Spooncraft

The raid sizes have varied since WoW was released and the argument about which is superior has been raging since day one. Blizzard has once again stated their intentions on current raid size issues.

WotLK: 10 & 25 Man raids and tuning (src)

We plan to continue making more dungeons of both the 10 person model and the 25 person model to fit both play styles.

We do have ideas to improve how the 10 person and 25 person dungeons coincide in Wrath of the Lich King, but nothing concrete we can discuss at this point.

Bornakk says no plans for the revival of MC, BWL, or other 40 man raids.

We have no plans at this time to reintroduce 40 person raid dungeons, we plan to continue with our current models of 10 and 25 person raid dungeons and make them better than ever. (src)

    Additionally, the whole issue with 10 man content vs. 25 man content has more to do with logistics than with anything else. Smaller guilds that possibly cannot field the amount of players needed to compete in a 25 man raid were given the alternative of 10 man progression. This is one of the many reasons Zul’Aman was released. Personally I look at Zul’Aman as either a peak progression for small Karazahn guilds since it is reasonably difficult for the average raid group.

    However, for 25 man capable guilds ZA poses a great benefit in giving raiders another chance at Tier 5 quality loot without having to wait for the week reset timer present in 25 man raids like Serpent Shrine Cavern and Tempest Keep. As well you’re competing with 9 other players that may not even need or be able to use the loot rather than 24 others so it’s a little more appealing in that way too. But it’s not as epic feeling as the 25 man raids, the loot is great yes but the only way for ZA to be an efficient method of gearing out a character you have to do the timed quest and really put a lot of effort into it. Also there’s the argument that Blizzard is gearing the game’s best resources and lore towards the 25 raid camp. Where else do you see Illidan Stormrage, Lady Vashj, Prince Kael’thas, Magtheridon, and so forth? I know I won’t be able to swallow the idea of 10 players facing Arthas in the expansion, that’d be like turning a tank into a tinker toy. Powerful beings of raw energy and magic, rulers of their kingdoms, controlling vast armies of demons or undead; killed once a week by only 10 players. It just doesn’t feel right.

    Lastly, we can argue that 10 man content can also hurt the progression of guilds in giving them an alternative they can just “settle for” instead of trying to rise up to the 25 player level. I have to theorize that Blizzard is going to make the best of the best available in the 25 player range. For every 10 man there are two or more 25 man raids. Even now with patch 2.4 there is going to be a 5 man instance (Magister’s Terrace) that is going to pretty much make Karazahn completely obsolete, and then there’s a 25 man raid in which the most epic of bosses and legendary gear will drop.