Raider.io has become a ubiquitous part of the World of Warcraft experience, especially when it comes to finding groups for high-level Mythic+ dungeon content. This third-party scoring site tracks players’ Mythic+ progression and assigns them a score based on the highest level keystone completed in time. This score is then displayed in-game and on the Raider.io website, giving easy insight into a player’s Mythic+ achievements.

But is Raider.io ultimately a boon or a detriment to the WoW community? There are persuasive arguments on both sides of this debate. Here is an in-depth look at the pros and cons of Raider.io and its impact on World of Warcraft.

What is Raider.io and How Does it Work?

For those unfamiliar, Raider.io is a third-party World of Warcraft site that tracks a player’s Mythic+ dungeon progress and gives them a score based on the highest level Mythic+ keystone they have completed in time. This Mythic+ score is displayed on the Raider.io website, as well as in-game when you mouseover a player’s name.

In addition to this core score, the Raider.io site provides detailed Mythic+ statistics and rankings:

• Highest Mythic+ level (up to +30) completed for each dungeon
• Best run for each dungeon (time, affixes, group composition)
• Item level equipped for each slot
• Raiding progress with boss kills and achievements
• Average damage/healing done per second
• PvP rating and rewards obtained

These statistics are aggregated across the region as well as broken down by class, spec, and covenant. For alts and rerolled characters, achievements and stats are shown for a player’s main as well.

The site essentially aims to give Mythic+ group leaders an easy way to review a player’s capabilities and experience when forming groups. The scores and rankings have become a widely used metric by the community.

How are Raider.io Scores Calculated?

A character’s Raider.io score is calculated primarily based on the highest level Mythic+ dungeon they have completed in time. Bonus points are awarded if it was completed during a Fortified vs Tyrannical week.

Additional points can be earned by completing higher keystones, even if they are not in time. But the biggest score bumps come from pushing key levels above 15.

For example, completing a +15 keystone boss awards 100 points. But completing the same dungeon on +25 keystone awards 850 points. So there are large incentives to push higher difficulties.

Other activities like raiding, PvP, and Reputation also feed into the overall score but to a lesser extent.

The Pros of Raider.io Scores

Allows Easy Evaluation for Group Leaders

The main benefit of Raider.io is that it lets group leaders quickly vet candidates when forming Mythic+ groups. Instead of needing to dig through achievements or interrogate applicants, they can glance at the Raider.io score to get a general sense of experience. This helps smooth and speed up the group creation process.

For example, if a player is trying to form a group for a Mythic+15, they can filter applicants for those who have completed +14 or higher. This gives some assurance they are bringing players who have done comparable difficulty before.

Motivates Players to Improve

Raider.io also provides players an incentive to push themselves and complete higher Mythic+ keystone levels. As their score improves, it unlocks access to more selective groups. Players can track their progress week to week and compete on the leaderboards.

This drive helps improve the overall skill of the Mythic+ community. It also gives an alternative progression path for players who aren’t hardcore raiders.

Fosters a Sense of Achievement

For many players, Raider.io provides a sense of personal achievement outside of raiding. By mastering higher Mythic+ levels, they can earn high scores and pride. It gives players a way to distinguish themselves even if they don’t raid extensively.

Surpassing a certain Raider.io score threshold like 1000 or 2000 feels very rewarding for a lot of players. It shows dedication to mastering difficult PvE content.

Adds Prestige to the Mythic+ Scene

The introduction of public Mythic+ scores and rankings has added a level of prestige to mastering high keystone levels. Top ranked players enjoy fame and notoriety in the community, similar to top raiders.

Being near the top of the Mythic+ leaderboards requires exceptional skill, effort, and time investment. These players put in long hours pushing the limits of what’s possible in Mythic+ dungeons.

The Cons of Raider.io Scores

Causes Toxicity and Exclusion

One of the biggest complaints is that Raider.io promotes toxicity and exclusion. Players with low scores often get turned down from groups or flamed for having inadequate experience. New 120s and alts have a particularly hard time getting started.

Group leaders will frequently set strict Raider.io score minimums. Even if a player meets the ilvl requirements, they’ll get auto declined if their score is deemed too low.

This shuts out lesser experienced players looking to learn. It also leads to a lot of abuse where players get harassed for having low scores despite trying their best.

Encourages Specific Keystones

Raider.io is also accused of encouraging players to avoid “dead” keystones since they provide less score value. Players cherry pick easier affixes and dungeons to maximize their progression. This makes it tough to fill groups for less desirable keystones.

During Necrotic Wake weeks for instance, sign ups are scarce. People would rather wait to do Shrine of the Storm instead. This creates an imbalance in the groups for certain dungeons.

Overemphasizes Score Over Skill

While Raider.io provides a useful metric, many argue the scores overvalue raw keystone level over actual skill. High ranked players can still fail mechanics. And lower ranked players are often underestimated despite having strong skills. The scoring system has limitations.

Just because someone has a low Raider.io score does not necessarily mean they cannot handle the content. But many players are judged solely on their number instead of given a chance.

Automates and Impersonalizes the Process

Relying solely on Raider.io scores removes much of the socialization from forming Mythic+ groups. Conversation and getting to know players is replaced with score checks. This contributes to the toxicity issues.

Even trying to start a friendly community run still results in strict requirements. The human element has been mostly lost in favor of automated score filtering.

Makes Gearing More Challenging

For new 120s and alts with low scores, it can be extremely difficult to get your first Mythic+ groups and start gearing up. You have to work your way up the ladder just to get a foot in the door. Players without a core group can struggle.

Gearing up to improve your Raider.io score is challenging, but improving your score to get into gear groups makes for a difficult catch-22. This discourages new players from trying Mythic+ content.

Perspectives from Top Mythic+ Runners

According to many top Mythic+ pushers, Raider.io has its merits but also encourages more elitism and toxicity within the community.

Jdotb, a top Mythic+ healer, believes Raider.io scores have “pigeon-holed people into a particular playstyle” focused too heavily on chasing portal jockeys and bragging rights.

Naowh, one of the highest scoring tanks, argues that while Raider.io provides a useful metric for comparing players, people rely on it too much instead of giving others a try.

Many agree that the current culture focuses too much on individual progression over teamwork. And that players are too quick to decline others because of lower scores rather than helping them learn.

Suggestions for Improvement

There are certainly ways Blizzard and the community could help mitigate some of the negatives of Raider.io:

• In-game Mythic+ Group Finder – Implement an in-game group finder for Mythic+ similar to the raid finder. This could help lesser geared players find groups more easily rather than relying solely on the Premade Group Finder.
• Reward Completing All Dungeons – Tie achievement points or unique rewards to completing all dungeons on each affix rotation. This encourages finishing all keystones rather than cherry-picking the most favorable ones.
• Address Toxicity Directly – Streamers and community leaders should speak out when they see Raider.io being used in abusive ways. The community can help shift the mindset away from toxicity.
• Gear Proving Runs – Establish community “proving run” events to help gear up newer 120s and alts without strict requirements. Progression groups foster learning.
• Emphasize Total Runs – Calculate scores using total lifetime Mythic+ runs rather than highest key completed. This rewards experience and dedication over cherry-picking.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is a high Raider.io score required to get into Mythic+ groups?

A: Not necessarily, but many group leaders do use minimum score requirements, making it harder for low-scored players. Being patient and forming your own group can help.

Q: Should I avoid Mythic+ until my score improves?

A: No, the only way to increase your score is by completing higher keystones. Focus on gradual improvement from weekly chests and create your own groups.

Q: Can my main character’s score help my alt get into groups?

A: Yes, Raider.io shows your main’s achievements. But as your alt’s gear improves, make sure its own score is also increasing.

Q: Should I abandon keys that hurt my score?

A: Avoiding lower value keystones can inflate your score, but repeatedly finishing dungeons helps show experience. Use best judgment.

Q: Does Blizzard support sites like Raider.io?

A: Blizzard has not officially endorsed Raider.io but has added Mythic+ scoring in-game, suggesting tacit approval of such sites.

Conclusion

Raider.io has its merits but also significant downsides. While the scoring provides a useful metric for evaluating players, it is overemphasized compared to actual skill and experience. And its position in the community promotes exclusion and toxicity if used as the sole evaluation criteria.

With some tweaks to the system and how players utilize it, the positives could be maintained while minimizing the negatives. But if the culture does not change, the Mythic+ community will remain needlessly hostile to lower scored players looking to learn. Moderation and perspective are key.

Overall, Raider.io is here to stay. And it does offer some benefits. But we must be conscious of its limitations and impact on player interactions. Approach it with nuance rather than blind adherence.