Yes, it would. None of the unobtainable items are custom content, while all your suggestions are.
Regarding the suggestion overall, this is just a rehearsal of older threads. In the end of the day the truth remains that the content is readily available, gets a small window that tries to promote it and already has a best-in-slot piece of gear gated behind it, yet people prefer to skip that item or get it with Coins where available. For any regular person that screams major lack of interest. 3v3 is a niche format just like 5v5, the vast majority of people have zero interest in the hassle involved in putting together a team that has synergy and can work well together, much less in keeping it going long enough.
It also doesn't lack "visibility," I can't picture a single serious PvPer who would go surprised Pikachu at finding out it exists. What it lacks is people interested, like has been the case for years and years, and that simply isn't something we change. People like what they like, have fun with what they have fun, and avoid stuff that they will see as stressful. Even more exclusive rewards would, if successful, just add some more teams who would ditch it again as soon as they got the rewards they wanted - as already is the case with the shoulders.
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Moderator
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Member
Fair points — I get where you're coming from. You're right that 3v3 has always been more niche than 2s, and yeah, not everyone wants to deal with the coordination it requires. That’s the reality.
But let’s not confuse “niche” with “hopeless.” Some formats in WoW have come back to life when supported properly — RDF in WotLK was hated at launch, now people won’t play without it. The point is, interest follows structure + opportunity, not just raw preference.
You mentioned that serious PvPers already know 3v3 exists — agreed. But being aware of a bracket isn’t the same as feeling like it’s worth engaging with. When queues are dead, it kills any motivation to even try. Visibility in this case isn’t about awareness — it’s about momentum.
As for rewards, I agree — they shouldn’t just be bait to get people in temporarily. But if people are dropping out after getting shoulders, that’s actually proof of the issue: the format itself needs more support to retain players, not just reward them.
I'm not saying we force 3v3 down anyone’s throat — just that writing it off entirely because it’s "always been niche" feels like giving up on something that could still have potential with a bit of investment.
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Moderator
I'm not confusing "niche" with "hopeless," but you might be confusing "hopeful" and "delusional."
We have been here for over a decade and the mythical masses of 3v3 players are yet to show up. All of what you're claiming relies on there being players who want it, not on there being "momentum" or "structure" or "opportunity." Building a steakhouse in a vegan colony isn't going to fail because of "lack of investment and support."
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Member
Plainsrunner title is a current reward associated with arena on Warmane. That's custom. TCG rooster mount is associated with arena. That's custom. Solo Queue is an entirely new game mode. Custom. Transmog scrolls are available on Warmane from arena. Custom custom custom.
Flawless Victor is a real title in Wrath. Gamemaster items are real items. The ability to transmog is already in the game. What I suggested isn't even a tweak to a game mode, tracking win streaks is already available on the website. I mean I posted the suggestion for fun. I don't actually expect it to get implemented like 99.9% of suggestions in this forum, but if you wanted to argue then ok.
3 v 3 isn't dead. I agree it's not the most preferred bracket. The discussion is just about ways to liven it up a little bit.
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Moderator
You said they wouldn't be outside the scope of rewards we give, and they are. Whataboutism and slippery slopes aren't arguments.
No one is saying it's dead. It's alive, in the niche size it has always been and will remain, because the basic component for it to be bigger is nowhere to be found. No amount of turning up the music will liven up a party ten people want to attend.
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Member
I don't get what you're saying. What does whataboutism and slippery slope have to do with this discussion at all. I outlined every clearly why the rewards weren't outside the scope of current Warmane rewards. To make it even worse I can tell you that Flawless Victor has been used as a reward before as well as gamemaster items.
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Member
That steakhouse analogy’s cute, but here’s the thing — on Blackrock, we didn’t even put meat on the menu. No BIS rewards, no real visibility, just a one-hour slot and soloQ. Of course it’s empty.
The point isn’t that 3v3 is secretly loved by everyone — it’s that the way it’s set up now guarantees it stays dead. You say people don’t want it, but what exactly are they being offered? No rewards, no time to play it, no reason to bother building a comp.
And if the bracket’s meant to be niche, fine — but then let’s stop pretending that one hour of exposure is some major effort to support it. You can’t half-*** it and then claim the format failed on its own.
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