What The 1/30/13 PTR Changes Mean Going Forward

[sidelsky18]

For those who haven't seen, the relevant changes for arcane were:

Mage
* Arcane Missiles' damage is increased by 50% per Arcane Charge (up from 25%).

Talents
* Scorch now costs 2% of Base Mana (down from 3.5%).

Arcane
* Arcane Barrage's damage is increased by 50% per Arcane Charge (up from 25%), and it hits 1 additional nearby targets per Arcane Charge for 50% damage.
* Arcane Blast's damage is increased by 50% per Arcane Charge (up from 25%), and its mana cost is increased by 150% per Arcane Charge (up from 75%).
* [...] Scorch's damage is increased by 50% per Arcane Charge, and its mana cost increased by 150% per Arcane Charge. Stacks up to 4 times (down from 6) and lasts 10 sec.
* Arcane Missiles' damage is increased by 50% per Arcane Charge (up from 25%).

So these changes mean a few things:

• Scorch-weaving is obviously out, but other specs can use it at a relatively low cost (not free, however).
• Arcane's ramp-up is going to be a lot faster (roughly 33% faster).
• Overall damage should INCREASE for those who can manage their mana properly, as the damage of each ability is now increased by 200% at max stacks instead of 150%.
• Overall damage should DECREASE for those who cannot manage their mana properly, as the mana cost of Arcane Blast (and Scorch) is now increased by 600% at max stacks instead of 450%.
• The new common rotation will probably return to what it was before Scorch-weaving, which was:
  
  
  1. Cast Arcane Blast to max stacks, use Arcane Missiles whenever two charges are available.
  2. At maximum stacks, use all available Arcane Missiles charges.
  3. If above 90% mana, use Arcane Blast until at 80-85% mana.
  4. If cooldowns are available (Arcane Power, Mana Gem, Alter Time Potions, Trinkets, Etc...) use them, try to match up this phase with Heroism.
  5. While cooldowns are active, use Arcane Blast to get Arcane Missiles charges, and then use them.
  6. If you have Evocation, continue until at approximately 30% mana and then use it. If you do not have Evocation, continue until approximately 60-70% mana.
  7. Use Arcane Barrage to reset stacks of Arcane Charge, then restart rotation.
     
• Arcane Explosion might be used to generate Arcane Missiles charges at max stacks, especially in multi-target fights, as Arcane Explosion will cost 3% base mana and Scorch will cost 12% base mana.

[zomgDPS]

Dude.. please no.. We don't need ANOTHER thread on this (we already have 2).

I say, pack it up in here and copy-pasta your thoughts into one of the existing threads.


It will be VERY hard come end of PTR to consolidate all the feedback. Lets not make it harder by spawning a new thread everytime.

[Shangalar]

Indeed, this means that we already have several running threads on the same topic. Please feel free to express your opinions (just copy paste what you wrote here) in one of those threads, preferably the 5.2 PTR discussion thread.

Keep our forums clean!