Wow, so the past week we've wiped over and over on Anub in Naxx, last night we went in there and one-shot him, crazy. Great job guys. We also got The Widow down too. Congrats to Atemisk, Falron and Pykle for getting some gear. I may have forgotten somebody too.
Atemisk got Grieving Spellblade, Pykle got Band of Neglected Pleas, and Falron got Gauntlets of the Master.

Our DPS was phenominal last night guys, seriously. It was way up across the boards on bosses. Check out the WWS report, it's pretty crazy. If you get a chance, look at the Patchwerk fight, where Atemisk is pushing 4K DPS and Hotcha is way above 3K, awesome job guys.

Healing was right on too, Doomedout and Dread doing a great job as usual, and we also had Faithwins in there for help. Falron did awesome as usual, tanking and directing the raid. We're gonna give it another shot on Sunday, invites going out soon!

Well, we gave it a shot last night and got Anub down to 27% on our best try, much better than last time. This post is basically some suggestions an observartions from the fight, as well as some analyzing of the WWS reports. PLEASE comment with any suggestions, observations, or anything else you have to offer, including any smart ass comments. :)

I want to start by posting everybody's Be.Imba score, it's now updated for Wrath. A score of about 260 is Naxx-10 geared.

Doomedout: 382
Falron: 360
Flaregun: 350
Dread: 312
Pykle: 298
Atemisk: 288
Eatmochikn: 255
Lowblower: 253
Hotcha: 245
Dirsan: 236
Taklah: 206

Wow, nice job guys. Doc, Falron and Flare are rocking it. 6 of us are definitely geared for Naxx. Now it's time to down some bosses. :)

First, a few notes.

1. Our average boss DPS went from 1318 last week to 1407 this week. Very nice, and we needed it to have any kind of chance to down him. Ate had the most improvement, going up about 300DPS since last week. Pykle also went up a few hundred. Here is our average DPS on all boss fights from last night.

Dirsan 1569
Hotcha 1447
Atemisk 1390
Flaregun 1376
Pykle 1254

2. Let's talk about threat. Falron is very well geared and able to pick up threat quicker than Lowblower. This is seen by his DPS being about 100 higher than Lowblowers last night. That said, Lowblower, your miss % was about 28% on you main attack, which you used 36% of the time. By comparison, Falron only missed 12% on his most used attack. Falron has a much higher hit rating than you do, would it help to get some more hit? I don't know Death Knight mechanics, but the more you hit, the higher the threat. Just a thought.

While we on on the subject, DPSers need to watch their threat and not pull mobs off of the tank. Even if he pulls the mob back and you don't die, this causes the tank to take more time to build threat, ping ponging off of you. If you have to wait a few extra seconds, then wait. Last night Hotcha used Mirror Image 11 times. This is a great spell, not only does it up your DPS, it temporarily transfer your threat to the mirrors, and it's on a 3 minute cooldown! Combined with Invisibility it's a nice aggro dump. Warlocks have Soul Shatter, but it's on a 5 minute cooldown. I used it every single boss attempt last night. So please use all of your threat reducing abilities, it makes a huge difference.

Pykle I have a guide that's a Work In Progress for us, PLEASE take a look at it. If anybody else is bored, feel free to check it out too. Hehe.

3. Lastly, I've checked out many WWS parses of this exact fight, and there are many guilds who are beating Anub with our DPS or even lower. However, it is taking them 7-8 minutes or longer, which seems to be our threshold, the point where healers are OOM, as well as some casters. This requires about 3.3million damage total. If we can continue to up our DPS like we did this week, I think we'll progress. Just a reminder, please pick up consumables at the bank before each raid, including food buffs. We need everybody as buffed as possible for these progression fights. From everything that I've read, most guilds are using the same strat that we are for this fight. Lates.

Dirsan

Comment

Well, we were in there a few hours tonight. I'd like to say that we got a boss down, but we didn't. We learned a lot though. We're all just going to have to gear up a little bit more, our gear is a little low for it. Either way, it was fun and it's great to be raiding again! Hot, I owe you ten gold, I died first. :)

PLEASE check out the Wow Web Stats report. It really does have a lot of information in it. It can really help out your DPS to see what was working for you and what wasn't. i like to look at them after just about every raid to see where I can improve. We'll be posting these from all our raids for WOTLK, check out the report here.

Falron and Doc had a good idea. Maybe put aside a set time to run some heroics to get everybody geared up. At this point I think we all can get gear from even the lower level ones. We could even run like one a night and also get some items crafted. I'm a tailor, so feel free to ask me to link what I can make, there are definitely some good entry level raid gear. We'll also have some other 80's soon, so we'll have to run them through too.!

Hey now! I will be putting up Boss Strats the next week or so for Naxx. Today I'm going to start with the easiest wing, the Spider Wing. See below for strategy for the first 3 bosses. Hopefully we can get these guys down tomorrow, and a few more too! Sweet. This post can also be found here if you would like to comment.

Anub'rekhan
Anub'rekhan has relatively straightforward mechanics and is the first boss in Naxxramas that many guilds attempt, as the rest of the wing is fairly simple as well. The main tank has the most difficult role in this encounter, which includes kiting Anub'rekhan around the edge of the room without falling into the slime.

Abilities
HP: 2,230,000

Melee: Anub'rekhan hits a tank for heavy damage.

Corpse Explosion: Periodically causes the corpse of a player or Crypt Guard to explode, spawning 10 Corpse Scarabs.

Impale: Anub'rekhan shoots spikes through the ground in a single direction, causing all players within a 35 yard line to fly up into the air and take moderate damage.

Locust Swarm: Anub'rekhan will raise his wings (to the main tank, he will appear to be bowing), and a plague of locusts will issue forth, applying a stacking DoT to anyone within 30 yards of him. As the Locust Swarm begins, a Crypt Guard will spawn at the north end of the room. During the Locust Swarm, Anub'rekhan's movement speed is reduced to 40% of normal run speed. Anub'rekhan will use this ability every 1-2 minutes.

Slime: The slime in the gutters on either side of Anub'rekhan's room is dangerous, and will reduce the HP of anyone who falls into it by 50%.

Enrage: 10 minutes after the encounter begins, Anub'rekhan's speed and damage will increase by orders of magnitude, quickly wiping the raid if he is not killed.

Crypt Guard
Melee: Hits a tank for moderate damage.

Poison: Applies a stacking, undispellable poison debuff to the Crypt Guard's threat target. The damage dealt by this debuff will increase dramatically over time.

Corpse Scarab
HP: 12,600

Melee: Hits for light damage.

The Fight

Main Tank: Build threat on Anub'rekhan while watching for the Locust Swarm animation. When he bows his head and raises his wings, immediately run to the other end of the room.

You must run along the outer ledge of the slime gutter, being careful not to fall in or get stuck on the wall. If you're having trouble executing this consistently, you can run along the inside edge of the slime gutter instead, but it will bring Anub'rekhan a little closer to the rest of the raid, increasing the risk that they will take damage from Locust Swarm.

The next time Anub'rekhan bows his head and casts Locust Swarm, simply run back up to where you started. Repeat this process every time Anub'rekhan casts Locust Swarm.

Off Tank: Watch Anub'rekhan for the Locust Swarm animation. When he bows his head and raises his wings, a few seconds later, a Crypt Guard will spawn at the north end of the room. You must establish aggro on the Crypt Guard and bring it to the west end of the room, with your back facing the slime.When no Crypt Guards are alive, remain near any corpses in order to tank Crypt Scarabs that may spawn from a Corpse Explosion.

Ranged DPS:At any time when Crypt Scarabs spawn, use AOE rooting abilities like Frost Nova, and kill them using whatever AOE abilities you have.

If no Crypt Scarabs are alive, and the Main Tank has established aggro, DPS Anub'rekhan. When Anub'rekhan performs Locust Swarm, a Crypt Guard will spawn and be picked up by the Offtank. You should kill this Crypt Guard as quickly as possible, but make sure that it only dies on the far west side of the room (to control where Scarabs will spawn).

Melee DPS:Once the Main Tank has established aggro, DPS Anub'rekhan. Watch carefully for the Locust Swarm animation (he will raise his wings), and when you see it, immediately run to the west side of the room. Assist the Ranged DPS and Offtank with any Crypt Scarabs and Crypt Spawns. When Locust Swarm ends, return to DPS'ing Anub'rekhan.

Healers: Heal your assigned targets, and assist where needed when your target is not taking damage. When Anub'rekhan performs the Locust Swarm animation, all healers should place HoT spells on the Main Tank; the Raid Healer can also place HoTs on the Melee DPS.

Continue DPS'ing Anub'rekhan until he's dead, and then collect your loot!

Grand Widow Faerlina

Faerlina is a single-phase encounter and serves as a moderate DPS check due to her Frenzy mechanic.

Abilities
HP: 2,200,000

Melee: Hits for light damage on a tank.

Rain of Fire: Similar to the warlock spell of the same name, pelts an area with fire, dealing 2,600 fire damage every second to anyone standing in the rain.

Poison Bolt Volley: Poison strikes the 5 players closest to Faerlina, dealing 2,500 damage and applying a DoT which deals an additional 1,700 damage over 6 seconds. The DoT may be cleansed by Druids, Paladins, and a Shaman's Poison Cleansing Totem.

Frenzy: Faerlina's melee damage increases dramatically, hitting a tank so hard that it is impossible to survive for long. Faerlina will use this ability every 60 seconds.

Naxxramas Worshiper (x4)

HP: 83,000

Melee: Hits for light damage on a tank.

Dying: When a Worshiper dies, if Faerlina is Frenzied, the Frenzy will be dispelled. The Worshiper's death will also prevent Faerlina from casting Poison Bolt Volleys for a period of time.

1-2 Shamans are highly desireable in this fight for Poison Cleansing Totems. It is important that at least 2 members of your raid be able to cleanse poisons.

Main Tank: Run at Faerlina and position her as indicated.

Off Tank: You must acquire aggro on all four Naxxramas Worshipers, using AOE threat abilities like Thunderclap to tank all of them. Once all four Worshipers are attacking you, move to the position indicated in the diagram.

Raid: Throughout this encounter, Faerlina will frequently cast Rain of Fire centered on a single raid member. That player and anybody else nearby should move out of the Rain of Fire as quickly as possible, while trying to stay in range of their healers. Even the tanks must move.

If you are a ranged DPS class or healer, stay spread out. Don't cluster together or you'll be hit by the Rain of Fire more often.

Raid Leader: 50 seconds into the fight, place a raid symbol on top of the head of one Naxxramas Worshiper to assist with DPS targeting. Repeat this at 1:50, 2:50, and 3:50 into the fight.

DPS: The Raid Leader will mark one Naxxramas Worshiper with a raid symbol 50 seconds into the fight. When the mark appears, immediately switch your DPS to the Worshiper, and reduce it to about 15-20% health, but DO NOT KILL IT!

One minute into the fight, Faerlina will Frenzy. When you see the Frenzy animation, immediately kill the marked Worshiper to dispel the Frenzy effect. You may then return to DPS'ing Faerlina.

You must repeat this process every minute until Faerlina dies.

Healers:Heal your assigned targets and keep Poison Cleansing Totems down at all times. Cleansing poisons is a high priority.

If you are assigned to heal the Main Tank or the Raid, be aware that once every minute, Faerlina will briefly Frenzy. The Frenzy should be cancelled quickly by the DPS team, but your Main Tank will likely take one or two very hard hits. Prior to the 1, 2, 3, and 4 minute marks, apply HoTs to the Main Tank and precast your big heals.

Maexxna

The final encounter in Naxxramas' Spider Wing, Maexxna is a straightforward encounter; however, the Spider Queen's Frenzy ability at 30% increases her damage exponentially and may tax undergeared tanks.

Abilities
HP: 2,510,000

Melee: Prior to Frenzy, hits for moderate damage on a tank.

Web Wrap: At 20 seconds into the fight, and every 40 seconds thereafter, Maexxna spins a cocoon around a random member of the raid (Heroic: 2 members) and throws them against the wall. While cocooned, the player cannot move or use any abilities. The cocoon can be destroyed by other players, and has around 6,000 (Heroic: 15,000) health. Once it is destroyed, the cocooned player will fall to the ground, and may take fall damage.

Web Spray: At 40 seconds into the fight, and every 40 seconds thereafter, Maexxna will spray poison at the entire raid, dealing around 2,000 (Heroic: 2,500) damage to each player. Players who are cocooned by Web Wrap are not affected.

Necrotic Poison: A poison debuff that reduces healing received by 90% for 30 seconds. Maexxna will cast this frequently on the Main Tank and any other player who stands directly in front of her. Necrotic Poison can be removed by any poison cleansing spell.

Poison Shock: Maexxna sprays poison at everybody in front of her, dealing around 4,000 damage (Heroic: 5,200) to anyone in a 15 yard cone.

Summon Spiderlings: At 30 seconds into the fight, and every 40 seconds thereafter, Maexxna will summon 8 Spiderlings at her location. The Spiderlings have around 7,000 HP (Heroic: 14,000) and deal light to moderate damage on cloth.

Frenzy: At 30% health, Maexxna's melee damage will double, and her attack speed will increase by 50%, greatly increasing Maexxna's overall damage output on the Main Tank.

For this fight, only one tank is needed, so the offtank can DPS or you can pick up another DPS class.

Raid: 20 seconds into the fight, and every 40 seconds thereafter, you may be afflicted by Web Wrap. Once your teammates free you, bandage if you are very low on HP, and return to the fight as quickly as possible.

DPS: DPS Maexxna. 20 seconds in, and every 40 seconds thereafter, Maexxna will Web Wrap someone against the wall. Ranged DPS should kill the cocoon immediately, then return to DPS'ing Maexxna. Melee usually won't need to address the cocoons, but if the raid is melee-heavy or the Ranged DPS are having trouble killing cocoons fast enough, you may need to assist them.

30 seconds into the fight, and every 40 seconds thereafter, Maexxna will summon Spiderlings. AOE them as quickly as possible, and remember that in 10 seconds, the entire raid will take damage from Web Spray.

Continue damaging Maexxna until she reaches 35% health. Stop your damage until the next Web Spray. As soon as Web Spray is used, blow your cooldowns and finish the last 35% as quickly as possible.

Mage: Just before Maexxna summons Spiderlings, move up to her butt. Frost Nova them as soon as they appear, then use AOE to kill them.

Healers: Web Wrapped players will usually be OK if they're given a few HoTs shortly after being cocooned.

Every 40 seconds, the raid is going to take a lot of damage. First Spiderlings will spawn and start hitting your AOE'ers; then Web Spray will hit everyone in the raid for several thousand damage. Make sure everyone stays above about 4,000 HP during this time.

Finally, the tank will spike severely once Maexxna Frenzies at 33%, especially if another Web Spray occurs. Precast your heals and don't be afraid to blow cooldowns at this stage.