Mage: Amplify/Dampen Magic

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[top]Amplify/Dampen Magic

Simple tests would indicate that amplify and dampen magic apply their bonus damage/healing components before coefficients are calculated. Easiest way to verify this is using Arcane Missiles in a duel. Since arcane missiles deals the same damage every time it's cast, we can see the difference between an amped and non-amped target and calculate the coefficient applied. Arcane Missiles was using both the base spell damage coefficient (1.43) added to the Empowered Arcane Missiles talent (.45), and applying that to the bonus spell damage from amplify magic. This assertion can be verified by repeating the test used.

Logically it would be assumed that all other spells would interact with Amplify/Dampen magic in a similar manner. This would mean that an instant attack from a boss would use the .42 spell damage coefficient standard to all instant magic attacks, meaning that only 50 additional damage would be dealt. One would also assume that healing done would be calculated in the same way. Healing spells would have the bonus healing applied in the exact same manner as bonus healing from gear, and would also be affected by coefficient talents such as Empowered Healing and Empowered Rejuvenation.

Yes · 09/17/07, 6:52 PM

Very obscurely unlikely, but things like Mortal Strike and Curse of Shadows etc kind of debuff effects may work in strange ways with Amp/Dampen.

Abbi · 09/20/07, 4:28 PM

I'd suggest a guideline as to when they should be used in boss fights. Yeah, it's obvious, but. Amp Magic when all the incoming damage is physical, and some thoughts about the tipping point (which is related to the size of the incoming damage packets) when it's worth using Dampen despite the effect on healers.

It's a FAQ, and all.

◊ Vontre · 09/20/07, 7:21 PM

Originally Posted by Abbi

I'd suggest a guideline as to when they should be used in boss fights. Yeah, it's obvious, but. Amp Magic when all the incoming damage is physical, and some thoughts about the tipping point (which is related to the size of the incoming damage packets) when it's worth using Dampen despite the effect on healers.

It's a FAQ, and all.

I find this is generally less scientific and more of a judgement call. Or more likely, I would like one of healy guys to comment on this as, while it's a mage spell, it's really a healer buff and I always let them make the call on when/where to use it.

Nite_Moogle · 09/20/07, 7:24 PM

As long as Amp won't put the target in more danger of being one-shotted and the target won't take more damage over the course of the fight (which is very rare, usually resist fights) Amp is usually the way to go.

◊ Shaker · 09/20/07, 7:41 PM

Some guidelines into general usage for dampen would be pretty useful though. Anytime there's small, frequent periodic spell damage (Vael, Firemaw, Flamegor, Maiden of Virtue, Illhoof all come to mind).

daemok · 04/03/08, 3:25 PM

In a general sense:

Amplify Magic makes sense when the target is likely to be healed more frequently than damaged by magic abilities. This is the case most of the time, as most bosses deal magic damage infrequently.

Dampen Magic makes sense when the target is likely to be damaged by magic more frequently than healed. This is the case in fights where there is a constant output of magical damage against the raid. As already mentioned, Maiden and Illhoof are reasonable examples.

The major draw back to Amp/Dampen is the mana cost, and the time required to buff the raid (with a buff that lasts only 10m).

Soul · 05/22/08, 8:29 PM

Some mention should be made about optimization. That is, either a raid member is being healed more often than, less often than, or equally as often as it is receiving magic damage. Only in the latter case would that raid member have neither Amplify Magic nor Dampen Magic and still be optimally buffed. Therefore, in the vast majority of raid encounters, raid members should have either Amp. Magic or Dampen Magic on them.

Mention should also be made that in a lot of TBC raid encounters, periodic magic damage sources are unaffected by Amp. or Dampen Magic (unlike in vanilla WoW), Amplify Magic will often be the preferred buff even in encounters wth large amounts of incidental magic damage.

Northerner · 06/05/08, 7:59 PM

It should definitely be stressed that it is incidents of damage that matter and not quantity of damage dealt particularly.

With the rarity of (Amp-affected) incoming magic damage sources that occur more often than the player in turn is healed, Amplify Magic is almost always the preferred buff and should be applied to everyone if healing efficiency is the goal. Since it's application method is painful though and since few if any encounters are dependent on healer throughput or efficacy and as it alone is not generally enough to shave a healer out of a raid slot for additional dps, it's actual usefulness on non-tanks is debatable. Of course it should also be avoided in situations where magic damage can outright kill someone before heals land but I do not know of any existing situation that meets that criteria and where the damage source is affected by Amplify, ignoring elemental physical attackers.