I’m a level 16 mage and saw Detect Magic and can’t really understand it’s purpose. I guess maybe on boss fights it would help to see what buffs they have, but isn’t that already visible?
I’ve played since 2004 and never even heard of this spell (although I never played a mage until about Cataclysm).
Thoughts?
Not at level 16. Can get it at 60
But why? What good is it?
Buffs arent inherently shown. It has uses depending on the circumstance.
Its was interesting to use but certainly not necessary. I think the first time I have ever cast it and found it useful was in our BRD run last night on the Emperor so that I could cancel my cast when he became immune and save mana, and the melee would stop melting their own faces off when his fire debuff was up. It was nice, but also probably not totally necessary.
This spell is quite heavily influenced by games like DnD. It allows you to find out if some mobs have things like a buff that give them fire resistance and you would like to use frost spells ok then as a result.
For leveling this is not very useful at all, I’d recommend you skip it.
This is honestly a lifesaver for Shaman in dungeons and Raids so they can see when to use Purge to remove buffs.
It certainly beats trying to “watch” the animations for creatures to see if they have something up that should be removed.
It’s interesting you mention Shaman. That’s my main and I love Purge. That makes complete sense since I normally will spend a GCD when fights start just in case there’s something I can purge.
I’m going to skip for leveling. That 15s can be put to better use somewhere else.
That’s totally fine, for sure, but once you start rolling into the mid 30’s and do dungeons frequently I would recco picking it up and tossing it at bosses and Priest NPCs when you match with a Shaman, just let them know why you’re doing it so they can keep an eye for the strange symbol they’re almost certainly not used to seeing on enemies.
I do this with our priest in group so she can dispel.
Hmm, but im about 95% certain that you cant even cast dispel/purge unless their is a buff to remove, even… as in, when i try to dispel a target with no buffs; i get the “their is nothing to dispel” message…
So, i guess in niche situations it’s beneficial to know if the buff is even worth dispelling… but i usually just try anyhow, as the game won’t let me waste mana if theirs nothing present.
To the OP: dont train ANYTHING unnecessary till after you have your mount at 40. After that, train whatever
Yeah, it is niche, and even then like I said before, not really necessary. Nice when the mobs have things like renew on them.
I mean you’re right, it doesn’t actually cast but it does take time to “attempt” the cast only to fail, it’s not like the icon goes dark or has a red icon. It doesn’t trigger the GCD but you’re mildly delayed and inconvenienced.
Besides, having this up will let them know instantly once they have a buff that should be removed, something like a HoT or a non obvious shield/ward effect in place.
Why remove one of the few skill elements in classic?
The skill ceiling for classic play is all ready really low. It’s not that hard to notice when mobs are casting stuff. No reason to make the game even easier.
I would get it because why not?
I buy all my spells. Its good to have options.
It’s not useful for leveling
It can be used at endgame to see buffs on raid mobs etc. I’m pretty sure its a requirement for AQ40 trash
This is one of many junk spells you shouldn’t bother training until 60. Amplify/dampen are more of them. I’m not training missiles either. Mage probably has more junk spells than anyone else. You could also skip the shield spells, but they are sometimes useful for running away or fighting caster mobs. Mana shield is an AWFUL ability in combat but it does block daze if you want to run past mobs.
It’s situational only. I’d give it a pass while leveling.
Back in Vanilla I used to actually use Detect Magic to visually show my party members which target I intended to sheep when were were setting up a pull.
OMG…it’s been driving me CRAZY that I can’t see when I need to dispel buffs.
I first noticed it in SM, with the chaplains that shield. I thought it was a bad setting on my nameplates mod and just went bananas trying to find what I had disabled to mess it up. I could see the shield sometimes, and dispel it, but they also have inner fire, and it dispels that.
It functions as a magic purge for priests, and as a shaman in retail, I love me some purging.
Anyway…so this thing where you can’t see their buffs is actually part of the GAME?! I didn’t know that. I feel so much better now.