Mythic+ is an ever evolving system. It started back in MoP with Challenge Mode Dungeons, continued in WoD and then became the Keystone System we still use today.
Let me bring you into my world of M+.
In 9.1 I achieved KSM for the first time, massively thanks to my guild. Since the keystone system was implemented I think the highest key I have timed was a +18 in BFA. I don’t push keys to the max, because frankly I don’t enjoy them.
I don’t like most of the affixes.
I don’t like that every week, every dungeon feels the same.
I don’t like the community around pugging M+.
and I don’t like the current state of M+.
Let’s start with affixes.
There are currently 15 different affixes in rotation. Some of them are cool and interesting (Spiteful, Inspiring), Some are bland and boring (Volcanic, Raging), some are just annoying (Explosive) and some affixes make me skip a week of M+, or only do 1 for a single vault option (Bolstering).
But we have 15 affixes:
- Fortified/Tryannical
- 12 changing weekly
- Tormented
There are a total of 264 possible keystone combinations with this many affixes. So why do we go one week at a time, only seeing one combination? Why not have every key be randomized?
I know what you’re thinking, and I agree, not all of the 264 combinations should be used. (Looking at you Fortified/Bolstering) So let’s pick a number of keystones that aren’t completely unfair, lets say the number is 150.
Why not have all 150 combinations always be in rotation? We have the option to swap our keys out after timing a run if we don’t like them. We have the option to reduce the level of them if its higher than we want to run. Why are we locked into one set of affixes for an entire week, thus shaping every dungeon for that week?
I would like to see an overhaul of affixes, but that would probably be in 10.0 at the earliest, but ever changing keystones could come much sooner and would be a welcome change.
Seasonal Affixes
These have been hit or miss. I’m not a fan of “spawn something every 20% trash” although it made for some interesting routes, less experienced groups were suddenly overwhelmed by an awkward prideful spawning and threw the entire key off as a result. This also puts a lot of pressure on the tanks to get it exactly right, especially in a pug setting, which we already know is a toxic environment. I think the idea of seasonal affixes is cool, and thematically they have fit in with what is going on in the game, even if their affects and implementation aren’t perfect.
Fortified/Tyrannical
Are we not done with these yet? Every +10 or higher Keystone has always had one of the two of these, and every key since BFA. I understand these are the easiest basic modifiers to have in a dungeon, and I don’t want to suggest getting rid of them entirely, but let’s not have them on every single key. Put them in the rotation so they can randomly show up on a keystone (But this would be one of the combinations that should absolutely not exist if they were added to the pool).
Pugging
It’s been mentioned a few times above the toxic environment surrounding keys. There is a lot to focus on in a key, and unlike a 4-8 minute boss fight (Go away Sylvanas), a M+ dungeon requires absolute focus for 30+ minutes at a time. DPS have to make sure interrupts are used, targets are CC’d, priorities are killed. Tanks have their own set of affixes to deal with sometimes (Necrotic), and in the past have had to make sure their trash % is perfect, else they face the wrath of their group members, and healers have to worry about keeping everyone alive and doing DPS at the same time (easier for some healers than others, of course). One mistake in the wrong place and the key is over and it’s all your fault.
I’ll be honest. I don’t know the best way to fix this. I would love some feedback as to what you all think. Shutting down pugging isn’t the answer. So what is?
Current State of M+
M+ for me is a means to an end. If not for 246 loot and 252 vault options, I would rarely do M+. I love dungeons, I always have. I like the challenge. But some weeks just suck to play a certain class/role, and so we’re stuck with a week of running and hating, or not running and missing out on Mythic raid level loot. (Which leads me to another point of the best gear in the game should come from Mythic raid (not just KT/Sylv) but that’s a discussion for another time)
What to do
The repeating issue of M+ is that each week feels the same. The same dungeons on the same affixes.
Right now we have 2 keystones in our bags. One for Shadowlands, and one for Legion. Legion M+, while I have yet to run one myself, from what I hear is new, exciting, and hard.
As it should be.
We have timewalking for 6 of 8 old expansions now (Missing Classic & BFA). If we add those, timewalking becomes a 2 month rotation if used every week. Every week we can have M+ for the current expansion, and M+ for a timewalking expansion.
There are a few issues with this idea.
#1) None of the old dungeons were made with M+ in mind.
#2) The rotation might be too slow for people looking for a certain trinket/piece of gear.
#3) Maybe a coding issue to put new affixes in old dungeons? I’m not sure on this one, but something I wonder if would be a roadblock or not.
Well, not every dungeon needs to be used, we already see that in Timewalking. But how cool would it be to do Timewalking Ramparts, or Deadmines, or Oculus… (lol jk).
There is a lot of potential for change. These are just my ideas.
TL;DR:
M+ affixes should be random within a week. Avoid obviously bad combinations like bolstering fortified and don’t have entire weeks feeling the exact same for M+ (also gets rid of push week / dead week mentality) Finally, add tyran / fort to main rotation. We’re tired of them being on every key since M+ was created (10+ in legion)