A while back I posted a rant about how awful mage DPS was, and spoke about how broken and obsolete the class is. Well, I was wrong. I have had the opportunity to go to 10-man Naxx several times since then. I've gotten better gear, learned the fights, and made some general improvements to how I play. My DPS is up significantly, to the point where I have more than doubled what I was doing before.
I think I had hit an awkward "middle phase" bewtween Burning Crusade and WotlK, where my gear and understanding of the new spells was lacking, and as a result, DPS was not good.
So, I decided to stick with it. I listened to the people here ( thankyou Anobix and Poldaran, and so many others whose names I can't recall) Made changes and just went forward.
Mages are capable of amazing DPS. It all depends on how smart we play and the quality of our gear. Last night in 10 man Naxx I was 3rd overall in DPS by a close margin behind 2 hunters, who both outgear me. On boss fights, I was almost always number one. The only fight I didn't do well on was the damn spider! She kept webbing me-not much I could do. In 5 man heroics it's usually no contest. I dominate for the most part.
I want to apologize for putting up such a negative post here. I should have been more patient.
I still have a lot to improve on-both gear and skill-but being a mage is pretty darn good overall.
Thanks to every here who has posted so much helpful info. I have learned so much.
Now, I might just try arcane.....
Link to original post Original Post
Morgause
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- DPS Problems and Frustrations:Pt 2-It's really not that bad
DPS Problems and Frustrations:Pt 2-It's really not that badFollow
There seems to be this really horrible, frustrating phase we go through - in my case just after turning 80 - where we get out-DPSed by almost everything that has a DPS spec. At least, coming from a mage who'd not raided significantly in BC (my 'lock got that attention). It's not a matter of rotation - it's a matter of gear and scaling.
I hit 80 right around halfway into Grizzly Hills, after completing Borean, HF, and Dragonblight. The best gear I'd acquired from quests was, quite frankly, insufficient. It wasn't like I'd skimped, either - I'd just done the zones I'd done completely, and the XP from that threw me over. Every upgrade I'd made was significant. I'd read about how FFB spec worked. I was doing exactly what was suggested. But although I was (thankfully) ahead of the tank in DPS, I was getting outright *spanked* by every other DPS class out there.
I made a few posts in forums, seeking advice. Invariably, the advice I was given both wasn't helpful, and was filled with the sort of grammar I'd expect from a group of 12-year-olds. "L2P n00b" or "ur sp to lo". Well crud, I *knew* my spellpower was too low - I was asking how to *fix* that. Very few pieces of real advice, lots of insults. This particular forum seems to be devoid of that - a fact for which I'm very thankful.
Since then, thanks to friends, guildies, and spending more in-game cash than I'd care to admit, things are getting much better. I'm consistently top 3 in DPS for our 10-man runs (often top 2). I haven't changed my spec, or my playstyle, only my gear.
Here's what I'll say to mages in that situation:
Crafted gear, along with AH BoEs will get you started. Assuming you have one of the Hit talents, get 62 more Hit rating, and you're capped for Heroics. Have a look at the EJ Pre-Raid gear post: http://elitistjerks.com/f75/t37146-best_non_raid_mage_gear/ , which is a great checklist to go by.
If you're FFB-specced, most likely a couple pieces of the crafted Frostsavage PVP set will actually be the easiest "decent" pieces to get. You'll of course want to replace them with better PVE pieces, but there's precious little Spellpower/Crit gear when you're just getting started, and the PVP stuff is full of it.
Slowly, painfully slowly, your numbers will start coming up. It's not something that happens overnight, but it does happen. Soon you'll pull enough DPS to have success in Heroics, and in addition to some much better loot, you'll get Emblems. And with those Emblems, you'll be able to get *significant* upgrades. The off-hand, trinket, and belt are phenomenal, and each made a noticeable difference in my output. Particularly the trinket.
Then with any luck, you'll be geared enough to start raiding. Archavon and Sartharion (no drakes) are pretty forgiving, and Archavon in particular has a chance of dropping one of three (hands, chest, legs) pieces of T7 gear. The 2pT7 bonus is *very* nice, and helps a lot.
I hit 80 right around halfway into Grizzly Hills, after completing Borean, HF, and Dragonblight. The best gear I'd acquired from quests was, quite frankly, insufficient. It wasn't like I'd skimped, either - I'd just done the zones I'd done completely, and the XP from that threw me over. Every upgrade I'd made was significant. I'd read about how FFB spec worked. I was doing exactly what was suggested. But although I was (thankfully) ahead of the tank in DPS, I was getting outright *spanked* by every other DPS class out there.
I made a few posts in forums, seeking advice. Invariably, the advice I was given both wasn't helpful, and was filled with the sort of grammar I'd expect from a group of 12-year-olds. "L2P n00b" or "ur sp to lo". Well crud, I *knew* my spellpower was too low - I was asking how to *fix* that. Very few pieces of real advice, lots of insults. This particular forum seems to be devoid of that - a fact for which I'm very thankful.
Since then, thanks to friends, guildies, and spending more in-game cash than I'd care to admit, things are getting much better. I'm consistently top 3 in DPS for our 10-man runs (often top 2). I haven't changed my spec, or my playstyle, only my gear.
Here's what I'll say to mages in that situation:
Crafted gear, along with AH BoEs will get you started. Assuming you have one of the Hit talents, get 62 more Hit rating, and you're capped for Heroics. Have a look at the EJ Pre-Raid gear post: http://elitistjerks.com/f75/t37146-best_non_raid_mage_gear/ , which is a great checklist to go by.
If you're FFB-specced, most likely a couple pieces of the crafted Frostsavage PVP set will actually be the easiest "decent" pieces to get. You'll of course want to replace them with better PVE pieces, but there's precious little Spellpower/Crit gear when you're just getting started, and the PVP stuff is full of it.
Slowly, painfully slowly, your numbers will start coming up. It's not something that happens overnight, but it does happen. Soon you'll pull enough DPS to have success in Heroics, and in addition to some much better loot, you'll get Emblems. And with those Emblems, you'll be able to get *significant* upgrades. The off-hand, trinket, and belt are phenomenal, and each made a noticeable difference in my output. Particularly the trinket.
Then with any luck, you'll be geared enough to start raiding. Archavon and Sartharion (no drakes) are pretty forgiving, and Archavon in particular has a chance of dropping one of three (hands, chest, legs) pieces of T7 gear. The 2pT7 bonus is *very* nice, and helps a lot.
Recent Visitors: 277
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (277)
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- DPS Problems and Frustrations:Pt 2-It's really not that bad
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC