Some questions regarding Balance AoE

[Drahkmar 0]

Hey, I'm trying out Boomkin on my druid before WoD, see what my main alt will be. I know changes will be made to Boomkins, but I'm just trying to get a general feel for it.

Single target rotation is going pretty well, but in AoE situations I feel I'm lacking, mainly because I'm not at all sure what my rotation should be at what amount of targets.

 

I feel that the class guide isn't very specific when it comes to what to do with what amount of targets, so I was hoping you guys could help me out!

[Pinkis 12]

First of all - Boomkin aoe sux. If I want to have good aoe damage I simply do a lot of single target damage to multiple targets. What I mean by that is just continue cycling eclipses and put as many eclipsed dots as you can, while still maintaining NG buff uptime. It's easier said than done. However in WoD our Starfall will be brought back as full aoe spell, some other changes will be done, but as far as I know - boomkin always was a strong single target dps class. So in our 10hc raids I simply leave aoe to Ele shammy or warlock or hunt - those, who are good at it.

[Kazistrasz 216]

If you want to get to know Boomkin in preparation for WoD, your best bet is to either get on the Beta and play or simply don't play at all.

 

Right now, boomkins are a weaker spec for all forms of damage. The only situation in which a boomkin performs very well is a very short fight with minimal targets where the opening burst can account for more of your damage. But, there are other classes with stronger openers. There are other classes with better sustained DPS. There are other classes with better AOE DPS. Boomkin doesn't really have any niche other than being a better option over a Shadowpriest to provide spell haste.

 

Hardly anything about the spec is going to play or feel the way it does right now. Right now, the spec is constrained to having to cycle eclipses and managing your energy and Nature's Grace uptime. AoE simply isn't an option. At all. The most you can do is multi-DoT a few targets (up to about 3 or so), but after that you just cap out.

 

Energy and cycling are fully taken care of for you in WoD, and options are going to be in to be less restricted and less limited. Boomkins will have control over their single target burst timing, and they'll have more options for AoE.

[Bonita 8]

Boomkin AOE is not quiet that bad. Yes, other classes like a Warlock or Hunter are better, but ours is not that weak.

Its just important to know when to AOE with Hurricane and prepare for it and when not to do AOE.

 

in SoO Heroic I only AOE at the following bosses:

- Immerseus: Before pull I lay down some shrooms at the spot where the adds are being tanked. When they spawn and are collected together at this point i execute the shrooms and then hit Hurricane. (Not AstralStorm or w/e its called in english)

- Sha: I only AOE with shrooms and Hurricane when the 3rd Aoe packs spawns (Lots of them)

- Thok: I execute some shrooms when the bats are engaging the raid. But no Hurricane. Usually with our tatctis my 3 Minute CDs have resetted and I pop CA and INC and Dot everyone. MUCHO DPS!

- Garrosh: Prepare some shrooms at the spot where the adds are beeing tanked and Hurricane them afterwards within phase 1

[Kazistrasz 216]

Hurricane is a DPS loss in almost every situation you could possibly run into, especially if you're channeling it for more than a tick or (at most) two.  Mushroom usage for adds is debatable. It's extra damage, but the mushrooms also serve to help force PBI to proc.  If PBI is late, it can really take out a lot of your boss DPS at the start, and what you'd make up in mushrooms on the adds later would simply be padding. You can't really defend Boomkin AOE by saying "it's worse than the good ones, but it's not THE worst."  If it's worse than everything else, it's bad.

 

List of specs with stronger AOE than Boomkin:

 

Warlock (Destruction)

Warlock (Demonology)

Hunter (Survival)

Hunter (Beast Mastery)

Shaman (Elemental)

Shaman (Enhancement)

Priest (Shadow)

Warrior (Fury)

Warrior (Arms)

Druid (Feral)

Druid (Resto with HOTW Hurricane)

Monk (Windwalker)

 

Other possible contenders:

Death Knight (Frost)

Paladin (Retribution)

Warrior (Protection)

Druid (Guardian)

Monk (Brewmaster)