Double flametongue change, windfury buff!
The PTR notes for patch 4.0.6 have been updated again, this time with some changes very relevant to enhancement! You can read the fully updated list here.
First, we have the original Flametongue Weapon change from a few days ago: “Flametongue Weapon damage now scales from attack power instead of spell power (for Enhancement shaman only).” According to current PTR testing, it is bugged on the PTR and inheriting the 50% damage reduction when used on an offhand weapon. However, without that bug the damage seemed consistent with current Flametongue, meaning it isn’t a nerf provided the bug gets changed. Unfortunately, the power of Flametongue weapon meant that it still seemed a slight increase in DPS to use double flametongue with a caster weapon.
As a result, meet the new nerf on the block: “Flametongue Weapon procs now deal roughly 20% less damage.” This is a pretty blatant damage nerf to our offhand FT procs and should be enough to force us into using that old staple, Windfury weapon. On the other hand of the spectrum, though, we see this pretty awesome buff: “The Windfury Weapon proc can now trigger 3 additional attacks, up from 2.” This hopefully will counteract the damage loss from not using a caster weapon w/flametongue and the damage loss from losing 20% FT damage in our offhand. If it manages to keep damage consistent with where it is now while shifting us back to using WF/FT, patch 4.0.6 is really starting to look up.
interesting windfury buff. I wonder if we will see our glorious days of vanilla pvp coming back. a big 2-h and 3 windfury attacks. ouch.
Then again, probably not.
Instead of applying FT on the offhand, would it be viable to go WF-WF, or is the shared internal cooldown making this a no go..?
cheers,
wetleaf
I’m fine with the Flametongue nerf, since I’ve never really been a fan of stealing caster weapons from casters for my main spec (If I’m resto? Screw them), but Windfury gives a third bonus attack now? I think I need a new pair of underwear.
Do you think 3 vs. 2 bonus attacks is going to change threat much?
I’m more thinking about initial threat rather than middle-of-fight threat. I don’t really want to get to a situation where I am crossing my fingers for WF not to proc in the first few swings…
I highly doubt you are going to have an issue with threat. I play a retri as main, and talk about threat problems!!! nuff said
(if you get into trouble, just put wind shear into the rotation, or start the fight with this rotation: Unleash -> flameshock (youre still at range at this moment) -> Totems -> Stormstrike (wait for at least 1 stack of searing) lavalash and then go back to the usual rotation. That should give the tank enough time to get enough threat, and leaves you wide open for further dpswtf since all your stuff will be up on the target.
Where did you go?