NCJim wrote:
So the "ideal" rotation, assuming you start with full health and mana, is (?):
VT -> MB -> SW: P -> VE -> MF -> SW: D (maybe)
VT starts Shadow Weave, uses a bit of mana, MB starts the mana return (2nd Weave), SW:P (3rd Weave), VE starts the health return (4th Weave), MF (5th Weave, and health return).
And if the health is low enough SW: D otherwise MF again (if just a little more damage is required) or MB (if a MF is not going to do it) then SW:D
Quote:
Putting VT up makes sure that you get that first replenishment cycle going
That assumes time for a second VT. If there is only time for one it doesn't matter when you do the VT/MB combination.
My rotation goes like this:
Note: SW is Shadow Weaving and the # after is the number of the stack VT(SW1) -> VE (No mana, only uses GCD, can be ignored on trash) -> SW:P(SW2) -> MB (SW3) -> MF (SW4 & SW5) -> SW:P (see below) -> VT -> MB -> priority system.
VT starts it. It takes 3 seconds for the first damaging tick to land. With a 200% spellpower coefficient, it's also one of our most damaging spells. Mine, at the start of a fight ticks for 1200. Fully buffed out with SW and no other trinket procs goes for ~1500 per tick. Allowing this to crit in 3.1 for 100% bonus damage is going to so ROCK!
VE can be ignored on trash, but it helps prevent the healer from panicking about you. :) Since it takes no mana, it only uses the GCD it costs you. If you don't want to waste the GCD, this can be left out. I find that spending one GCD a mob means a lot less downtime after a fight. And with the cooldown going away in 3.1, including this on EVERY mob is now an option. And means one less person the healer has to worry about in AOE heavy fights.
SW:P is cast at this point in the rotation because of 5/5 Twisted Faith in my Shadow build (Armory on Shamandin of Garona's useless right now 'cause I logged out Holy). That 10% damage boost to MB and MF makes it important to put SW:P up first. And if SW:P is glyphed, it gives another 10% damage to MF. And yes, MF does give 2 stacks of Shadow Weaving - one for the initial spell hit and one at the first damaging tick. After the first MF, I cast SW:P again due to a quirk in the way Pain & Suffering works on refreshing SW:P. It accounts for changes in spellpower (like trinket activation/procs) but not percentage based damage boosts (like Shadow Weaving). So, if we want SW:P to take into account the extra 8% damage boost (it only got the 2% you had when you cast it, not the extra 2% from the SW stack it proc'd), you need to recast it. If you're doing it right, this should be the last time you cast SW:P on that mob.
At this point, your initial barrage has been laid down. From here on out, it's a priority system. VT should NEVER drop. Mind Blast should not spend more than 3 or 4 seconds (and only because you're finishing off a MF, refreshing VT or DP) off cooldown.
Notice, I didn't mention DP. I only use DP (and I drop it in at the end of the rotation) on bosses that tend to have AOE heavy abilities. This ups my survivability a little. This might (probably will with the Imp DP talent) change in 3.1. I'll have to see. Also, when working with a DK tank, I'll drop DP at the start of the rotation on the mob he's targeting. DP does get passed around when the DK does his Pestilence. Nice little trick for effortlessly boosting yourself on the DPS meters.
Using this rotation, I can honestly say that I've not had to use my Shadowfiend on trash pulls and only seldom on bosses. Most fights (in an instance) will find me finishing the fight with 75% or greater mana remaining. Only on fights that have truly fallen apart and I end up taking over healing duties will leave me running OOM.