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Antiphonal · 10/18/06, 11:32 AM

I intend to go for a 40arc/21frost build. For raid PvE, it really doesn't seem to have any weaknesses:

1. Highest possible burst damage (probably of all classes) in the form of AP+ArcaneBlast.
2. Lowest possible threat of any spell school (again, probably of all classes).
3. Highest possible +hit
4. Largest possible mana pool
5. Most possible regen
6. Most efficient standard nuke (Frostbolt with channeling)
7. Strong (but not ideal) kiting abilities for mobs that can be slowed
8. Some interesting utility in the form of PoM. IceBlock, and ICS.

Sure, there are situations where the WE or DB would come in handy, and IceBarrier is really good, as is WC for boss battles and soloing large elites. But like the forum avatar parody of the UPS sign (DPS - We Deliver!), this build is extremely potent.

My concern would be with PvP. Sure, you get AP+PoM, and some very scary ArcaneBlast possibilities, but some of the potential jewels of PvP (Blastwave, DB, Slow, IceBarrier, Shatter, WE, Blazing Speed, or any of the damage reducing talents) just get passed up.

Still, with this kind of DPS and threat reduction, it just might be worth it.

EDIT:

I realize the trend of the thread has been toward arcane/fire. The reason I shy away from it is because so many of the most potent damage amplifiers fire has are lower in the tree (Critical Mass, FirePower, Pyromaniac, Molten Fury, Combustion) where most of the deep frost talents are survivability/utility. You miss WC, but more than make up for that with Instability, Spellpower, and Potency (without the debuff you have to build up). You lose out on Empowered Frostbolt, but it seems to me that it is roughly equivalent to Mind Mastery anyway. I'm just not convinced that a 41arc/20fire build is going to have the same "push" that a deep, deep fire setup will.

10/18/06, 11:32 AM	#63
Antiphonal Piston Honda Antiphonal Gnome Mage <Red Phoenix> Malygos	I intend to go for a 40arc/21frost build. For raid PvE, it really doesn't seem to have any weaknesses: 1. Highest possible burst damage (probably of all classes) in the form of AP+ArcaneBlast. 2. Lowest possible threat of any spell school (again, probably of all classes). 3. Highest possible +hit 4. Largest possible mana pool 5. Most possible regen 6. Most efficient standard nuke (Frostbolt with channeling) 7. Strong (but not ideal) kiting abilities for mobs that can be slowed 8. Some interesting utility in the form of PoM. IceBlock, and ICS. Sure, there are situations where the WE or DB would come in handy, and IceBarrier is really good, as is WC for boss battles and soloing large elites. But like the forum avatar parody of the UPS sign (DPS - We Deliver!), this build is extremely potent. My concern would be with PvP. Sure, you get AP+PoM, and some very scary ArcaneBlast possibilities, but some of the potential jewels of PvP (Blastwave, DB, Slow, IceBarrier, Shatter, WE, Blazing Speed, or any of the damage reducing talents) just get passed up. Still, with this kind of DPS and threat reduction, it just might be worth it. EDIT: I realize the trend of the thread has been toward arcane/fire. The reason I shy away from it is because so many of the most potent damage amplifiers fire has are lower in the tree (Critical Mass, FirePower, Pyromaniac, Molten Fury, Combustion) where most of the deep frost talents are survivability/utility. You miss WC, but more than make up for that with Instability, Spellpower, and Potency (without the debuff you have to build up). You lose out on Empowered Frostbolt, but it seems to me that it is roughly equivalent to Mind Mastery anyway. I'm just not convinced that a 41arc/20fire build is going to have the same "push" that a deep, deep fire setup will.