Frost sub-spec > Blood sub-spec
Posted 07/13/10 at 7:17 PM by rkds
If one more self proclaimed pro dps DK questions my choice of frost sub-spec without a proc based wep, I'm going to climb a bell tower. For the love of god people, stay current on the theorycrafting on your class.
Quoted straight from the Unholy DPS discussion thread:
"Speaking of patches, what's with a Frost sub-spec suddenly being optimal in 3.3.3? Black Ice didn't change, so what's up?
Black Ice was the primary reason we specced into Frost way back when, but not so - now it's Icy Talons and Endless Winter.
I understand Endless Winter. Strength is win. But Icy Talons? That doesn't stack with Windfury!
As of 3.3.3, it does. The two are no longer mutually exclusive.
Cool and all, but how exactly do I decide between speccing a Frost sub-spec or a Blood sub-spec? The information in the spec section is a bit vague.
That's because the line between the two is a bit vague, and never more than ~2% dps either which way.
If you have a Bryntroll (heroic or normal) or Shadowmourne, then a Frost sub-spec is the obvious choice. Not only does Black Ice benefit the potency of the proc of these weapons, Icy Talons increases the number of procs. There's no question.
If you are using another weapon, it's a bit more difficult of a decision to make, and largely depends on your current gear. I would advise using the simulator if you wish to know which comes out on top. At any rate, if the two are basically equal dps wise, I would advise simply going a Frost sub-spec.
Huh? Dps equal, why Frost over Blood?
Frost provides greater AoE damage (yes, Black Ice and Endless Winter are superior to Bladed Armor and Dark Conviction), free interrupts (not incredibly useful, but what does it hurt), and greater dps while moving or at ranged (thanks to increased Ghoul, disease, and Death Coil damage).
If Blood isn't superior from a strictly single-target perspective, it gives you nothing else except threat reduction. Although some people like to think otherwise, the fact is, threat reduction should never be an issue, at least not on single target encounters: Blood Presence already contains a negative 20% threat modifier. This is on top of the fact that about 15% of our damage comes from our Ghoul or Gargoyle, and is thus threat-free. (100 - 15) x .8 = 68% of our damage done as threat, essentially. Fury Warriors currently out-damage us, and produce 72% (70% if Imp Beserker Stance happens to be additive) of their damage as threat, and that's not even factoring in Heroic Strike. If they can manage, than so can we.
Single target equal? Go 0/17/54."
No I do not hold anything in a public forum as gospel, but in this case, the math is valid, the sim agrees.
Quoted straight from the Unholy DPS discussion thread:
"Speaking of patches, what's with a Frost sub-spec suddenly being optimal in 3.3.3? Black Ice didn't change, so what's up?
Black Ice was the primary reason we specced into Frost way back when, but not so - now it's Icy Talons and Endless Winter.
I understand Endless Winter. Strength is win. But Icy Talons? That doesn't stack with Windfury!
As of 3.3.3, it does. The two are no longer mutually exclusive.
Cool and all, but how exactly do I decide between speccing a Frost sub-spec or a Blood sub-spec? The information in the spec section is a bit vague.
That's because the line between the two is a bit vague, and never more than ~2% dps either which way.
If you have a Bryntroll (heroic or normal) or Shadowmourne, then a Frost sub-spec is the obvious choice. Not only does Black Ice benefit the potency of the proc of these weapons, Icy Talons increases the number of procs. There's no question.
If you are using another weapon, it's a bit more difficult of a decision to make, and largely depends on your current gear. I would advise using the simulator if you wish to know which comes out on top. At any rate, if the two are basically equal dps wise, I would advise simply going a Frost sub-spec.
Huh? Dps equal, why Frost over Blood?
Frost provides greater AoE damage (yes, Black Ice and Endless Winter are superior to Bladed Armor and Dark Conviction), free interrupts (not incredibly useful, but what does it hurt), and greater dps while moving or at ranged (thanks to increased Ghoul, disease, and Death Coil damage).
If Blood isn't superior from a strictly single-target perspective, it gives you nothing else except threat reduction. Although some people like to think otherwise, the fact is, threat reduction should never be an issue, at least not on single target encounters: Blood Presence already contains a negative 20% threat modifier. This is on top of the fact that about 15% of our damage comes from our Ghoul or Gargoyle, and is thus threat-free. (100 - 15) x .8 = 68% of our damage done as threat, essentially. Fury Warriors currently out-damage us, and produce 72% (70% if Imp Beserker Stance happens to be additive) of their damage as threat, and that's not even factoring in Heroic Strike. If they can manage, than so can we.
Single target equal? Go 0/17/54."
No I do not hold anything in a public forum as gospel, but in this case, the math is valid, the sim agrees.
Total Comments 2
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Let's be honest, when I say it, it's basically gospel.
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I agree with you but I'll start worrying about this when I stop seeing pugs dks with 50 AP on their weapon.
When I ask why they have 50 AP on their weapon, the most popular answer I've gotten is "because I can't afford 110 AP yet." |
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- Over powering ICC 25H and dps optimization. (07/13/10)
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