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Stuck in a WoW Funk: Mythic+ Frustrations and the Siren Isle Letdown

Robin Baird Posted:
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Columns Arlee In Azeroth 0

I’ve been in a weird place with World of Warcraft for the last few months. Part of this is because my main activity is raiding, and running those is a bit haphazard once the holidays arrive. Additionally, since I haven’t enjoyed this season of mythic+ much, my other primary activity has been missing. I haven’t even gotten KSM yet, which is highly unusual. I had hoped the Siren’s Isle update would help break me out of my funk, but it hasn’t. Considering this is still the first patch of the expansion, it’s a bit weird to already be in this state.

Many of the issues that have caused mythic+ to be less fun this season will be addressed when Season 2 starts; I’m not entirely sure if all the fixes will work as expected, but I appreciate the adjustments being made. Unfortunately, none of that helps right now. First seasons of a new expansion are always the roughest because they have the most changes preceding them. But this season feels far worse to me. Most of the time, I love being a tank, leading the way, and taking all the punches to the face. However, with the many changes made before this season started, much of the fun I had within my role seems to have been taken away.

Some of this is an issue with Guardian because there isn’t a single skill I would classify as fun to use. Alternatively, on my Paladin, I have Avenger’s Shield, Avenging Wrath, Divine Toll, Hammer of Light, and Divine Shield, all of which are fun skills to use. That said, I don’t want to main my Pally because I prefer the Druid class overall, and Prot Pally often feels invincible, which is boring. I used to enjoy using Disorienting Roar to help with interrupts, but it’s far less useful this season than it used to be. I’m not saying Guardian has no utility left, Typhoon and Ursol’s can be handy. However, I wouldn’t consider them fun outside of a few niche uses.

World of Warcraft

Additionally, I am still frustrated that bears had an aoe taunt in The Burning Crusade, but it was taken away and given to at least three other tanks at various times. I joke about it, but reliving this cycle in the various Classic expansions has only reinvigorated my frustration. I want some justice on this front, such that either no one has it or give it to whomever you want, but ensure Guardians also get it as well. It only seems fair.

Moving on to the Siren Ilse, the biggest issue I have with it is I expected it to be more like the Forbidden Reach update than it is. The issue here is mainly reflected in how the story on the island is presented. In the Forbidden Reach update, we had a reasonably sizable story focusing on Emberthal and Ebyssian, two leading characters from the start of Dragonflight. In the Siren Isle update, there were a few goblins we’ve met before, in addition to our troll druid friend Orwenya. Don’t get me wrong, I love everything we do with Orwenya, and I can’t wait to learn more about her and her tribe. That said, the storyline here is about getting us ready for Undermined and has nothing to do with the Siren Isle.

Since everything on the island itself involves a cast of side characters who weren’t featured in the opening storylines of The War Within, it immediately makes it feel like a side quest. Which isn’t to say it’s unimportant or bad. Some of my favorite quests are often side quests. They have to hit, though, or at least lead to fun activities. Siren Isle is a miss on both fronts for me. There is a whole “what happened to the kul’tirans who were here previously?” mystery, which I am a bit curious about but not at all invested in. If it weren’t for the fact that I am still trying to get a mount, I wouldn’t go back there.

That said, I’m not sure there was a good way to involve any of the main characters on Siren Isle in a way that would make sense. It all feels as though they were trying to recreate what worked about Forbidden Reach but somehow thought the island was the best part of it.

World of Warcraft

What has been working for me recently is after the Classic Anniversary realms went live, I rolled on the Hardcore realm with some friends. I’m not super into the whole Hardcore scene, but I have been having a ton of fun with it. There’s something fun in starting over with an entire server simultaneously that can’t be recreated any other way. I am not a fast leveler, so I am already behind the curve.

Additionally, I feel Hardcore requires a certain amount of focus, which I can’t always give, so I don’t play as often as I would if it weren’t Hardcore. That said, I am having a blast with it, and hopefully, I can eventually make it to the maximum level. In the meantime, the journey has been a riot.

I am hopeful the Undermined update will help break me out of my funk with The War Within. Even if the goblin storylines don’t resonate with me, some of the other changes should help mythic+ feel better next season. I prefer it when there are a ton of things I want to do outside my organized group content. Though, I have learned that as long as raids and mythic+ are solid, I’ll be good.



In this column, Robin explores everything World of Warcraft, covering its past, current and future.


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Robin Baird

Robin loves RPGs, MMOs, JRPGs, Action, and Adventure games... also puzzle games... and platformers... and exploration games... there are very few games she isn't interested in. When it comes to MMOs she focuses on WoW and GW2 but will pick-up other games as they catch her fancy. She's a habitual returner to FFXIV because that game is an all-around great MMO.