UPDATED POST (V.2)
Strategies/TLDRs for every RBG (v.2)
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I wrote these little RBG/BG summaries for myself to both remind myself of what some of the nuances of some of these BGs are, and to post them at the starts of matches to remind people what the win conditions are.
I found that many times, especially with Epic BGs, people didn’t know the nuances of the mechanics, and with changes to things like Deepwind Gorge, Ashran, Wintergrasp, etc. it’s helpful to have a TLDR of what’s relevant. On top of this, many BG guides are really outdated, and it’s hard to find a comprehensive list.
If you have any corrections you’d like to make, or strat suggestions please feel free to list them. (Also this is written from an Alliance perspective, so Horde-isms may vary)
[All pictures were open sourced]
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COMBAT RULES OF THUMB:
DPS: Rogues, DKs, Warriors, Hunters, Warlocks, and Mages: Stick to your healer and PEEL. Kill HIGH THREAT targets. Casters stay behind melee with healers. Melee infiltrate to healers.
HYBRIDS: Paladins, Shamans, Priests, Druids. Play to your class strengths, and use your UTILITY/Offheals generously.
TANK: CC and push the line. Do NOT solo kamikaze into a horde; rather lead the charge and be as annoying to the enemy team as possible. Consider respeccing DPS.
HEALERS: Don’t die. Make us all not die. Stay near peelers. Keep FC alive if applicable.
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Suggested Addons:
- OmniBar - Track enemy CDs
- BigDebuffs - Track CC
- WeakAuras - Track your CDs (wago.io/weakauras)
- BattleGroundEnemies - See enemy team list/health
- REFlex - Log your matches
- Tidy Plates - See healthbars nicer
- TrufiGCD - See your actions
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INDEX
Warsong Gulch (10v10 CTF)
Twin Peaks (10v10 CTF)
The Battle for Gilneas (10v10 Domination)
Silvershard Mines (10v10 Payload)
Temple of Kotmogu (10v10 Power Orbs)
Seething Shore (10v10 Resource Race)
Arathi Basin (15v15 Domination)
Eye of the Storm (15v15 Domination/CTF)
Deepwind Gorge (15v15 Domination)
Ashran (30v30 Epic BG)
Alterac Valley (40v40 Epic BG)
Isle of Conquest (40v40 Epic BG)
Battle for Wintergrasp (40v40 Epic BG)
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WSG & TWIN PEAKS (10v10 CTF) [1T:3H:6D]
OBJECTIVE: CAPTURE/DEFEND FLAGS
GROUP 1: DEFENSE - 3DPS, HEAL
GROUP 2: OFFENSE - FC, 3DPS, HEAL
GROUP 3: FLEX - HEAL
GROUP 1: Go thru TUNNEL, and teamfight MID. Identify and slow down EFC. If EFC passes you towards flag, PEEL the healers. Fast classes chase EFC, others KILL/PEEL healers. Stay MID, and call out WHERE you see the EFC. Control mid = control game.
IF WIN: Regrab hut buffs, and continue to control mid & call out EFC. HELP G2 FC cross the field to home base whenever applicable. Consider pushing towards enemy base and controlling their GY.
IF WIPE: First, assess which is quicker, helping G2 not die, or protecting flag. If EFC is already in their base, ensure their Offense doesn’t kill our FC. After G2 is secured, regroup and go kill EFC. If they turtle in base, you need to split to cover their exits.
GROUP 2 (START): Go GY side and escort FC towards enemy base. Turn left behind enemy team and take them from the rear 9v10. FC continue into base to steal flag. Once teamfight is over, return to FC duties.
G2 (FC): PEEL all enemies from FC and get FC back to OUR ROOF. Use roof as chokepoint to defend FC, and keep a sightline on our flag. STAY on roof UNLESS it looks like FC will die, then help FC run circles around base until G1 kills EFC. (FC Circuit: Jump off roof, run to Graveyard, into tunnel, and back up stairs to roof)
NOTE: If match results in a TIE, team with the LAST capture wins.
https://i.ibb.co/TtJHFNc/14-B74-F00-FFB9-44-AA-A64-F-C9-CC561-AFB9-E.jpg
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BATTLE FOR GILNEAS (10v10 Domination) [3H:7D]
OBJECTIVE: HOLD NODES
GROUP 1: Waterworks (WW) - 2HEAL, 4DPS
GROUP 2: Waterworks (WW) - 1HEAL, 2DPS
GROUP 3: Lighthouse (LH) - 1DPS
GROUPS 1&2: RUSH to WW, and WIN teamfight. TRY to CC enemies in the water as the cross, and AoE them down. IF we LOSE WW, Respawn and make sure LH is secure. Then G1 PUSH to WW, G2 PUSH to Mines. Regroup at WW.
GROUP 1: If we win WW, PUSH to Mines and try to hold. If G2 ever flexes to help LH, GO BACK and hold WW.
GROUP 2: If we win WW, HOLD WW. Flex to LH if INC is called. Inform G1 that you’re leaving WW so they can flex back to WW.
GROUP 3: Stealth preferred, hold LH, and give INC calls (INC 4 @LH).
https://i.ibb.co/fp9ygfF/IMG-7786.jpg
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Silvershard Mines (10v10 Payload) [3H:7D]
GROUP 1: LAVA CART - 1HEAL, 3DPS
GROUP 2: FLEX - 1HEAL, 2DPS
GROUP 3: TOP CART - 1HEAL, 2DPS
OBJECTIVE: There are 3 carts— Top, Mid, and Lava. Push CARTS to DOCK for points. Fight INSIDE the cart’s CIRCLE, or we lose. We have advantage on TOP, Horde has advantage on MID. Sneak ahead and pull LEVERS to make carts take longer path if we abandon a cart to Horde.
START of match: GROUPS 1&2 TEAM FIGHT at LAVA. IF win, DOCK cart, and rotate to pickup new cart. IF LOSE CART, pull lever on losing cart, and regroup at SPAWN for next cart.
GROUP 1: ALWAYS STAY LAVA
GROUP 2: FLEX as G1 & G2 call INCs
GROUP 3: ALWAYS STAY TOP
https://i.ibb.co/xC3c2g3/IMG-7787.jpg
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Temple of Kotmogu (10v10 Power Orbs) [3H:7D]
GROUP 1: DEFENSE (NORTH Orbs) - 1H, 3DPS
GROUP 2: OFFENSE (SOUTH Orbs) - 1H, 3DPS
GROUP 3: FLEX - 1H, 1DPS
OBJECTIVE: Hold the Balls for points. LOOK at MAP, there are 3 Main Zones/Rings: CENTER, MID, and OUTSIDE, all give points in decreasing order. Killing Orb carrier gives 10 points, so be careful picking up orb if you will just die. Also considering orb debuff, situationally it might be better to let enemy pickup orb, kill him and pick it up after.
G1/2/3: EVERYONE team fight in CENTER from NORTH SIDE, so its closer to our GYs. Casters stay out of center, up on walls. DON’T PICKUP ORBS UNTIL WE WIN TEAMFIGHT. Holding the orbs puts a damage/healing debuff on you. IF you die with Orb, it gets return to it’s origin, so CALL OUT someone to pick it up. Example: “Pickup NE”, so a stealth class can wait at orb origin for pickup.
IF WIN Teamfight:
G1 pickup North Orbs, run to center.
G2 pickup South orbs, run to center.
G3 run interference, CONTROL GATES.
Once ENEMY TEAM respawns, ALL ORBS begin to SPIRAL KITE. Go out CENTER’s south entrance to MIDDLE, and then spiral UP around the inside MIDDLE, and then OUTSIDE NORTH SIDE.
If LOSE Teamfight:
G1 DEFENSE: quickly pickup 2 NORTH ORBS, and run NORTH to our Graveyard to Turtle.
G2&3 OFFENSE: Attack ORBS.
G3: FLEX back to G1 if they need more Defense. FLEX to G2 for Offense if G1 is fine.
https://i.ibb.co/42nbGDg/IMG-7788.jpg
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Seething Shore (10v10 Resource Race) [3H:7D]
OBJECTIVE: MINE NODES
GROUP 1: HEAL, 3DPS
GROUP 2: HEAL, 2DPS
GROUP 3: HEAL, 2DPS
There are 12 SPAWNS, so don’t bother with names, call them by cardinal directions. Only 3 will spawn at the same time.
ALL: STAY IN YOUR GROUPS. If you WIN a node, FIRST look if another nearby Group needs help, and go help. IF WIN, go next node. IF YOUR GROUP IS OUTNUMBERED, consider abandoning node to double up on another, OR rush to another uncontested node.
This mode is dynamic, make calls as a GROUP and STICK to your healer.
https://i.ibb.co/FW0gtgy/IMG-7789.jpg
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ARATHI BASIN (15v15 Domination) [3H:12D]
OBJECTIVE: HOLD NODES
GROUP 1: Lumber Mill (LM) - 3DPS, HEAL
GROUP 2: Black Smith (BS) - 3DPS, HEAL
GROUP 3: FLEX - 3DPS, HEAL
GROUP 4: SENTRY for ST/LM/GM - 3DPS
GROUPS 1&3: Go to LM and WIN. After WIN, GO glide down and help BS. If BS is capped, check with SENTRY if you HOLD LM/GM/ST. IF LOSE, regroup at STABLES (ST), push to LM as FULL group.
GROUP 2: CAP BS. IF WIN, HOLD BS.
GROUP 3: FLEX between ST>LM>BS>GM in that order of priority. Listen to INC calls. if ENTIRE team is wiped, and even GM is okay, consider pushing Farm.
GROUP 4: ALL SENTRY give INC calls WITH NUMBERS (INC 4 @LM). One stays ST, and holds ENTIRE GAME. Other 2 go LM & GM and STAY. STEALTH PREFERRED. IF SOLO defend what you can. If a ZERG is INC retreat to ST and call for FLEX.
If we HOLD 3/5 we win. The strategy tries to hold FOUR. Stick in groups and groups stick to assignments. If all goes to hell, prioritize GOLDEN TRIANGLE: ST>LM>BS
https://i.ibb.co/198HMB6/arathi-basin-map.jpg
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EYE OF THE STORM (15v15 Domination/CTF) [3H:12D]
OBECTIVE: HOLD TOWERS, CAPTURE FLAGS.
GROUP 1: MID + Mage Tower (MT) - 4DPS, HEAL
GROUP 2: MID + Dranei Ruins (DR) - 4DPS, HEAL
GROUP 3: SENTRY - 4DPS, HEAL (Float)
GROUPS 1&2: 1 PERSON each SPEED CAP MT/DR ASAP, then REST MID. WIN MID, CAP FLAG. If SENTRIES call out INC at MT/DR, corresponding group sends help. IF CAP, HOLD MID and setup TRAPS on bridge. If Sentries go to cap towers, push up and split, G1 to Fel Reaver (FR), G2 to Blood Elf Tower (BET). After FIRST CAP, if you’re ahead in points, consider holding flag and NOT capping so that enemy team can’t grab flag in mid, and hold until absolutely necessary to cap.
SENTRY: Split MT & DR. Give INC calls (INC 4 @MT/DR). If you see us WIPE enemy team, push to Fel Reaver (FR)/Blood Elf Tower (BET) as you see fit. If we hold ALL towers we get 500 points per cap, so risk/reward. Sentry Healer, float as you see fit for Defense/Offense.
ALL: Bridge MIDDLE is SAFE from KNOCKOFFs, the ends are NOT. Likewise, look for KNOCKOFFS (Typhoon, Explosive Trap, Ring of Peace, Shining Force, Thunderstorm) Warlock put Portals to MIDDLE = SAFE. SOMEBODY needs to be FC.
Flag Points per Base:
1,2,3,4 (bases) = 75,85,95,500 (points)
https://i.ibb.co/xDN6cPb/IMG-7791.jpg
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Deepwind Gorge (15v15 Domination) [3H:12D]
OBJECTIVE: CONTROL BASES, STEAL CARTS.
GROUP 1: MARKET (CENTER) - 2HEAL, 4DPS
GROUP 2: FLEX - 1 HEAL, 4 DPS
GROUP 3: SENTRY (NE/SE) - 4DPS
LOCATIONS: Quarry (NW), Farm (NE), Market (CENTER), Ruins (SW), Shrine (SE)
GROUP 1: Go MARKET ASAP. STAY MARKET ENTIRE GAME.
GROUP 2: Go FARM, WIN teamfight, then check in with Sentries at Farm & Shrine. If Sentries are good, push up to Quarry and/or Ruins to cap. Center is priority, abandon pushing West flags if Center is contested.
GROUP 3: Stealth classes preferred, split 2 each between Farm & Shrine. Hold entire game, and give INC calls (INC 4 @LH). IF FLEX team pushes West, consider dropping 1 to go push West flags. Consider dropping 1 to join respawning counterattack if Center was overtaken by enemy team.
https://i.ibb.co/ZN5yjcv/IMG-7792.jpg
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Ashran (30v30 Epic BG)
OBJECTIVE: KILL HORDE, DO EVENTS
150 Reinforcements = 150 Lives. No lives, we/they lose. Kill enemy BOSS = insta-win. There are 8 “Events” that give toys/buffs. Killing ANYTHING gives Artifact FRAGMENTS. Turn FRAGMENTS in at home base to summon BIG TREE BOY. Killing Mage Tower = [-50] lives. EVENTS:
Molten Quarry: Put rocks in minecart
Ashmaul Burial Grounds: GhostBusters ExtraAction
Brute’s Rise: Change 5 fires to our color
Ampitheater: Race, stand in circle = FASTER
Seat of Kor’lok: Kill Kor’lok (~5man) = ALLY
Dark Woods: Song Flower perma buff
Ring of Conquest: Ancient Artifact from Ancient Inferno
Underground Mines: Rukmaz Vault = Solar Sphere buff
STRAT = EVERYONE follows the MAIN ROAD, and caps FLAGS, doing events along the way to enemy boss. This CAN be pure Team Death Match, or we can do events.
Suggested: Get Solar Sphere, do Molten Quarry, kill Korlok, kill Mage Tower, get Song Flower, kill High Warlord Volrath.
https://i.ibb.co/h9W8cgq/IMG-7794.jpg
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Alterac Valley (40v40 Epic BG)
OBJECTIVE: Reduce Reinforcements/Kill Drekthar
Killing captains and burning towers reduces reinforcements. Capping their graveyards moves Rez spots. Capping mines is a waste. Collecting supplies is a waste.
STRAT: [Rush Drekthar] EVERYONE rush toward Iceblood Garrison (IBG), and Cap Snowfall Graveyard on the way. Half stay at IBG, and the other half go cap Relief Hut GY (RHGY). RHGY group kills East & West Frostwolf Towers while IBG group kills Iceblood Tower and Tower Point on the way to Drekthar. KILL DREKTHAR.
If Horde is playing Defense, we defend Stonehearth and push Iceblood Graveyard. Stealth classes can try to ninja the GY.
https://i.ibb.co/30n7hhX/IMG-7795.jpg
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Isle of Conquest (40v40 Epic BG)
OBJECTIVE: Break Down Wall Kill Boss
Locations: Docks, Workshop, Hangar, Refinery, Quarry
Zerg Strat: EVERYONE ZERG DOCKS. We get TWO GLAIVES, EVERYONE protects the 3 glaives the ENTIRE TIME they destroy the wall. Then rush in to kill Overlord Agmar. @Glaives WATCH OUT FOR STEALTH AMBUSH. Consider taking Workshop if Horde is counterattacking Glaives with vehicles.
Nonessential info: Docks give 3 glaives and 4 catapults. Glaives = wall sniping, catapults throw players over wall. Workshop gives Demolishers and Siege Engines = they smash gates. Hangar gives Airship = skydive into base. IF you get inside enemy base, you can click bombs and throw them at gate. Capping Refinery/Quarry gives points +15% siege damage.
https://i.ibb.co/N1HTs8k/IMG-7796.jpg
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Battle for Wintergrasp (40v40 Epic BG)
OBJECTIVE: Break Down Walls (or Defend) & Get Titan Relic
Locations: Sunken Ring (SR), Broken Temple (BT), Eastspark Workshop (EW), Westpark Workshop (WW)
DEFENDING > ATTACKING. Killing Horde/NPCs levels up your rank. Higher rank = better vehicles. Each Workshop allows FOUR vehicles. You need 5 kills for Catapult, 10 for Demolisher & Siege Engine. IF YOU HAVE RANK, and we’re NOT capped on vehicles, GET A VEHICLE. If you don’t have a vehicle, PROTECT one.
VEHICLES: Catapults shoot barrels that do siege damage, and fire that kills players, kinda need foot escorts. Demolishers shoot boulders, battering ram walls, and carry 2 casters. Siege Engine has BIG RAM, a co-pilot seat with a Turret, and 2 hiding spots (CANNOT Cast, use for ambushing, or if low HP).
DEFENSE: Win by surviving FULL 40 minutes. The BEST defense is a good offense. GO TO WORKSHOPS, and prevent Offense from taking control by destroying them. FIRST, go get Rank and send 2-3 Catapults to destroy Eastspark & Westspark. MAN THE TURRETS, and blow up Vehicles. If Inner Fortress walls are breached, EVERYONE GET INSIDE CENTER AND PROTECT, kill VEHICLES. Priority: Demolisher > Siege > Catapult > Players
OFFENSE: Take as many workshops as possible, more workshops = more vehicles. Kill Horde/NPCs to rank up and unlock vehicles. If you’re SOLO, pick Demolisher. If people can jump in, pick Siege Engine. If you DONT HAVE a vehicle, ESCORT & PROTECT vehicles to the gates. RANGED DPS MUST KILL FORTRESS CANNONS, focus on destroying cannons on the side we attack. Once we break down the wall, destroy the workshop inside Wintergrasp, and break down the rest of the walls to the Titan Relic, get inside, and click it.
