Arena Set Comparison : Is Armor Penetration worth it ?

Okay, you're saving your points for your arena points, wondering on which of those joys you will spend them.

Well the first nice change on S3 in the addition of hit rating, it will be easier to cap the 5% chance withouth sacrifying some gems. To remind yourselve, your chance to miss an equal level charcater is 5%, that means you need 5*15.8= 79 Hit rating at least when you're PvPing. As a haman, you could take those from talents but, hey, why use talents when you have those free stats on your stuff. My calculation is based for shaman handling 2H weapons. For those who stick on dual-wielding for PvP, you have 5% miss base + 19% miss penality.

Moreover, you should wondering yourselve about what the hell is Armor Penetration. Well Armor penetration is for PA what Resilience is for Stamina : An additional way to improve your DPS. I like examples other formulas, students (well, I was a teacher earlier in my life) tends to understand much more quickly if you have something concrete for them.
So, let's take the example of an Arena match versus a 2345 team. You would doom their healer first, no ? Let's say it is a priest you have just purged, so no Inner Fire now. Let's say the guy have 3k armor and blessed resilience proc.
So, his armor mitigation with 3k is 3000/(3000+10557.5)=22.13% (link for the math explanation).

Let's say you have a total of 400 armor penetration on your stuff. Then this priest mitigation would be 2600/(2600+10557.5)=19.76% which means a 3.04% increase of damage on this priest, even if he is resilience-capped. It's like a free Sunder Armor on your stuff.

So I see you complaining : "Wtf morons, 3% is shit". Hey, people we are talking about team PvPing isn't it ? Ming have done some calculation about it :

Season 3 is expected to have 900 in armor penetration, off a quick premed CS
into improved expose armor, I am now ignoring 4535 armor from a warrior, that is
a 26.6% DPS increase on a 11000 armor target, throw in an executioner enchant
proccing it would be a 33.2% DPS increase. Against softer targets it will be
even more."

Okay, I don't see how you could have 900 armor penetration currently as a rogue, but it's the idea. Teaming with a Rogue in 2vs2 and 3vs3. Armor penetration comes to be the solution when any single toon met in an arena have 350+ Resilience. For me, this means, more AP, less crit if I go this way. In order to do your own comparison, I've found this little spreadsheet by googling.

So now, here is comparison of S1, S2 and S3 gear for Enhancement Shamans, the Earthshaker one :

Linked Helm :

	Armor	Strength	Stamina	Critical strike	Resilience	Hit	Armor pen.	Gems (4 Res)	Cost 2.3
Season 1	703	34	51	26	30	-	-	Red, Meta,	14500 Honor
Season 2	775	37	60	28	33	-	-	Red, Meta,	1630
Season 3	830	34	67	33	33	12	84	Red, Meta,	1875

Linked Spaulders :

	Armor	Strength	Stamina	Critical strike	Resilience	Hit	Armor pen.	Gems (3 Res)	Cost 2.3
Season 1	649	19	42	22	21	-	-	Red, Yellow	10500 Honor
Season 2	715	22	48	24	21	-	-	Red, Yellow	1304
Season 3	766	25	52	27	21	-	-	Red, Yellow	1500

Linked Armor :

	Armor	Strength	Stamina	Critical strike	Resilience	Hit	Armor pen.	Gems (4 CC)	Cost 2.3
Season 1	866	29	51	28	26	-	-	2* Red, Yellow	14500 Honor
Season 2	954	31	57	30	27	-	-	2* Red, Yellow	1630
Season 3	1022	27	64	30	31	12	84	2* Red, Yellow	1875

Linked Leggings :

	Armor	Strength	Stamina	Critical strike	Resilience	Hit	Armor pen.	Intel	Cost 2.3
Season 1	758	30	54	36	28	-	-	25	14500 Honor
Season 2	835	34	60	40	31	-	-	29	1630
Season 3	894	38	67	36	31	12	84	33	1875

Linked Gauntlets :

	Armor	Strength	Stamina	Critical strike	Resilience	Hit	Armor pen.	Bonus	Cost 2.3
Season 1	541	25	40	27	21	-	-	+8% LS	9000 Honor
Season 2	596	29	45	29	22	-	-	+8% LS	978
Season 3	639	33	51	32	22	-	-	+5 yds Shocks	1125

As you know (as you're a fan of my blog, don't you ?), I'll go first on the Linked Leggings, which are an huge upgrade for me. Then I decided to go in this order on the S3 Armor, S3 Helm, S3 gloves and at final S3 Spaulders.

With my honors points, I'll go first for the Vindicator's Band of Triumph and the PvP Belt. Wondering if I will use some points on The Arena Season 1 spaulder now, which is the best value for price item. Moreover, I won't have a 2k rating anytime soon.

P.S : You're a raid leader ? Go apply at IBM :<

The 130% Shaman

I've played about 15 hours on the PTR for the moment. I can't do more because I'm saving points for the release of 2.3.

I've done Zul'Aman with my former guild, this instance seems terribly exciting. I had loved Zul'Gurub in his time, Zul'Aman goes on the same way.

Concerning the Enhancement Shaman buffs, it's becoming really interesting. After reading Moliu summary, I decided to give you my one.

Spirit Weapons
Now this talent give no less than 30% passive threat reduction instead of 15 % before and it applies on all physical damages (i.e. Stormstrike and Windfury porc. but not shocks) It's definitely one the most considerable fact of this patch for Pve Enhancements Shamies. Be ready to see some of them seeing a boost on their DPS meters from now on.

Shamanistic Focus
Considering a correct critical strike rate and the 5 seconds of cooldown on shocks, that's simply means an almost permanent 60% reduction on shocks cost in PvE. That's fantastic in terms of shocks rotations. In PvP, that's means that you will be able to use most often the max rank of Earth Shock

Frost Shock
Frost shock is no longer subject to diminishing returns. The FS Rank 1 kiting is back baby ! It will definitely will be a benefit in Arena situation

Shamanistic Rage
Okay, now we got 30% reduction on all damage taken and extra mana regeneration 25% percent of the time we are alive. Though it could be dispelled, in 2vs2 situation when there is often no dispellers in the opposite teams, it could be a way to survive to a deep dps focus (with a nice shield also, don't be fool). I mean, perhaps I will be able to melt warriors face now... Hum. Or not.

Mental Quickness
For the moment I'm at 1128 Ap unbuff in my PvP stuff, the 30% buffs means free 338.4 Spell power. Earth Shock taking 42.86% of SP, considering the base value of this spell, it means that without any stuff bonus on SP, I will have ES between 803 and 837 damage. With SS debuff, between 963.6 and 1004.4 non crits. Yes, this is a major buff both in PvE and PvP. And my lovely Lightning Shield would take also a huge buff with those considering it is taking 100% of SP (33.33% per bolt).

Mana Spring Totem
A flat 66,6% increase of the effect. If there is no Hunters/Rogue, this will be a serious added value in long arena games, not to speak about the considerable buff in PvE.

Water Shield
For PvErs, this is actually a nerf considering the numbers of boss event in which those globes were "freely" consumed (Hydross just as an exemple). But for PvPers, this is a considerable up... That means that if you're not focused or hit, you have a 50 mp5 second regeneration (suggesting that each globe gives ~200 mana). It's simply insane.

Reduced Chain Lightning Bolt Casting time
Well call it nerf or whatever for Elemental Shaman (because of the coefficient change for LB from ~85% to 71%, and CL from 71% to 57%), for us Enhancement it is a buff. First we didn't have any spell damage prior to the 2.3, so let the ele QQ more about the coefficient. Second, CL will not just be used as a way to leave rogue/mage/wars in combat mode as with 2 second cast, it really can be pulled at a right moment to finish an escaper.

Grounding Totem
Well this is the counter-part of all those bonus given. It's actually a big nerf that Grounding totem would die on whatever spell which lands, making us much less vulnerable versus Warlocks and Mages.

And the [Yipi !] bonus.

Reduced the faction required to obtain Drums of Battle and Drums of Panic.

COT2 won't see me for a looooooooong moment.

Some news about Totem Twisting

Finally, we got some "official" information about the use of totem twisting (thanks Wowblues).

Who wants answers? Okay, here's the situation. It's not an
exploit, and no sorry, it's not really considered creative use of game mechanics
either, based on what that term usually is intended to imply. You're free to
take advantage of "totem twisting", but be aware -- we do plan to address it at
some point in the future.

Traduction : Feel free to use it, to abuse it until at least Wrath of the Lich King :>.

And for the one wondering wtf I'm talking about, here is an auto-quote from a previous post on Totem twisting definition :

To those who don't know, Totem twisting technique is all about buffing your DPS
both with Windfury and Air Totem. How is it possible ? Let's look more closely
to our Windfury totem : it's not a permanent buff but a 9 second one fixed on
your group weapons. So now do you understand what I mean ? Clever use of game
mechanics ftw. Put WF 1 sec, switch it off then put Grace of Air 8 seconds,
repeat. You could also spam a totem twisting macro like this one : /castsequence
reset=8/combat/alt Windfury Totem, Grace of Air Totem.

And, just a detail not to be OOM in the middle of the fight : use Rank 1 of the Windfury totem. What people want is the extra attack, the AP is only bonus.

Engineering & Arena

Well, now that I'm 365 Leatherworking with my 57 Warrior already 311 Skinning, I'm considering switching my "farming" skill.

At the current moment, I'm considering seriously either Blacksmiting or Engineering.

• Nigh Invulnerability Belt
• Goblin Rocket Launcher
• Rocket Boots XTreme
• Net-o-matic
• Gnomish Deathray

Well aside from the nice gadgets (Turbo-Charged Flying Machine could be one), Engineering bring to Shaman brings unique advantages : crowd control (grenades, Net-o-matic), resistance to burst dps (Nigh Invulnerability Belt), escape way (Rocket Boots XTreme). Critics may said that a lot of Engineers tools aren't available in Arenas and you'd spec to Enchanting/Jewelcrafting in order to have more stats. I definitely don't agree to those.

For me, up to a certain subjective ratio, possibilities > pure stats. Between +40 Sta and the possibility to zerg out of a situation, I would take the second.

I love PvP, all forms of PvP and in world pvp or battlgrounds those goodies are reals joys <3.

On the other side, as Freakhill told me, is that worth the 5000 golds to farm ? This time could be invested in Battleground, resulting in perhaps more dedicated PvP items.

P.S : At least with the Net-O-matic, I'll be able to CC myself :>.

First try : 0/37/24

Three days that I walk with this new unusual template and a lot of Stamina gems. And I must say that I love it, this thing even reminds me of my good'old hardcore days with my druid, farming a Pvp rank, being the one focused and to-be-ganked as the enhancement spec got a weird reputation on the pvp side.

Mooo.

So, my choices commented:

Enhancement (37 points)

• Shield Specialization - Rang 5/5 : Because an extra chance to block a hit when I'm focused by two rogues is just terrific for me. And in three days of straight pvp, I definitely learned to use my lovely macro to switch from my 2H to a 1H/Shield. People just think "Hu, Enhancement = Free HK".
• Thundering Strikes - Rang 5/5 : 5% more CC, hands down on this talent.
• Improved Ghost Wolf - Rang 2/2 : In theory, this talent seems nice because of the lack of tools we have to escape. Need more practise with it.
• Improved Lightning Shield - Rang 3/3 : Instant, don't have to do anything except buffing yourself, synergy with stormstrike. A must have.
• Two-Handed Axes and Maces - Rang 1/1 : Word ?
• Anticipation - Rang 5/5 : Well, 5% more dodge. Hope they will not see to often an MS Specced Warrior.
• Flurry - Rang 5/5 : Gimme me Haste ! Flurry 2H is really enjoyable.
• Spirit Weapons - Rang 1/1 : Well, I will be able to do 5-men sometimes and parry is good.
• Elemental Weapons - Rang 3/3 : 40% more power to the Windfury effect, I would be Master of the Obvious by saying that any Enhancement need desperately this talent.
• Weapon Mastery - Rang 5/5 : 10% more damage on all weapons, kk'
• Dual Wield - Rang 1/1 : Mainly taken for instancing/farming purposes.
• Stormstrike - Rang 1/1 : Instant attack / Procs WF / 20% damage on next nature attack (i.e. Earth Shock, Lightning Shield or a Bolt) This is all love.

Restoration (24 points)

• Tidal Focus - Rang 5/5 : I prefer this extra save on my precious mana than a 2.5 sec spell which basically say "Come, come, you have full time to interrupt me baby".
• Totemic Focus - Rang 5/5 : This talent is just perfect. Specially, when you have about 6k mana in an arena.
• Healing Focus - Rang 5/5 : I had it with my druid, I have it with my shaman. PvP is all about survivability for a shaman and this talent helps definitely a lot.
• Totemic Mastery - Rang 1/1 : <3
• Tidal Mastery - Rang 5/5 : Added chance to crit my (3k3) emergency NS+Healing Wave (Rank 12) or bursting with my Bolts. 10.58% chance to crit isn't bad for a cac.
• Nature's Swiftness - Rang 1/1 : Imba-versatile talent. Heal, Bolt, Escape, please choose.
• Focused Mind - Rang 2/3 : Since I have this, I'm saying myself that I should have gone to the full talent, we'll.

Well, what is your feeling about my choices ? Or globaly about Enhancement folks wanting to be competitive in PvP ? How do you deal with Enhancement Shamans when they want to wtfpwn your face ?

PvP, Talents Changes... Some news.

Sorry to have not update this blog this last month, there was a lot of changes both in my gaming and real life. First of all, I was moving with my girlfriend to a new apartment, so I did not have any Internet connection at all except work during a quite long period. Furthermore, there has been some kind of drama in my guild and the debate came at one step to point out the so-called hardcore casual, the one who didn't had the gaming-time to catch the other guildmates on stuff : me, myself and I. As the officers were real friends and I didn't want them to defend me versus this part of the guild, I decided to /gquit.

Finally, I was back on Azeroth yesterday. I decided to commit myself much more on the PvP side of this game for the moment. That and “finish” (sigh.) my reputations.

Although we need some serious training and stuffing, Freakhill and I have done really nice things in our last games. I will have a hell lot of time to PvP now, no more consumables/access quest farming, no more straight 2*4 hours of raiding on my schedule. On an average of 20-25 hours of playing time each week, that really counts.

I have 1150 Arena points at the very current moment and about 5000 honour points. Tonight we hope to add between 250 and 300 more with the 2vs2 team. Let’s look at the items with prices for Enhancement Shaman for season 2 :

Gladiator's Earthshaker (5-piece melee)

[Gladiator's Linked Helm] 1875 Arena Points
[Gladiator's Linked Spaulders] 1500 Arena Points
[Gladiator's Linked Armor] 1875 Arena Points
[Gladiator's Linked Gauntlets] 1125 Arena Points
[Gladiator's Linked Leggings] 1875 Arena Points

I think I’ll definitely go for Season 2 Leggings. Better upgrade for me at the moment imo. On the reputation side, I'll focus definitely for the Cenarion one for the helm enchantment and the Nethercleft Leg Armor pattern. 5 full runs of the instance called Steamvault will be on my schedule this week.

I didn't already change my specs because of some details; I will probably spend a lot of gold at the trainer before setting up my mind about what an Enhancement Gladiator should have for talents.