Does lava burst play much of a part in rotation? If so, what is it there for?
I assume you have some questions about pve rotations for elemental. I’d highly suggest going to wowhead and looking for an Elemental rotation guide.
As far as a quick summary assuming you’re Stormbringer and talking about m+. We use lava burst on 1-2 targets building up our maelstrom as it’s more damage than a plain lightning bolt.
Lava Burst deals decent single target damage compared to Lightning Bolt. It is a Maelstrom generator and the focus of many of our talents. Flame Shock causes it to automatically critically hit and gives a proc chance to reset the cooldown. If there are 1-2 targets, we should be casting it any time it’s available.
If you dont have both master of the elements and fusion of elements then you only lava burst with a surge proc.
Every time I visit these forums, I feel I know nothing about how to play my shaman. What do I use as filler if I don’t cast Lava Burst? Lightning Bolt does almost no damage.
sort of part of my thinkings but hitting stormkeeper, then lightening bolt then flame shock then lava burst and rotating like that feels clunky
Lightning Bolt is still going to be your filler since it’s a faster spell to cast, and while the initial lightining bolt is either even or lower than a hard cast Lava Burst’s damage, it has a significantly higher chance to overload, making it a better cast outside of an instant cast Lava Burst since that will be better Maelstrom gain. Not to mention that Lava Burst does not interact with Lightning Rod.
Basically ST filler with M+ spamming Lightning Bolt (and Tempest) until you get a surge proc to insta-cast Lava Burst or Voltaic Blaze to refresh Flame Shock.
Also, remember that Flame Shock with Inferno Arc will buff Lightning Bolt’s damage as well
so.. only use lava burst when instant cast?
WIth M+ talents yeah.
what about raid or questing?
Lava Burst for Stormkeeper is basically a dmg modifier for you big abilities. Aka use before a elemental blast before stormkeeper procs before tempest. It does terrible dmg. You use it for the 15% dmg buff it gives to Bolt tempest and blast.
Raiding is different since you’re taking PotM (Power of the Maelstrom; 15% chance casting LvB will make your next LB, CL, or Tempest overload, stacks twice), FoE (Fusion of Elementts; consuming PotM sends an Elemental Blast for free; this wont consume Maelstrom but this EB will refresh the EB buffs so its pretty nice), and MotE (Master of the Elements; this is big one: makes your next nature or frost spell deal 15% damage after casting LvB).
Because of MotE, you want to weave LvB between casts. Ideally you would aim to cast LvB before (this is in order of importance) Tempest, a Stormkeeper empowered LB, or EB…BUT if that causes you to cast less or cancel casts because you’re trying to minmax it, just weave LvB before you cast anything (except Flame Shock). It’s way more important to have high APM and buff a naked Lighting Bolt than to cancel your cast halfway to then cast an Elemental Blast or whatever to consume MotE. You’ll get better at predicting and minimaxing over time. Just remember ABC: Always Be Casting AND NEVER CAST LVB BACK TO BACK since its wasting a MotE buff.
Questing IDK but I guess it would depend if you are taking those talents or not.
1 Like