WoW TBC Arena
RogueWarlockShamanS

RLS (Rogue / Lock / Shaman) — TBC Arena 3s Guide

CleaveDifficulty Season 2

The premier pressure comp. Where RMP sets up, RLS just applies — constant DoTs, Fear, and rogue pressure with a Resto Shaman that refuses to die. Trades RMP's control ceiling for a higher floor and better cleave matchups.

Overview

RLS is a sustained-pressure cleave. Instead of a single scripted kill window, you apply constant damage — warlock DoTs + UA, rogue melee pressure, and Fear control — until a target cracks. The Resto Shaman's Earth Shield, Nature's Swiftness, and Grounding Totem make it one of the stickiest healers in the game.

You win by never letting up: DoTs on everything, Fear the healer, purge their buffs, and let the rogue burst when the enemy is low. It's more forgiving than RMP because you're always doing damage, and it matches up better into cleave comps that punish RMP's setup.

Win condition

Grind constant DoT + rogue pressure while Fear-controlling the enemy healer, then burst a low target with rogue cooldowns + a Fear on the healer.

Strengths

  • +Relentless pressure with no setup required — always doing damage
  • +Fear + rogue CC + purge dismantles healer comps
  • +Earth Shield + Nature's Swiftness make the shaman incredibly sticky

Weaknesses

  • −Shaman has no hard peel besides Frost Shock — vulnerable to trained melee
  • −Loses to comps that can burst the shaman through Earth Shield

Cooldown timeline

Warlock spreads DoTs + UA immediately; rogue opens Cheap Shot on the kill target. Fear the healer → rogue Kidney + AR/trinket + warlock burst. Shaman keeps Earth Shield on the focused ally, Grounding the key CC, Nature's Swiftness for the clutch heal.

Positioning

Warlock and shaman play a pillar; rogue roams. Shaman uses Frost Shock/Earthbind to self-peel and Grounds the swap CC.

Vs. the meta

vs TSG (Warrior / Warrior / Shaman)Guide →

Double-warrior pressure can burst your shaman through Earth Shield. Peel hard with Fear + rogue stuns on the warriors, and use Nature's Swiftness proactively before the shaman gets low.

Gear requirements

  • ▸Shaman needs resilience + mp5 and Earth Shield uptime
  • ▸Rogue and warlock want resilience + stamina for the pressure trades

Tips

  • •Purge is free tempo — strip Freedom, HoTs, and shields constantly.
  • •Grounding Totem eats the CC that would start a kill on your shaman.
  • •Never dispel UA'd enemies for them — let the punishment stack.

Gear & talents for this comp

Subtlety RoguePvP BiSTalents
Affliction WarlockPvP BiSTalents
Restoration ShamanPvP BiSTalents

Plan your arena points

Gearing this comp? Use the arena points calculator to see your weekly points from your team rating and how long each piece takes to earn.