Great analysis, Eilt. I'd love to see additional feedback, but if this is consistent for others, it seems reality might intrude on mathematics a bit in choosing our rotation.

Starfire was still over 1.3 (I think) second cast even with ~1500 haste rating (~500 gear, 500 trinket, 500 potion) and all other raid buffs including nature's grace. I don't think you're going to go below 1 second cast time on starfire any time soon.

Agree with Eilt's analysis as well.

Also something to consider - with the change to IFF and the fact that we have no ferals in our raid, I had gone ahead and picked up IFF this time around, at the expense of 2/2 gale winds and starfall. With the amount of adds/aoe mobs that are part of the boss encounters in Ulduar so far, I am most likely going to go back to my old spec which had all the AOE abilities/buffs in it.

Anyone taken a look at the value of IFF now that it's not a 40 second refresh? Am I shooting myself (or my raid) in the foot by not taking it?

Beef what rotation are you rocking now in 3.1?

I'm seeing the same old rotation still being my max dps.

Personally, my dmg has increased while using a lunar rotation since the patch. Even with the useless haste for that rotation, I;m doing more dps, so I can only imagine with some more crit. I think Blizz wanted to balance them, though, since dropping too much haste for crit then slows down starfire. I guess we'll see.

Also, imp FF is a near-must. 3 crit and 3 hit? Yes please, and it's a one time cast now, maybe 2 depending n the fight.

And as for gale winds, at least up until Kologarn, i see NO need for it. I still have it, because I like my hurricane, but you really shouldn't be doing AoE on any boss encounters, and there aren't any massive add groups for trash.
On Razorscale, you should be single-targeting. At least it's what I do. Casting hurricane costs way too much mana for only 2-3 mobs.

Anyway, I'm still highly interested in the lunar eclipse rotation. Any more math/thoughts?

Edit: The the deconstructor, I occasionally use hurricane, but I think typhoon-wrath spam is much more efficient. Just my thoughts.

I'm still using the standard lunar rotation, though I've been trying for higher insect swarm uptime to maintain the hit debuff.

Though really while learning bosses my rotation often goes to hell and I'm much more concerned about staying alive than anything else. Barkskin not causing a global cooldown is so extremely useful.


As for gale winds, of the bosses we've done so far here's where I would say it's extremely useful:

Razorscale: Not really
Ignis: No
XT: Yes
Auriaya: Yes (Was 36% of my damage)
Council: No
Hodir: No
Thorim: Yes (though potentially not, depending on strategy)
Kologarn: Yes

Bottom line is that you want it in one of your specs and that for several bosses gale winds is a massively superior choice of talent points than anything else you could choose with those two points.

Sorry to keep quoting you, and asking you direct questions. But you've seen a few more bosses then I have so far. How's your mana holding up on them? And are you using your innervate on yourself or others?

So how are you on mana LordBeef? (and other balance druid too^^) I havent had the chance to go Balance myself yet due lack of healers You think the tallents you have atm are sufficient?

For me, in our 25 man, regens and returns are keeping me up pretty good, my only concern has been 10 mans with less sources, but that's to be expected.

The encounters seem to be forcing kins to consider Winds a staple for specs, which seems reasonable at this point, end game isn't a reality yet for 99.9% of us, so use best judgment during encounters that best suit your raid. Raid >U

I've only done up to Auriaya so far, but my mana has been fine.
There was one encounter (xt, shock :p) where I struggled a little, but I managed alright with a manapotion.

I have 1pt in moonglow and 2 in intensity (and very low spirit).

Anyone been playing around with the 2pc bonus from t8? I got it last night but haven't really done any testing. I only have the 10man pieces (gloves and shoulders) which don't even feel like an upgrade from 7.5, but it is fun to see wraths crit for 11.5k when my trinkets pop during the 45% solar eclipse.