Alternative frost rotation in 6.2 (hint: no ice lances)

[Dutchmagoz]

This is for 6.2 only

The recent nerfs to FB and FFB and buff to IL seems to mostly fix this issue, so look at the linked spreadsheet carefuly for your own gear if it's worth ignoring IL.

Hiya once again! This time again 'breaking' the standard rotation of mages as we like to do on altered-time!

6.2 changes for frost:
- Frostfire Bolt now deals 30% more damage.
- Frostbolt now deals 30% more damage.
(source)

On first look, this simply looks like a pretty big buff to frost. However, when looked at in more detail, it actually raises a very interesting rotation for frost mages. Komma went and edited my frost spreadsheet from 6.0, with these buffs added in. Spreadsheet link


What this shows us is:
- With unstable magic talented, not using ice lances at all is a DPS gain over using ice lances.
- Even without unstable magic, it is a DPS gain to not use ice lances during glyphed icy veins.
- Even with unglyphed icy veins, it is a DPS gain to not use ice lances during icy veins + bloodlust.

Keep in mind this is when not hitting prismatic crystal, you should still use ice lances during prismatic crystal. (or on 2 targets in general)

The more mastery and multistrike you get, the bigger the increase of not using ice lances.

This is for 6.2 only

[Preheat]

Oh boy, it's like patch 6.0 all over again. Oh the memories...

[Valounette]

How does Frost bomb/unstable magic/ice nova compare now? Does this make UM top single target, from what you have seen so far with the changes?

[Komma]

How does Frost bomb/unstable magic/ice nova compare now? Does this make UM top single target, from what you have seen so far with the changes?

No, it does not. FB/RoP/PC is still the top combo.

[Dosseem]

This will likely result in a nerf of frostbolt in order to get the basic rotation back to normal.

[Daevies]

I'm curious if this rotation remains the same if you happen to be using the T18 class trinket in its current iteration. They seem to be avoiding a direct buff to IL likely because of pvp. However, if they were to do something else such as consumption of FoF giving a damage buff to FB/FFB (similar to the current tier bonus, but just a baked in 10% 1 charge per as an example) it would probably flesh out the rotation and we wouldn't run into frost 6.0 v2.

No, it does not. FB/RoP/PC is still the top combo.

I am also wondering how FB remains the top choice on single target even if we are not using IL during IV/Hero. Does this infer that we have T18 4 set or are there other conditions that must be met for this to be true?

[Frosted]

Why are you making threads about some nonsense rotation that isn't going to survive a couple PTR cycles?

[Dutchmagoz]

Why are you making threads about some nonsense rotation that isn't going to survive a couple PTR cycles?

Because completely ignoring it leads to the devs not caring/hearing about it and it thus staying.

Or maybe they don't mind this playstyle and let it stay anyway.

Also for the simple reason of sharing information instead of keeping it from people.

[Griepen]

Are there any stat weights available for 6.2 frost? Wondering if the value of mastery has increased.

[Frosted]

Why are you making threads about some nonsense rotation that isn't going to survive a couple PTR cycles?

Because completely ignoring it leads to the devs not caring/hearing about it and it thus staying.

Or maybe they don't mind this playstyle and let it stay anyway.

Also for the simple reason of sharing information instead of keeping it from people.

it's not like there is a 6.2 PTR discussion thread or anything. Did this really warrant just a click-baity BS title like "alternative 6.2 frost rotation" on two different websites? For something that is still on the PTR?

[Dizzeeyooo]

I am also wondering how FB remains the top choice on single target even if we are not using IL during IV/Hero. Does this infer that we have T18 4 set or are there other conditions that must be met for this to be true?

We are waiting for clarification on that I think, since the spreadsheet analysis includes unstable magic and ice nova only? Would presume that frost bomb would easily be strong enough to keep us using ice lance at least while IV is active.

[Komma]

I should have clarified: FBomb obviously means not ignoring Ice Lances.

[Dizzeeyooo]

I should have clarified: FBomb obviously means not ignoring Ice Lances.

so when we are using optimal single target talents as frost - i.e. frost bomb - we change absolutely nothing about the rotation?

so playstyles based on talents become:
Unstable Magic - never use Ice Lance
Ice Nova - don't use Ice Lance when Bloodlust/Icy Veins is up
Frost Bomb - rotation as normal

if thats the case, while they probably should and most likely will fix it so we always use icelance, it seems a lot less of an issue then it was at the end of SOO when Unstable Magic was the best single target talent, no?

[Komma]

It's "less of an issue" in the sense that we didn't have Prismatic Crystal or set bonuses back then. The issue is that using UM while ignoring FoF comes awfully close to the ideal throughput with PC, simply because of the buffs to Frostbolt and Frostfire Bolt.

We'll see what they do about it.

[Dizzeeyooo]

The issue is that using UM while ignoring FoF comes awfully close to the ideal throughput with PC

presuming that is UM + Comet Storm (absolutely no Ice Lance) vs Frost Bomb + PC (completely normal Ice Lances), are you able to link the 6.3 DPS talent comparisons you are looking at so we can get an idea about how close the two opposite options for Ice Lance usage are?

[Chev]

Can we please keep on topic. I have just removed a post for aggressively attacking someone else post without any comment to counter their opinion (which is on topic).

[Festen]

So it's maybe a comeback for Unstable Magic, which is unused since the WoD release?

[Frosted]

Maybe?

I think a significant problem is the practicality of Unstable Magic. Unlike IN (and to some extent, Fbomb), Unstable Magic is heavily punished by any situation which denies you the ability to chain frostbolts.

[MagusMaximus]

Maybe?

I think a significant problem is the practicality of Unstable Magic. Unlike IN (and to some extent, Fbomb), Unstable Magic is heavily punished by any situation which denies you the ability to chain frostbolts.

Or any situation/encounter which involves a decent amount of required movement, for that matter.

[Dutchmagoz]

I think an "issue" with UM (compared to IN especially) is the lack of control you have over it. IN you can save 1/2 charges to burst damage when it's needed, or for movement, or for AoE, or whatever. UM simply doesn't have that same level of control. (or any for that matter...)