My guild is currently working on Nefarian and having trouble with our strategy. We're currently using the "split sides" strategy, on which we assist train one side and AoE the other, with healers spread between the two sides, as well as tanks. This week's mix-up: Blue left, Black Right. We're assist-training the blue side while AoE-ing the Black side. Our strategy also involves burning down Colored drakonid before the Chromatics/

Here's our issue: Healing Aggro on the drakonids between the two sides. As soon as a Blue Drakonid comes out of the door, it makes a bee-line to one of two healers over on the Black side of the room, one of whom is a resto-specced druid (ie. has threat reduction talents), and the other of whom is a shaman. Both healers had the Tranquil Air totem down in their groups. The issue wasn't merely the healing aggro, but the huge amount of healing aggro that they received. A fellow rogue commented that he hit one with two backstabs, and it kept on trekking STRAIGHT toward the healer in question.

Our raid was stacked a bit inefficiently last night, with only one druid, 4 priests, and 5 shaman, which may have lead to each healer having to over-aggro to keep everyone alive, but as far as DPS goes, between 8 rogues (too many, I know, but it's what we had), we had little trouble keeping the blues down, when they stayed where we wanted them. As Main Assist last night, however, it was much more difficult to grab a drakonid and get my fellow rogues to burn it down when it wasn't staying where it needed to be.

I was wondering if anyone could spare some advice on how to avoid and/or rectify this situation a bit, other than bringing in more healers to split the healing aggro among a greater number of healers (which is going to happen one way or another)?

Thanks in advance.

7 Total Warriors. 3 on the Assist side, 4 on the AoE side.

Black Drakonids or Red?
You said Black Drakonids and then said Red Side.

Blue/Black. Didn't notice that I'd said Red at first. Edited.

Well honestly with 3 warriors on the assist side and im assuming you use most if not all of the rogues on that side, you really shouldnt be having that many problems with control. Your warriors just need to be on the ball. Your always going to have some modified form of heal aggro, especially those that are on the black side due to the amount of Fire Damage they put out. We always overload our healing a bit on the black side to even things out because in comparison to other colors it requires a bit more healing. Blue really doesnt require much so maybe shift a healer or two over.

Also on another note we have a hunter bring back any stray mobs they can if they run off to the other side. We have both of our splits straight back rather than between the pillars.

Yeah, our warriors and rogues were trying to chase down loose ones because of the loud complaints from the squishy mages that they were getting raped by loose Blues.

Unfortunately, because of our lack of healing overall last night, we really couldn't afford to put out one druid in bear form, but, generally, we'll have about 4-5 druids on for a given night, so we'll probably be able to pull it off.

Thanks for the advice so far, and any more advice would definitely be appreciated.

I wonder how many guilds use the same sides/middle strat that we do.

Any thoughts from an healers perspective?

From a healer's point of view (Priest), it really sounds like your warriors aren't picking up everything. With that much of a stacked raid, they should be able to hold most of everything. Although I would extol the virtues of Limited Invulnerability Potions to your squishy classes, I've found them to be great for Phase 1, giving me time for Fade to cool down if I have to bail some mage's ass out of the fire.

Id agree. Your warriors need to step it up a notch. If your DPS is sufficient enough on each side there shouldnt be much need for them to control many of the Drakonids.

drakonids are affected by scattershot. any time one gets out, it gets a blast to the noggin and then gets assisted down fast.