Approximately how much is Lonely Winter behind using water elemental?

[Greddy]

I am a min-maxer, but the line here is using a pet. I hate pets, I like to be alone without the feeling that I am dragging something I am responsible for behind me. I am still used to using my petattack, "go-to", follow macros, no problem there, but I just prefer to be "alone" much, much more.

I understand why Lonely winter isn't preffered anymore, but speaking numbers, how much behind is it?

Also, could ditching Ebonbolt (I know, I know, Brain freeze proc), for chain reaction (15% more Icelance damage) offset the dmg loss in any way, or is losing Ebonbolt further dps loss? ...If I play Glacial spike of couse.

This really bugs me. If it is around 5%, I'll just go for Lonely winter and suck up the fact that I'm not at my full dps potential, but if it's more, I'm not gonna enjoy playing the mage at the moment.


Anyway, thank you very much

[Julia]

The main reason bc is better now is because we're running GS, the spell does not benefit from LW and does benefit from BC.
Azerite powers can have an impact on the % damage difference but last checked it was around 3%.
There's another main reason for picking BC over LW, a reason that is not reflected in the sims.
Using BC gives you access to Welly's use ability, Freeze. You can combo freeze to shatter two GS's with SI and even more importantly shatter cometstorm.
In dungeons and bosses like Zekvoz and mother you use cometstorm on trash/adds and use freeze just before the first comet lands. This shatters around half of the cometstorm and makes the huge burst massive.
The pet sure is annoying at times but it's more than worth taking, sorry

[Greddy]

The main reason bc is better now is because we're running GS, the spell does not benefit from LW and does benefit from BC.
Azerite powers can have an impact on the % damage difference but last checked it was around 3%.
There's another main reason for picking BC over LW, a reason that is not reflected in the sims.
Using BC gives you access to Welly's use ability, Freeze. You can combo freeze to shatter two GS's with SI and even more importantly shatter cometstorm.
In dungeons and bosses like Zekvoz and mother you use cometstorm on trash/adds and use freeze just before the first comet lands. This shatters around half of the cometstorm and makes the huge burst massive.
The pet sure is annoying at times but it's more than worth taking, sorry

Well, those are some strong arguments in favor of the Elemental. Guess I'm going with it then. Shit.

Thank you