Dire Frenzy vs. Stomp
There seemed to be a renewed interest in Dire Frenzy lately, although I have no idea why. Thinking I may have missed something along the way, I decided the best thing, as always, was to test it for myself and see.
After extensive testing on RAID dummies, and repeated queuing for the ‘NightSpire’ LFR, I still don’t get it. Even on relative shorter fights, Dire Frenzy is simply not better than Stomp. I tested Dire Frenzy in combination with Dire Stable and Way of the Cobra, One with the Pack and Bestial Fury, although I didn’t test it with Aspect of the Beast.
The main reason I didn’t test it with AOTB is that it requires a different macro configuration as the logic is different for optimizing damage using AOTB. I shodl also mention that currently, my base stats are:
Crit - 49%
Haste - 22%
Mastery - 76%
Vers - 13%
If you are running a super high Mastery build (over 100%), this may make a difference. I personally think such extremes are a mistake for a couple of reasons. First, if they change the game and nerf Mastery or redo set bonuses that highlight non-max Mastery builds, you are kinda screwed. Secondly, and more importantly, you don’t always have control over what upgrades you get. Its difficult enough to figure out if a piece is an upgrade or not, without further complicating it by deciding that you want to artificially inflate Mastery to some extreme value. I have tested extreme Mastery builds myself and even if they are better in a very specific and niche way, it isn’t a huge improvement.
As hunters (and really any class) we have a choice about how we want to build our characters. I am a raider, so I am interested in a couple of key components:
1 - Must do great damage over long (10 minute) fights
2 - Must have great burst damage potential
Obviously, we will apply burst damage at the start of every fight, since all of our cool-downs are available. But I am more talking about the ability to plan for a burst phase of damage, in situations in which a boss is only able to be damaged for short periods of time. BM Burst has 2 facets. One is cool-downs such as Aspect of the Wild and Titan’s Thunder along with racial like Blood Fury for Orcs. The other is the recurring Bestial Wrath cool-down. When they can be combined, it provides the highest burst, but each provides a smaller burst phase independently of the other.
I don’t attempt to optimize for 10 second fights, or 30 second fights, or even 2 minute fights. I suppose pretty much any build or macro could compete with very short duration fights like this. Again, I personally optimize for long duration fights. A build that provides super high burst, but winds up with lousy overall DPS after 5+ minutes is just not what I am after.
In any event, based on all that, I am forced to conclude that Dire Frenzy, while competitive, is not a DPS increase, even on single target fights. Against multiple targets, Dire Frenzy is a significant DPS loss. Therefor, I use and recommend Stomp as the go to talent instead of Dire Frenzy. If you disagree, peachy. Not to sound like a dick (but I will anyway), but I honestly don’t care what you choose to do. However, I would be interested in a detailed and compelling argument in favor of using Dire Frenzy as I have not seen or heard one yet.
Way of the Cobra vs. Dire Stable
With regard to WOTC and DS, one could go either way. It really depends on so many factors that it is hard to make a definitive call on which is better. Things like haste, the focus cost of Cobra Shot (lowered by using legendary belt and Slithering Serpents trait) can dramatically impact the overall opportunity cost of using WOTC or DS. In my extensive testing, I personally find that I simply do better using Dire Stable. First, I tend to have more focus and focus regen (via Dire Beast buffs) during Bestial Wrath burst phases. This significantly improves DPS. Second, I have more focus and focus regen available for using Mutli-Shot when AOE can be used. I tested against the last 3 bosses in Antorus, which are largely single target fights, and I could not find a DPS improvement even on those single target fights using WOTC. Therefor, I use and recommend Dire Stable.
One with the Pack vs. Bestial Fury
I am not going to go in depth on this one. One with the Pack is simply better for 1007 reasons. Unless you are using a super high mastery build. Therefor, I use and recommend One with the Pack
A Murder of Crows vs. Volley
A lot of people use AMOC. Unless you have 90+ mastery, this is a mistake (IMHO). Volley does slightly less damage against a single target, but as soon as you add a second target, Volley is the clear winner BY FAR!
I would rather talent Volley and turn it off on a single target fight, than use AMOC. However, I run with Volley on for every fight. Therefor, I use and recommend Volley.
Killer Cobra vs. Aspect of the Beast
This one is perhaps the most difficult to properly assess. High mastery build will likely prefer AOTB, High crit builds will likely prefer KC. KC has proved superior in my testing, but AOTB can be better They are really very close.
What seals the deal for me is that the macro for KC is simply easier to adjust. AOTB doesn’t have Cobra shot limiter like KC does, so it has to be woven into the macro just so. Too much Cobra Shot and you have no Focus, too little Cobra Shot and you have no damage. It is very hard to balance. So I use and recommend Killer Cobra.
Gween