I think my DPS is a bit low. Would love some tips and pointers.

[Cutpaper]

So, I've changed a few things now. It took me a while but I got to it (even though I still have some to do).

Sque (http://eu.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Doomhammer&cn=Sque) of Doomhammer

I managed to get my hands on a few new items.
Abyssal Rune (http://www.wowhead.com/item=47213) instead of Shard of the Crystal Heart (http://www.wowhead.com/item=48722)
Cauterized Cord (http://www.wowhead.com/item=51017) instead of Braid of Salt and Fire (http://www.wowhead.com/item=50263)
Lich Wrappings (http://www.wowhead.com/item=51584) instead of Wrathful Gladiator's Cloak of Triumph (http://www.wowhead.com/item=51354)
Amulet of the Silent Eulogy (http://www.wowhead.com/item=50005) instead of Relentless Gladiator's Pendant of Subjugation (http://www.wowhead.com/item=42045)
-------------------------------------------------------
Sanctified Bloodmage Robe (http://www.wowhead.com/item=51156) instead of Merlin's Robe (http://www.wowhead.com/item=47603)

DPS Attempt 007: 6000dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8492/squedps007.jpg)
DPS Attempt 008: 5274dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/4027/squedps008.jpg)
DPS Attempt 009: 5210dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/7749/squedps009.jpg)

Numbers taken while buffed with Arcane Intellect (http://www.wowhead.com/spell=42995) and Molten Armor (http://www.wowhead.com/spell=43046), yet again.
And as you can see, there is some slight improvement there. Hopefully, more to come in a not too distant future.
Might be worth mentioning that I started off each dps test with Mirror Image (http://www.wowhead.com/spell=55342) and my Buff/Trinket macro.

I'm thinking about tweaking my talents a little bit though... to something like this (http://www.wowhead.com/talent#of0Vcu0IzxGuMtedcZbGc0o:Nzi0zV). Any thoughts about it?
I chose to put a talent point in Slow (http://www.wowhead.com/spell=31589) in that build to be able to help out a little bit more during raids, it feels like it could be useful for some encounters, take Valithria Dreamwalker (http://www.wowhead.com/npc=36789) in ICC10/25 for one.

Rotation used can be found here (http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/5661/arcanerotation.jpg).
(Sorry for the horrible handwriting and how it looks. I was just bored. :()


Hrm, let's get right to it, shall we.

Sque (http://eu.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Doomhammer&cn=Sque) of Doomhammer

Am I using the proper gems as an Arcane Mage? I've never really looked up what type of gems I should be using, I asked someone in-game and got directed to using +12 Spell Power / +10 Spirit and +12 Spell Power / +10 Haste Rating, and I've been doing so since.

But lately I've been getting a feeling that I am pulling a relatively low DPS.

DPS Attempt 001: 4300dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img837.imageshack.us/f/squedps001.jpg/)
DPS Attempt 002: 5000dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img17.imageshack.us/f/squedps002.jpg/)
DPS Attempt 003: 4800dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img72.imageshack.us/f/squedps003.jpg/)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DPS Attempt 004: 4933dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7837/squedps004.jpg)
DPS Attempt 005: 5162dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6213/squedps005.jpg)
DPS Attempt 006: 4880dps vs. Heroic Training Dummy - Recount - Detail Window (http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3527/squedps006.jpg)

Numbers taken while buffed with Arcane Intellect (http://www.wowhead.com/spell=42995) and Molten Armor (http://www.wowhead.com/spell=43046).
Also, I'm not really sure if I'm currently using the optimal spec.
Example: I've had little to no use of Incanter's Absorption (http://www.wowhead.com/spell=44395) so far.

Yes, that is a Gnome Mage with pink hair and beard. No, you are not in hell. That really is my mage, and he is dead sexy.

Anyway, any tips and pointers would be greatly appreciated.

[Squirrelnut]

Ewww caster lawl, i know nothing bout em, gl =P

[Harmacy]

I'm afraid my knowledge of mages is quite lacking, but I can say this with absolute certainty:

Your hit rating is way way too high. You need 17% total - you get 3% from one talent, 3% from another talent, and then 3% from a raid buff provided by a Shadow Priest or Boomkin. So you need either 8% or 11% hit from gear.

So replace your hit trinket with Abyssal Rune or something, and then work from there.

edit: and Incanter's Absorption seems to be one of those talents that is extremely handy for fights like LK, Sindragosa, or Halion where you'd be using your defensive abilities fairly often

[Cutpaper]

Ah, thanks for the heads up. :) I did try it with Abyssal Rune, but it seemed to result in a DPS decrease, but I'll give it another shot for sure. Cheers. :)

[leethaxor]

Also if your using your defensive CD's to absorb mage damage why are taking Ice shards over frost warding? Trash dps doesn't matter.
Please note i am biased here. I don't like IA very much, i find that arcane stability will give you better results b/c of the push back resistance combined with the AoE damage auras common to ICC.

Lastly your have jewcrafting yet i see no dragon eyes? While sp + haste gems are generically good rune dragons eyes are amazing.

Abyssal rune over hit trinket. it will look like a gain over a time longer then 5 minutes i'm pretty sure.

[Cutpaper]

I rarely have to use any defensive spells aside from Ice Block, so taking that one wouldn't benefit me a whole lot, just like Incanter's Absorption isn't. But I'm with you on that one, I don't care much for IA either.

Ah, yes, I even forgot about those gems... cheers, will get them for sure. :) And I'm working on getting Abyssal Rune as we speak (well, that was a lie, I'm eating right now, so taking a break from it).

Thanks a heap for the tips. :)

[Insahnity]

Your hit rating is way way too high. You need 17% total - you get 3% from one talent, 3% from another talent, and then 3% from a raid buff provided by a Shadow Priest or Boomkin. So you need either 8% or 11% hit from gear.


Add another 1% if you have a draenei. Could knock it down to 7%/10%.

Consider Black Magic Enchant. It's debatable at your haste levels, but I say you can never have enough haste.

I don't know why you are barraging on a dummy, it's strictly for movements, unless you wanted to see how much damage it does. It doesn't scale with haste.

5000 isn't too bad against a dummy given that you are only self buffed. Not sure if you popped your trinket, your gloves, a speed potion, Icy Veins/QuadCore/Arcane Power or not.

Student of the mind is nice if you have mana issues, it extends the time before you have to resort to evocating, and it's a small amount of crit. I don't know if you go OOM or not.

[Cutpaper]

Black Magic? I will look it up. :)

I used Arcane Barrage there to reset the Arcane Blast debuff back to 0, gives me some ease on controlling my mana, can go on a bit longer if I reset it. Just don't get me wrong, I don't really suffer from Mana issues. I did indeed pop my trinket as well as Icy Veins, makes me peak at about 6500-7000dps.


Actually been thinking about getting Student of the Mind instead of Incanter's Absorption for the slight crit increase, should prove to be more useful.
I ended up removing 2 points from Incanter's Absorption and placed them in Arcane Stability instead, it was far superior than 8% Spirit to me.

[sifuedition]

I'm at work and haven't seen your spec or gear yet. Just thought you might want to see mine which seems to work well.
Sifublast on Jaedenar
I imagine your gear is better than mine from what you posted as your target dummy dps. I would suggest copying my trinkets unless you can get muradin's spyglass which is the best upgrade from either.

For arcane, spellpower and haste will usually balance out, by which I mean increasing one usually also increases the other. Favor haste over crit and spirit over mp5. You can use something like rawr to anticipate/guestimate what your upgrades would be. For instance, it shows abyssal rune as a dps upgrade over the frost vendor trinket.

[Cutpaper]

Ah, thanks, will go through the armory and compare. :)

But yeah, I'm working on getting the Abyssal Rune trinket from Trial of the Champion. And as I mentioned a bit earlier, I'm going to replace a few gems as suggested. However, are the +39 Spell Power as good as they appear to be? I mean, am I really better off getting those rather than +34 Haste Rating? Or a combination of both? Say, 2 +39 Spell Power, 1 +34 Haste Rating or wise verse.

[Terae]

Black Magic? I will look it up. :)

I used Arcane Barrage there to reset the Arcane Blast debuff back to 0, gives me some ease on controlling my mana, can go on a bit longer if I reset it. Just don't get me wrong, I don't really suffer from Mana issues. I did indeed pop my trinket as well as Icy Veins, makes me peak at about 6500-7000dps.

Actually been thinking about getting Student of the Mind instead of Incanter's Absorption for the slight crit increase, should prove to be more useful.

There's a lot of debate on this, but personally I believe you should use Arcane Missiles instead of Arcane Barrage to reset your stack, it's a DPS loss, but a damage per minute increase. It also gives you more damage per mana.

[Cutpaper]

Yeah? I will give that a try for sure to see how it turns out. Thanks for the tip. :)

Ah, any tips and pointers for a Fire Mage would be greatly appreciated to. Or if anyone could nudge me in the right direction on where I could find out more. I would check the official forums but they seem to be holding a grudge against me, I keep getting an error about 9/10 times that I try to use them.

[Griff]

I think you generally want 81 SP on staves and black magic on one-handers.

[Cutpaper]

Ah, with some luck I may have kept my old one-hander, the only reason I switched to the staff was due to my inability to find a decent off-hand piece.

Actually, come to think of it, why is that?
There might be some obvious answer to it, but it slipped past me for sure.. I'd elaborate it a bit more, but stuck boosting a friend in Karazhan with my Protection Warrior, so will edit this post once I get out.

[Insahnity]

Look at ElitistJerks for Fire and Arcane questions. For example, when to AM proc (always with 2pct10 to get haste buff, wait for 4 stacks if without 2pct10), what to do when you ABlast to 4 stacks and you still don't have an AM proc, etc., EP values and specs.

The Mag'hari is a VERY good staff, it's one of a the few times it's better than 251 1h+OH, because of the massive haste. I would only change it with 264 1h and at least 251 OH (Scourgelord Baton). Also, this staff has no hit, you might only have items with 1h that have hit (non hit items usually go to healers first, especially resto druids who desperately need SP).

[Cutpaper]

Ah thanks, will go check there. :)

I think I do have some non-hit one-handed weapons, if I kept them, that is. But yes, I agree, the staff is good.
It's done me well since I got it, and probably will keep doing me well for a while longer.

[Goros]

Fire Thread: http://www.tankspot.com/showthread.php?68650-TTW-Fire-Mage-Guide
Arcane Thread: http://www.tankspot.com/showthread.php?68567-Arcane-Mage-DPS-Guide

Arcane rotation/bossfight video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGhDgSZ5YzE

My armory (for gems/enchants) http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Archimonde&cn=Aliiza

The best thing you can do for your gearing is to get RAWR as it will adjust as you make changes in gear and give you the optimal gear and gemming choices as you collect goodies.

[Cutpaper]

Thanks Goros, I really appreciate the help. Sorry for taking some time to reply, I've had my mind a bit occupied. :)

Also, giving Rawr a try, as both you and sifuedition suggested. Well, as soon as I get it to function properly. :p

[Cutpaper]

Sorry for double posting, but updated the thread and would really appreciate another glance.

[Goros]

you're still wearing the wrong cloak. scrap the deathfrost boots for sandals of consecration for arcane (but they are good for fire).

go for your 4pc t10 as soon as you can - for arcane you want head, shoulders, chest and gloves, with the pants you now have. For fire you want head, shoulders, gloves, pants with the 264 or 277 chest off dreamwalker 25.

Other than that, you need at least the 2pc t10 so you can start saving mana and doing more dps (that haste boost is a must). Also, 81SP for a staff is slightly better than black magic, and since you are over 1k base haste (omg, btw) you're probably damn close to diminishing returns.

I'd personally be running toc25 every week trying to get reign if I didn't have it already, and try to get 251 or 264 spyglass off lootship 10. DFO is a must have also, but good luck getting it to drop and winning it.

[Cutpaper]

Ops, thought I equipped the cloak. Thanks for the heads up, will get right to it when I log him the next time. :)

As for the t10 bonus, I'm working on it, and I'm about to get the robe (sanctified) in a few frost badges. And will work after that list, thanks.
Also working on getting DFO as well as Muradin's Spyglass, haven't had the luck to win it just yet.