Post by Madmick
Arcane; I recommend the Arc-Frost spec.
This was my spec when I did 3.5k overall damage in Violet Hold (I believe my gear rating was 1930; several pieces were PvP gear):
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#ozxVcz0fzxGuMxedcZbI0fk:NzMzc0You can compare to the cookie-cutter Arc-Frost spec from the FAQ (that has 3 leftover points):
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#of0Vsz0IzxGuMxedcZbGc0oFirst off, my spec's big drawback: I experienced mana issues in Timed CoS with this spec, but I didn't care...I still out-dps'd almost any pug or guild member in my party, and besides, I would gladly sacrifice dps in one heroic to be a beast in so many others. I think my best in a Timed CoS was 2.8k. If you drink like a banshee (you know, for 2-3 second bursts at every chance you get if you have to), mana shouldn't be an issue. You get plenty of evocates, and you have mana gems. The only other issue I experienced was a tendency to aggro mobs with weaker tanks running in the party.
This spec is simply a damage behemoth. Here's why you'll never do nearly as much damage in 5-mans with the FAQ spec (that is designed for raids, not heroics) as you will with this one:
Arc Tier 1You don't have to take Arcane Focus. I don't advise it. As you can see, I only have 1 point in it, and that's because I ultimately wanted to open up Tier 4; I didn't see the necessity in increased range or healing/defense, so I took the point there rather than Magic Attunement. For Tier 1, I recommend Arcane Stability. Many bosses hit you with constant damage (this is necessary for the game, really, or healing would be pointless) and this pushes back your blasts and missiles: your two spells cast the most in PvE. Add a couple points in Precision if you like and you're hit-capped for Heroics. If you're hit-capped from your gear like me, then you can put these points into other talents as I have shown.
But I don't understand an Arc PvE spec without Arcane Stability, frankly. This is the single greatest reason you'll do more damage with my spec.
Frost Tiers 2-3Often in 5-mans you'll be confronted with groups of 3 or more mobs, typically 3-5. You wanna be able to take advantage of AoE here. I have a full 3 points in Ice Shards, not 2, increasing my crit chance with frost spells by another 33%. In addition to that, I have put 3 points in Piercing Ice (which you could do with the remaining points in the FAQ spec), but I've put also 1 point into Improved Blizzard and 2 points into Permafrost. All you're looking for from Improved Blizzard is the snare to trigger Torment the Weak, and that isn't improved by the second and third point of the talent. This snare will constantly tick from the Blizzard spell, it's true, but since I don't value hit or mana richness, I also like to have the increased duration of the chill effect from Permafrost. The reason is that sometimes you'll come off the blizzard to finish a single target. With the 2 points I put into Permafrost I now have a full 3.5 seconds for increased damage. I suppose you could take a point out of Permafrost and put it into Slow just for increased damage on single target mobs. In any case, at times, I'll use the blizzard for the snare effect and then lay into the mobs with my arcane damage. Of course, if you need the hit, ditch Permafrost and take Precision.
The manipulation of these Frost talents results in a serious increase in damage from Blizzard, basically, on trash. It won't help with bosses.
Prioritize these attributes (in descending order of importance):
1) Spellpower
2) Haste
3) Crit
4) Intellect
5) Spirit
Spirit because I used Molten Armor even as Arcane. I'm a damage who-ore. I'll make tanks wait if I have to drink, lol. Watch em die, I can go invis.
Also, don't underestimate PvP gear. If you PvP more than you do Heroics, you'll probably have a Titan-Forged or Gladiator something that is almost surely better than what you've gotten so far in a regular instance or had crafted.