The most popular question asked in Runes of Magic is about what class combination to choose. Leveling and outfitting two halves of the same character, is no minor feat. I’ve done dual spec before but not where they each have their own XP and Talent Point cache. There is no way to change your selection, not even the secondary class. If you change your mind, your only option is to re-roll a new character. For that reason, players want to be careful, none more so, than players for whom this is their first class-based MMO.
The best I can do to offer advice is to discuss how I went about making my own choice combined with what I’ve heard and read from other players. Ultimately, it does come down to your personal preferences and goals. To save on the typing I’m not making any distinction by the order I state the combination – Warrior/Knight is the same to me as Knight/Warrior. I’m not trying to provide that level of advice. Again, much of this IS SUBJECTIVE so keep the flames to yourself if you disagree. Differing opinions and recommendations are however, very welcomed as part of the dialogue.
Here are the things I considered before choosing the Priest/Warrior combination. It was an unusual choice for me and not what I originally planned.
Solo versus Group
Sure, Runes of Magic is in the MMO genre yet recent gaming trends will tell you that many players prefer to progress on their own steam. While I have recently enjoyed more group content in my MMOs, I still prefer to play a class that is capable of completing content solo. That said, every class can solo these days but not all do it efficiently. If soloing is a priority and you care about not slugging it out painfully, then you’ll make choices that have decent survivability and decent DPS. If you plan on soloing then continue with the rest of my ideas and choose whatever strikes a chord. If you want to focus on group play jump down to the “Holy Trinity” section.
Survival
Regardless of your preference for solo or group play, your personal survivability is important. You will solo a good percentage of quests. It’s easier, more efficient and expedient. Therefore, consider your own survival for the times when solo questing is a necessity.
You can choose between can-take-a-punch (kills slowly but high survival), fragile cannon (damage mitigation is a quick kill) or something in between. The best at taking a punch is Warrior/Knight. High DPS as damage mitigation is Rogue/Scout, Rogue/Mage and Mage/Scout. For the middle of the road solution, you can go with anything that has Rogue, Mage or Scout in the combination. In this category, I would also include the Battle Monk specialization of Priest/Warrior.
- Highest survivability consider Warrior/Knight
- High DPS as mitigation with melee - Rogue as primary with Scout or Mage as secondary
- High DPS as mitigation with ranged - Scout as primary with Rogue or Mage
- High DPS as mitigation with caster -Mage as primary with Rogue or Scout
- Good survivability and moderate DPS - Choose Priest as secondary with Rogue, Mage or Scout as primary. If you have an aversion to casters or healing, you could choose the Warrior or the Knight as the secondary with these primaries. The Warrior would add survival and good white damage while the Knight brings nice utility and buffs.
Note: Based on some of the recent class changes I'm hearing the Rogue/Knight is a good option for PVE DPS and survival.
Pew-Pew
For some players damage output is all that matters. They will use high DPS as the primary source of damage mitigation. They will use consumables when necessary. They will do whatever it takes to compensate for being made of glass if they can top the damage charts. Those players have some interesting choices in ROM. You can combine ranged with melee for the flexibility – distant or close combat and good white damage (no rage or mana consumed). Are you a melee that pulls with ranged or ranged that melee when forced to or melee for white damage? You’re free to choose.
- Rogue/Scout was highest DPS – not sure since the Rogue nerf
- Mage/Rogue or Mage/Scout – caster that uses damage over time spells or poisons, kites, pulls multiple mobs and melees when needed or for mana-free damage
- Mage/Priest is good damage – depending on how you specialize the Priest side, this combination can rival Mage/Rogue and Mage/Scout. If you believe the PVP complaints Mage/Priest might rival Rogue/Scout if you specialize the Priest side for damage only.
Holy Trinity
If playing in a group setting is your preference and you want to be desired in groups, it’s best to fly with traditional full tank, full healer, full DPS. This means stay on the beaten path. Choose the combination considered the superior option. Note that class changes could change that view in the future. A change here and there to Elite Skills could move you from first place, to second or third. Bear that in mind when deciding to go with cookie-cutter or flavor of the month choices.
- Warrior/Knight is considered the main tank combination
- Priest/Knight and Priest/Mage are the superior healing combinations. You might be thinking that a Priest is a Priest but that’s not true in ROM because of the Elite skills granted to the class combinations. The Knight brings superior end-game buffs. The Mage brings mana regeneration and faster casting of heals.
- Top single class DPS are Rogue, Mage and Scout. Combining any of these two will put your character into high DPS category. I think this is the area with the most volatility and where future changes could more easily bump the combinations around between first, second and third place damage.
Fun-Factor
Often overshadowed, if you’re not considering how much fun you’ll have playing a character I’m not sure why you’d bother. I’m on the opposite side of the universe from players that still feel it’s okay for gaming to be a second job, that having fun and progression is an entitlement of the hardcore. What non-sense. This is a game. It is entertainment. Challenges are welcome. Cock-blocks, witless grinds and other manner of bullshit are not.
Originally, my first choice was to play a Paladin like combination. I wanted Knight/Priest. The other candidate was what I’d missed by leaving World of Warcraft. I was going to make a ROM Death Knight playing Knight/Mage. Unfortunately, the cornerstone of those options was the Knight and I didn’t like how slow it was to level. I enjoyed how if felt in combat but the combat felt like work – maintaining decent DPS and managing mana, was more work than I wanted.
I tried the Scout but didn’t like that class at all. It was a resounding no, even though I’ve rolled Hunters twice in WOW and a Ranger in Asheron’s Call 2. The Mage was oohkay but nothing special. Certainly not something I’d choose as the primary. While I was still searching, I ran across a post about the Battle Monk (Priest/Warrior). It sounded fun, had high survivability and was in the combat healer classification. This sounded like a viable alternative to the Paladin. I tried it out and it was fun. That’s what sold me. While I’ve NEVER EVER for any reason rolled a Warrior before, I did so in ROM because the combination was fun AND it met my other criteria for survivability, moderate DPS, solo friendly and group play options.
This post was certainly a mouthful and as usual much longer than I anticipated. While it’s impossible for anyone to tell you what is the best combination to choose in Runes of Magic, I hope this helps you think about the factors that contribute to how a combination plays and how well that fits into your PERSONAL play-style and priorities.
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