3.2.2 Arcane Mage Changes

by Tachyon on Thu. 10. September 2009, 21:04

Filed under: arcane, patch, spell, simulation, theorycrafting



Arcane is facing some cool new changes in the upcoming patch 3.2.2 which can be tested on the PTR since quite some weeks and could go live any moment (or in a couple of weeks, who knows).
EDIT 2009-09-15: The mana cost for subsequent AB casts has been raised to 175%/stack in the latest PTR build (was 130%/stack in the first 3.2.2 build), therefore I updated the numbers and my conclusions.
  • Arcane Blast: The buff from using this ability now stacks up to 4 times (instead of 3), and each application increases mana cost by 175% (instead of 200%).
  • Missile Barrage: The effect from triggering this talent now removes the mana cost of Arcane Missiles. In addition, the chance for Arcane Blast to trigger this talent is now 8/16/24/32/40%. All other listed spells continue to have a 4/8/12/16/20% chance to trigger it.

The overall DPS wasn't increased all that much, but what really sticks out is the mana efficiency which suddenly makes this spec viable for raiding again, and indirectly boosts the DPS by allowing to run the mana exhausting high DPS rotations for a little longer.

Given the new circumstances, you might now wonder what the preferred DPS or DPM rotations will be once the patch goes live.

Once again I will use the simulation program I wrote for the Going Arcane article series ( part 1, part 2 and part 3) for a detailled anaysis and comparison of possible spell rotation strategies.
For the 3.2.2 spell rotation analysis, I slightly modified the base stats used for the simulation:
  • 3000 Spell Power (used to be 2000)
  • Hit capped, (100% Spell Hit, same as before)
  • 20% Spell Haste before talents (used to be 10%)
  • 50% Spell Crit including CSD (used to be 35%)
  • removed 4xT7 set bonus for the calculation

The simulation yields following results for cast sequences:

RotationDamageTimeDPSManaDPMMana/sec
ABx18195.0001.9844130.280215.00038.120108.360
ABx217866.0003.9684502.230806.00022.170203.112
ABx315962.0005.9522681.6201773.0009.000297.864
ABx432270.0007.9374066.0203116.00010.360392.616
ABx555730.0009.9215617.5804836.00011.520487.469
ABx10109847.00019.8415536.29013436.0008.180677.174
ABx1000001151280132.000198412.6985802.450171996236.0006.690866.861
ABarr6673.0001.1905605.320553.00012.070464.520
ABx1, ABarr12527.0003.1753946.000768.00016.310241.920
ABx2, ABarr22859.0005.1594431.1301359.00016.820263.437
ABx3, ABarr21616.0007.1433026.2402326.0009.290325.640
ABx4, ABarr47434.0009.1275197.1203669.00012.930401.995
ABx5, ABarr45677.00011.1114110.9305389.0008.480485.010
Mbarr16758.0001.9848446.0300.000∞0.000
ABx1, Mbarr14630.0003.9683686.760215.00068.05054.180
ABx2, Mbarr40658.0005.9526830.540806.00050.440135.408
ABx3, Mbarr51134.0007.9376442.8801773.00028.840223.398
ABx4, Mbarr70458.0009.9217102.1703116.00022.610314.093
ABx5, Mbarr76519.00011.9056427.6004836.00015.820406.224
AM16758.0003.9684223.020952.00017.600239.904
ABx1, AM27970.0005.9524698.9601167.00023.970196.056
ABx2, AM36972.0007.9374658.4701758.00021.030221.508
ABx3, AM34185.0009.9213445.8502725.00012.540274.680
ABx4, AM70458.00011.9055918.4704068.00017.320341.712
ABx5, AM73864.00013.8895318.2105788.00012.760416.736

3.2.2 Spell Rotations

For the spell rotation strategy, the same generic model as pre-3.2.2 was used:
  • If Missile Barrage procced, use it after at least A subsequent Arcane Blast casts
  • If Missile Barrage didn't proc after B subsequent Arcane Blast casts, cast Arcane Barrage instead

The following data is the result of running the simulation with 1'000'000 casts for each casting strategy (A, B):

.A=0A=1A=2A=3A=4A=5
B=0 4941 DPS
14.19 DPM
-10.89% DPS
-16.92% DPM		 4864 DPS
16.19 DPM
-12.29% DPS
-5.21% DPM		 4904 DPS
16.34 DPM
-11.55% DPS
-4.33% DPM		 5031 DPS
15.4 DPM
-9.27% DPS
-9.84% DPM		 5217 DPS
13.37 DPM
-5.91% DPS
-21.72% DPM		 5278 DPS
11.98 DPM
-4.80% DPS
-29.86% DPM
B=1 4836 DPS
32.92 DPM
-12.78% DPS
+92.74% DPM		4821 DPS
33.41 DPM
-13.05% DPS
+95.61% DPM		 4891 DPS
27.79 DPM
-11.79% DPS
+62.70% DPM		 5038 DPS
21.98 DPM
-9.14% DPS
+28.69% DPM		 5241 DPS
17.41 DPM
-5.48% DPS
+1.93% DPM		 5317 DPS
13.73 DPM
-4.11% DPS
-19.61% DPM
B=25031 DPS
32.83 DPM
-9.28% DPS
+92.21% DPM		5017 DPS
32.99 DPM
-9.52% DPS
+93.15% DPM		 5037 DPS
28.89 DPM
-9.16% DPS
+69.15% DPM		 5173 DPS
22.17 DPM
-6.71% DPS
+29.80% DPM		 5363 DPS
17.5 DPM
-3.27% DPS
+2.46% DPM		 5429 DPS
13.76 DPM
-2.10% DPS
-19.44% DPM
B=35216 DPS
29.13 DPM
-5.92% DPS
+70.55% DPM		5203 DPS
29.2 DPM
-6.16% DPS
+70.96% DPM		 5195 DPS
26.82 DPM
-6.32% DPS
+57.03% DPM		 5293 DPS
21.8 DPM
-4.54% DPS
+27.63% DPM		 5469 DPS
17.23 DPM
-1.37% DPS
+0.88% DPM		 5524 DPS
13.57 DPM
-0.38% DPS
-20.55% DPM
B=45364 DPS
26.24 DPM
-3.26% DPS
+53.63% DPM		5356 DPS
26.24 DPM
-3.41% DPS
+53.63% DPM		 5332 DPS
24.83 DPM
-3.84% DPS
+45.37% DPM		 5394 DPS
20.94 DPM
-2.72% DPS
+22.60% DPM		 5548 DPS
17.09 DPM
+0.00% DPS
+0.00% DPM		 5589 DPS
13.44 DPM
+0.79% DPS
-21.31% DPM
B=55442 DPS
24.11 DPM
-1.86% DPS
+41.16% DPM		5441 DPS
24.23 DPM
-1.87% DPS
+41.86% DPM		 5409 DPS
23.19 DPM
-2.45% DPS
+35.77% DPM		 5461 DPS
20.11 DPM
-1.51% DPS
+17.74% DPM		5601 DPS
16.76 DPM
+1.01% DPS
-1.87% DPM		 5587 DPS
13.44 DPM
+0.77% DPS
-21.31% DPM
B=65493 DPS
23.17 DPM
-0.94% DPS
+35.66% DPM		5491 DPS
23.16 DPM
-0.98% DPS
+35.60% DPM		 5451 DPS
22.37 DPM
-1.69% DPS
+30.97% DPM		 5497 DPS
19.69 DPM
-0.86% DPS
+15.28% DPM		5628 DPS
16.56 DPM
+1.50% DPS
-3.04% DPM		 5631 DPS
13.35 DPM
+1.55% DPS
-21.84% DPM
B=75524 DPS
22.57 DPM
-0.37% DPS
+32.14% DPM		5518 DPS
22.6 DPM
-0.48% DPS
+32.32% DPM		 5477 DPS
21.92 DPM
-1.22% DPS
+28.34% DPM		 5518 DPS
19.45 DPM
-0.48% DPS
+13.88% DPM		5647 DPS
16.48 DPM
+1.83% DPS
-3.51% DPM		 5656 DPS
13.31 DPM
+2.00% DPS
-22.07% DPM
B=85537 DPS
22.3 DPM
-0.15% DPS
+30.56% DPM		5536 DPS
22.33 DPM
-0.15% DPS
+30.74% DPM		 5499 DPS
21.72 DPM
-0.83% DPS
+27.17% DPM		 5529 DPS
19.29 DPM
-0.29% DPS
+12.94% DPM		5658 DPS
16.4 DPM
+2.04% DPS
-3.98% DPM		5669 DPS
13.28 DPM
+2.23% DPS
-22.25% DPM
B=infinite5560 DPS
21.88 DPM
+0.27% DPS
+28.10% DPM		5561 DPS
21.94 DPM
+0.29% DPS
+28.45% DPM		 5519 DPS
21.28 DPM
-0.46% DPS
+24.59% DPM		 5549 DPS
19.1 DPM
+0.07% DPS
+11.83% DPM		5669 DPS
16.3 DPM
+2.24% DPS
-4.57% DPM		5689 DPS
13.24 DPM
+2.60% DPS
-22.48% DPM



Color legend:
  • Black: Base rotation used as reference: ABx4, (MBarr|ABarr)
  • Gray: Rotation for which another rotation with better DPS and DPM exists
  • Blue: Rotation with more DPS than base rotation.
  • Green: Rotation with more DPM than base rotation.
  • Blue-green: Rotation with more DPS and more DPM than base rotation.
  • Red: Bad rotation, worse DPS and DPM than base rotation
Optimal DPM rotations ( green, blue-green)

In the table above, the most efficient rotations mana-wise are those with A=0-1 and B=2..infinity. The Mana burn ratio (which is DPS/DPM) is about 254 Mana/sec*, which should be sustainable in a raid scenario.

For B=2, A=0..1 (use ABarr to clear the AB stack if MBarr didn't proc after 2xAB, and use the MBarr as soon as it procs) you can increase the Damage per Mana by over 90% at the cost of only ~9.5% less DPS compared to the base rotation. The Mana burn ratio is about 154Mana/sec*, which can be kept up even for long fights.
If you never use ABarr to clear the AB stack but just cast AM until MBarr procs and then use MBarr as soon as possible, you still have a very efficient DPS/DPM rotation.

Recommended optimal rotation: A=0, B->Infinity
Spam Arcane Blast, use Missile Barrage as soon as it procs

Recommended DPM/recovery rotation: A=0, B->2..5
Spam Arcane Blast, use Missile Barrage as soon as it procs. If no procs occur after 2..5 AB stacks, clear the stack with Arcane Barrage.

High/Burst DPS rotations ( blue)

The best DPS rotations are found when saving the MBarr proc until you have AB fully stacked (4 stacks). The later you give up fishing for a proc and clear the stack with ABarr (or AM), the higher the DPS, but the higher the mana cost. With A=4, B->Infinity, the Mana burn ratio is about 350 Mana/sec* which is rather high, but with Evocation every 2 minutes you should hardly run into mana problems.

Recommended high/burst DPS rotation: A=4, B->Infinity
Spam Arcane Blast, use Missile Barrage when it procs and AB is fully stacked (4 stacks).

* = Mana/sec values without taking Clearcast or Arcane Power into account

All in all we can be very happy with the arcane changes, for once Blizzard managed to boost them for PvE only without making them overpowered in PvP (not that we wouldn't need that, though).

If you have any questions, or want to share your experiences with the new arcane rotations, please drop me a comment, I'd appreciate that.

Tachyon wrote:

posted on Tue. 15. September 2009, 00:43

Latest 3.2.2 PTR Patch Notes:
# Arcane Blast: The buff from using this ability now stacks up to 4 times instead of 3, and each application increases mana cost by 175% instead of 200%. In addition, the duration of the buff has been reduced to 6 seconds.


Too bad, this means I'll have to update the numbers above, as they were calculated with the former 130%/stack mana cost. This will lower DPM seriously...

Jorani wrote:

posted on Tue. 15. September 2009, 01:03

Tachyon,

I really appreciate you updating the numbers for this. I would mention though that most arcane mages i know tend to stack haste not crit. I think i am 2602 sp, 21.65 %crit and 22.5%haste unbuffed. (no molten armor or int buff) , not sure buffed, i will try to get numbers.

Anyway thanks again
J

Tachyon wrote:

posted on Tue. 15. September 2009, 10:00

Thanks for the input, Jorani. As I'm updating the simulation anyway, I'll use 20% haste including talents for the new calculation.

I'm currently deriving the formulas for the selected rotations for an upcoming article, to show how much the DPS/DPM scales with spellpower, hit/crit/haste rating, intellect and spirit. The article should be ready within a week or so.

Arioch wrote:

posted on Mon. 21. September 2009, 20:15

I'm not quite cool enough to be rocking 3000 spell power (or the 50% crit).
Will those numbers still hold "good enough" for something more like 2400 spell power, 20% haste and 20% crit? (I'm geared for fire right now so I don't recall my exact numbers.)
Or even better, do you have any plans to publish your sim so we can toy with the numbers?

Were the numbers run with glyphs taken into account? Just curious.

Tachyon wrote:

posted on Tue. 22. September 2009, 09:48

Or even better, do you have any plans to publish your sim so we can toy with the numbers?


I'm currently assembling the formulas to calculate the DPS and DPM directly for the chosen rotations, so soon you'll be able to see how much DPS/DPM you can expect for your mage.
Don't forget that you get 15% for your int as spellpower, and the flask, and totems/moonkin buffs etc...
My mage hast 2400 spellpower and about 30% crit selfbuffed, but when factoring in the talents and raid buffs, I already reach 3000 spellpower and about 50% crit in my mixed T8.5/T9.25 gear.

Were the numbers run with glyphs taken into account? Just curious.

The Arcane Blast glyph and Arcane Missiles glyph were taken into account, the Molten Armor glyph not directly as I assumed just the total crit chance, including contribution by Molten Armor.

The formulas I'm about to publish soon take all three glyphs into account and show where in the DPS/DPM calculation they come to play.

Abi wrote:

posted on Fri. 25. September 2009, 02:18

Kind of off-topic, but just wanted to commend you on such a stellar website with tons of great information. I've been a raiding Warlock for quite some time but I'm leveling my Mage up from 70-80 atm and wanted to find some Mage blogs to occupy me at work. I found your link on Critical QQ and look forward to your future posts.

Madrox wrote:

posted on Wed. 30. September 2009, 16:10

After new patch i decided to rebuild my dual to arcane and i will test it tonights TOC25. I read all your articles and I appreciate that you try to inform us with math results. I hope that you will change the inputs for new talents as soon as possible. Thank you anyway.

Magicfingaz wrote:

posted on Mon. 09. November 2009, 11:40

Just wanted to thank you for the gr8 blog u have made. Have rly helped me alot and as a classleader for my guild i have adviced them to look at this site for help.

Keep up the good work m8!

Sqeaky wrote:

posted on Sat. 12. December 2009, 02:22

LOVE your website. Any changes with the 3.3 patch?

TSwain wrote:

posted on Tue. 02. February 2010, 06:22

Hey, I found your blog while searching on Google your post looks very interesting for me. I will add a backlink and bookmark your site. Keep up the good work!

ced wrote:

posted on Thu. 11. February 2010, 03:52

Tx for valuable information.. Having confused of spell rotation to increase my DPS, your conclusions make me clear.. I will wait for your posts..

Levi wrote:

posted on Mon. 15. February 2010, 09:17

This and Tachyon's PvE Arcane Mage Guide are great resources. Recently acuired a friends mage and having played a resto shammy/prot war most of my wow career was uber confused on rotation and stats for my arcane mage. This site has def improved my play 100% and i look forward to more info on upcoming patches!

ignito wrote:

posted on Tue. 02. March 2010, 18:47

I know I would be able to follow what you are saying if you had a key or something to explain what "A" and "B" stand for exactly. The wording is a little hazy for me Mana is not a problem and I was wondering which rotation would give me the highest DPS. Arcane blast until MB proc, ABX4 then Arcane missiles regardless of proc, or keep Arcane blasting until BOTH are met: AB 4 stacks AND MB proc?
Thank you

DrGerm wrote:

posted on Sun. 14. March 2010, 20:59

As pointed out by ignito; I followed your entire post until the most important part: What does "A" and "B" mean in your final table????

Tachyon wrote:

posted on Sun. 14. March 2010, 22:55

@DrGerm:
A and B are parameters for the rotations:
* If Missile Barrage procced, use it after at least A subsequent Arcane Blast casts
* If Missile Barrage didn't proc after B subsequent Arcane Blast casts, cast Arcane Barrage instead
For a given rotation in the table, replace A and B with the values denominated in the row/column.

Joseph wrote:

posted on Thu. 13. May 2010, 04:53

When you calculated the optimal rotations did you cansider the Mage t10 2 set. The numbers might be diffierent.

Tachyon wrote:

posted on Mon. 17. May 2010, 09:01

Hi Joseph

there's some other articles which cover the T10 set boni, just click on the 'arcane' topic on the side bar. This one covers the rotations in regard to the 2xT10 bonus:

frostnova.ch/tachyon/blogArticle.do?action=view&id=37027840
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