4th Spec Ideas/Concepts

Community General Discussion
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Been thinking about potential 4th specs for the original classes for a while, and I wanted to share some general ideas. Druids already have a 4th spec, so they don’t get any. Monks are not among the classes that came with vanilla WoW, so they’re not included, either.

Warrior
Command – Support DPS. Enhances allies via battle orders (short duration buffs) and battle banners (long duration buffs).

Paladin
EITHER
Paragon – Support DPS. Performs actions that bolster/inspire nearby allies (sort of like aug evoker, but plays like a melee DPS).

OR

Oathbreaker – Melee DPS. Basically the Oathbreaker Paladin from DnD, but with WoW terminology. Could probably be used to justify undead and void elf paladins if their abilities have nothing to do with the light.

Hunter
Survival – Ranged DPS. Uses animal venoms and explosive shots to deal damage. Replaces current survival as the 3rd hunter spec.

Pursuit – Melee DPS. Built around the hunter and their pet working as one to track their quarry and bring them down, complimented by the ability to swap between traps and disabling cannisters (see: Imonar the Soul Hunter). Is the 4th hunter spec.

Shaman
Warding – Tank spec. Taps into the power of the earth to bolster defenses.

Rogue
Scoundrel – Support DPS. Chooses one party member to be their accomplice, with actions by the scoundrel enhancing their accomplice while the accomplice’s actions benefit the scoundrel.

Druid
Guardian – currently exists.

Mage
Spellblade – Melee DPS. Combines magic with sword strikes.

Warlock
Regeneration – Healer. Uses fel energies to undo damage taken by their allies and grants Superior Healthstones that can be used more often and have unlimited charges.

Priest
Inquisition – Caster DPS. Uses the light and holy fire to deal damage

I know some won’t like the idea of more support DPS specs, but that can of worms was already opened by aug evokers. I don’t see Blizzard deleting aug so much as setting the parameters for how much support DPS contribute by implementing other specs that serve a similar purpose. The trick will be in how to discourage stacking.

That aside, tank shaman are long overdue, as are non-shadow DPS priests.

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Ding ding ding.

You’re speaking my language OP.

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In my opinion BM should have always been their melee spec. I enjoy survival as it currently plays but the class is missing what I envision as a primal, savage hunter who gets up close and personal with their quarry. Who slows them down from afar with bolas and halts their escape with nets. Survival is melee only in the sense that they equip a melee weapon. A lot of their kit is still ranged. And their fantasy is very technology heavy. Not quite what I want.

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I would like this, but they’d probably make the pure DPS not pure DPS anymore if we got more specs so we’d get something stupid like Time mage healer.

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FF14 Red Mage players coming to WoW if they discovered Spellblade existence. :joy:

Imo it should happen, they utilize all 3 elements compared to Fire, Arcane, and Frost specs.

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It shames me to admit that it took a long time to realize it was an aspect of priests that was untapped.

I’d cry foul if they did that because we’ve been repeatedly teased with battlemages and spellblades since vanilla WoW.

Considering how FFXIV botched RDM in the worst possible way (making it a regular caster instead of making it their answer to enhance or ret), let’s just say it would be very cathartic if that were to happen.

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As far as roles goes, without going deep into any of em right now…

Death Knight: Not sure at the moment. Maybe some kinda ranged DPS?
Demon Hunter: Ranged DPS then not sure for a 4th
Druid: N/A
Evoker: Tank
Hunter: Support (Bard)
Mage: Not sure. Blood Mage DPS maybe? edit: or make Blood Mage Tank.
Monk: Physical Ranged DPS
Paladin: Caster DPS
Priest: Not sure at the moment.
Rogue: Tank
Shaman: Tank
Warlock: Tank
Warrior: Double Shield DPS?

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Because Blizzard stereotypes Holy Magic into thinking it should specifically mean defensive/healing magic… unless you’re a Paladin.

With other games giving the priest archetype offensive holy spells(Way more than WoW lazily provides), Blizzard needs to step it up.

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not every class really needs a 4th spec. I do feel we have some fantasies that can be further explored.

hunter: warden (full melee hunter revamp)
warrior: gladiator / blademaster
death knight / warlock: necromancer
mage: chronomancer
priest: night warrior
evoker: guardian (gigachad dragon that can tank)
demon hunter: lightbound (your tattoos glow with holy instead of fel, healing spec)
monk: spirit warrior

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Red Mage has to get through the boring caster rotation before it gets to have fun in melee.

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Druid:
Moonkin riding atop Guardian form.

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Ah, these are some of my favorite kinds of threads. Though I doubt any 4th Spec Ideas (or 3rd Spec for Demon Hunter) will occur any time soon due to the introduction of Hero Talents (new evergreen system that throws a wrench into all of this), here are some I’d personally root for:

  • Warrior | Spellbreaker | Support DPS – 2-Hander/1-Hander + Shield DPS, providing support primarily through enemy debuffs, battle shouts, reduced magical damage taken by the party, dispels, disrupts, etc. Could potentially bleed too much into the Death Knight toolkit, but I think there’s plenty of opportunity to make it unique. Most easily introduced during the Midnight expansion or anytime thereafter.

  • Paladin | Inquisition | Hybrid (Caster/Melee) DPS – Largely Arathi + Sacred Flame themed with a twist in that it has two stances which allow it focus on dealing damage via melee combat or as a backline caster/support. Easily introduced at any time since Hallowfall, though more likely once we reach the Arathi homeland.

  • Hunter | Primal | Tank – Themed around the hunter taking upon themselves “animal aspects” to improve their own personal capabilities, acting in concert with their animal companion who fills a supporting role. It would be doubly cool if the “aspect” the Primal Hunter took upon themselves was entirely based upon their active pet’s pet family. Easily introduced at any time, more especially if Saberon (hiding in the Barrens) ever become a playable Horde race as a counterpart to Worgen.

  • Shaman | Astral | Tank – Themed around the elements of earth, wind, and spirit. A “strictly geomancer tank” isn’t interesting enough on its own by Blizzard’s own standards for class design, so adding in the elements of wind and spirit (astral) provide so much more depth of possibility when considering this toolkit. Sand (earth + wind) makes for an excellent thematic medium, particularly when considering throwing spirit into the mix (think Gaara’s sand armor from Naruto). Easily introduced at any time during the Worldsoul Saga.

  • Rogue | Warden | Tank – Themed around Wardens from Warcraft III. Rogue specs already use variations of all their abilities aside from Vengeance. Easily introducible at any time particularly since the Night Elf story is “resolved” as of the finale of Dragonflight. I’d definitely play this.

  • Mage | Time | Healer – Themed around using time to undo wounds. Preservation Evoker touches on this somewhat, but there are already tons of other examples in the game of NPCs and enemies doing exactly this. Easily introduced at any time (pun not intended).

  • Warlock | Blood | Healer – Kael’thas was a “Blood Mage” in Warcraft III, with both Mages and Warlocks borrowing from that toolkit in WoW. This could easily work as another “deal damage to heal” type of healer while still feeling thematically appropriate for Warlocks. Easily introduced at any time, particularly since Blood Trolls exist.

  • Priest | Inquisition | Caster DPS – Holy caster DPS variant. Largely Arathi + Sacred Flame themed. Easily introduced at any time since Hallowfall, though more likely once we reach the Arathi homeland.

Notable:

  • Demon Hunter could easily snag Spellbreaker instead of Warriors.
  • Warriors could get Chieftain instead (think Tauren Chieftain from Warcraft III).
  • Druids already have 4 specs.
  • I couldn’t think of any meaningful 4th spec for Evokers, though I suppose there’s room for some sort of tank spec.
  • Aiming to provide more role options for existing classes makes logical sense when considering new specs for each class.
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Spellblade, melee wizard in cloth sounds awesome!

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I feel like whenever we get to that undiscovered Arathi kingdom, they might have these.

It’s a very Arathi concept with the sacred flame.

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Demon Hunter w/ holy tats [redeemed] sounds awesome.

Monk Spirit warrior also!

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IMO they shouldn’t tie any of the priest specs to specific races or cultures. Priest class is supposed to be a catch all class for the various different races and cultures in the game.

They can add a holy ranged DPS spec, but they just shouldn’t tie it to any race in particular.

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Although cool, blizzard can not even manage the specs they currently have on the books.

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I love these ideas so much! Here is my iteration; I went through, collected the best ideas from the thread, and tried to tie them best to historical or lore-accurate classes/specs:

  • Death Knight | Marrow | Melee DPS
    Hero: Fleshcrafter

  • Demon Hunter | Punishment | Tank

  • Demon Hunter| Doom | Melee DPS
    Hero: Dread Blade & Chaos Bringer

  • Druid | N/A

  • Evoker | Eradication | DoT Ranged DPS
    Hero: Spell Weaver

  • Hunter | Primal | Pet-Assisted Tank
    Hero: Scout

  • Mage | Battle | Melee DPS
    Hero: Spellblade

  • Monk | Wardancer | Support Tank
    Hero: Spirit Warrior

  • Paladin | Conviction | Support DPS
    Hero: Crusader

  • Priest | Inquisitor | Ranged DPS
    Hero: High divinist

  • Rogue | Warden | Tank
    Hero: Spymaster

  • Shaman | Earthwarden | Tank
    Hero: Spiritwalker

  • Warlock | Blood | Healer
    Hero: Necromancer

  • Warrior | Gladiator | Shield Melee DPS
    Hero: Spellbreaker

[EDIT] Just for sh*ts and giggles:

  • Tinker:
    Machinist | Tank
    Sapper | Melee DPS
    Artillery | Ranged DPS
    Mechanic | Healer
    Hero: Steam Warrior, Junker, Artificer, High Tinker

  • Bard:
    Minstrel | Support Healer
    Skald | Support Ranged DPS
    War Drummer | Support DPS
    Composer | Support DPS
    Hero: Master of Ceremonies, Superstar, Lamenter, Town Crier

  • Apothecary:
    Witch Doctor | Support Ranged DPS
    Hexxer | Ranged DPS
    Brewer | Potions Support Healer
    Mixologist | Potions Support DPS
    Hero: Potion Doc, Shadow Hunter, Plaguebringer, Voodooist

1 Like
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Shaman -
Geomancer. Earth based tanking spec.

Warrior -
Gladiator. 1h weapon + shield agile dps spec.

Priest
Inquisitor. Holy dps spec.

Hunter
Warden. Dual Wield melee spec.
Revert survival back to ranged.

Rogue
Shadow Hunter. mid-ranged, shadow magic (curses, hexes and etc) and warglaives. (Thinks about a melee shadow priest)

Monk
Brawler. A bit less mobile but more stout dps spec and uses rage instead energy. Uses monk-like discipline to channel their rage into the tips of their fists, delivering powerful strikes. (Heavy-hitter punches, dealing more damage than a Windwalker but at a slower pace and a bit less mobile.)

Have non-monk fighting pose. For those who don’t like the kung-fu fighting pose.

Demon Hunter

Soul-Eater. Ranged DPS spec.

Paladin

Crusader. 1h + shield DPS spec, Think about the old Shockadin. Heavy Judgements, Holy shocks, Heavy exorcisms and etc.

Death Knight

Necromancer. Full ranged, with less focus on DoTs and more on direct spells and CC, embracing a spirit and bone theme. (Bone Spear, Spirit Rend, summoning giant skeletal hands for CC, Bone Prison, Bone Wall, and similar abilities).

Heavy castable Deathcoils.

Mage

Spellblade/Battle-mage. Melee DPS spec. 1h sword and offhand staff. (Imagine Gandalf from Lord of the Rings). Melee attacks empowered with magic and many defensive abilities.

Evoker

No idea.

Druid
It already has a 4th spec. But a ranged DPS spec (or mid-range) with more nature-based magic and less “lunar” would be interesting. (Cutting vines, whip-like vines, thorny leashes, etc.)

Warlock

Demonblade. Mellee spec. 1h magical weapon and a offhand orb, tome or staff. The Warlock forges a weapon from pure demonic/eldricht energy. Their weapon could change form, ranging from flaming swords to shadowy claws, or even an ethereal blade of dark magic.

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The only ones I can think of would be Time spec Mage who is a healer, or Rogue tank that I don’t have a good name for.