How to read DistillNote

Ratings from the tier lists

A rating is shown exactly as its list gives it: a letter from S to F, a letter with a plus or minus, or a place in a ranked list, such as #3 of 5. We don't convert one into the other on the page.

Under each spec, a table lists every rating with its list, the list's own date (“Page date”) and the day we read it (“Read”). A list without a date of its own shows only our read date.

Agree or differ

A line above each group of ratings says how they compare:

• Lists agree: every letter rating is the same.
• Lists differ: the letter ratings differ.
• One rating: only one list rates it.
• Different scales: one list gives a letter and the others a ranked place, so they can't be compared directly.

Ranked places don't count toward agree or differ when two or more lists give letters. Each verdict has its own shape as well as its colour, and the summary next to it says it in words, for example S on one list and A on another.

The strip from S to F shows where each letter rating sits, with the list's date. Ranked places sit in a box beside it.

Source labels

A fact on the page has a small label under it: the kind of source and its date, such as Dev notes · 1 Oct, Sim · 9 Oct run or Beta census · 9 Oct. The label links to that source on the Sources page, which names the site and links to it. The date is the source's own date where it shows one, otherwise the day we read it.

Statuses

• Sourced: taken from the source in its label.
• Source pending: not confirmed in a primary source yet. It comes from a secondary source, or, for a talent value, from only one talent database.
• Recommendation (lilac badge): our own opinion, such as our picks, our tiers and the top 5. Never a source's.
• Tested: checked in the game client.
• Planned: something we're going to add or check, not done yet.
• Theory (dashed badge): our best reading of something nobody can test yet, such as level-60 builds and rotations during the beta.

Our tiers

On a class page, “Our tiers” rates each spec for PvE, PvP and leveling with a letter, S at the top. They're our own, from all the sources together, and carry the Recommendation badge. A tier list's rating is always shown separately, as given.

Sim results

Sim numbers come from a community sim of the beta. Each run sims a fixed level-60 character for each spec: one boss, 2 minutes. They show which way the numbers point, not a verdict, and they move when the sim engine is updated. Each result says which run it's from. Healers aren't simmed. How the sim works.

The beta population

The population figures count characters on the beta realms, both factions, not players. Over time shows how they changed day by day.

The talent trees

• Class-colour frame: all ranks taken. Dark frame: some ranks. Grey icon: not taken.
• The badge on a talent shows the ranks taken out of its maximum. The numbers on the left are the points a row needs.
• An amber dot: the talent databases show different numbers for this talent. Verify in client.
• Hover a talent, or focus it with the keyboard, for its text. Click or tap it to see each source's numbers side by side, with Sources agree, Sources differ and Verify in client, or One source.
• The talent texts are written by us from the sources' numbers, rank by rank.

Alliance and Horde

Where a page shows races, and on the news page, you can choose Alliance, Horde or both. Your choice is kept on your device only and applies on every page.