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  1. #1

    Mirror Images: Is it really worth it?

    (All numbers are relative to dummy, self-buffed only)

    I mean, it scales with spellpower, but so do my spells.

    Fireball, Fire's weakest spell (relative), w/o any proccs will deal ~100k for me on crits (which when you add in Ignite, is ~120k), and also proccs a Heating Up, or a Hot Streak if I already had a HU.

    Images, without any proccs deal 150~175k on whatever target they feel is necessary to be attacked, and do not procc anything which will eventually lead to a single spell dealing about 2x what this entire (and what I feel to be, worthless) cooldown will do.

    I'm just curious if it's actually worth it for me to use MI offensively rather than defensively as I have been. I mean, on a pre-pull, I'll always potion+MI, but during a fight, should I really waste a global for it?


    (If you go by SimC, I will hit you. For whatever reason, it chooses to over-triple its DPET. Even in raids, my MI's DPET will never reach those levels)
    Still wondering why I play this game.
    I'm a Rogue and I also made a spreadsheet for the Order Hall that is updated for BfA.

  2. #2
    My images (frost) does somewhere around 3-400k dmg on avarage in those 30secs they are up. so that dmg for a gcd is worth it I guess, specially if u can time socond and third time time images with movement or so, making it worth more than a scorc/nt refresh/filler.

    But yer, sometimes they are really pro to save, like if your raid almost wipes (or tanks dies) on 25mill on Horridon or some other boss - Biss goes for ya, images gives some ekstra secs to finish it off

  3. #3
    Herald of the Titans Shangalar's Avatar
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    Are you using the glyph? If I remember, the glyph is a dps loss for Fire, they do more damage when casting Frostbolt when you're Fire.
    My magic will tear you apart.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Shangalar View Post
    Are you using the glyph? If I remember, the glyph is a dps loss for Fire, they do more damage when casting Frostbolt when you're Fire.
    I do not have the source but I'm pretty sure blizz removed the dps gains/losses from the Mirror Image glyph in 5.1 or so...
    Daft Punk Forever!

  5. #5
    Deleted
    "Are they worth it?"...

    I've tolerated some wild theories from you in the past, but I mean, come on...really?

    Mirror Images are 1 GCD. Considering that they will likely do ~300K, if not more, damage in that 1 GCD, yes.
    Fireball, Fire's "weakest" spell (seem to have forgotten Scorch) is, at least at my level of haste, 1.86s cast, and CRITS for 206K, upwards of that with Skull Banners as so forth.

    It's 1 GCD. Sure the damage of it doesn't come immediately but in PvE it's not about the damage done in 1 second, it's about the damage done over the course of the fight. For the 1 GCD spend it's definitely f**king worth it.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Serene View Post
    "Are they worth it?"...

    I've tolerated some wild theories from you in the past, but I mean, come on...really?

    Mirror Images are 1 GCD. Considering that they will likely do ~300K, if not more, damage in that 1 GCD, yes.
    Fireball, Fire's "weakest" spell (seem to have forgotten Scorch) is, at least at my level of haste, 1.86s cast, and CRITS for 206K, upwards of that with Skull Banners as so forth.

    It's 1 GCD. Sure the damage of it doesn't come immediately but in PvE it's not about the damage done in 1 second, it's about the damage done over the course of the fight. For the 1 GCD spend it's definitely f**king worth it.
    300 if I have proccs up, in which case a crit Pyroblast would be ~400+Ignite; Fireball ~175+Ignite

    Yes, I'm aware Scorch (and IB) are weaker, but I meant ones used in the "primary" rotation. Scorch isn't used unless you're moving, but if you want to talk semantics and feel elitist over me for such things, go ahead. If I'm moving, then yeah, MI would be a better choice over Scorch.

    "DPS" also isn't the end-all goal in PvE. "EDPS" (Effective DPS) is more important. Sure, I could be multi-dotting on Megaera and Pyroblasting both the heads and my DPS could be quite a bit higher, or I could do my role and attack just the primary head as intended. My EDPS would be significantly higher that way. MI likes to dick around and cast at random things, even if they're about to die. On ST fights (Durumu, Ji-Kun if not flying) this isn't an issue. Other fights (the majority of them), it is.

    Regardless of this, I still don't see why it's worth the global. Now if it procced a Hot Streak, I could obviously see the usefulness, but as Fire, compared to what I could do in that 1-1.5s, I just don't. Also keep in mind, you're talking about a very small DPS increase, so don't act like it's a huge difference. I ask a simple question and you act like I'm wondering if it's worth casting Arcane Explosion on Single Target.
    Still wondering why I play this game.
    I'm a Rogue and I also made a spreadsheet for the Order Hall that is updated for BfA.

  7. #7
    I don't think it's unreasonable to be confused about why you'd ask whether an instant cast spell that does more damage than fireball is worth casting over a fireball
    I certainly am

  8. #8
    Any time that it's used during a GCD you would not doing ~300k for AND it's a sure thing that the full duration will hit and none will go to waste, then yes, it is absolutely without question worth it.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Imnick View Post
    I don't think it's unreasonable to be confused about why you'd ask whether an instant cast spell that does more damage than fireball is worth casting over a fireball
    I certainly am
    Minus your snarky/trollish attitude, Fireball can procc Hot Streaks and Heating Up. Mirror Image cannot.

    Fireball also goes on your target. Mirror Image MAY do that.

    Fireball's damage is instant. Mirror Images full damage takes 30 seconds.
    Still wondering why I play this game.
    I'm a Rogue and I also made a spreadsheet for the Order Hall that is updated for BfA.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Dragon9870 View Post
    Minus your snarky/trollish attitude, Fireball can procc Hot Streaks and Heating Up. Mirror Image cannot.

    Fireball also goes on your target. Mirror Image MAY do that.

    Fireball's damage is instant. Mirror Images full damage takes 30 seconds.
    1. The attitude is going both ways.

    2. You kind of just answered your own question. If they'll be up for the full duration on one target, then hell yes. If not, make the call on if it's worth it or not.

  11. #11
    Deleted
    Yes use it on CD, does this really need a discussion?

  12. #12
    IF:
    The fight is going to last more than 30 seconds
    The enemy will remain attackable for the next 30 seconds and not become invincible or untargetable in some fashion
    There are no nearby targets upon which damage would be completely wasted (Mine seem to attack my primary target 100% of the time but you're reporting issues... ok. Only Maegara, Animus, Tortos and Twins have potential for completely wasted damage anyway)
    You're not imminently going to get a massive damage buff that means waiting a few seconds would significantly increase their power
    You don't feel like you're in danger of dying to aggro in the next three minutes

    Cast Mirror Image

    It'll never make or break your DPS but it's some nice passive damage and looks cool
    Feel free to stop casting it if you want but you'll be performing a little under your maximum potential

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Imnick View Post
    It'll never make or break your DPS but it's some nice passive damage and looks cool
    Feel free to stop casting it if you want but you'll be performing a little under your maximum potential
    Thank you. That's the answer I was looking for

    I'll continue to use it on pre-pull and to drop aggro/to invis and mass
    Still wondering why I play this game.
    I'm a Rogue and I also made a spreadsheet for the Order Hall that is updated for BfA.

  14. #14
    Herald of the Titans Kuni Zyrekai's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dragon9870 View Post
    Fireball, Fire's weakest spell (relative), w/o any proccs will deal ~100k for me on crits (which when you add in Ignite, is ~120k), and also proccs a Heating Up, or a Hot Streak if I already had a HU.

    Images, without any proccs deal 150~175k
    Half of the time you'll not have that crit, though. But let's say you do crit. 120k over 2.2s cast time before haste against 150k for 1.5s cast time before haste.

    To compare, for the same 1.5s cast time, fireball crit does potentially ~82k. You're not comparing what potentially might happen later, because that's inconsequential for the time frame given. You should be comparing how much damage you have produced for any given amount of time; in this case, 1 global in place of casting fireball. Keep in mind as well, I've given you the benefit of the doubt and assumed a fireball crit, along with the low end of your quoted MI numbers. In reality, the DPCT of your fireball would be a fair bit lower, due to averages.

    That said, I've only ever had issues with MI attacking the wrong target if I've started hitting a different one. Crystals on Tortos, for example. I've never had them swap heads on Megaera on me, nor Council.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dragon9870 View Post
    I ask a simple question and you act like I'm wondering if it's worth casting Arcane Explosion on Single Target.
    What you asked is about as nonsensical from even a cursory glance and a tiny understanding of the concept of DPCT, though. You even gave us numbers that favour casting MI from your own example. DPS is essentially throwing whatever is highest DPCT that's available to you at the moment, that won't be entirely wasted like combustion on a Megaera head that's about to die. You have, in essence, asked if it's worth casting AE on single target fights as fire.

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Dragon9870 View Post
    Thank you. That's the answer I was looking for

    I'll continue to use it on pre-pull and to drop aggro/to invis and mass
    But again, you're only gimping yourself. It's one GCD and an instant cast at that, is it really worth questioning when it does more than enough damage to warrant using? Whatever, up to you I guess. Seems to be a trend of you over-analyzing things to ridiculous amounts lately.

  16. #16
    Bloodsail Admiral spaace's Avatar
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    I did a thread about this topic before.

    Mirror image is great to use. Use it with all your buffs up! Buffer you are, buffer they are.(After your combustion, with 2pc bonus up (and others is ideal)

    And for arcane, it also takes your arcane charges into consideration.


    Otherwise, use it as utility. I personally use it on pull, then set it loose (depends on fight, mostly) with my cd's up for dps boost.

  17. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by Jaylol View Post
    But again, you're only gimping yourself. It's one GCD and an instant cast at that, is it really worth questioning when it does more than enough damage to warrant using? Whatever, up to you I guess. Seems to be a trend of you over-analyzing things to ridiculous amounts lately.
    If a 100DPS increase isn't worth questioning to you over using it for utility/mechanics, then that's your thing.

    Hell, I've actually turned a wipe into a kill with it before because it gave us 3 extra hits to absorb... >.>
    Still wondering why I play this game.
    I'm a Rogue and I also made a spreadsheet for the Order Hall that is updated for BfA.

  18. #18
    Quote Originally Posted by Dragon9870 View Post
    If a 100DPS increase isn't worth questioning to you over using it for utility/mechanics, then that's your thing.

    Hell, I've actually turned a wipe into a kill with it before because it gave us 3 extra hits to absorb... >.>


    For a small comparison, I'm going to use Vykina (sorry Kuznam, you didn't use your mirror images enough :I) from their latest Megaera kill.

    http://worldoflogs.com/reports/rt-ov...?s=3467&e=3907

    To make it simple, his average fireball was around 137k dmg. I'm using numbers that I pull out completely out of my head, but I believe that you are losing 2 fireballs for every 3 mirrors used. This means that Vykina "lost" on average 274k dmg (+ ignite, which according to your numbers is around 20% extra) for using mirror images 3 times, which gave him 821k dmg. With these numbers the gain from using mirrors was a bit under 500k dmg, which translates to more than 1k dps during a match that lasted for 7:20.

    All of this is based on a single log, it assumes certain haste levels, it assumes that no movement was needed during the encounter, it assumes ignite doing certain numbers and it removes heating up out of the equation, but I believe it still shows you that the difference is quite a bit more than 100 dps and it's well worth it to use mirror images in any encounter, increasingly so if you need to cast scorch at all.

    Edit: Of course you can argue that 1k dps is neligible (and it actually is most of time), but with that logic you could also leave one slot of your gear ungemmed because it simply doesn't matter. The utility might actually make a wipe to a kill once in a blue moon, but same could be said about the small dps loss for not using them optimally.
    Last edited by Daewyn; 2013-04-18 at 07:29 AM.

  19. #19
    Mirror Images: Is it really worth it?
    Answer: YES, use it on CD, as long as the boss wont be going immune / un-attackable anytime in the next 30 sec.

    It's the highest DPCT ability you have. Really the concept is pretty simple to comprehend.
    Last edited by Keiyra; 2013-04-18 at 01:05 PM.

  20. #20
    Deleted
    i use it instead of a scorch

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