Top 5 Raid Finder Mistakes (and how to avoid making them)

The new Looking for Raid tool, commonly called the Raid Finder, is an awesome new tool that allows more players into raids than ever before. However with this huge influx of new raiders, you will find an equally large number of players that don’t really know what they are doing or what is expected. Everyone is just so excited to raid the Dragon Soul Raid that they rush right in.

That’s where this little guide steps in to help out. If you are new to the Raid Finder, or even just haven’t raided in a while, you should check out this list of 5 common mistakes that players are making. Knowing them up front, allows you to go in properly prepared and not make them yourself.

5) Players not knowing their class

This is the first thing that you should do, and it really is hard to believe but there are still players out there even at level 85 that simply do not know how to play their class. If you are a hunter that believes in melee for example, please do not ever sign up for raid finder. This is an extreme example, but I have seen some… sigh.

Dragon Soul Raid group
All these people count on you knowing what to do.

More subtle examples are characters that do not know which stat is best for them and are reforged to their worst possible stat, or players that are using abilities that are horrible that any other player of that class knows to avoid. This is always easy to see on DPS players when they come in and are unable to even do 10,000 DPS on a boss. Really? If you can not do 10,000 sustained unbuffed against a target dummy, you probably shouldn’t sign up to looking for raid, as that is a super simple number to hit in 353 gear never mind at the 372 level. Once raid buffed and geared to at least 372, the minimum any DPS player should be putting out is 15,000 and even then many groups will be looking to kick you.
Another example are players that don’t know they have battle rez’s. I have run into Warlocks that didn’t know they could use their soul stones on dead players, and even a feral druid who didn’t know to battle rez a healer in a fight. Really people? If you can not even play your class, how do you expect to play your class with others.

4) Players cheating the item level system to get in

While we all know the item level system is flawed and that better gear does not necessarily mean a better player, it is there for a reason. Breaking it on purpose just because you want to, is not a good reason.

This means don’t use PVP gear, don’t queue as healer for healing gear if it is your tank set that qualifies you and your healing gear is only 333. Don’t let other pieces in your bag count towards your set that you are queuing as. In general be honest and make sure you are really ready.

Also, make sure you are enchanted, gemmed and reforged. Having the item level is one thing, having the items really being ready is a completely different thing.

If you are not sure on how to validly get geared up, check out our Gearing for Raid Finder for help. You can also check out Playerscore to find out how you rank and where you should go for new gear.

3) Players that do not have flasks and food

This is huge, especially when you are not sure of how your other party members are going to be equipped. Flasks and food offer huge buffs to your character for a relatively low price and are well worth it.

Dragon Soul Raid flask buff
It is a huge buff for very little cost.

For example a common tanking flask provides 450 stamina! Would any sane tank ever give up 450 stamina that is essentially free? I think not. Every class has a flask out there for them that significantly improves their character (most provide 300 of their key stat) and does not cost that much. After all what is a few hundred gold at level 85 for a run, nothing.

The same with food, most buff food offers 90 stamina and 90 of a key stat, there is no way that it is excusable to miss this buff, when you can get stacks of 20 food for so little on the auction house.

Between these two simple things, by not having them you give up at least 390 of your main stat. That is as much as 3-4 normal item upgrades that you are just throwing away by not having it. That is simply not acceptable in any situation involving a group of players relying on you.

2) Players that do not follow instructions

This on is hit or miss, as sometimes you do run into a raid leader in the LFR tool that really is clueless and you shouldn’t follow what they say. However…

Even if you think you know better, follow what the group decides to do. Going off on your own only causes problems and splits the group.

If you can as a group convince the raid leader to appoint someone else, that is awesome, do so. If not, follow along with the group until they decide to or the incompetent raid leader is kicked.

If you go out and do your own thing you will just be the one to be blamed for the wipe and kicked, instead of others realizing that there is another real issue and listening.

Also, please remember there are real people behind the other characters, calling people idiots, morons, and other names (while it may be true), is not the best way to get anyone to listen. Be respectful, talk intelligently, and you will have way more luck in getting anything done.

1) Players that do not know the fights!

The number one mistake players make however is really one of the easiest to avoid.

There really is no reason to go into the raid finder not knowing a fight and wiping the group. Doing so will get you kicked very fast. This ties into the above, following instructions error, but is subtly different. Really no one should need to follow instructions if everyone knew the fights and knew what was expected of them. In general there are very few things that you would need to follow instructions for, other than kill orders on some fights, healing assignments, and tank swaps.

Where do you go to learn the fights though if not actually doing them? Luckily there are several places.
Blizzard has the Dungeon Journal in the game for a reason, use it. Look up the fight mechanics and learn them before you go in.

Better yet, we have a guild that covers the basics and what you need to do for each one right here: Dragon Soul Raid Guide.

Failing that you can always look up the videos for each of the boss fights on youtube and watch them there.


To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our World of Warcraft Game Page.

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

About The Author

Byron has been playing and writing about World of Warcraft for the past ten years. He also plays pretty much ever other Blizzard game, currently focusing on Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone, while still finding time to jump into Diablo III with his son.

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