Post by Aadramelekh
No, there is nothing wrong with the rotation. The fuss was about the technical detail that Frost Strikes should not be left at the end of the DPS cycle by default, but rather be interlaced in the rotation according to circumstances (Killing Machine procs to be more specific).
Of course, the question remains: in 3.1, the new
Glyph of Howling Blast will be available. We must also keep in mind that the default duration for Frost Fever will be 15 seconds (up from 12) in 3.1.
Also I shall remind the RP generation and cost of Frost DPS abilities (
Chill of the Grave 2/2 -- still not sure about Howling Blast, but I assume 20 base RP, since it is a two-rune ability):
IT : 25 (glyphed) 15 (non glyphed)
BS: 10
OB : 35 (4set) 25 (non 4set)
HB : 25
FS : - 32 (glyphed) -40 (unglyphed)
** source:
WoWWiki - Rune System **
All offensive abilities that require runes generate 5-20 runic power, depending on how many runes the ability requires.
I was wondering whether this is worth taking or not instead of the
Glyph of Icy Touch. So far, theory suggests the following possible opening cycle:
Blood Tap >
Unbreakable Armor >
Howling Blast >
Obliterate >
Blood Strike +
Frost Strikes / HB if
Rime procs.
But after this, the way to go on would be influenced heavily by Rime procs. Howling Blast has 8 seconds CD. One rotation would be Obliterate x 2 > Blood Strike x 2 > Frost Strikes and hope Rime procs to provide further Frost Fever infection.
But what if Rime does not proc? We still need a method to be sure Frost Fever runs continuously. The alternative would be to continue like this: HB > OB > BS x 2 > FS / HB (on KM / Rime procs).
Whatever the case, I see an upcoming issue: Runic Power available for Frost Strikes per cycle. Currently, the standard RP generating cycle is IT > OB x 2 > BS. With Glyph and 4xT7 set bonus, this provides 105 RP. We assume a DPS Deatk Knight with points in Blood has
Butchery, so in the time necessary for this rotation, at least 108 RP would be generated. 108 RP = 3 FS + 12 RP leftover. So we have at least 3 FS per cycle, with the possibility of 4 (lucky Rime proc).
With the progression in Ulduar, T7 may be replaced by T8. So we'll consider no more 4xT7. Now we change glyph of IT with glyph of HB. And using a HB frost fever infection based rotation, like HB > OB > BS x 2. This provides 73 RP to play with. Suddenly we are forced into a 2 (sometimes 3 with Rime proc) Frost Strike rotation. Not even using HoW would provide the 96 RP necessary for 3 guaranteed FS per cycle.
If, however, we continue the old fashioned rotation of IT (glyphed) > OB x 2 > BS, this provides 88 RP. With a
HoW, it's up to 98 RP, plenty for a guaranteed 3 FS punch per cycle. HoW having a 20 seconds CD would be a good support for RP generation during the DPS cycle. Of course, Rime procs would provide nice bonus RP, sometimes allowing for 4 FS per cycle.
All this taken into account, I wonder if, in the end, the Glyph of Howling Blast is such a good investment. After all, even if we assume a DPS cycle in which Howling Blast replaces Icy Touch, we have to remember that IT uses only one frost rune, while HB uses one frost and one unholy. Indeed, the damage done by Howling Blast is greater than what Icy Touch is capable of doing. But RP generation is an issue, and we must also keep in mind that the priority is not to use the hardest hitting rune based abilities, but to gather as much RP per cycle as possible in order to smash faces with at least 3 Frost Strikes per cycle. As such, 25 RP generated with 1 rune and lower damage versus 25 RP generated with 2 runes and higher damage is a delicate choice.
The fact is that a cycle with IT > OB x 2 > BS as Runic Power generators still provides two occasions for additional damage and RP through Rime procs. On the other hand, the HB > OB > BS x 2 cycle would provide enough runes the next cycle for HB > OB x 2, which generates 78 RP. Indeed, we now have all runes used with 3 hard hitting abilities, we have Frost Fever guaranteed, but with no Rime procs, this would not allow the usage of 3 FS per cycle.
In the end we compare these cycles:
1 - HB > OB > BS x 2 > > HB > OB x 2 > rinse and repeat. Also has a random component related to Rime procs and the fact that Rime resets the HB CD. Frost Fever infection provided by Howling Blast. Overall, this provides 2 x HB + 3 x OB + 2 x BS (potentially + 1 to 3 HB) per cycle.
or
2 - IT > OB x 2 > BS > rinse and repeat. HB is only used on Rime procs for additional damage and RP, relying on IT for Frost Fever infection. Overall, this provides 2 x IT + 4 x OB + 2 x BS (potentially + 1 to 4 HB per cycle).
As I see it, it comes down to
(1)**2 x HB and 1 to 3 HB** versus
(2)**2 x IT + OB and 1 to 4 HB**
I say it's close. But the additional RP generated by the second ('traditional' cycle) provides more RP in the end, thus allowing for more Frost Strike pumping. And the usage of Unbreakable Armor every 2 minutes for the 3.1 cycle configuration equates to an average ~4% permanent strength boost. Seems like a nice incentive for (1), though... (2) => MOAR FROST STRIKES MOAR MOAR MOAR MOAR FROST STRIKES!
QQ...
*Brain Dead*
*Blargh*
*nosebleed*.........................