View source for Threat

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{{about||the enchant|Threat (enchant)|the World of Warcraft #16 comic|Threat!}}
'''Threat''' is a measure of an NPC's aggression towards a player.  Each NPC has a threat table, and a unit toward the top of the list is usually the target of its aggression.  In-game, this is known as having [[aggro]] from that particular NPC.  The NPC will attack that character if possible, unless something overrides the NPC's target.

== Mechanics ==
Every unit is added to the threat table upon begining combat, and removed at the end of combat.  Threat is a positive number beginning at zero upon entry to the table.  (Leaving and re-entering combat starts at zero again.)  Each NPC tracks opponents using their own threat table.

The following actions accumulate threat while combat continues:
* Damaging the NPC adds one threat per one damage done
* Healing any of the NPC's enemies adds one threat per two effective healing done, divided by the number of NPCs who observed the heal
* Friendly buffs or on-use abilities may add a fixed amount of threat, divided by the number of NPCs who observed the ability

The NPC [[aggro]]s to a new unit if that unit:
* Overrides the NPC's target using a [[Taunt]] or special ability
* Exceeds the previous target's threat by 10% while within melee range
* Exceeds the previous target's threat by 30% while outside melee range

== Modifying threat ==
Some abilities accelerate the rate of threat generation:
* Tanks have a 5.0x threat modifier from [[Blood Presence]], [[Bear Form]], [[Stance of the Sturdy Ox]], [[Defensive Stance]] and [[Righteous Fury]]
* In ''World of Warcraft: Classic'', most classes have [[talent]]s to influence threat generation
* When two or more factors apply simultaneously, they stack multiplicatively without any diminishing returns

Many roles also have abilities to reposition themselves within the threat table:
*[[Tank]]s elevate themselves atop the threat table using [[Taunt]] abilities
* Some [[DPS]] and [[Healer]]s use abilities like [[Misdirection]], [[Tricks of the Trade]] or [[Fade]] to temporarily transfer or reduce threat
* Some [[DPS]] use abilities like [[Invisibility]] or [[Vanish]] to permanently reduce threat to zero (and possibly exit combat)

Finally, many [[encounter]]s and other NPCs have abilities which modify their threat table in unique ways.

== Detailed values ==
When expanded, the following tables list currently-known modifiers for threat abilities:

=== Abilities ===
{| class="darktable zebra mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="cell-spacing: 0px; min-width:20em; float:left; margin-right:5em"
|- 
! colspan="2" | Threat Auras
|-
! Effect !! Threat Multiplier
|-
| class="baseNumbers" bgcolor=#434343 colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Baseline modifiers (all characters)'''
|-
| Damage caused || 1.0 * damage done
|- 
| Healing caused || 0.5 * healing done (overheal not counted)
|-
| Mana gain || 0.5 * mana gained (only certain effects)
|-
| Rage gain || 5.0 * rage gained (only certain effects)
|- 
| class="death knight" bgcolor=#C41F10 colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Death Knight'''
|-
| [[Blood Presence]] || 5.0
|- 
| class="druid" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Druid'''
|-
| [[Bear Form]] || 5.0
|-
| class="hunter" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Hunter'''
|-
| [[Misdirection]] || All attacks for 4 seconds temporarily increase the target's threat instead.
|- 
| class="monk" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Monk'''
|-
| [[Stance of the Sturdy Ox]] || 5.0
|-
| class="paladin" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Paladin'''
|-
| [[Righteous Fury]] || 5.0
|-
| class="rogue" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Rogue'''
|-
| [[Tricks of the Trade]] || All attacks for 6 seconds temporarily increase the target's threat instead.
|- 
| class="warlock" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Warlock'''
|-
| [[Dark Apotheosis]] || 7.0
|-
| class="warrior" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Warrior'''
|-
| [[Defensive Stance]] || 5.0
|}
{| class="darktable zebra mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="cell-spacing: 0px; min-width:20em"
|- 
! colspan="2" | Threat Modifying Abilities
|- 
! Ability || Threat Bonus/Reduction

|- 
| class="death knight" bgcolor=#C41F10 colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Death Knight'''
|-
| [[Death and Decay (death knight ability)]] || 1.9 x damage done
|-
| [[Dark Command]]<br/>[[Death Grip]] || Sets threat equal to player highest on target's threat list.
|- 
| class="druid" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Druid'''
|-
| [[Growl]] || Sets threat equal to player highest on target's threat list.
|- 
| class="hunter" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Hunter'''
|-
| [[Distracting Shot]] || ''+110, and functions as a temporary taunt.''
|-
| [[Feign Death]] || Removes from threat lists of all enemies. (resistible)
|- 
| [[Cower (pet ability)]] || ''-?? to pet''
|-
| [[Growl (pet ability)]] || ''+?? to pet''
|-
| [[Intimidation]] || ''+?? to pet''
|-
| [[Thunderstomp (pet ability)]] || ''+?? to pet''
|- 
| class="mage" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Mage'''
|-
| [[Invisibility]] || Reduces threat vs. all enemies by 10% per second for 3 seconds.<br/>
Removed from all threat lists upon becoming invisible.
|- 
| class="paladin" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Paladin'''
|-
| [[Hand of Reckoning]] || Sets threat equal to player highest on target's threat list.
|-
| [[Hand of Salvation]] || Sets target's threat to 0 for the duration.
|- 
| class="priest" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Priest'''
|- 
| [[Binding Heal]] || 0.5 * healing done (above & beyond base healing reduction)
|-
| [[Fade]] || Sets threat to 0 for the duration.
|-
| [[Holy Nova]] || This ability causes no threat.
|- 
| class="rogue" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Rogue'''
|-
| [[Vanish]] || Removes from threat lists of all enemies.
|- 
| class="shaman" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Shaman'''
|-
| [[Frost Shock]] || 2.0 * damage done
|-  
| [[Wind Shear]] || Reduces threat vs. target by 5% of total.
|- 
| class="warlock" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Warlock'''
|-
| [[Soulshatter (warlock ability)]] || Reduces threat by 90% for all enemies within 50 yards.
|-
| [[Suffering]] || Sets threat equal to player highest on target's threat list.
|- 
| class="warrior" colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | '''Warrior'''
|-
| [[Taunt (warrior ability)]] || Sets threat equal to player highest on target's threat list.
|}<div style="margin:0px; font-height:0px; clear:left">&nbsp;</div>

=== Items ===
{| class="darktable zebra mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="min-width:20em; float:left; margin-right:5em"
|- 
! colspan="2" | Threat [[Gear]]
|-
! Item || Effect
|- 
| {{wow-inline}}{{set|Bloodfang Armor}} 5 part set bonus || 25% improved Feint Threat reduction
|- 
| {{wow-inline}}{{set|Nemesis Raiment}} 8 part set bonus || Reduces the threat generated by your Destruction spells by 20%.
|-
| {{wow-inline}}{{set|Bonescythe Armor}} 6 part set bonus || Reduces the threat from your Backstab, Sinister Strike, Hemorrhage, and Eviscerate abilities by 8%
|- 
| {{wow-inline}}{{set|Vestments of Faith}} 6 Part set bonus || -10%
|-
| {{wow-inline}}[[Black Amnesty]] || -540 Threat
|- 
| {{wow-inline}}[[Fetish of the Sand Reaver]] || Reduces the threat you generate by 50% for 20 sec
|-
| {{bc-inline}}[[Grace of Earth]] || -640 Threat ~ 30 Yards, 5min cooldown
|- 
| {{bc-inline}}[[Hypnotist's Watch]] || -720 ~ 30 Yards, 5min cooldown
|-
| {{bc-inline}}[[Jewel of Charismatic Mystique]] || -1075 ~ 30 Yards, 5min cooldown
|- 
| {{bc-inline}}[[Muck-Covered Drape]] || -473 Threat
|- 
| {{bc-inline}}[[Prism of Inner Calm]] || Reduces threat from your harmful critical strikes
|- 
| {{bc-inline}}[[Timelapse Shard]] || -901 ~ 30 Yards, 2min cooldown
|}

{| class="darktable zebra mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="min-width:20em;"
|- 
! colspan="4" | Threat [[Enchantment]]s
|-
! Slot || Enchantment || Effects || Source
|-
| rowspan="2" | Back || {{wotlk-inline}}[[Wisdom]] || Reduce threat slightly and increase Spirit by 10. || [[Enchanting]] (440)
|-
| {{bc-inline}}[[Enchant Cloak - Subtlety]] || Decrease threat from all attacks and spells by 2%. || [[Enchanting]] (300)
|-
| rowspan = "2" Hands || {{wotlk-inline}}[[Armsman]] || Increase threat caused by 2% and increase parry rating by 10. || [[Enchanting]] (435)
|-
| {{bc-inline}}[[Threat (enchant)]] || Increase threat from all attacks and spells by 2%. || [[Enchanting]] (300)
|}

{| class="darktable zebra mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="min-width:20em; float:left; clear:left; margin-right:5em"
|-
! colspan="2" | Threat [[Potion]]s
|- 
! Item || Effect
|-
| [[Shrouding Potion]] || -1500 ~ 30 Yards
|}

{{:Threat reduction gems}}<div style="clear:left; margin:0px; font-height:0px">&nbsp;</div>

== History ==
Threat management dominated gameplay during ''Classic'' and ''The Burning Crusade'', as well-geared [[DPS]] could potentially accumulate threat faster than a dedicated [[tank]] who had limited options to gain it faster.  This compelled other players to slow their combat and use abilities to lower their threat beneath the tank.  In subsequent expansions, tanks received increasing passive boosts to threat generation -- becoming a five-fold multiplier by ''Cataclysm'' -- rendering threat relatively unimportant to modern gameplay: now a tank either has aggro or doesn't, but they can easily maintain it once they do.

Until ''Wrath of the Lich King'', threat was a hidden variable reverse engineered by the community and tracked using [[AddOn]]s which predicted threat accumulation through trial and error.  These addons worked by tracking a player's status and actions, and then communicating through AddOn communication channels so other players with a matching AddOn could predict their relative position on the threat table.  [[Patch 3.0.2]] added new {{api|UnitDetailedThreatSituation|API}} making threat transparent, allowing AddOns to perform this function without any special communication or synchronization.

The most successful addon of this kind was ''Omen'' by Xinhuan, Nevcairiel, ''et al.'' with 17 million downloads<ref>[https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/omen-threat-meter Omen Threat Meter], Curse</ref> at [[Curse]] and 4 million<ref>[https://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/index.php?cid=25&sortby=dec_hits Combat Mods], WowInterface</ref> at [[WoWInterface]].  At the latter, it remains the most-downloaded "Combat Mod".  Prior to patch 3.0.2, Omen also used the ''Threat-2.0'' library to predict and communicate threat levels with players using other AddOns.

== Patch changes ==
* {{Hotfix|date=2011-08-16|bluenote=Threat generation for all tanks has been increased to 500%, up from 300%. This applies to warriors in Defensive Stance, death knights in Blood Presence, druids in Bear Form, and paladins with Righteous Fury.|link=http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/3019413}}
* {{Patch 3.0.2|note=Threat is now accessible in the API, changing how addons can display information }}

== References ==
*{{Postlink
   |url=http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=92309409&postId=1&pageNo=1&sid=1
   |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219073520/http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=92309409&postId=1&pageNo=1&sid=1
   |title=60-70 Threat values list
   |date=2006-12-06
   |author=Lavina <small>{{title|Essence of the Blade}}</small> on [[Server:The Venture Co Europe|The Venture Co]]}}
*Oohla (Frostmane/EU). [[User:Oohla/Spreadsheets|''Actual threat per rage and threat per sec'']].
*[http://www.tankhard.com/ Tanking Blog]

[[fr:Menace]]

[[Category:Formulas and game mechanics]]
[[Category:Tanking]]