A Dwarf Priest

Blizzard has announced its intention to change how raid buff stacking works in patch 3.0.2, making more buffs and debuffs affect the whole raid, but limiting how many things they can stack with.  I know this topic has been picked apart to death, and I know I already touched upon this in my post about changes to shadow priest utility in WotLK, but the information given is so large and unwieldy, it is difficult to visualize how different things will become.

If you have not read the official post on how raid stacking will change in patch 3.0.2, go do so now.

You will continue to try to stack your raids to ensure optimal raid buffs.  Especially in 10-mans, balancing classes and specs for the buffs/debuffs they bring will be quite tedious.  There are 38 different categories that raid buffs and debuffs fall into, and only the best buff/debuff in each category will affect the raid or target.  Some categories you will not find useful all the time (such as resistances, mob healing debuffs, etc.), but most you will.

A visual overview of the buff overlaps is as follows:

(Note: You MUST click on the image to be able to read it!)

Click for: Large Version || Medium Version
Or download an Excel version of this table (to tweak for yourself).

HUGE DISCLAIMER: Just because a spec could bring a certain buff to the raid, it doesn’t mean each and every person with talent points in that tree will have the desired buff. Ask the player, inspect them, or check their armory to be sure.  When making this table, I erred on the side of inclusion.

Here is a short reference of the buff/debuff names broken down by category, which player should have them, and how they are obtained (trainer, talent points, etc.).  Use the list below to know what to ask players for when building your raid group. The best buffs in each category are starred (). (Read on for the complete list…)

All Damage Buffs
These buffs increase the damage done by all types of damage

• Percentage Haste Increase
  Increases the haste rating of all players in the raid
  • Improved Moonkin Aura
    Druid – Balance – 34 talent points
    
  • Swift Retribution
    Paladin – Retribution – 43 talent points

• Percentage Damage Increase
  Increases the raid damage done by a flat percent
  • Ferocious Inspiration
    Hunter – Beastmastery – 33 talent points
    
  • Sanctified Retribution
    Paladin – Retribution – 21 talent points

All Damage Debuffs
These debuffs on a mob will increase its damage taken from all sources

• Crit Chance Taken
  Increases the chance a given target is hit with a critical strike
  • Heart of the Crusader
    Paladin – Retribution – 8 talent points
    
  • Totem of Wrath
    Shaman – Elemental – 41 talent points

Physical Damage Buffs
Increases to melee and ranged physical attacks

• Melee Haste
  Increases the haste of melee attacks only
  • Improved Icy Talons
    Death Knight – Frost – 26 talent points
    
  • Windfury Totem
    Shaman – level 32 spell
    Improved version: Enhancement – 27 talent points

• Melee Crit
  Increases the crit chance of melee attacks
  • Leader of the Pack
    Druid – Feral – 31 talent points
    
  • Rampage
    Warrior – Fury – 41 talent points

• Flat AP Buff
  Adds a flat value of attack power
  • Battle Shout
    Warrior – level 1 ability
    Improved version: 15 points Fury
    
  • Blessing of Might
    Paladin – level 4 ability
    Improved version: 5 points Retribution

• AP Multiplier Buff
  Increases attack power by a certain percentage
  
  • Trueshot Aura
    Hunter – Marksmanship – 31 talent points
    
  • Abomination’s Might
    Death Knight – Blood – 27 talent points
    
  • Unleashed Rage
    Shaman – Enhancement – 40 talent points

• Bleed Damage Increase
  Increases the amount of damage done by bleed effects
  • Mangle
    Druid – Feral – 41 talent points
    
  • Trauma
    Warrior – Arms – 27 talent points

Physical Damage Debuffs
Debuffs placed on a target that increase the melee and ranged physical attack damage done to it

• Major Armor Debuff
  Effectively decreases the armor rating of the target
  • Acid Spit
    Hunter – Beastmastery – exotic pet (worm)
    
  • Expose Armor
    Rogue – level 14 ability
    
  • Sunder Armor
    Warrior – level 10 ability

• Minor Armor Debuff
  Similar to the previous category.  You can have one major armor debuff and one minor.
  • Faerie Fire
    Druid – level 18 spell
    
  • Sting
    Hunter – wasp pet
    
  • Curse of Recklessness
    Warlock – level 14 spell

• Physical Vulnerability Debuff
  Causes the target to take additional damage from each physical attack
  • Blood Frenzy
    Warrior – Arms – 42 talent points
    
  • 2nd Talent Spec TBA

Spell Damage Buffs
Increases the amount of spell damage done by the raid

• Spell Haste
  Increases the spell haste rating of raid members
  • Wrath of Air Totem
    Shaman – level 64 spell

• Spell Crit (Buff)
  Increases the spell crit rating of raid members
  • Moonkin Aura
    Druid – Balance – 31 talent points
    
  • Elemental Oath
    Shaman – Elemental – 37 talent points

• Increased Spell Power
  Increases the raid’s spell power stat
  • Demonic Pact
    Warlock – Demonology – 50 talent points
    
  • Totem of Wrath
    Shaman – Elemental – 41 talent points
    
  • Focus Magic
    Mage – Arcane – 11 talent points
    
  • Flametongue Totem
    Shaman – level 28 spell
    
  • Improved Divine Spirit
    Priest – Discipline – 23 talent points

Spell Damage Debuffs
Increases the amount of spell damage a target will take

• Spell Crit (Debuff)
  Increases the chance of target being struck with a spell critical strike
  • Improved Scorch
    Mage – Fire – 18 talent points
    
  • Winter’s Chill
    Mage – Frost – 28 talent points

• Increased Spell Damage Taken
  Spells deal additional damage to the target
  • Ebon Plaguebringer
    Death Knight – Unholy – 42 talent points
    
  • Earth and Moon
    Druid – Balance – 50 talent points
    
  • Curse of the Elements
    Warlock – level 32 spell

• Increased Spell Hit Taken
  Decreases the chance that spells miss the target
  • Improved Faerie Fire
    Druid – Balance – 33 talent points
    
  • Misery
    Priest – Shadow – 38 talent points

Mob Mitigation Debuffs
Situational debuffs limiting an aspect of a mob’s ability

• Melee Attack Speed Slow
  Increases the time between melee strikes from the target
  • Infected Wounds
    Druid – Feral – 38 talent points
    
  • Icy Touch
    Death Knight – level 55 ability
    Improved version: 3 points Frost
    
  • Judgments of the Just
    Paladin – Protection – 47 talent points
    
  • Thunder Clap
    Warrior – level 6 ability

• Melee Hit Chance Reduction
  Decreases the chance the target will hit in melee
  • Insect Swarm
    Druid – Balance – 21 talent points
    
  • Scorpid Sting
    Hunter – level 22 ability

• Healing Debuff
  Decreases the amount of healing the target receives
  • Wound Poison
    Rogue – weapon poison
    
  • Aimed Shot
    Hunter – Marksmanship – 11 talent points
    
  • Mortal Strike
    Warrior – Arms – 31 talent points
    
  • Furious Attacks
    Warrior – Fury – 37 talent points

• Attack Power Debuff
  Decreases the targets physical attack power
  • Demoralizing Roar
    Druid – level 10 ability – Bear form only
    Improved version – 5 points Feral
    
  • Demoralizing Shout
    Warrior – level 14 spell
    Improved version – 10 points Fury
    
  • Curse of Weakness
    Warlock – level 4 spell

• Cast Speed Slow
  Increases the casting time on all spells
  • Curse of Tongues
    Warlock – level 26 spell
    
  • Slow
    Mage – Arcane – 41 talent points
    
  • Mind-numbing Poison
    Rogue – weapon poison

Stat Increasing Raid Buffs
Increases one or more of the “core” stats (stamina, intellect, spirit, agility, or strength) of raid members

• Stat Multiplier
  Increases all core stats by a fixed percentage
  • Blessing of Kings
    Paladin – Protection – 11 talent points

• Stat Add
  Increases all core stats by a fixed value
  • Mark of the Wild
    Druid – level 1 spell
    Improved: 5 points Restoration

• Strength & Agility
  Increase to both strength and agility
  • Strength of Earth Totem
    Shaman – level 10 spell
    
  • Horn of Winter
    Death Knight – level 65 ability

• Stamina
  Increase to stamina
  • Power Word: Fortitude
    Priest – level 1 spell
    Improved: 7 points Discipline

• Intellect
  Increase to intellect
  • Arcane Intellect
    Mage – level 1 spell
    
  • Fel Intelligence
    Warlock – pet ability (felhunter)

• Spirit
  Increase to spirit
  • Divine Spirit
    Priest – Discipline – 21 talent points
    
  • Fel Intelligence
    Warlock – pet ability (felhunter)

Damage Mitigation, Healing, & Health
Buffs that make the healers’ lives easier

• Damage Mitigation Percent Buff
  Decreases the amount of physical damage taken by raid members
  • Grace
    Priest – Discipline – 42 talent points
    
  • Blessing of Sanctuary
    Paladin – Protection – 21 talent points

• Percent Healing Received Buff
  Increases the healing done to raid members
  • Tree of Life
    Druid – Restoration – 41 talent points
    
  • Improved Devotion Aura
    Paladin – Protection – 18 talent points

• Health Increase
  Increases the max. health of raid members
  • Commanding Shout
    Warrior – level 68 ability
    
  • Blood Pact
    Warlock – pet ability (imp)

• Armor Increase Percent
  Increases a raid member’s armor
  • Inspiration
    Priest – Holy – 13 talent points
    
  • Ancestral Healing
    Shaman – Restoration – 8 talent points

Mana
Regenerates the raid’s mana

• Replenish
  Returns mana to the 10 raid members with the lowest remaining mana.
  * See note below!
  • Vampiric Touch
    Priest- Shadow – 41 talent points
    
  • Hunting Party
    Hunter – Survival – 50 talent points
    
  • Judgements of the Wise
    Paladin – Retribution – 28 talent points

Resistances
Increases the spell resistance stats of raid members.

• Arcane
  Increases arcane spell resistance
  • Mark of the Wild
    Druid – level 1 ability
    Improved version: 2 points Restoration

• Fire
  Increases fire spell resistance
  • Fire Resistance Aura
    Paladin – level 36 spell
    
  • Fire Resistance Totem
    Shaman – level 28 spell
    
  • Mark of the Wild
    Druid – level 1 ability
    Improved version: 2 points Restoration

• Frost
  Increases frost spell resistance
  • Frost Resistance Aura
    Paladin – level 32 ability
    
  • Frost Resistance Totem
    Shaman – level 24 ability
    
  • Mark of the Wild
    Druid – level 1 ability
    Improved version: 2 points Restoration

• Nature
  Increases nature spell resistance
  • Nature Resistance Totem
    Shaman – level 30 ability
    
  • Aspect of the Wild
    Hunter – level 46 ability
    
  • Mark of the Wild
    Druid – level 1 ability
    Improved version: 2 points Restoration

• Shadow
  Increases shadow spell resistance
  • Shadow Protection
    Priest – level 30 ability
    
  • Shadow Resistance Aura
    Paladin – level 28 ability
    
  • Mark of the Wild
    Druid – level 1 ability
    Improved version: 2 points Restoration

Replenishment

I included a category for mana-return spells/abilities that apply Replenishment buffs to your raid.  If there is only one person who can apply the “Replenish” buff to the raid, it will affect the ten players with the lowest mana values. If there are two players, it will affect the 20 people in your raid with the lowest mana values. At least that is was the way it was working as of a few days ago.  This may be a bug, or it may just be the way it is going to work.  I am not sure at this point in time.

Provided things do not change, you would only need one player who can provide Replenish in a 10-man raid.  In a 25-man, you could use two.

Footnote

This list and table are obviously subject to change.  I just thought it would be a useful tool for those trying to optimize their 10-man Naxx runs in the beta.

Once this information is more set in stone, with a little luck someone might make a handy flash tool where you could plug in the classes/specs you already have, and easily see which classes to use to fill the empty raid slots, satisfying your missing buff/debuff categories  (I’m not going to bother to, as my webhost will not let me upload flash. However, I would be happy to help out anyone who wanted to make and/or host it.  I’ll try to keep this post updated in the meantime).