The new Scorching Embers works by scaling Red damage in targets with Fire Breath with a boost between 10% and 40% depending on empower level of the Fire Breath (10%/13%/20%/40%).
As Flameshaper Devestation, red spells are primarily for cleave. So this is to boost Pyre, Firestorm, and the initial damage off of new Fire Breaths that come off CD. Also Living Flames, but that’s mostly filler outside of using Leaping Flames after Tip the Scales.
This is a nerf from live, which gives 20% on Empower level 1. Granted, fire spells got some other things like Fire Breath doing more damage and Fire Storm up by 50%. Still, there is now 0 reason to take Scorching Embers while Flameshaper - the red hero talent is dissuaded from taking the red capstone. (Also Feed the Flames and Imminent Destruction are garbage, but that’s another story).
Iridescence also gives bonus red damage. But more so than that, it actually contributes to the single target damage profile, which is important in m+ because there’s no “Boss Week” and “Trash Week” anymore. You always need both a strong single target and multi target profile.
Also, Hoarded Power is being removed… And the new tier set doesn’t proc Arcane Vigor. I am absolutely starved for Essence on the PTR, and Power Swell giving bonus essence is absolutely crucial now. Power Swell, of course, being Iridescence’s prereq.
With ilevel 642 on PTR, and the 5 target cleave dummies always at 1% (ineffective mastery), my no-buff or bloodlust (or on use trinket for Spymaster’s Web) 2 minute cycle hits about 2.5M - 2.6M regardless of whether I take Scorching Embers or Iridescence. So yeah - why choose Scorching Embers?
So I need to end this post with a call to action: can y’all stop “fixing” what isn’t broken, and start fixing talents that are hot garbage when compared to what they compete with?