Originally Posted by hazelnutter
Well given that I quoted others and used formatting and tried to articulate my ideas, to dismiss me as making no effort is hurtful!
I am a UK resident in the US and i guess typing on a crap keyboard (bloomberg) with different keys (all the symbols in the wrong place compared to a UK keyboard) don't help.
Back on topic;
I would say that IF (to be confirmed) you miss 2.5 white hits due to powershifting, and the speed and condition required for it (zero energy, a lot less than 0.5 sec to time the shift back) it actually is NOT worth it.
40 energy gain is not worth 2.5 white hits imho.
Mangle is about 2-2.2 white hits for most druids at this level?
|
I can consistantly time my shifts to not be affected by GCD, that is to say, I shift up, and down, within the same .5-1 second time-stamp. Also, after smacking around some mobs in SMV, with 100% consistancy, there is
always a white hit between the shifts. This is a white hit with a 3.00 weapon, with a damage range much higher than cat form. However, keep in mind I wasn't spamming the powershift, these were approximately 5-10 seconds apart.
The first white hit, following shifting down, was always within 2 seconds according to my combat log, which sadly only displays to the second. When I say 'within 2 seconds', I mean some times it would be 1 second later, and other times, again, according to the log, it would be 2 seconds later. I am assuming that it's limited only by GCD, so in affect, you're losing 1 white hit, possibly 2, depending, once again, on your timing.
Also, and this is at 2701 AP, 1 mangle
should be doing more damage than 2 white hits, on average. Obviously, through buffs, procs, etc., that should change at some point, and while I'm not sure of the exact AP needed, your damage range will need to be close to 550-600 before 2 white hits (assuming non crit) > 1 Mangle. I also assume you're using Mangle as the example since it's the only sensible (Rake-lol) special to use when you have 40 energy.
Except, wait a second, you don't have 40 energy; you actually have 60, since you timed the .5-1 second powershift to coincide with an energy tic, yes?
What I'm getting at, is yes, you lose 1-2 white hits. Yes, it's moderately difficult, and slightly taxing to coordinate powershifting into a DPS cycle. However, it more than makes up for itself by providing you options. 4pt combo, Mangle debuff has 3.5 seconds left, and you're out of energy? Shift up, shift down, Shred for 3k+, energy tic, Rip, Mangle expires, voila! You've maximized your CPs, and you did it only losing 1 white hit's worth of damage.