🐉 Raiding · Lesson 12 of 17

Roles & Reading Mechanics

Raids test whether you can do your job while handling mechanics. Understanding roles and how to read a fight is the core skill.

8 min read

Know your role

  • Tanks control boss position and threat and use active mitigation on big hits.
  • Healers triage - keep tanks up, spot-heal spikes, and ramp for raid-wide damage.
  • DPS maximize damage while never missing a mechanic - dead DPS does zero damage.

Reading a fight

  • Every boss is a set of repeating mechanics on timers - your boss mod warns you before each one.
  • Watch for your name or marker (targeted mechanics) and move accordingly.
  • Learn the two or three mechanics that actually kill people and prioritize those.

Cooldowns and assignments

  • Raids use assigned raid cooldowns for big damage events - know your slot.
  • Use personal defensives for hits aimed at you.
  • Follow marks, soak assignments, and stack or spread calls.

Key takeaways

  • Do your role's job without dropping mechanics - dead players contribute nothing.
  • Bosses are timed, repeating mechanics; your boss mod tells you what is next.
  • Know your cooldown and soak or stack assignments.