Long time fire mage going arcane because it’s so pretty! I play casually though typically keep a PvP build 100% of the time. That being said I had a few questions!
Touch of the Magi, is this only for big groups?
When is the best time to use Nether Tempest?
Do you want to immediately use Arcane Barrage at 4 charges?
Do you throw arcane orb out and barrage directly after or try and take advantage of the charges first?
I will answer your questions but it sounds like you’re pretty inexperienced with the spec so I advice you to look at a proper guide online, such as on Wowhead or IcyVeins to better familiarize yourself with the spec.
You use TotM on cooldown every time regardless of what situation you’re in, unless the boss is going in an immune phase or something like that.
NT is only ever used during TotM to trigger the Arcane Echo talent. You can throw it up if you’re fighting a large pack of mobs but generally speaking its damage is so low it’s not worth trying to maintain it outside of TotM.
Only in AoE. In single target you will use ABarr sparingly and spend most of the time spamming Arcane Blast at four charges to maximize its damage.
You will want to make sure you’ve spent all of your charges before you use Arcane Orb as it generates them. Inversely you will want to make sure you use ABarr only when you have 4 charges as they significantly increase its damage and with proper talents also the number of targets it hits.
In addition to this, its worth mentioning Arcane Bombardment with Arcing Cleave. I believe they are based on your main target.
So your best to have your main target in execute while your sending those orbs/Abarrs.
Not saying to hold anything, but its a big boost if you can remember to change targets.
Arcane Bombardment - Spell - World of Warcraft (wowhead.com)
Totm of the magi is off the GCD and instantly gives 4 charges so its essentially free damage and a free charge boost. you always use it with your big burn and mini burn. you want to arcane barrage at 4 charges, then TOTM while the arcane barrage is in midair so that TOTM is on the target before the AB damage hits. This applies the AB dmg to the TOTM buildup so it will contribute to the explosion
Use at 4 charges right after you cast Radiant spark in either big burn or mini burn. It doesn’t apply to radiant spark stacks and contributes to TOTM’s echo which is always used additionally with big or mini burn. The other time to use it is when you’re in your conserve phase waiting for Evocation, its low mana so you use it at 4 charges before you barrage.
Based on your 4th question I think you’re talking AOE. On ST you only barrage in conserve phase when you’re out of mana. In AOE you barrage whenever you’re at 4 charges because the orb barrage talent can proc off it.
yes, you immediately barrage at 4 charges in AOE, the only caveat would be if you’re setting up your burn or mini burn in which case youd want to cast things like radiant spark and nether tempest at 4 charges
Just a side note to this one:
NT damage is actually pretty decent right now (equivalent to a 4 Charge Arcane Blast without Nether Precision) so it’s fine to use it for mobility and mana purposes outside of cooldowns but isn’t a loss or gain to maintain it on the target in single target scenarios.
Hey mate, I’ll help answer some of the casual PvP stuff, but i highly recommend and encourage you check out:
https://youtu.be/5bVNIzBm7qU?si=h3asU6lIN6Ej8ahM
No, great for single target and burst!
Usually during touch of the Magi, but not necessary. Good to keep rogues and ferals or night elves from stealthing though.
No, but you can spam barrage to keep haste buff up and then setup your burst with touch of the Magi, surge and clearcasting procs as well as presence of mind.
I guess you could do these to have a mini burst, but mostly during an execute phase. Otherwise you are wasting good charges.
Cheers 