) Disclaimer: there are more than one way to skin a cat, the following is just MHO.
MgT in normal mode is somewhat similar to HEROIC Mana-Tombs or HEROIC Arkatraz. Not that the first boss requires shadow resistance, but in that they are "different" than your normal frisbee, drink, and loot vanilla heroics. They have mobs to learn, a lot of damn casters, and AoE healer is at a premium. But, at a minimum, think of the MgT normal mode as a harder heroic (if there is such a thing).
Group composition: Normal mode, one good CC (mage, rogue, or shadow priest work best, since they work throughout the instance - I have never gone without a mage though), and at least one other quasi-CC (priest, warlock, hunter, etc). I use the term quasi, because things like Fear, banish or enslave are not always possible/desireable. 1-2 random DPS (more CC doesn't hurt, that is for sure) =) Ideally, an AoE healer until you are comfortable doing the instance...but in normal mode not really required if the person is well equipped.
In heroic, you will likely need at LEAST 2 solid crowd control (rogue, mage, etc), and an AoE healer sure makes it easier. This instance is fairly stressful for a paladin healer - esp. on encounters like the 2nd boss.
You do have one "free" dps slot, and it seems like every warrior on my server wants to go, but normally I rather give that spot to someone like a shaman with totems, or yet another CC. IMHO warriors don't add too much to your group in this instance, so you are doing them a favor by taking them.
Trash Tactics:
In normal and heroic, trash management is pretty much the same, use whatever CC you got. As a bonus, you can always consecrate out of hairy situations in normal mode, but in heroic mode, 99% of the time you will wipe if you pull adds. Once I wiped after pulling adds, even though we had just about finished off the last mob from the previous pull. The problem was no markings and thus no controlled CC. =( So we wiped nonetheless.
CC every pull - you should be able to "control" at least 2 mobs per pull. This makes skillful use of consecration required. If you have the proper amount of spell damage, you should have no problems with Aggro. Most mobs are casters, so if you are a blood elf, put Arcane Torrent on your action bar, and use it every cooldown. =) It helps build more Aggro, but mostly reduces the damage. The damage in heroic mode without CC is very, very high. So, while consecration can work, you will likely need to be T6 equipped + T6 healer. I am guessing it will still be hectic and the damage very high, but it could work (I am not T6 equipped, so I cannot confirm).
Make sure Decursive is active, and always dispell as you tank. Most mobs are casters anyway, so that you don't block during the dispell is irrelevent. And, in heroic mode, the dots are rather painful, and stressful to heal through.
The kill oder doesn't matter too much, as long as two are locked down -and fire is focused. The Blood Knight and the Physician are the only healing classes, and I find them most dangerous - and they are also the most stout. I will either CC both of these, and kill the others, or lock down two other dmg classes, and kill these two first. The Blood Knight has only one heal - which is large, but has a long cooldown, so he will only use it once. The Physician has a Prayer of Mending, which can heal through a group for a bit...so making sure he is killed quickly or CC is beneficial. The warlock seems to cause the most damage, if you let his dots tick through, and let him cast away. As a last note, always kill the Imp first (there is always one by a warlock, so be aware of that). The cause moderate damage, but die in 2 hits, so they should be quickly dispatched. Also, move out of the Bubble (force field) that is cast by the Mage Guard. It reduces your spell damage (threat). Once you go through in normal mode, and have proper gear, you can easily go straight to heroic - follow the next point.
This instance is not super challenging on the tank. Nothing hits THAT hard. It is mostly an instance about Crowd Control, and controlled and directed DPS. Weak DPS can be a liability, weak CC will lead to failure. Also, great healing is also required - as I take 5k fireballs from Kael, per hit. Fire resistance doesn't help much - I tried 365 once, but not really worth it. Great tanking, however, is not required. But, controlled tanking and flexibility is required.
I did heroic this morning (perhaps my best group ever) with randoms, with only 1 wipe on 2nd boss - that alone is pretty miraculous. We had:
Me (pallytank, naturally)
Priest healer
Rogue
Warlock
Mage
From my experiences, this is the ideal group. Full CC, AoE healing, Dots for the last boss. But, these randoms, I have to admit, were rather skilled. I have dummies, even in my guild, that are not as good.
Bosses:
First boss - just like last boss in SteamVaults. I pull him to the left corner, and move him around slowly (so people can figure out what I am doing) to the crystals - so that the rogue can efficiently kill them as well. He is free loot - a wipe on him should be very rare. Basically the same on normal and heroic, just hits harder on the latter.
Vexallus - WAY harder on heroic - this second boss will likely wipe most groups 3-4 times before people figure it out. On the tank, it is pretty easy, so the wipes are usually the DPS fault. If you have a skilled mage, this boss can be very easy.
I have read that Arcane resist helps on him, because his melee attacks are 100% arcane damage. I always forget to carry my AR gear, so I cannot confirm.
The best tactics is spread out the Add killing amongst people that can remove the Debuff. I will try to grab 2-4, then bubble to remove them, and resume tanking. To do this, you need to bubble and remove it immediately. But, it works. A Rogue and Mage can remove the debuff with ice block and clock of shadows, respectively. He spawns the adds every 15% health, so must try to control you DPS, in proportion to the healing available. Though, trying to control DPS is like trying to control maniacs, unfortunately. Full out dps on boss = 100% wipe. Once he is low, 20%, he starts casting an AoE chain lightning spell (unless I am mistaken, it is nature based). At this point, full out DPS - and hope for the best. That is pretty much how this boss works. He sucks. He can be challenging on normal mode, but is VERY hard (I think the hardest boss) in heroic mode.
Third boss: DO NOT FORGET your healing gear, throw it on, and treat it exactly like a 5v5 PvP fight. Do not waste your time trying to tank. Not only is righteous fury dispelled constantly, but they ignore Aggro anyway. The key is to mark everything, and control everything as much as possible, use ALL abilities like Stun, frost nova, fears, banish, blind, turn evil, AoE fears. Mostly, I dispell, and keep an eye on the "real" healer, and am ready to throw Blessing of protection on them. Focus fire (the imp if there) on the Priestess, and CC the Shaman. They are the only two healers. If they are dead, and you have 5 people still standing, then the encounter is now picking cherries off a tree. It is very fast, and normally takes 1 try per group to get the timing down. CC, and burn down the priestess ASAP, then pick through the cherries, loot. Unless I am mistaken, everything is immune to mind control. The normal mode is just like the heroic mode, only easier, since the damage is way lower. However, you will still wipe if not played properly.
If you have made it this far, there is only two challenges left - which you should be able to overcome.
There is one more pull, a six mob group before the last boss. If you wipe on it, you will have to do all of them again - so better to mark them, control them, and get it the first time. Approach it just like the previous encounter, mark and control all that is possible. I generally try to sap/sheep casters that would normally stay at range, and let the rest run into my consecrate. Again, use stuns, arcane torrent, turn evil, etc...If you remembered to put your tank gear back on, then you should be fine =)
The last boss: Kael'thas
Normal mode and heroic mode are roughly the same:
He casts fireballs every few seconds on the tank. they hit for 2k or so on normal mode, and 5k on heroic mode. He will spawn 1-2 phoenix's (depending on your group's dps). they need to be killed by ranged DPS. When the die, they cause AoE damage. Ideally, they die away from the Main Tank. He also casts Flamestrike, AoE fire damage (5k normal/9k hero) which needs to be moved out of. It is easy to spot, and all must move out of it. AT 50% health, he does a cool little spell that allows everyone to float in space (which ticks some moderate damage on you). It can easily be healed through with any healer DoT. Additionally, these little balls follow you, and if they reach you, the cause AoE damage for around 2k in heroic mode. You move 2-3x faster than them, so there is no real excuse for one hitting you. But, if they do, not that big of a deal, since as a tank, we have way more health than most others =)...For non-tanks, not dodging them is more problematic. This continues for a bit, til he gets tired, then you all fall to the ground, and dps can resume. Ideally, you will have a DoT class like warlock or shadow priest, that can keep him Dotted up. Also, ranged Dps can continue to DpS as spacing with the Balls allows. This second phase is pretty easy for us. All we really have to do is be mindful of the floating balls, and throw around some of our weak heals.
There is one more caveat on heroic...He will cast one Pyroblast that does like 33k damage or so. Yep, it is designed to dispatch almost all tanks if they take it. It can be interrupted (by rogue or shaman, I think mage too), but he shields himself first, and that shield must first be dispatched. On the positive side, we simply need to Divine Shield ourself, problem solved, whether or not our group is on top of things.
I finally got my tank trinket today, so just have to grind out another 15k reputation for a new shield =)
Hope you found this informative.
Brickhouse
Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:19 am
/ priestess), and rotate the kill list as appropriate, you don't want the shaman, naga or be up at all,if they are you will have a lot harder time of this fight, the casters and hunter are basically a joke in this fight compared to the top 3. Remember to kings everyone rather than salvation,you can't hold aggro anymore than a seive holds water so give people hits. Bubble people to move the mobs around and don't be afraid to blow LoH, keeping a caster up and casting is more important than us in this fight as we are basically "the fifth man".
