I’m not sure how they’re going to fix BDK but it is beyond broken. Sure it’s great in raids when it’s the off-tank and four healers are watching you but essentially open at 45% HP for any given pack of mobs in high M+ keys.
It’s not a viable option at this point and should probably transition to having a shield unfortunately - too little passive mitigation and not enough active mitigation.
except it is viable. its doing one key level behind the max key level rn
warcraftlogs com/reports/XvjQtmHT7qDRKWAr?fight=11&type=casts&source=484
mind you with heavy misplays too, because dude has 33 presses of runetap while having 3 casts of ibf and 4 of lichborne, like imagine how good bdk could perform if someone who actually uses bdks plays the spec rn. dude is also speced until cdr for lichborne and still opts to underuse it in this highend key
it kinda goes to show that you can misplay the spec heavily and still time high end if you have enough time.
if your having issues going into mobs at low hp, maybe you should press one of bdks many defensives before entering a pack.
that being said, bdk does have issues like the loss of slappy hands and frankly it should do more damage, but its issue is def not “need more passive drs”
you have to play DK’s with the mindset of no one is coming to help you and you are in charge of your own health pools. other tanks have some reliance on healers. DK’s do not. the number 1 killer in keys is auto attack. so making sure all the mobs arent hitting you at the same time will play a big difference. using talents like reduced movement speed in D&D and runetap will change most of that. survivability is also easier for the more casual audience playing deathbringer in keys. its easier to hold aggro due to exterminate and you fly through bone shards like candy allowing more DRW and tombstone cast. BDK isnt broken. its hard to play.
The spec needs an additional tool like a self time dilation effect when entering combat.
Otherwise we’re probably at least two more bone shield buffs away from being where they need to be.
No other tank has to hit 3-4 of their dedicated mitigation cooldowns to “barely” live a pull.
If you’ve played other tanks you can see the contrast of hitting drw+rune tap+ibf then still proccing or coming close to cheating,
In contrast to say a vdh who will throw down a flame sigil, jump in with spikes pressed and fel dev and be practically immune. (Then being able to press brand to bridge and have meta if needed).
Dk has to shove more or less proactively just to be able to hope to not proc while other tanks can simply live by existing in contrast.
Not sure what your meaning of viable is. Bdk hasn’t been rank 1 viable since shadowlands (actual rank 1 not the meme title).
It would be easier just to add spec based titles for tanks and healers rather than the extra effort to fine tune those specs for each season of m+