Lethal Shots

Another week, another mental vomit from me.

• Server upgrades and extended maintenance today? If 3.1.2 didn’t drop today, but I bet it will next week.
• More Naxx and no Ulduar over the weekend. Sure, Naxx is fun and all but I really want to see the new content. Just need to get guildies (and me) geared up more.
• I’ve been doing loads of healing on my Shaman. Several heroics, and even a Naxx-10 and OS-25.
• Graphic glitches suck, especially on movement intensive fights. Namely Sarth. It is impossible to dodge flame walls when they pop in and out of existence.
• See previous point for why I ALMOST completed OS-25 on my Shaman, after two wipes I bowed out so they could find another healer. No point in continuing if I was just going to die right away.
• I’m starting to play the AH some. Mostly trying to make money off the professions I have already dropped a ton in to level. I’ve made a little profit so far, but nothing to brag about.
• I think I have settled on my Paladin to level next. Now I just need to decide if he will be an Inscriptionist or Alchemist. Both offer potential AH profit, but Alchemy would probably be more useful to me.

Well, my mind is dry-heaving now so I better stop. What’s your mind spewing?

Real life had me slammed last week, so I was unable to get this post out when I wanted to. But fear not, I am back to my regular posting schedule now.

So far we have covered both Beast Master and Marksmanship shot rotations. That leaves us with (arguably) the most complex rotation of all: Survival. Why, you might ask, do I consider Survival the most complex of the three? Simple, the Lock and Load mechanic. But before we go there lets go over the basic Survival rotation.

The basic rotation follows the same principles of priority as the other specs. It uses the following six shots, which should be fired in the priority listed:

1. Kill Shot
2. Explosive Shot
3. Black Arrow
4. Serpent Sting
5. Aimed Shot / Multi-Shot
6. Steady Shot

Some people would put Black Arrow and Serpent Sting above Explosive Shot in priority, but I don’t recommend it. Explosive Shot is Survival’s biggest hitting shot after Kill Shot. You want to fire it as often as possible and as much as possible. While Black Arrow and Serpent Sting both buff the damage, they are not worth delaying Explosive Shot. You can also omit Aimed Shot / Multi-Shot. Some people have reported a DPS boost including it, while others have reported a DPS drop. You will have to play with it to see which works for you.

Now the complex part of the rotation: Lock and Load. L&L is triggered by the periodic damage of Black Arrow (or alternately a freezing or frost trap). What it does is let you fire two Explosive Shots, neither of which cost any mana or triggers any cooldown, other than the global. So when L&L procs you will maintain your normal rotation until Explosive Shot is off cooldown. Then fire the following sequence of shots:

1. Explosive Shot
2. *any other shot*
3. Explosive Shot
4. *any other shot*
5. Explosive Shot

The third Explosive shot will trigger a cooldown, and you will resume your normal rotation. On steps 2 and 4 you will want to fire your highest priority shot (other than Explosive Shot) that is not on cooldown. The reason for this seperating shot is so that you don’t overwrite the last tick of damage from the previous Explosive Shot. Some people simply pause a second between Explosive Shots (which would lead to an increase in DPS), but in my experience the DOT gets clipped to often without the separating shot.

And as with the other specs, stay flexible. Don’t develop tunnel vision. Misdirect and Feign Death when needed. You know the drill.

Well, my Shaman hit the big ding last night. That’s right, level 80. Why, you may ask, is this of any significance? Because this marks the first time I have ever had 2 characters at the level cap.

And what did I do to celebrate?

Went and started a new alt so that the Heirloom shoulders I bought for my Shaman wouldn’t go to waste.

Also, now comes the task of gearing my Shaman to heal heroics, and eventually Naxx. I also have some other big news that occurred last night, but it deserves its own post, so more on that later.

While we endure another round of maintenance, here are a few of my insights to get you through.

• I’m home from vacation at last. Florida was nice, but I missed the (relative) peace and quit of my own home. And my bed. I missed my bed the most. I hate sleeping on someone else’s bed. Even if it is comfortable. Yes, it is all in my head.
• More maintenance today. I don’t have a clue whether another patch is coming or not. I really need to catch up on things.
• I am so close to 80 on my Shaman. This has prompted me to start researching gear for him. If anyone knows a good guide for gearing a fresh 80 Resto Shaman leave a link in the comments. I want to get him in heroics as fast as possible.
• Now that I am back at work, Tuesday morning downtime doesn’t bother me as much.
• The Survival shot rotation got a little more complex in 3.1, more on that later.
• I’m trying to decide what alt to level next. My Death Knight is sitting at 60, but I really suck at playing him. But all my other alts are in their 20s. I’m leaning towards working on my Paladin, since he just got to where he is fun to play. Plus I already bought the heirloom shoulders for him.
• Of course those shoulders could just as easily be used on my Death Knight. Decisions…..

Well, that’s all I got on my mind today.