I’m only able to do about 70% of my sim dps on a target dummy and I think it must be due to WC and splinterstorm mismanagement. Here are my questions:
I’m using the snowflake weakaura that’s recommended by Manather (the one that flashes white for WC and purple for SS). If it turns purple after I’ve just started a frostbolt or GS cast, should I stop casting and switch to ice lance instead, or will I still be able to benefit from SS even if it stopped being purple by the time my cast is done?
I was told to cast Comet Storm > Glacial Spike > IL for splinterstorm, but the weakaura doesn’t show SS long enough to be purple through the whole GS cast. Does it still benefit, or is this all a waste if it’s not purple anymore?
The weakaura blinks on and off so rapidly that I think I’m missing it. If WC procs for just a moment (like it flashes on and off), and when I cast the ice lance it had turned off, is that too late and I missed it?
Thank you. After years of being comfortable playing frost and being considered competent, I am now risking losing my raid spot and it’s really upsetting that I no longer understand how to play my spec. Any suggestions appreciated.
I ignore splinter storm on my mage and just do the regular rotation and do really well. If you over complicate it your DPS can tank. I just do the normal rotation and my dps is pretty good on my mage for his gear level.
make sure when you cast Glacial Spike you immediately follow it up with a flurry so you get the winters chill buff. then hit it with another spell that will benefit from winters chill. there is a rotation guild on IcyVeins and Wowhead that will spell it out for you more clearly.
Generally speaking after the weakaura turns purple you have about 1 gcd before you should be ice lancing to try and take advantage of the refreshes. So do not cancel your cast, just queue ice lance after. A lot of times you can have your splinterstorm start firing during your cast, and have time to finish it + ice lance and get two consumption in the refresh. Course it can also go poorly and have the cast end late, but its still not a reason to cancel.
Its just if you notice the WA is purple and you are not casting something, do an orb/comet storm → ice lance/finish cast into ice lance, or if it starts near the very end of your cast you should follow it up with a flurry (for instance its still important to flurry after glacial spike assuming it wont hit during splinterstorms refreshes).
Dont do comet → glacial → ice lance after its purple. Probably covered this well enough above.
It should remove the winters chill on cast, so if it disappears after your ice lance you are good. But generally speaking you shouldnt be getting unexpected winters chill that flashes on and off. Sounds strange.
Okay, thank you, Manather. I appreciate your detailed reply. It is possible that the erratic flashing of Winter’s Chill is just my own perception and that’s not what’s really going on, but I will reinstall the WA to be sure. I really wish they’d push the 20th anniversary changes sooner so I could go back to a playstyle that makes more sense to me, but /shrug. Thank you for your help.