Low level bear Q: Swipe vs maul

[econ21]

I've started levelling a bear through LFD - currently at around level 27 and have about three main attacks: mangle, maul and swipe. I wonder, should I use swipe as filler vs a single target or should I save the rage for maul? I've tried both approaches and they both are viable, although using swipe feels more intuitive (fewer gaps in the rotation).

Reading some guides, they don't mention swipe in single target rotation, but that may just be because they are written with a view to max level tanking when you have lacerate, pulverise, thrash etc.

If I skip wipe vs single target, how much rage typically should I have before I maul? With my prot warrior I use about 60 rage as the threshhold before hitting heroic strike. But I suspect that's too conservative for a bear using only mangle and maul. Maybe 40 rage is better? 60 seems fine if I use swipe on CD.

The context here is low level dungeons, where rage generation seems adequate but not overflowing.

Thanks for any advice.

[thunterman]

Macro Maul onto every single target attack you have, then remove it from your bar. Its off the GCD so that works, I.E

#showtooltip
/cast mangle
/cast maul

Don't do it for your AoE's (swipe, thrash) as that causes rage issues for me even at lvl 85 and geared e.t.c, then its simple, 1 target single target, more than one throw swipe on cooldown. You dont have to worry about minitoring rage, just spam the buttons and when you have the rage it will cast anyway ( think rogue :P ).

[yurano]

I'm not completely sure, but doesn't Swipe hit as hard as if not harder than Maul? If so, then swipe's damage/rage is better than maul. So I would go with swipe.

Macroing Maul to all of your abilities is probably not a good idea. Being rage starved is a real concern.

[Elunedra]

indeed, blindly macroing it every button is whatlazy bears do and they will get rage starved (it will be thier death is MoP where rage is needed for avoidence ^.^)

i do have my maul macro but only if i use shift + button instead of just the button, this way i controll when to use it. i only use if it i have > 50 rage tho

wheter swipe or maul is better a low level i dont know, maul is much better singel target then swipe at level 85 but i have no idea how well blizzard sclaed it at low levels , i gues you should get a threat meter addon such as omen and then see for yourself what works better, (id say swipe as thne you atleast have a chance to automagicly pick up adds)

[Andycandy]

You should not macro maul, atleast not in low-level, it costs alot of rage. For single-target, use mangle and fill with maul, and glyph it. Maul should hit harder than swipe. For AoE, spam swipe. Happy leveling!

[JonBeMerkin]

Macro Swipe and Maul together for AoE situations. If i remember correctly maul glyph hits an additional target making it ideal for AoE situations at lower levels.

[Mormolyce]

IIRC Maul hits harder than Swipe single target, but I think Thrash is still worth using single target (unless they changed that).

[JonBeMerkin]

IIRC Maul hits harder than Swipe single target, but I think Thrash is still worth using single target (unless they changed that).

Trash is a level 81 spell

[Faithshield]

Macro Maul onto every single target attack you have, then remove it from your bar. Its off the GCD so that works, I.E

#showtooltip
/cast mangle
/cast maul

Don't do it for your AoE's (swipe, thrash) as that causes rage issues for me even at lvl 85 and geared e.t.c, then its simple, 1 target single target, more than one throw swipe on cooldown. You dont have to worry about minitoring rage, just spam the buttons and when you have the rage it will cast anyway ( think rogue :P ).

Just had the same debate with my brother. If you macro your rage dump into every ability, then what happens if you don't want to use maul and want to conserve rage? It is a separate ability on a 3s cooldown which has no GCD. I personally don't see the problem with having it as a separate button.

[Gohzerlock]

Just had the same debate with my brother. If you macro your rage dump into every ability, then what happens if you don't want to use maul and want to conserve rage? It is a separate ability on a 3s cooldown which has no GCD. I personally don't see the problem with having it as a separate button.

convenience i'd assume? Hey i'm bad with macros, whats the shift macro you use for maul?

[Arielle]

Maul has a lower base damage but scales better with AP. It'll be worse than Swipe until you get to max level.

Don't macro Maul to everything or you'll find yourself running out of Rage, especially when levelling.

[aggixx]

Don't macro Maul to everything or you'll find yourself running out of Rage, especially when levelling.

Basically this. You can get away with it end game, although I wouldn't recommend it, but doing it while levelling is just asking to be ragestarved 24/7.