Mage Gear

[Jentil]

Armory link:

http://armory.worldofwarcraft.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Tichondrius&n=Jentil


I keep getting turned down from Kara and ZA pugs due to lack of spell damage, though when I get in I usually top the charts (probably because of spell crit). Why is spell damage valued more than spell crit? Is there a reason for this?

[Nucrus]

Gear seems fine for Kara, pretty sure thats about the level of gear I had when i started it. Altho gear standards are probly a lot higher nowadays.

In short spell damage scales better than crit does, but ur gear seems fine, ur almost at hit cap, 845 fire damage is fine for kara, maybe not for ZA if they are doing timed. And its not like you are purposely gemming everything with crit or anything.

Just tell people to get off their high horses, its only kara ffs

[tornblake]

You are telling them 845 right?

If not, then theres your problem. You're a fire mage, therefore your damage output will be reliant upon your 845 spell damage in fire, as opposed to your 673 generic.

If you are, then there are a few upgrades that can be had fairly easily. Namely things that can be bought with honor. Spellblade, boots, bracers, etc.

To answer your question though, spell damage, point for point, is more valuable than spell crit. However as a fire mage, your Ignite procs will contribute a substantial amount of damage over the course of a long fight, so you definitely don't want to dip below 30% raid buffed. Thats the average value that I see mages of your gear level with.

Slightly off topic, but unless you are having severe mana problems after using your gems/potions every cooldown, I would suggest looking into the 2/48/11 (http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=obZxgRzfcIoeRtVhM0o) build. You'll see an increase in DPS with the ability to use Icy Veins on demand with your cooldowns or in other opportune moments.

[Jentil]

Thanks for the quick replies. And I guess that makes sense, though i'll miss the crits. And as for the spell damage, yes I am reporting 845, but groups seem to be looking for 1k+ (at least that's what I've been told).

[TOXICxCHAIN]

On our server, people will most likely get turned down if they have any PvP items for PvE. But since you have crafted a few items, obviously you are serious about your Mage. As stated above, make sure you tell people your fire damage / hit / crit.

Also, max that hit. Cap is 164. Also, craft the Belt of Blasting (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=30038). Its epic pro, especially since you can get the Nether Vortex's from the badge vendor.

[cae]

Id take you with me just because ur an elf.

[Seraphica]

Kinda funny how I went into Kara with less healing than how much fire dmg you have <_<

[Quaalude]

Click on my sig, it will link to my armory. I hit level 70 about 2-3 weeks ago. I just got my T6 Helm, but before that I had Spellstrike. Even w/o the T6 Helm I had 1k+ dmg along with capped hit. It is not hard to get gear like this. None of my gear besides my helm is from higher than heroics. It is all heroic drops or badge gear. I don't even have any Kara/ZA gear. Thats why they wont accept 845. Because it is way too easy to get 1k if you put in some time and effort.

[wolfwood]

Your gear looks fine for starting Kara, might be a little low for ZA however. Really, the only weak spot I can see is your boots and the 2nd trinket. If you can gather badges try for the Boots of Incantations (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=34919) (the hit will help also). Another alternative is Boots of Blasphemy (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29242) that drop off heroic SP (last boss). On the trinket, go for the badge one (http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29370), it's +43 damage plus a use. Also, maybe change the +stam gem in you belt to stam/dmg or even all +dmg. You shouldn't be getting hit in Kara so no need to gem for stamina.

[Quaalude]

I personally wouldn't bring you to anything. But then again, I use myself as a high standard.

[poink]

I personally wouldn't bring you to anything. But then again, I use myself as a high standard.

The difference between your gear and his is a couple hundred BoJ (so, what, 2 months running Kara?) and an Archimonde kill. That's about it.

(OP: Your gear is fine for Kara, but most people nowadays want overgeared people so they can mow the place down and get easy badges. You need to find a guild with people at your gear level or something.)

[Satisfaction]

I personally wouldn't bring you to anything. But then again, I use myself as a high standard.


Your gear is crap for starting anything, I'm amazed that someone took you along into T6 content in your craptastic gear. I've been through all of hyjal and Black temple and had 1150+ dmg and 39% crit w/ hit cap b4 leaving SSC/TK

[Quaalude]

Rofl. List me the gear you had with stats like that, NOT specced arcane you dumbfuck.

my stats self-buffed:

1091 dmg
29.82% crit
165 hit
75 haste


Now, someone HONESTLY tell me that this gear isn't well above good enough to run MH/BT. But then again, it doesn't matter what you say because I've already been running MH/BT more than successfully.

[pilch]

Rofl. List me the gear you had with stats like that, NOT specced arcane you dumbfuck.

my stats self-buffed:

1091 dmg
29.82% crit
165 hit
75 haste


Now, someone HONESTLY tell me that this gear isn't well above good enough to run MH/BT. But then again, it doesn't matter what you say because I've already been running MH/BT more than successfully.

Right, since you think you're so amazing, let me point out some basic flaws in your gear (I'll leave your attitude alone for now, that speaks for itself).

1) You gem for crit. This is pointless as it is the least valuable stat for mages.

2) You have more than 2 blue gems (for meta), just to make a set bonus. This is a waste of dps.

3) The old badge gloves, Studious Wraps, are superior to the new ones.

Sure, you could get by in MH/BT with those stats, but the real dps in your guild are sure to be carrying you.
Please do some research about mages before you act so high and mighty.

Back on topic...

@ Jentil: Spell damage scales better than crit does, in that it retains its value point for point no matter how much you have, whereas crit becomes less valuable for each point you have.

When you get to a certain point (around 1250 dmg), haste becomes superior to damage, but it is still better than crit up til that point.

You should not be gemming to meet socket bonuses, on the whole (unless the sockets are ALL either red or yellow or a mixture of these 2, OR you need to meet a meta gem requirement).

At your level I would gem everything with the hit you need to cap, and after that, with pure spell damage gems.

Good upgrades I would try for:
Naztherim Mindblade - Prince OR Bloodmaw Magus Blade - Gruul (these are very similar, with the sword VERY slightly coming out on top).
Ring of Recurrence - from chess.
Icon of the Silver Crescent - badges (make this your priority imo, it will last you a long time).
Boots of Incantations - badges.
Runed Spell-cuffs - badges (these are very good, will last you until the Black Temple crafted bracers).
Fel-tinged Mantle - Magister's Terrace 2nd boss.
Fetish of the Primal Gods - badges (offhand). Again a very nice item, will last a fair while (probably until the Rage offhand).

Once you've got a fair few of these items I'd try and get yourself into ZA, almost every item there would be an upgrade for you (except the bracers from the bear, compared to the badge ones), and a couple of those items will last you well into T6 content (Hex-shrunken Head and Blade of Twisted Visions).

Good luck :)

Oh, and don't pay any attention to Quaalude :>

[Jentil]

Thanks for the great advice all. I will certainly be dumping the crit for damage (scalability) and grabbing the suggested items.

[Quaalude]

My pieces of gear with blue gems in them:

Belt: 5dmg 6stam gives socket bonus for 5 more dmg = 10dmg total > 9dmg gem
not to mention the stam
Shoulders: same thing here, with 9dmg total from blue gem plus the stam
Chest: Same as belt, 10dmg total > 9dmg gem

Until I get epic gems, losing a 5dmg socket bonus by gemming 9dmg over 5dmg/6stam is plain idiotic. Nice try though dumbass.

And since you apparently dislike matching sockets so much,
Studious Wraps: 40dmg 25crit 2 sockets
Enslaved Doomguard: 46dmg 30crit 1 socket
So you get 1 socket at the price of 6dmg 5crit, not to mention the extra stats, and if you had done BT you would know you can't be running around with 6k hp.
But I appreciate your concern douchebag.

Also, I just love your 96 hit rating.

[nocturnai]

Quaalude...go do us all a favor and go diaff...just a suggestion.

[pilch]

I was going to type out a respone to all of your 'points', but nocturnai's reply, along with your previous comments, somehow gave me the idea that you wouldn't take the advice to heart, and instead somehow take offense and reply with some other childish obscenities.

It is clear to me that you are too stubborn to realise when you are wrong, and furthermore too short sighted to see this.

Go back to the blizzard forums, you might feel more at home there.

[Xizo]

My pieces of gear with blue gems in them:

Belt: 5dmg 6stam gives socket bonus for 5 more dmg = 10dmg total > 9dmg gem
not to mention the stam
Shoulders: same thing here, with 9dmg total from blue gem plus the stam
Chest: Same as belt, 10dmg total > 9dmg gem

Until I get epic gems, losing a 5dmg socket bonus by gemming 9dmg over 5dmg/6stam is plain idiotic. Nice try though dumbass.

And since you apparently dislike matching sockets so much,
Studious Wraps: 40dmg 25crit 2 sockets
Enslaved Doomguard: 46dmg 30crit 1 socket
So you get 1 socket at the price of 6dmg 5crit, not to mention the extra stats, and if you had done BT you would know you can't be running around with 6k hp.
But I appreciate your concern douchebag.

Also, I just love your 96 hit rating.

Lawl at your professions, I mean if you actually do raid then you should look at dropping herb at the very least, and picking up something better.

The alch stone is crap for a mage, while the 66 raw spell dmg is nice, the extra mana from potions is just about worthless if your raid comp knows anything about giving a mage a good SP.

Also your wand is unsocketed, and you have 40 spell dmg over Sunfire.

[Xizo]

Back to the topic though, your gear looks fine, a few upgrades you might look at getting are Badge boots, or a Boot of Blasting patten and making those.

With your current gear I see no reason why you should not be ok to enter SSC / TK as well.

Also if your getting a Shadowpriest in your group you should change over to 2/48/11 as opposed to picking up clearcasting