Matticus

Matticus is the founder of World of Matticus, a World of Warcraft blog.

The Secret to a Strong Next Tier? What You Do in the Offseason Matters

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With the Liberation of Undermine wrapped and Death Jesters locking in the final boss kill, we’ve officially entered the offseason. There is no more boss progression. No more tuning headaches. Just reclears, loot funnels, and a relaxed breathing room.

It has that same feeling as school being let out for the summer, with the empty hallways and lockers being cleared out.

But make no mistake, this isn’t downtime. The work doesn’t stop just because the scoreboard says we’re done. In fact, this is one of the most important phases for raid leadership and team building.

Offseason isn’t where you chill.
It’s where you prepare to win the next tier.

Rotating in Trials and New Players

This is the perfect time to evaluate new players and trial members looking to join a team for the next tier.

During progression, every pull matters. There’s limited room for risk-taking with new trials. But now? We can afford to rotate in new and returning players during farm clears to give them real reps.

We’re watching for more than just logs:

  • How do they prep for raid?
  • Are they communicative and receptive to feedback?
  • Do they ask smart questions?
  • How’s their mechanical execution under farm-level pressure?

We had a situation where one of our players had a bit of uncertainty regarding gate placement on Sprocket. I messed up on Gallywix regarding the timing of taking a gate. Farm bosses give us a stress-free way to test someone. I like to approach it as a pre-season game before the season starts again.

Testing Main Swaps and Class Flexibility

This is also the ideal time for players to experiment.

Maybe your current main isn’t feeling right. Maybe you’re eyeing a class that looks strong heading into the next tier. Maybe someone’s just burnt out on their current toolkit and try something new.

We’re giving players space to test out alternative classes. This isn’t a promise that swaps will be locked in, but it’s a chance to gather data. Try the new spec or class. See if you like it. See how you perform. We were saved on progression when one of our tanks happened to have a serviceable Prot Paladin to help get us through Mug’zee and Gallywix. This is a great time to get up a second character to have in your back pocket in case your main class gets nerfed to the point of unusability next tier.

Whatever you do, be honest (to yourself and to your leaders). Be open to it. If you’re thinking about swapping, don’t wait until week one of the next tier. Let us test, evaluate, and plan now so we’re not scrambling later to replace the raid buff that your class provided (if you were the only one).

End-of-Tier Interviews and Roster Check-Ins

One of the most important things we’re doing is checking in with every raider individually. Although it’s still too early for that, it’s on our to-do list for the summer leading up to the next tier.

These quick end-of-tier conversations give us clarity on:

  • Who’s staying
  • Who might be stepping back or leaving
  • Who’s interested in changing classes or roles
  • Who’s mentally exhausted and needs a break

Rather than waiting for a “surprise” benching or drop-off mid-progression, we’d rather address it now. This kind of transparency helps us plan ahead, set recruitment goals, and adjust expectations.

Keeping Structure Without Burning Out

It sorely tempting to drop down to zero responsibility during the offseason. But total disengagement can backfire. That’s how people drift, motivation drops, and your team rolls into the next tier completely rusty and unprepared.

So we’re keeping a light but structured schedule:

  • Farm clears with rotating rosters (not everyone needs a 3 vault slot in the raid tier section)
  • Optional off-nights for M+ or chill games (Krunker-strike on Discord has been a hit)
  • Shortened raid nights when we’re on our game

The goal is to stay engaged without overloading anyone.

This Is Where Next Tier’s Success Begins

You don’t build a Mythic team during Mythic progression.

You build it between tiers.

The work we put in now pays off when the next raid hits, and we don’t have to waste two weeks rebuilding momentum.

This is our foundation phase. And the stronger we make it, the smoother our next tier is going to be.

So yeah, the final boss is dead.

But the grind?
It never really ends.

Want Better WoW Recruits? Ask This One Game-Changing Question

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When recruiting for a serious raid team, we often get caught up in logs, past achievements, and class comp. But there’s one deceptively simple question that cuts through all of that and reveals way more than people realize:

“How often do you play during the week?”

It’s not flashy. It’s not technical. But what about the answer you get? That tells you nearly everything you need to know about how this player is going to perform on your team.

Why Play Time Tells You Everything

Someone can have great parses and a nice raider.io score, but if they log on twice a week (once to raid and once to check the auction house), you’re going to run into problems. Quickly.

This question uncovers:

  • Whether they’re actively maintaining their character
  • If they’re engaged with current content
  • How much effort do they put into staying raid-ready
  • Whether they treat WoW like a hobby or like a team sport

If someone isn’t putting in time, they’re likely falling behind in one or more critical areas: gear optimization, dungeon keys, renown progression, consumable prep, or simply staying in rhythm with the game.

The Raid-Only Raider vs. The Team-Oriented Raider

It’s the classic split.

Some players treat raiding like clock-in, clock-out shift work. They show up for pulls but never put in work outside of it.
That may be fine for more casual groups.

But if you’re trying to push Cutting Edge, that’s a liability.

CE raiders are expected to:

  • Run high-level dungeons to cap crests and upgrade gear
  • Push reputation and renown, especially in the Liberation of Undermine, where buffs and perks are tied to progression systems
  • Hit at least 4 high-level M+ dungeons weekly to unlock vault choices (naturally this tapers off towards the end of the season)
  • Keep up with class tuning, encounter changes, and meta shifts

If you’re behind in any of these areas, you’re dragging the team down. It doesn’t matter how well you parse if your trinkets are outdated and your weapons are 20 item levels behind.

This One Question Saves You Time and Headaches

Ask it early during the interview process.

You’ll avoid weeks of frustration when someone underperforms due to poor prep. You’ll spare your leadership team awkward “why aren’t you doing your keys” DMs. And most importantly, you’ll align expectations right from the start.

This question:

  • Filters out raid passengers
  • Opens the door to honest conversations about commitment
  • Helps you recruit for long-term fit, not just short-term performance

Red Flags vs. Green Flags

Here’s what to listen for:

Red Flags:

  • “I mostly just log in for raid nights.”
  • “I haven’t done any M+ this season.”
  • “I’m not really into the grind anymore.”

Green Flags:

  • “I’m usually online a few nights a week running keys or helping friends.”
  • “I’ve been working on Undermine rep (or other rep).”
  • “I try to push keys and get my rating up.”

Consistency beats bursts of greatness. You want players who are present, proactive, and part of the team beyond just showing up on time.

Ask the Question. Always.

It’s easy to teach better positioning. You can improve execution. You can implement assignments and cooldowns to the point it becomes second nature. But you can’t teach someone to care enough to log in and improve their character. Player skill is a big part of the equation, but effort is another unit of measure.

Before you get dazzled by logs, ask the real question:

“How often do you play?”

It might be the most honest answer you get in the whole conversation.

Matt’s Notebook: Bandit Down, on to Mug’zee!

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I don’t know what else to say! It seems like the finish line is almost in sight. Last Call clears One Arm Bandit on the first raid night, and we’re moving on to Mug’zee. This is one of the last obstacles left in the raid that will be the most challenging. We don’t have a Prot Paladin. I decided to switch back from my Elemental Shaman to my Ret Paladin for this one so I can crack mines on the 1st and 3rd set. We were trying to solve and work a second mine sequence with tanks, two monks, and a hunter, but the timing just was too much to get through. Our plan for the upcoming weekend is to attempt it with two tanks (and I cast Blessing of Protection on the second tank). We’ve seen the charge phases a small handful of times. Might be able to get CE for this team shortly into July!

  • Last Call is going to have a few departures at the end of the season, but everyone’s committed to at least trying to see through Gallywix. There are going to be some challenging roster holes to fill. I can’t exactly recruit heavily because we’re so close to the end, and I don’t want to jeopardize the roster stability too much unless there’s a clear decline in play over the next few weeks. I think we can kill it with what we have, especially when assisted by the upcoming buffs.
  • Meanwhile, in DJs, we’re officially in steady state form as we’ve cleared the whole instance in one night, thereby giving us the second night off. Pretty damn good, if I do say so myself. Now our remaining time is spent on just working on different characters for the future main swaps and evaluating trials.
  • Our 6th Cartel Chip comes out this week, and it’s easy pickings for what to buy. I grabbed a Mythic Jastor’s Diamond on my Priest, and a Mythic House of Cards on my Shaman. Wasn’t able to get much of anything on my Ret Paladin as I haven’t knocked out any bosses that warranted a Cartel Chip purpose, so I’m planning to sit on it for now.
  • I tried the Dastardly Duos stuff a couple of times but it didn’t really hold my attention for long. It was a nice distraction, I suppose.

That’s all for this week! See you Thursday for another post!

Why Accountability Separates Struggling Raids From Successful Ones

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Let me set the scene.

We’re working on Stix, grinding through progression pulls. It’s one of those nights where every inch of progress feels hard-earned. We’ve got the opening sequence mostly down, but it’s still not quite clean.

During the Sorting mechanic, one of the Scrapmasters doesn’t get picked up. It stays locked onto one of our players before it promptly one-shots them, just like that. Wipe.

Frustrating, but it happens.

I ask, “Who had that zone?”

Silence.

No one admits it.

That, more than the actual mistake, is what annoys me the most. We talk a lot about being a team, being accountable, and supporting each other through progression. But in that moment, no one wanted to own up to it.

And that’s a problem.

Mistakes happen, especially in a fight as chaotic as Stix. But when nobody takes responsibility, it makes progression a whole lot harder. Instead of figuring out what went wrong and moving forward, we’re stuck spinning our wheels, digging through logs, and wondering why no one spoke up.

So, how do we fix that? How do we build a raid team where owning mistakes isn’t seen as a weakness, but a sign of progress?

Why Accountability Matters in a Raid Team

In a raid environment, especially on the road to Cutting Edge, accountability is everything. It’s not just about calling people out; it’s about creating a space where players feel comfortable owning their mistakes, learning from them, and adjusting.

Here’s why it’s so important:

  • Efficiency: Owning mistakes saves time. Instead of combing through logs to figure out who missed an interrupt, we know right away.
  • Team Trust: When players feel safe admitting they messed up, others are more likely to follow suit. It creates an environment where everyone is working toward the same goal—getting the boss down.
  • Growth Mindset: Mistakes are part of learning. If you’re too busy covering up what went wrong, you miss the chance to grow from it.
  • Cohesion: A team that communicates openly about mistakes is more resilient. It’s not about pointing fingers; it’s about learning together.

Why Players Don’t Own Up

It’s easy to say, “Just take responsibility.” But in reality, there are a few reasons why raiders might hesitate:

  • Fear of Judgment or Punishment: No one wants to be the reason for a wipe or feel like they’ll be benched for admitting a mistake.
  • Embarrassment: Some players feel ashamed of making an error, especially in front of 19 other people.
  • Not Realizing They Messed Up: Sometimes it’s not intentional. Players genuinely don’t know it was their fault.
  • Lack of Trust in Leadership: If mistakes are used as ammo to criticize rather than teach, players will stay silent.

As a raid leader, I must set the tone that mistakes aren’t something to hide. They’re something to learn from.

Tools That Reinforce Accountability (Without Making It a Witch Hunt)

We’re lucky to have plenty of tools that help us understand what went wrong during a fight. But how we use those tools makes all the difference.

  • Warcraft Logs: Essential for digging into what actually happened, but not the first tool to whip out like a prosecutor building a case.
  • Warcraft Recorder: Sometimes players don’t know they made a mistake. Reviewing footage clears up confusion and helps them see what went wrong from their own perspective.
  • Individual Check-ins: If someone’s consistently struggling but never admits it, a private message can encourage them to speak up without feeling exposed.
  • Group Debriefs: Focus on general improvements first. Use “we” language instead of “you” to avoid singling anyone out.

How to Encourage Players to Own Mistakes

  1. Lead by Example: If I mess up a callout or make a bad judgment, I admit it. Setting that precedent makes it clear that everyone, including the raid leader, is accountable.
  2. Praise Honesty: When a player speaks up about a mistake, thank them. That positive reinforcement builds the habit.
  3. Private Guidance: For players who might feel shy or worried about public shame, I reach out one-on-one to discuss what happened.
  4. Reframe Mistakes as Learning: Instead of saying “You messed up,” I focus on “Here’s how we can handle this better next time.”
  5. Set Clear Expectations: At the start of progression, I remind the team that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as we’re honest about them.

Handling Genuinely Unaware Mistakes

Sometimes, players genuinely don’t know they were the one who missed a mechanic or misused a cooldown. When that happens:

  • Be Specific: Instead of asking vague questions, point to the exact moment. “Who was in X zone when Y happened?”
  • Show the Replay: Use Warcraft Recorder to clarify the moment without being accusatory.
  • Teach, Don’t Scold: If they didn’t realize it was their fault, it’s a teaching moment. Make it clear it’s about improvement, not blame.

Building a Culture of Preparation, Not Perfection

Accountability is about more than just admitting mistakes. It’s also about building a mindset that values growth over perfection.

As raid leaders, we have to model that change. If we’re transparent, consistent, and patient, it sets the pace for everyone else. Inspire improvement by celebrating small wins—like hitting a new phase, sticking to the raid plan, or seeing consistent progress on mechanics.

If your leaders and core players model accountability, others will follow. You can’t expect players to take ownership if they never see it from the top.

We Didn’t Fail, We Just Learned One More Way Not to Kill the Boss

Creating a culture of accountability takes time. It’s about fostering trust, consistency, and a mindset that treats mistakes as stepping stones.

We have to be relentless about moving forward. That means inspiring improvement and being patient with progression. If we can shift the focus from blame to growth, our team will be stronger for it.

Because in raiding, it’s not about never wiping—it’s about learning how to wipe better each time until the boss finally falls.

How to Handle a Trial That’s Failing (When They’re a Referral)

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Here’s a situation every raid leader has seen at some point.

One of your best raiders (maybe your top DPS or a senior, long-time player), comes to you and says,

“Hey, my friend is looking for a team. Think we could trial them?”

You trust this player, and they’ve been with you through tiers (or years) of progression. Of course, you say yes. You’re sure their judgment is sound and they’re staking their reputation on them thinking it’ll be a solid fit, right? The new guy goes through the interview process and is able to answer the questions honestly, even if they’re a bit light on recent experience (because they’ve obviously just come back to the game or are trying a new class this time around).

But then the trial starts… and it’s rough.

The friend is average at best. They miss interrupts. They’re out of positions. Their logs are low. Worst of all, their mistakes are holding the raid back from moving forward.

Now you’re in an awkward position.

Do you keep the trial to keep your core player happy?
Or cut them and risk losing both?

Why This Happens All the Time

Raid teams are built on relationships. Referrals are natural. People want to raid with their friends. And most of the time, when a top player vouches for someone, you give them the benefit of the doubt.

But the problem is that being a reliable raider doesn’t automatically make you a good recruiter.

Option 1: Keep the Trial

You value loyalty. You want to avoid drama. And maybe you’re hoping the trial will improve over time.

Pros:

  • Keeps your veterans happy.
  • Avoids an awkward conversation.
  • Buys time for development (if they’re coachable).

Cons:

  • Weak performance continues.
  • The rest of the team starts noticing and asking questions.
  • Resentment builds.

If other players feel like someone’s being carried because of a referral connection, the team’s culture (and possibly trust) takes a hit.

Option 2: Cut the Trial

You have standards to uphold, and you’re on the clock. Performance and chemistry matter. You’re willing to make a hard decision.

Pros:

  • Reinforces your raid’s expectations.
  • Clears up a weak spot.
  • It may actually strengthen team trust long-term.

Cons:

  • You risk losing the original referring player.
  • You might create tension or drama.
  • The veteran player may feel resentful or disappointed.

The leadership dilemma is: Do you value the immediate harmony or long-term standards?

Middle Ground: A Collaborative Fix

Before you swing the axe, try this:

  • Talk to your veteran player first and be honest: “Hey, your buddy’s struggling. I want to be transparent about where they’re at.”
  • Ask if they’ve coached their friend, and if they think the player can realistically improve.
  • Offer the trial an alternate or backup role with a path to earn a position on the roster.
  • Set clear performance goals: “Hit X DPS, avoid Y mechanic, improve interrupts.” Warcraft Logs can help track these metrics on a raid-by-raid basis, and you can measure that progression.

If they meet the bar? Great. If not? Everyone had a fair opportunity, and the squad stays intact.

The Long-Term Cost of Soft Standards

Keeping someone on the team who doesn’t meet the bar (just to avoid losing a better player) might feel like the easier move to make. I can tell you from experience that it rarely works out long-term.

You don’t just risk performance. You risk your identity.

Every raid slot matters if your team is trying to get that CE achievement. Every weak link creates drag.

Make the Hard Call

Leadership means protecting your team’s health, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Be clear. Be consistent. And be fair.

“If one weak link is sinking the boat, it doesn’t matter who brought them aboard.”

Your star player might respect you more for being honest than they would for bending the rules, and giving an exception. And if they don’t?

Then maybe they weren’t the right teammate you thought they were.