Multidotting = More single target damage?

[Deleted]

I'm looking for a little clarification on this.

Our priest is constantly multidotting everything (even when we ask him to single target) as he says it's a single target dps increase.

eg. Dotting shadow adds on twins or the green head on megaera, or the blobs on primordius.

Came to a head as I ask people to ignore the adds when doing twins to help tank vengeance/dps. He's adamant that it increases his single target dps to multidot all small adds, so just wondering if it's correct or he's simply dps whoring.

[Azalis]

Yes its a dps increase. Ticks from shadow word pain give instant cast mind blasts and ticks from vampiric touch give instant cast mind spikes if hes talented into From Darkness Comes Light and Divine Insight

[Daerio]

Yes, you do get procs from dotting. Moonkins work the same way.

However, the question comes down to, do these procs legitimately increase your single target DPS, or do they just "make up" for the GCDs lost from multidotting?

For moonkins, it's the latter. For warlocks, (doom) they do gain damage from it, and it's very noticeable if they're doing it correctly. I doubt priests really gain that much from it, if any.

[deistic]

He is correct. If he is spec'd into divine insight then sw ticks have a chance to make Mind Blast instant. Which in turn gives you a shadow orb and when you have 3 you can use devouring plague and if you are specced into insanity then when you DP your Mind Flay ticks much harder on the single target, thus increasing single target damage.

[Nihilostromrage]

I dont see the need to multi dot in those situations.

[re1gn1te]

People over estimate the gain of procs vs the GCD's wasted dotting around. Obviously his dps will be higher and he can stoke his epeen all he wants but his useful single target damg to the mob that actually needs to die I don't think would be significantly increased. Obviously to know for sure someone would have to math it out but it's not preventing you from killing bosses I don't see a problem.

[magicnachos]

This is a current debate I'm in right now. I always thought it was about multidotting. But BF says thats more for warlocks?
Hmmmm.

[MoanaLisa]

My sense is that the potential gains if any for the damage that gets targeted directly on the boss are somewhat offset by the possibility of tossing off your procs on something other than the boss, especially if you're moving.

There's no question that multi-dotting will proc more instant mind blasts and the rest--depending on how you're talented--but it's possible to direct that damage at the wrong mob when there are a lot of adds around.

It very much depends on how good the spriest is, how focus macros are being handled and other things. Frankly if my raid leader wanted me to do single target, I'd do it.

[Volitar]

Depend on the fight and talents used. We could use some WoL to look at.

[Nestar]

SWP is worth it when using DI
VT is not worth it when using FDCL.

They both provide added dps to the secondary target however. If the target is not going to heal anyways, it may be beneificial to do so. (eg council), whereas a fight like Megaera or Protectors it will not be aside from SWP with DI. To test it yourself you can compare your damage on the target dummies, on the run where you run extra dots, just cut the dot damage by that amount (eg 3 targets, cut swp to 1/3rd)

[Deleted]

If he is specced into Divine Insight, then yes, he absolutely will gain more single target dps by off-dotting Shadow Word Pain.

However, don't off-dot vampiric touch on targets that don't need to die.

[Deleted]

yes, DI will proc more if there are more SW: P.

also, if hes not running DI, then theres also ToF. with constant adds (like primordius) thats almost a constant 15% dmg buff

[Daerio]

Again, the question is not, "Does multidotting give them procs?" It's, "Does multidotting increase their SINGLE TARGET DPS?"

This would also require some relevant math, but I'm pretty sure the answer is no. Again, Moonkins have the same thing going on (costs them 2 gcds per mob to multidot) and it does not increase their single target DPS through procs. Warlocks have the same thing (Doom, wild imp spawns) and it can increase their single target DPS if executed correctly. It's not a universal answer, but the question is NOT, "Does multidotting increase procs?"

[Crummy]

Again, the question is not, "Does multidotting give them procs?" It's, "Does multidotting increase their SINGLE TARGET DPS?"

This would also require some relevant math, but I'm pretty sure the answer is no. Again, Moonkins have the same thing going on (costs them 2 gcds per mob to multidot) and it does not increase their single target DPS through procs. Warlocks have the same thing (Doom, wild imp spawns) and it can increase their single target DPS if executed correctly. It's not a universal answer, but the question is NOT, "Does multidotting increase procs?"

Considering that he will gain more DI procs = More MBs = More DP on the Main target.
Yes, it will increase your single target. Absolutely yes.

[Mctriple]

Also, it only really takes us 1 gcd to dot up another add for procs. You shouldn't be using FDCL on many fights this tier. The ones you do, you aren't as concerned about damage only to one target (Council for instance). So it takes 1 GCD to throw up SWP for DI procs, and yes that's a DPS increase in your kill target, if you're using DI.

[Daerio]

Considering that he will gain more DI procs = More MBs = More DP on the Main target.
Yes, it will increase your single target. Absolutely yes.

I'm struggling to see the numbers/math in this post supporting this supposition.

[Crummy]

I'm struggling to see the numbers/math in this post supporting this supposition.

I thought common sense would suffice.

[Deleted]

Ye, hes now using VT on the poison head on megaera 'because he needs mana' so...

[veiledy0]

Ye, hes now using VT on the poison head on megaera 'because he needs mana' so...

He actually does need mana, because the amount SW:P spam caused by the amount of movement on that fight can easily oom a shadow priest.

[Cerbz]

I'm struggling to see the numbers/math in this post supporting this supposition.

You need math to figure that out?