This post is addressing the current problem with Frost viability arenas.
This is going to be long winded because we need to address what is factoring in the flawed design of frost DK’s.
Frost currently only has one viable way of winning an arena match. It’s Chill streak cleave setup.
However this is fundamentally flawed…
Getting multiple chill streak bounces against grouped targets within the bounce radius is unreasonable. Mobility from the opposing comps will mitigate after 2-3 bounces. The only viable why in 2’s to get more bounces is with WW or Rsham cap totem. Which requires a high skill cap, which is only attainable for high elo arena players. Even then the positioning and timing required to achieve a successful chill streak opener is not worth the hassle of playing with a frost when there are more viable easier to play sustain comps.
The other problem with our Chill streak cleave window is that it’s mutual exclusive with our single target burst window, which is POF. Resulting in POF being saved exclusively for a cleave and nothing else.
Combine that with non existent sustained damage outside of POF. Frost becomes a one trick cleave pony. Outside of POF utility in terms of chains of ice is worth more than non existent obliteration damage.
The problem with Frost sustain.
Obliteration does no damage.
Our current stat distribution with pvp gear is VERS MASTERY.
Frost needs more damage outside of its POF window. Especially because that is being reserved for a hail Mary cleave attempt at best.
We have no sustain because we cannot afford to take crit over mastery. Because it will destroy our synergy with our POFs crit window due to the Obliteration talent.
Thus we have no killing machine procs for our obliterate. Frost strike hits much harder than non crit - Obliterations because They do not scale with mastery without Killing Machine!
What solutions could be chosen to fix these issues
Should our chill streak damage be increased?
No, If Chill Streak was allowed to reliable bounce for its full 9 bounces consistently it would be OP. Comps should be able to mitigate such a powerful burst cleave if played properly.
However in saying this I believe an increase to buff range from 6-12 yards with a 20-30% damage reduction in chill streaks damage would be the appropriate answer.
This will improve the utility of the spell by improving its bounce consistency. Allowing for the slowing effect of chill streak to be more impactful. Also will allow us to not have to use POF for our cleave window. We need to move away from relying on Chill Streak and have more diversity in terms of damage options.
Where should we get our damage from?
Our Killing machine. Killing machine needs a buff. A substantial one at that. Or a complete rework as to what procs it. Currently you’ll be lucky to get 1 maybe 2 killing machine procs running 2h Oblit build in arenas.
Killing machine procs need to have a strong enough impact outside of POF to initiate a POF burst onto a target.
SOLUTION 1
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Frost strike provides a stacking killing machine increased proc rate. Buff frost strike damage ~20-25%
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Reduce rime procs, allow more GCD usage on RP spenders, allow the greater damage vs survivability reward between DS and FS.
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reduce RP cost of DS and frost strike.
SOLUTION 2 (more elegant)
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Improve FS damage 30% increase RP cost by 5.
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Killing machine has a chance to PROC off HITS not CRITS, much like UH DK’s Sudden doom.
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Allow Killing machine to stack twice. Like UH’s Harbringer of Doom talent.
OR
Improve Killing machine PROC chance. -
Reduce rime procs.
This will also allow us to choose Haste from more consistent PROCS over bigger hits from mastery.
This will also allow us to improve our number of crits based off our haste through Killing machine procs.
This will also improve the Viability of the ICECAP talent. For Frost DK’s who want a higher sustain damage build.
Also
- ADD FROSTWHELPS INDIGNATION to ICECAP talent.
Cheers.