coldbear

[Perfect Sovereign Shadow Crystal] is something I'm finding myself using a lot in my double-duty pvp/dps gear gemslots in order to try (unsuccessfully, so far) to get my Str above my Agi for the Darkmoon Card: Greatness.

Red & Blue slots. Unfortunately there's no blue equivalent, and the green version is a bit too downgraded to not step to blue in something else.

Author of "Every Boss In The Game" (3.0.9), "100 Dead Death Knights", "Fun In Ulduar", "Guide: How To Feral DPS" videos:
http://www.warcraftmovies.com/pv.php?t=3&l=parl2001

 

ithecho84

The mana proc is worth way more than the spell power gain from Ember Skyflare.

 

gnoop

This is also based on raid composition and spec. With Dreamstate, Omen of Clarity, Intensity, and Moonglow all maxed, you'll have a pretty solid amount of mana regen ability. If you're in a raid with a Ret Paladin and/or Hunter, you're doing even better and would likely not benefit as much from a chance to restore mana.

It certainly would be a good choice of a gem on a backup helm for those situations where your spec has fewer mana regen talents and mana battery talents from other classes/specs aren't available in your raid (typically a 10-man).

 

Natetheape

i am using the Insightful Earthsiege Diamond currently to make up for my lack of INT and noticed that the proc can be triggered off of hot ticks which is very nice

 

killets

I think you're wrong on this note, given that I have two Regal Twilight Opal in my inventory right now.

[Design: Regal Twilight Opal] is sold by Tiffany Cartier for JC dailies.


On the other hand, I think it's fair to mention that the uncommon gem equivalent, Regal Shadow Crystal is currently bugged in game. You can experiment with your Jewelcrafters, but what happens is, (at least for my normal JCer), when you create [Regal Shadow Crystal], it creates [Infused Shadow Crystal] instead, despite the fact that it clearly shows him casting [spell]53971[/spell]. If you want to throw another kink into it, if the crafter were to proc a perfect gem, you do actually get [Perfect Regal Shadow Crystal], and not a [Perfect Infused Shadow Crystal].

It's kind of a strange bug, and I'm not 100% sure this happens to every Jewelcrafter, but it is happening pretty reliably to my guild Jewelcrafter, and there are posts on Wowhead.com regarding this exact same phenomena.

 

Vaccine

He is saying that Regal is an option until Shifting becomes available, but that he currently prefers Guardian over Regal.

 

CrashOverride

These are definitely the best choices for a resto until mana isn't an issue. Then once your mana pool and regen are stable and can support all the content you're working on, [Reckless Monarch Topaz] or even [Potent Monarch Topaz] (particularly if you're nearing the haste cap) become viable choices for yellow slots.

As for meta - I'm currently using [Tireless Skyflare Diamond] in my helm (even though it's not on the list). I have found mana and threat to be a nonissue recently, and decided that a slight boost to help me avoid avoidable damage might be more helpful at this point than a small stats increase. My meta will probably change again in the future, but I wonder if this gem is worth looking at for druids with large mana pools and regen rates.

 

Vazu

There isn't a single fight in Wrath where run speed offers any real benefit over something like +2% Intellect or Mana Restore. Sure, the argument can be made that regen or a larger mana pool "isn't necessary" right now but it's at least better than run speed. I main tank healed on our most recent 3-drakes Sartharion kill and I'll tell you right now mana was an issue. Someone can always learn how to avoid the fire (so to speak) but regen and healing are a function of gear, enchants and gem choices. I always want the option of more mana and I've never thought to myself, "Gee, I wouldn't have died if I had a run speed gem."

 

Moknim

Also, keep in mind that Unholy DKs can bring the +15% run speed increase as well. As a result gems like [Tireless Skyflare Diamond] and the run speed enchants are much less valuable. I think Playered is right, once you overcome the initial mana problems by getting some Naxx gear [Ember Skyflare Diamond] is almost always the right call.

 

coldbear

Feral pvp if you're looking for Str>AP/Crit:
Red!/Yellow! - [Resplendent Monarch Topaz]
Red/Blue! - [Perfect Sovereign Shadow Crystal]

Author of "Every Boss In The Game" (3.0.9), "100 Dead Death Knights", "Fun In Ulduar", "Guide: How To Feral DPS" videos:
http://www.warcraftmovies.com/pv.php?t=3&l=parl2001

 

Norfair

In terms of item budget, the Insightful meta is actually really good compared to the others. According to my WWS reports, the proc gives somewhere around 60 mp5 (even have two reports giving me 80 and 100 mp5). For the less spammy fights where mana isn't an issue anyway, it gives a bit lower so I guess in those fights the 25 spellpower is more useful.

If you want the run enchant (like I do), it's better to put it on your boots as that won't hurt your mana a lot less than using it in your meta. Some fights where I like having the enchant are Heigan, Thaddius and Sarth+3.

Keep f**king that chicken.

 

sal

I am quite suprised [Enchanted Tear] has not been mentioned. For cat this equates to 6 Strength and 6 Agility in a blue socket, best by far considering the poor selection for blue sockets... if only it wasn't unique.

This item is cut from a [Siren's Tear] from either a rare clam drop from murlocs or sold for 100 common clam drops on the northern shore of borean tundra.

Druid Armory - Youtubes - RD Guild

 

coldbear

Good point. [Siren's Tear] though.

There's also a budget version - [Enchanted Pearl]

Author of "Every Boss In The Game" (3.0.9), "100 Dead Death Knights", "Fun In Ulduar", "Guide: How To Feral DPS" videos:
http://www.warcraftmovies.com/pv.php?t=3&l=parl2001

 

puebloune

Actually, I think haste is already scaling very good. The more haste you have the faster and the better you can have your perfect HoT rotations running. I am actually using reckless over luminous for the very few yellow gems we have.

 

corveroth

I believe that [Stalwart Monarch Topaz] (being added in 3.0.8) should be listed for tanking. It will be the best avoidance gem for a yellow socket.

 

Lilija

Wouldn't [Perfect Purified Shadow Crystal] be always better than [Glowing Twilight Opal]? Stamina feels a little bit like a wasted stat in a gem slot.

 

yoy

As a resto druid I usually try and gem for socket bonuses because usually socket bonuses are something that you are putting a gem in for anyway, or another stat that you are looking for. So to meet all of these I would say that the following gems should be used.

Red
[Runed Scarlet Ruby]

Yellow
[Luminous Monarch Topaz]
[Potent Monarch Topaz]
[Reckless Monarch Topaz]

Here is a little tricky.

I would use the [Luminous Monarch Topaz] because intellect also contributes to crit while at the same time increasing the mana pool. More mana in straight form means the availability to cast more spells. Soft cap for druids on haste is around 9% (with gift of the earthmother) or approximately 300 haste rating. With this much and raid buffs from shaman and moonkin’s you will hit the cap at the approximate 15% need to turn the global cool-down from 1.5 to 1 sec. So with all the haste you get from dungeon gear and even lower epics, you will hit the soft point so more haste is not really needed (from [Reckless Monarch Topaz]). Unless you are going for a regrowth, nourish, and healing touch type spec.

I usually don’t try and go for crit because I feel this to be less reliable then a stat that I know will happen. I am guaranteed the amount of mana given to me by intellect, however, critical strikes are usually percents. I have landed critical strike after critical strike even though I am only at 10%, while I have also gone 20 casts without a single critical. Useful again only if you are going for a nourish, regrowth, and healing touch build because of the benefit you get from Nature’s Grace.

Blue
[Royal Twilight Opal]

Really I find this to be the only good gem for all resto specs. Stamina should be the least of your concerns cause if you are worried about the amount of damage you are taking and you aren’t living through fights then you are doing the fight wrong. You can argue that [Perfect Purified Shadow Crystal] is a good choice too.

The 7 spirit on the back side calculates as follows:

Spell Power with Imp Tree & Living Spirit - .15(7*1.15) = 1.2075sp
MP5 (Guess haven’t found good equation on this) – 1spirit ~ .335mp5 while casting = 2.345mp5 (not confirmed)

So you would lose depending on the rounding mechanics and correct calculations, 1mp5 and although it is small if you are looking for the best then [Royal Twilight Opal] is it, but not by much.

Meta
[Insightful Earthsiege Diamond]
[Ember Skyflare Diamond]

I personally think that the [Insightful Earthsiege Diamond] is by far the best Meta hands down. With a proc rate at approximately 5% and a 600mana return, it makes the 2% mana increase look stupid. The only reason I would take Ember is for the spell power but in no way shape or form does it come close to the [Insightful Earthsiege Diamond]. I would take the 25 spell power hit, for an approximate 75mp5.
(30 spells/minute * 5% proc chance * 600 mana per proc) / 12 5-second slices per minute = 75 mp5 (Insightful Earthsiege Diamond - Item - World of Warcraft)

Not only does it equal a large amount of mp5 but the 2% that you are looking for from the Ember won’t even equal the first proc return from the Insightful. With 17,000 mana and a 2% increase you are only looking at 340+mana, and remember that is a permanent stat. The intellect itself from [Insightful Earthsiege Diamond] yields 315 mana.

Please feel free to comment or add. Thanks to all who contributed to the knowledge.

 

Glory

Well you say 2% Mana but its 2% intellect, so if your over 1050 Int it gives you more Int, and Int gives you Replenish MP5.

For the IED your Calculation may be right, but your Assumption is not. If the Fight is challenging you might cast 55 Spells per Min, Every GCD but only be able to cast every 1.09 Sec. The IED becomes more valuable. If you only have to cast 20 or less Spells a Min, you also do not need the ESD.

Well your Statement that IED > ESD is stays true always.

 

trismegistus

I think the point here is the stats that are available in slot. The two major sources of MP5 are Meta and Trinket.

Let's compare the four stats on these two gems.

[Insightful Earthsiege Diamond] - +21 Int and [assumed] 75MP5
[Ember Skyflare Diamond] - +25 Spell Power and [assumed 1000 Int] +20Int

If we look at the available trinkets, they offer significantly more Spell Power than this meta, but the MP5 is much lower. It is therefore better to sacrifice the Spell Power from the Meta slot and use it for MP5 because it is the best slot on the entire gear sheet for that stat.

MP5 trinkets:

[Living Ice Crystals]
[Winged Talisman]


Spell Power trinkets:

[Soul Preserver]
[The Egg of Mortal Essence]
[Je'Tze's Bell]
[Forethought Talisman]
[Embrace of the Spider]
[Darkmoon Card: Illusion]
[Battlemaster's Bravery]

 

Algroth

For feral DPS (Blue):

Sovereign Twilight Opal (NYI)
Balanced Twilight Opal
Shifting Twilight Opal (NYI)

Ranked in order of dps value using Toskk's model (The Druid Wiki ToskksDPSGearMethod)

 

yoy

Little confused about your point here? Yes I understand the mess up on the intellect calculation that is my fault. You would need the 1050 intellect that you stated, however I find it very hard to get to this point (unless it is based off raid buffs) that would provided the same amount of mana that the IED does.

Calculations:
Goal = 1050 Int

With Mark, Dalaran Intellect, and Kings
(844 Int + 51 Mark + 60 Dalaran Int)*1.10 Kings = 1050
So you would need above 844 Int to gain more from the ESD(raid buffed).

Intellect provides critical chance for druids and slightly effects our mana regen but not as much as in comparison to other classes, "In addition Intellect provides regeneration through abilities available to hunters, paladins, and shadow priests via Replenish (different from druid replenishment)." (MMO-Champion BlueTracker - Gearing up for End Game healing guide: 3.03)

So although it does provide some help to our mana regen it doesn’t provide as much as the meta would provide. Your example of casting 55 spells per min, were you proving my point? It is hard to tell with the way you worded it. With 55 spells per minute you would be gaining back approximately 1650 mana or 137.5 MP5. From this data even that harder fight that you mentioned would pay a greater return on this Meta.

Tris thank you for the short and sweet point that there is no mp5 trinket that can match the mana given back from the IED. To make that cross over point at 43 mp5 you would have to only cast 17 times in a minute. If you are only using 17 spells in one minute you are not healing properly.

 

Glory

ok i just corrected your 2% int fault on the ESD, which is extremly extended to a level of dumbieness by tris

How in the World you come from 20000 Mana -> 40 Int sorry just makes absolutely no sense especially if i've stated this fault 1 post above :S. And if it were that nice then at 25k mana it would be 50 Int, which it self is ~+30 Int -> 20 Mp5 better than the Int from IED

ok back to topic and sorry for the flame ...

I just said that IED is better, than ESD. Tris showed it a lot easier to understand.

I wanted to say that IED has Intelligent behaviour, if you cast less because the boss hits like a girlie you need less mana and get less mana from it. If the next boss is more challenging you need to cast more and you will get more mana back.

and for the low bosses where in this scenario you dont need the Mp5 you also dont need the Spellpower from ESD.

 

yoy

I see what you are getting at.

Your saying the IED proportional to the ESD will always be better. Cause if you are in a low level fight then you are not going to need the mana return, however you wont need the spell power either. If you are in a high level fight you are going to need the mana return a lot more then you are going to need the small 25 spell upgrade. Therefore the IED wins again.

So the point stands true that the best meta for resto druids is the IED.

 

kalbear

The perfect shifting gem is probably better than the balanced twilight opal for feral dps.

 

trismegistus

You're right, of course. I'm pretty sure I had this initially, but then I got all messed up when editing my post and changed to Mana. I edited the post above to reflect the correct stats.

In this case, it makes the choice even easier because you are choosing between [at least] 75MP5 or 23 Spell Power. Given the gear choices, it really is no contest.