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CC Chains

Coordinate control to create kill windows

What is a CC Chain?

A CC chain is a sequence of crowd control abilities used back-to-back on a target (usually the enemy healer) to prevent them from acting for an extended period. During this time, your team has a "free" window to kill their target.

The Perfect CC Chain

  • Uses different DR categories to avoid diminished durations
  • Has no gaps where the target can act
  • Lasts long enough to secure a kill (12-20 seconds ideal)
  • Forces trinket early or kills through no trinket

A well-executed CC chain feels like cheating—the enemy healer watches helplessly as their teammate dies. This is the skill that separates 1800 players from 2200 players.

Building Effective Chains

The key to CC chains is using different DR categories in sequence. Here's how to construct them:

Step 1: Identify Your CC Categories

List every CC your comp has and categorize them:

Example: RMP (Rogue/Mage/Priest)

  • Stuns: Cheap Shot, Kidney Shot
  • Incapacitates: Sap, Gouge, Blind, Polymorph
  • Fears: Psychic Scream
  • Silences: Silence, Kick (interrupt)

Step 2: Sequence Different Categories

Alternate between categories to avoid DR:

Cheap Shot
(Stun DR1)
→
Kidney Shot
(Stun DR2)
→
Blind
(Incap DR1)
→
Polymorph
(Incap DR2)
→
Psychic Scream
(Fear DR1)

Total CC time: ~5s + 3s + 5s + 4s + 4s = 21 seconds

CC Chains by Comp

Different comps have different CC tools. Here are optimal chains for popular TBC comps:

🗡️ RMP (Rogue/Mage/Priest)

Sap → Cheap Shot → Kidney → Blind → Poly → Fear

The gold standard of CC chains. Can control healer for 25+ seconds.

🔮 WLD (Warlock/Druid + anything)

Cyclone → Fear → Cyclone DR2 → Fear DR2 → Cyclone DR3

Cyclone is its own DR category, alternating with Fear is devastating.

⚔️ Warrior/Druid/X

Intercept Stun → Cyclone → Intimidating Shout → Cyclone DR2 → Bash

Uses Warrior's limited CC with Druid's Cyclone for extended control.

🏹 Hunter/Healer/X

Freezing Trap → Scatter Shot → Wyvern Sting → Intimidation

Hunter chains are shorter but can be executed solo in an emergency.

✨ Shadowpriest/Rogue/X

Sap → Cheap Shot → Psychic Scream → Kidney → Blind

Strong chain with good damage during the CC window.

Timing Your Chains

Execution is everything. A mistimed CC wastes DR and lets the healer escape.

⏱️ Don't Overlap

Wait for the current CC to end before applying the next. Overlapping wastes duration and DR.

❌ Kidney Shot while Cheap Shot still has 2 seconds

✅ Kidney Shot as Cheap Shot ends (or 0.5s before for latency)

⏱️ Don't Leave Gaps

Even a 0.5 second gap lets a healer get off an instant cast. Chain tightly.

❌ Poly 2 seconds after Blind breaks (healer Nature's Swiftness heals)

✅ Poly lands as Blind breaks

⏱️ Pre-Cast Long CCs

Start casting Polymorph or Fear when the current CC has ~1.5 seconds left. It lands perfectly.

⏱️ Call Your CC

Communication prevents overlap. "Kidney in 2" tells your Mage when to start Poly cast.

Communication for CC

Voice communication makes CC chains 10x more reliable. Develop a calling system with your team.

Standard CC Callouts

  • "Kidney in 3, 2, 1, Kidney" - Countdown so partner knows when to cast next CC
  • "Go Poly" - Direct command to start casting
  • "Full blind" - Indicates Blind hit on fresh DR (full duration)
  • "He trinketed" - Critical info, healer is now CC'able for 5 minutes
  • "DR2/DR3" - Tells team the CC duration will be halved/quartered
  • "Reset, wait DR" - Stop CC, let DR reset before next attempt

The Setup Call

Before going for a kill, call the plan: "I'm going to Cheap Shot priest, you Poly off Kidney, I'll Blind after." Everyone knows their role.

Breaking Enemy CC Chains

When you're on the receiving end of a CC chain, here's how to survive:

🛡️ Pre-Positioning

Stay near pillars so you can LoS incoming Polymorphs after the initial stun. They can't Poly what they can't see.

⚡ Instant Escapes

Use instant-cast escapes in gaps: Blink, Shadowstep, Demonic Circle. Creates distance and breaks LoS.

🎯 Grounding/Spell Reflect

Shamans drop Grounding Totem to eat Poly. Warriors Spell Reflect. These break chains hard.

🔄 Trinket Timing

Don't trinket the first CC if you'll just get CC'd again. Trinket when you can actually get away or save someone.

👥 Partner Peels

Your partners can break chains: interrupt the Poly cast, stun the Mage, fear the Rogue.

⚠️ The Worst Mistake

Trinket + no followup = death. If you trinket and immediately get CC'd again (because your partners didn't peel), you've wasted trinket AND you're still CC'd.