Festergut Encounter

[Spiritus]

CLICK HERE FOR THE PROJECT MARMOT VIDEO GUIDE & TRANSCRIPT!

Hello, and welcome to Tankspot's written strategy guide on the Festergut Encounter in Icecrown Citadel. My name is Spiritus and I will be going over the abilities seen on the PTR for this fight, as well as some basic speculative strategy on how to approach your first attempts.

BIG NOTE: As always, this is all speculative, but well researched. Nothing is ever certain until launch day, and even then the fight mechanics can change overnight. If I feel dodgy on something, I say so. Below are three captures, each a different version of the Festergut Encounter (oldest is up top and newest in on the bottom).

Environment, Positioning, and Pull:

(1) Festergut's room is circular and has one entrance, which becomes gated once the encounter starts [It is a mirror replica of Rotface's room].

(2) 2 tanks are needed on this fight for a tank swap.

(3) MT runs in and places Festergut in the center of the room. Melee DPS take their customary position behind the boss. Ranged and healers make a semi-circle around the boss, ensuring that they are 8 YARDS APART. This will reduce the chance of multiple people being hit with a single Vile Gas.

(4) This fight is a straight-up DPS burn with a very short enrage and few mechanics.

Given 1 Tank (@3k DPS) and 5 Healers:
--------------------------------------
5min Enrage: rDPS: 144.1k || pDPS(avg): 7,427


Obviously, the short enrage makes this encounter a tight DPS check.

Figure 1. Festergut Positioning

Boss/Environment Abilities:
There are very few mechanics to this fight, but must be executed properly to defeat the encounter. As with most fights, proper positioning makes perfect!

Gaseous Blight
Inflicts shadow damage to the entire raid every 2seconds.
0 Inhales: 4,388 to 4,612 per 2sec
1 Inhales: 2,925 to 3,075 per 2sec
2 Inhales: 1,950 to 2,050 per 2sec
3 Inhales: 1,463 to 1,537 per 2sec
At the start of the encounter, the room will be flooded with a Gaseous Blight which will deal damage at the 0 Inhale level. After every inhale, the amount of damage is decreased.

<---Festergut--->

43.23m HP

Vile Gas
Instant Cast. 8yd radius. unknown frequency [approx 20-30sec].
Inflicts a Vile plague in targeted area, inflicting 4,875 to 5,125 [3,900 to 4,100: 10man] Shadow damage every 2 sec for 6 sec. The plague causes the infected targets to vomit uncontrollably [Disorient] inflicting 3900 to 4100 damage to nearby allies.
This is the reason why range must be spread out in 8-10yd intervals. You do not want multiple raiders puking on each other. I was not able to observe this being cast on anyone in melee range, so I assume it works like the Vezax Shadow Crash mechanic, however there is no travel time.

Gastric Bloat
Instant Cast. 100sec Duration. 10sec Frequency. Stacks to 10.
Inflicts 14625 to 15375 damage and applies Gastric Bloat to the target, increasing damage done by 10% for 1.7 OR 1.4 min and will cause a Gastric Explosion at 10 stacks inflicting massive damage to nearby allies.
This will be applied to the tank every 10sec, causing an instant death explosion at 10stacks. Note that it increases the amount the target does, not how much damage they take. As such, when tank1 reaches 9stacks and tank2 starts tanking, it is advisable for tank1 to drop their "aggro stance" (eg-frost presence) and cease using high-threat abilities (eg-heroic strike) as they will easily pull off tank2 without doing so. Therefore, the tanks must switch after the first tank reaches a 9stack.

Inhaled Blight
3.5sec Cast. unknown frequency [Approx. every 30sec.]
Inhaling the Gaseous Blight increases damage dealt by 30% and attack speed by 30%.
As the damage of Gaseous Blight decreases, Festergut's damage increases. Festergut will inhale the blight 3 times, gaining a total of 90% damage and attack speed during the 3rd Inhale duration. It is advisable to use DR CDs during this time as the tank will be taking massive damage. Approx 30sec after the 3rd Inhaled Blight, Festergut will cast...

Pungent Blight
3sec Cast. 20sec after Inhaled Blight.
Violently releases the Gaseous Blight, dealing 48,750 to 51,250 [42,900 to 45,100: 10man] Shadow damage to all enemy players, releasing the deadly Blight back into the room. Resets the stacks of Inoculated.
Everyone gets hit by this. Fortunately, there is a mechanic to reduce the damage through Inoculated (see below).

Gas Spore
Instant Cast. 12sec duration. 35sec frequency. 3 targets.
You have the Gas Spore! You will explode and infect all friendly players in an 8 yard radius with Blighted Spores, dealing 1950 to 2050 Shadow damage and increasing their resistance to the Blight. Players who survive Blighted Spores will become Inoculated.
Three random raid members will be infected with Gas Spores, signified by a Loatheb-esque "spore" above their head. When this occurs, everyone not infected must stand next to the closest infected player within 12sec. After this time, the Gas Spore will erupt infected everyone in an 8yd radius with...

Blighted Spores
Instant Cast. 6sec duration. 8yd radius upon removal of Gas Spore from infected players.
Inflicts 1950 to 2050 Shadow damage every 1 sec for 6 sec.
This can stack up to 3 times if you are in range of 3 Gas Spore infected players, which should never occur. After you receive Blighted Spores, you must return to your original position to avoid multiple people being hit with Vile Gas. When the six second duration is over you will become...

Inoculated
Instant Cast. 2min duration. Stacks up to 3 times.
You have become resistant to the blight, decreasing Shadow damage taken by 25% for 2 min. Stacks up to 3 times.
Each instance of Inoculated will reduce Shadow damage by 25% up to 75%. This mechanic allows your raid to survive Pungent Blight. Before each Pungent Blight cast, all raid members must have a 3 stack including the tank.

Figure 2. Gas Spore/Inoculation Positioning

After you have been hit with Pungent Blight, rinse and repeat the strat until the boss is dead.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

(1) The key to this fight is heavy DPS and getting everyone x3 stacks of Inoculated before Pungent Blast.

(2) Make sure the tank is in range to get hit with Blighted Spores from a Gas Spore infected player. If not, he will die to Pungent Blast. Best bet is to have the melee infected player move directly under the boss, as Festergut's hit box is very small.

(3) If by the off chance that a melee player is not hit with Gas Spore, have one ranged player run to the center of the boss to hit both the melee and the tank.

(4) RANGED & HEALERS STAY SPREAD OUT! 8-10yd range. You do not want multiple people hit with Vile Gas.

(5) GET BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITIONS AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED BLIGHTED SPORES! See (4).

(6) It is recommended to ignore all spores after the second Pungent Blight. He will not have time to cast another one before his enrage.

(7) Use DR/Avoidance CDs during the 3rd Inhale period. Your tank will be taking massive damage during this time.


This encounter is relatively simple with a massive gear/skill check for DPS.

As always, feel free to add info to this post that will further everyone's understanding of the fight.

Good luck on the Festergut Encounter and clearing the second boss in the second wing of ICC!

[Ropetown]

it's no longer a 1 tank fight. Requires 2.

[Spiritus]

it's no longer a 1 tank fight. Requires 2.

What is the mechanic that requires two tanks?

[feji]

Gastric Bloat is a stacking debuff placed on the tank with agro. It increases damage done by 10% per application, and if it gets upto 10 stacks, the tank dies.

Edit: Here's the mouseover tooltip

Gastric Bloat
Increases damage dealt by 10%.
Causes a Gastric Explosion at 10 stacks.
1.7 minutes (1:40) remaining

From my experience it appears to be a melee chance on hit proc from Festergut. There is an internal cooldown on it, and on average it'll take 10seconds for subsequent applications to occur.

[Spiritus]

I updated several ability explanations, added a video with a 5min enrage, and included Gastric Bloat as an unconfirmed ability.

[Inaoe]

Hm, from the PTR site of wowhead it seems there are 4 versions of that debuff. Maybe for 10/25 and the two hard modes. Two of them have identical dmg values, for 10 man hard and 25 normal?

Heres a video with a tank switch at about 1:40. The tank announces 9 stacks and druid taunts. Second switch at 3:30.
YouTube - CUTIES ONLY vs. Festergut - PTR 3rd Test

[feji]

From the most recent version of Festergut on the PTR some days ago, Gastric Boat was being applied to tanks on both 25man normal and heroic. The only difference hardmode had was a bouncing "malleable glob" that Professor Putricide tosses at a random raid member througout the encounter.

[Spiritus]

This fight has gone through so many versions that I am uncertain as to what exactly will be on the final release. I'm going to keep Gastric Bloat up as "likely," but it's relatively recent addition gives me pause for it on live.

However, until I see an application frequency, I cannot conjecture as to the best way to handle the tank switches.

EDIT: Adding the 3rd test video as well.

[feji]

Wasn't sure if I combatlogged that night, but I got a couple attempts logged when I checked my home pc.

11/19 19:57:23.234  SPELL_DAMAGE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,8119,0,40,1533,0,3010,nil,nil,nil
11/19 19:57:23.234  SPELL_AURA_APPLIED,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF
11/19 19:57:36.531  SPELL_DAMAGE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,9799,0,40,3038,0,0,nil,nil,nil
11/19 19:57:36.546  SPELL_AURA_APPLIED_DOSE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF,2
11/19 19:57:47.859  SPELL_DAMAGE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,3325,0,40,1464,0,7302,nil,nil,nil
11/19 19:57:47.859  SPELL_AURA_APPLIED_DOSE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF,3
11/19 19:57:58.765  SPELL_DAMAGE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,10708,0,40,1475,0,0,nil,nil,nil
11/19 19:57:58.765  SPELL_AURA_APPLIED_DOSE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF,4
11/19 19:58:09.796  SPELL_DAMAGE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,7583,0,40,4459,0,807,nil,nil,nil
11/19 19:58:09.796  SPELL_AURA_APPLIED_DOSE,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF,5
11/19 19:58:11.937  SPELL_AURA_REMOVED,"Festergut","Jackbaur",0x512,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF
11/19 19:58:21.468  SPELL_DAMAGE,"Festergut","Feji",0x511,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,12408,0,40,0,0,0,nil,nil,nil
11/19 19:58:21.468  SPELL_AURA_APPLIED,"Festergut","Feji",0x511,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF
11/19 19:58:32.359  SPELL_DAMAGE,"Festergut","Feji",0x511,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,12032,0,40,0,0,0,nil,nil,nil
11/19 19:58:32.359  SPELL_AURA_APPLIED_DOSE,"Festergut","Feji",0x511,72553,"Gastric Bloat",0x28,DEBUFF,2

Edit : The debuff can be removed by DS, but not BoP iirc.

[Spiritus]

If I'm reading that right, that means the debuff is applied approx. every 10sec... and if the 1.7m duration is correct, then I am not certain how your able to handle this with a 2 tank rotation. These numbers don't seem to jive ATM, so more info is needed.

[feji]

If I'm reading that right, that means the debuff is applied approx. every 10sec... and if the 1.7m duration is correct, then I am not certain how your able to handle this with a 2 tank rotation. These numbers don't seem to jive ATM, so more info is needed.

1:40 to get the debuff to drop off, from the sniplet of the log i posted, the most common time between applications is 11secs, with 10sec being the floor. 9x10 = 1:30, so in reality you'd only need one instance of 11 seconds between debuff applications to create enough time for the debuff to fall off on the other tank. 2 tanks should be doable, but my guild just ran with a 3 tank rotation so we could stagger cd's when Festergut has 2+ stacks of Inhale Blight.

[Xequecal]

Does anyone besides me think the normal modes in Ulduar seem to be rather overtuned? 43.2m HP in six minutes on normal mode? Remember it's supposedly designed for ilvl245 gear. Algalon had 34.9m with the same berserk timer, ilvl239 gear was available, and that was a hard mode boss.

[Spiritus]

@feji: I'll be curious to see what the application frequency will be if Gastric Bloat does go live. If its a hard 11sec count or greater, then it becomes doable with two tanks. If its 10sec, then three tanks will be needed, making the DPS requirement even that more tight. If two tanks are needed, it already pushes this number up very high if they end up going with the 5min enrage.

@Xequecal: Comparing Festergut to Algalon is a far reach. For Festergut, your entire raid is flat footed nearly 95% of the fight, allowing them to almost completely focus on their rotation. Algalon is not that forgiving. I also am uncertain what the final enrage timer will be. As of right now, I believe it is set to a 5min enrage, but that can easily change for live. If, indeed, the timer will be 5min, then you bet its a high DPS check for, say, a ToC25(n) geared guild. Remember, however, that you will have been clearing the first 4 bosses for several weeks in both 25man and 10man, getting shiny new purples to help increase said DPS.

EDIT: Updated Gastric Bloat description.

[Inaoe]

If the 2 tank strategy makes it to live, would it be beneficial to do the first tank switch at ~4 stacks of gastric bloat to desync gastric bloat and increased inhale dmg? It looks like the 3rd inhale happens roughly at the the same time the first tank gets close to 8 or 9 stacks of gastric bloat. In the video I saw the switch at 9 stacks.

Edit: Also, talking of 10 man here, where this will have to work with 2 tanks, while you could use 3 in 25 man.

[Spiritus]

I hesitate to really comment further on Gastric Bloat because I am uncertain as to how the mechanic will finally look on live. Suffice to say, if the duration of the debuff is 100sec, then you must allow a deep 9 stack to have any shot of clean switches.

Could you use 3 tanks? Sure, but if the 5min enrage goes live, and your carrying 3tanks and 5 healers, then that leaves you with 17 DPS who must average 7,947 DPS (given 3 tanks doing 3k DPS).

[Tanros]

Um....dont forget that tank affected by that Debuff have also his damage increased by 10% per stack wich at the end nearly doubles his dps. Maybe its a mechanic created to allow usage of 3 tanks. (edit)AND given the long duration of the debuff, you may have 1 tank with 9 stacks of it and another with 6 or even 8 stacks for a second. Surely 8k dps is not really imaginable with the gear we know about, but things may change. We'll see soon enough i guess(/edit) Of course its just a wild guess.

[Spiritus]

Since we don't have exact numbers on what his "base" damage is, its hard to determine how dangerous a 90% damage increase is. My guess is that his normal damage is quite weak, but increases systematically as he inhales and stacks this debuff on the tank. Therefore, by the end of the third enhale, you'll be using CDs to keep the tank up.

If you run 17 DPS for this fight, and they all combine to have an individual average of approx 8k DPS sustained over 5min, then your safe to run a 3tank strat.

[Xequecal]

Um....dont forget that tank affected by that Debuff have also his damage increased by 10% per stack wich at the end nearly doubles his dps. Maybe its a mechanic created to allow usage of 3 tanks. (edit)AND given the long duration of the debuff, you may have 1 tank with 9 stacks of it and another with 6 or even 8 stacks for a second. Surely 8k dps is not really imaginable with the gear we know about, but things may change. We'll see soon enough i guess(/edit) Of course its just a wild guess.

That's not how it works. With current mechanics, 5-min berserk, two tanks:

- 0-100 seconds: Tank 1 building +0% to +90%, (average +45%) tank 2 +0%.
- 100-200 seconds: Tank 2 building +0% to +90%, (average +45%) tank 1 +90%.
- 200-300 seconds: Tank 1 building +0% to +90%, (average +45%) tank 2 +90%.

Tank 1 gets an average of (45 + 90 + 45) / 3 = +60% damage, tank 2 gets an average of (0 + 45 + 90) / 3 = +45% damage. Hardly doubled. If three tanks are used, the average damage boost to each tank is +45%, regardless of whether you rotate the debuff (taunt after each application) or have the 3 tanks go to 9 in succession.

It's not quite that bad, because when one of the tanks has his +90% damage and isn't tanking he can go into catform/blood presence or pull out a two-hander and DPS. It won't be that much of a DPS increase though, because you have to avoid pulling aggro back off the new 0% tank. So you can't expect to use a Druid tank with half agility gems, then have him shift to cat at +90% and give him Hysteria. He'll pull back off the second tank within seconds.

Since we don't have exact numbers on what his "base" damage is, its hard to determine how dangerous a 90% damage increase is. My guess is that his normal damage is quite weak, but increases systematically as he inhales and stacks this debuff on the tank. Therefore, by the end of the third enhale, you'll be using CDs to keep the tank up.

If you run 17 DPS for this fight, and they all combine to have an individual average of approx 8k DPS sustained over 5min, then your safe to run a 3tank strat

I don't know if you're confused, but Gastric Bloat increases the damage done by the tank, not the damage taken. Inhale is +30% damage/+30% attack speed for the boss, at three stacks of +90/90 it's a lot more than +90% damage.

If Gastric Bloat actually lasts long enough to require three tanks we will be using two Prot Paladins to cheese it by bubbling off Gastric Bloat when the other tank gets 9 stacks and I suspect everyone else will do the same. I'd rather bring in someone's Prot Paladin alt than have to deal with switching the tank every 10 seconds on a +90% damage, +90% attack speed boss. Assuming he can kill a tank in two swings at that level, you have to line up your taunt with heals on the new tank (while not dropping heals on the old tank) within a 1.3 second window, 0.8 seconds if he can parry haste. Ugh, no thank you.

[Spiritus]

It is quite possible that the stacking damage increase for the tank is part of the mechanic to alleviate the tight enrage timer, and your correct that tanks must be prepared immediately to drop their "aggro" mechanic (eg-frost presence, righteous fury) after the switch.

Whether 2 or 3 tanks will be needed, the best course of action will be to have each tank stack to 9 in succession. The fewer the number of tank switches, the easier it will be on the tank healers. Using 2 Pally tanks being able to bubble off the stacks is nice and, given a 5min enrage, you can actually get away with only one pally tank, as 300sec=5min.

I updated the description on Gastric Bloat so its less confusing.

[Xequecal]

+90% damage is a lot. I highly doubt a non-Paladin tank can hold aggro off a +90% damage cat Druid, especially if he sockets some Agility over STA. Remember, his tank gear is basically DPS gear with STA gems in it instead of ArPen.

Also the current mechanics are massively biased in favor of using a Paladin tank, and I would be very surprised if it's not changed as having a Paladin tank lets you add 10,000 rDPS or more over not having one. You start out with a Druid in mostly DPS gear and bear form. At 8 stacks, the Paladin taunts off and the Druid goes cat. The Druid now gets 100 seconds of +80% damage, and this allows the Druid to avoid the 90/90 phase which would surely kill them due to not being in tank gear. At 9 stacks, the Druid taunts back and goes to 9 stacks, the Paladin bubbles Bloat off and tanks it the rest of the way. Doing it this way is like running with 2 extra DPS, one from only having one tank, and another from giving +85% damage to a DPS class.