The Legion pre-patch is upon us, so I am back again with another Mage Guide - this time for Fire!
Foreword
While this is a WIP and everything is subject to change when Legion hits, I do feel that I have enough to at the very least get you started.
So grab your matches kids and let's light it up!
Talents
This is the talent setup that most (if not all) of the pro Mages I follow are using.
Tier 15 - Conflagration is the best choice of the three. It's a passive talent that applies a DoT to your target when hit by a Fireball. This DoT also has a 10% chance to "flare up" and damage nearby enemies.
Tier 30 - Both Shimmer and Cauterize are viable options this tier. I personally like Shimmer because I get to Blink twice. Cauterize will certainly have it's place during progression.
Tier 45 - Rune of Power love it or hate it, this one wins hands down in terms of DPS. (Now if I could just figure out the optimal time to use that second charge!)
Tier 60 - Flame On is the key to getting those Pyro chains. Everything else on this tier is garbage!
Tier 75 - Ice Flows! You simply cannot beat casting while moving!
Tier 90 - Flame Patch is going to increase the damage of your Flamestrike. It also increases the damage of the Flamestrike that procs off of Tome of Shifting Words
Tier 100 - Lastly, Cinderstorm. I don't really know what to say about this one other than everyone has it talented and it's a filler when you've exhausted all of your Fire Blasts.
Rotation Rotation Rotation
[ Work in progress ]
I'm just going to start filling this in with the information that I'm sure about - there will be additions/changes/tweaks
How to Open:
Assuming you chose the talents above, your opener should look something like this:
1. When Pull Timer reaches 5, use your pre-pot and begin hardcasting Pyroblast!
2. Did the Pyroblast crit?
Yes! - You should have a Heating Up proc, drop your Rune of Power and pop Combustion
No! - Cast Fireball until it crits and you have a Heating Up proc then drop Rune of Power and pop Combustion
3. With RoP down, Combust active, and a Heating Up proc - cast Fireblast to turn that Heating Up into a Hot Streak
The Hot Streak means instant Pyroblast, so go ahead and use that right away. Since you have Combust running, that Pyro will crit granting you another Heating Up.
4. Fire Blast again for another Hot Steak / Pyro
5. You are now out of Fireblast charges! Hit Flame On to re-up your charges and basically repeat.
Let's sum this sequence up real quick (Steps 3-5):
With 1 Heating Up - Fireblast > Pyro > Fireblast > Pyro > Flame On > Fireblast > Pyro > Fireblast > Pyro
Fireblast is now out of charges and Flame On is on cooldown. This is where it gets sketchy...
Once this sequence starts getting more fluid, you will have a few seconds left on Combustion. What I've been doing is casting Scorch to squeeze in one more Pyroblast.
From what I've seen, Mage's are popping their second Rune of Power around this time and either ending Combustion with a Meteor, or Cinderstorming.
Regular Rotation:
Normal rotation is actually quite simple now that you no longer need to bank Heating Up/Hot Streak procs.
Basically you will be casting Fireball and when it crits, you will immediately Fireblast to generate a Hot Streak and then cast your free Pyro.
In a situation with multiple stacked targets (3+) utilize your Hot Streaks to cast instant Flamestrikes instead.
Random Things:
Pay attention to your charges and Flame On cooldown - you will want these up for your next Combustion!
Try your best to sync Combustion with the ring.
Make sure to use Rune of Power when you can - you do not want to be sitting on 2 charges unless you are about to burst.
Cinderstorm and You:
I'm giving Cinderstorm it's own little section here. Ideally you want to be using this spell on cooldown during normal rotation. I'll be honest, more than half the time I forget about it. It's something to cast when Flame On is on cooldown and I have no charges of Fireblast - at least that's how I look at it. Accurately hitting your target and not accidentally pulling extra mobs is a whole other thing. I hate this spell - it does high damage if you can make it work, but I'm counting the days until Legion when I don't have to worry about lining up with the legendary ring and I can take Kindling (Passive).
Stat Priority
Intellect > Critical Strike > Versatility = Haste > Mastery
Or was it Versatility = Mastery > Haste? Owell, who cares right now - just stack Crit!
Gems / Enchants / Consumables
Neck - Enchant Neck: Gift of Critical Strike
Back - Enchant Cloak: Gift of Critical Strike
Rings - Enchant Ring: Gift of Critical Strike
Weapon - Enchant Weapon: Mark of the Thunderlord
With the removal of Multistrike, Enchant Weapon: Mark of the Frostwolf has been changed to a crit enchant.
However, simmed by people much smarter than I, Mark of the Thunderlord is still the preferred choice.
For gems - Immaculate Critical Strike Taladite or the cheaper option Greater Critical Strike Taladite
There is one change to consumables - Pickled Eel is your new favorite food!
Salty Squid Roll has changed from Multistrike to Critical Strike
Greater Draenic Intellect Flask and Draenic Intellect Potion remain unchanged.
BiS Gearing
Honestly with Legion fast approaching I would not worry about this too much. Just focus on items with +Critical Strike.
A fully upgraded Sandman's Pouch combined with the Archimonde's Tome of Shifting Words is the hot trinket combo right now.
Notes / Random Questions
- Normal rotation needs work (Cinderstorm - FML)
- Meteor over Cinderstorm for ST fight?
- Tome of Shifting Words = godly; AOE fight = PoF over Sandman's w/Cinderstorm? (arghhh)
Please feel free to contribute to this guide! I would rather it be collaborative rather than just me.
