Who Wears Cloth Armor in World of Warcraft?
In the expansive world of World of Warcraft (WoW), armor plays a critical role in protecting characters from the myriad dangers they face. Armor is categorized into different types, each with its own properties and intended users. Among these, cloth armor stands out as the lightest, offering the least physical protection but often paired with unique magical benefits. Primarily, cloth armor is worn by classes that rely heavily on magic and spellcasting. But who exactly are these classes, and what else should you know about cloth armor in WoW? Let’s delve into the details.
Cloth Armor Primary Users: Mages, Priests, and Warlocks
The three classes most traditionally associated with and optimized for wearing cloth armor are Mages, Priests, and Warlocks. These are the pure spellcasting classes in WoW, and their design is heavily intertwined with the properties of cloth armor.
Mages
Mages are masters of arcane magic, manipulating the elements and harnessing raw magical power to deal damage from afar. Their playstyle relies on precise spellcasting, and cloth armor allows for the freedom of movement necessary to perform these actions unhindered. The armor’s low weight and lack of physical encumbrance allow mages to focus on channeling magic, using their abilities to create distance and control the battlefield. Additionally, certain pieces of cloth armor come with attributes that directly enhance spell damage and mana regeneration, making them ideal for mages.
Priests
Priests are healers and support characters who draw their power from faith and divine forces. They use magic to heal allies, protect the party, and sometimes even deal damage. Like mages, the precision and focus required for their spellcasting make cloth armor the ideal choice. The lower physical protection of cloth armor is compensated by the fact that priests are meant to be positioned strategically behind their tanks, away from direct enemy attacks. Furthermore, certain cloth armor pieces provide increased healing power, mana regeneration, or other beneficial stats that directly complement the priest’s role.
Warlocks
Warlocks are dark spellcasters, summoning demons, manipulating curses, and wielding shadow magic to drain their enemies. They often operate in the backlines, casting powerful spells while relying on their demonic minions to engage in melee combat. Cloth armor provides the mobility and casting freedom required for the Warlock’s spell-focused gameplay. Many cloth armor items contain bonuses that increase the effectiveness of shadow spells, demonic summons, and other warlock-specific abilities.
Other Classes and Cloth Armor
While cloth armor is primarily designed for mages, priests, and warlocks, other classes can technically wear it, although it’s generally not optimal. These classes may include:
- Druids, Paladins, and Shaman: These classes can wear cloth armor, but they benefit far more from their intended armor types like leather (Druids), plate (Paladins), and mail (Shaman). Using cloth armor will drastically reduce their armor values and often provide stats that are not beneficial for their builds.
Armor Proficiency
It’s important to understand that while many classes can physically wear cloth armor, not all of them are proficient with it. This means that there are no penalties for classes that can wear but shouldn’t be wearing cloth armor. Armor proficiency directly impacts your combat performance, allowing classes like mages, priests and warlocks to use cloth armor without any negative effects. If other classes attempt to wear cloth armor for extended periods, they will be severely hindered.
Cloth Armor Vendors
Every major city in Azeroth has vendors that specialize in selling cloth armor. These merchants offer a wide range of options, from basic starting gear to more powerful pieces that can be used during leveling. For example, in Stormwind City, you might find Carla Granger as a reliable source for cloth goods, while in Dalaran you can find Paldesse. Tailoring is another important source of cloth armor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Cloth Armor in WoW
1. What are the main advantages of cloth armor?
The primary advantage of cloth armor is that it doesn’t hinder spellcasting. Its lightweight nature provides the freedom of movement needed for magic-focused classes. It often comes with stats that enhance spell power, mana regeneration, and healing effectiveness, making it the optimal choice for Mages, Priests, and Warlocks.
2. Can other classes besides mages, priests, and warlocks benefit from wearing cloth armor?
Technically, other classes can wear cloth armor, but they do not benefit from it. They should use their intended armor type, and will perform very poorly when wearing cloth.
3. What is the difference between cloth, leather, mail, and plate armor?
Cloth armor offers the least physical protection and is best suited for spellcasters. Leather armor provides moderate protection and is often worn by agile classes like Rogues and Druids. Mail armor provides higher protection than leather and is typically worn by Hunters and Shaman. Plate armor offers the highest physical protection and is primarily used by melee-oriented tanks and damage dealers such as Paladins, Warriors, and Death Knights.
4. Does the armor type affect my character’s ability to cast spells?
Yes. Classes that aren’t proficient with their gear cannot cast spells. It affects their combat performance severely.
5. What is “armor rating,” and how does it relate to cloth armor?
Armor rating is a numerical value indicating the physical protection provided by armor. Cloth armor has the lowest armor rating compared to other types. Mages, priests and warlocks are not concerned with armor rating and tend to focus on other stats.
6. What is Tailoring, and how does it relate to cloth armor?
Tailoring is a profession in WoW that allows players to craft various cloth armor pieces. It is a primary source of gear for cloth-wearing classes and offers a way to obtain high-quality armor, especially at the end game.
7. Can mages wear other types of armor?
Mages can physically wear any armor, but they are not proficient in anything but cloth armor. They will be severely limited in their effectiveness if they attempt to use other types of armor.
8. Where can I find a cloth armor vendor?
Cloth armor vendors can be found in most major cities. For example, Carla Granger is in Stormwind City, and Paldesse is in Dalaran.
9. Can any class wear “heritage armor”?
Heritage armor is unique to specific races. Once obtained, it can be used by any character of that race, regardless of class. Other races cannot use this armor.
10. How does armor class (AC) work in WoW?
Armor class measures a character’s defenses, combining the protection from gear and their ability to avoid attacks. It’s calculated differently based on whether the character is armored or unarmored.
11. As a sorcerer, can I wear any type of armor?
While physically possible, a sorcerer can only cast spells if they wear armor that they are proficient in.
12. How does “mage armor” work?
Mage armor is a unique mechanic for magic classes. It often involves specific bonuses when they are wearing cloth gear, or when their gear offers no inherent armor value.
13. Why do magic users traditionally wear cloth armor in fantasy settings?
The reason magic users are often associated with cloth armor is because of the need for freedom of movement and concentration. The encumbrance of heavier armors can impede the fine movements and mental focus required for spellcasting.
14. What are some of the best armor sets for mages?
The best armor sets for mages vary across expansions and patch updates. You’ll typically find powerful sets in raids and dungeons. Often times these sets will include a unique bonus for wearing multiple pieces of the set. Some highly sought-after sets include the Superior Battlemage Armor, crafted by tailors.
15. Why do hunters wear orange in the real world?
The reason that hunters wear orange in real life is due to safety. It’s an unnatural color not found in nature, and is highly visible to the human eye, even in low-light conditions.
Conclusion
Cloth armor in WoW is the go-to choice for mages, priests, and warlocks. Its focus on mobility, spellcasting enhancement, and lightweight properties aligns perfectly with their class design. While other classes might technically wear cloth armor, it provides no benefit and is detrimental to their performance. Understanding these nuances is key to maximizing the potential of each class in the World of Warcraft. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of cloth armor, players can make informed decisions about gear choices.