Sword Spec > me, I suck at estimating things :(
Axe vs Sword, Talents October 29th, 2007Edit: Look what I’ve found here:
The notable changes include an update to offhand rage generation (previously it was not being normalized correctly), and an improvement to rage generation from crits (essentially, crits now generate double the rage the hit would have ordinarily caused). The later change should help ensure that certain specs (ie: sword specialization) don’t become clearly superior to crit-enhancing specializations like Axe/Polearm.
Epic failure?
Ok, so I have this script of mine where I estimated that you would hit 0.5 times per second for sake counting swrod spec procs over time. The point is, I at the same time assumed that you are hitting white hits, mortal strikes and whirlwinds whenever they are ready (not taking global cooldown-conflicts or rage into account). With a 3.6 speed weapon and non-improved MS that is:
Auto attack: 0.277(7) per second
MS: 0.166(6) per second
WW: 0.1 per second
That’s giving total of ~0.544 strikes per second, hamstring not included! A point for sword spec, I really have to give a nice front-end form for anybody to use for my script, so they can calculate how axe vs sword spec works out for them.
It also turns out, the biggest advantage of axe - synergy with Flurry - is also fake. While Sword Spec won’t help you keep the flurry up, flurry will increase the amount of sword spec procs over time. So while I gave axe spec benefit of keeping flurry up, I didn’t do the same for sword spec, and assuming sword spec would be up 100% of the time, my magical number would move closer to ~0.6 strikes per second (with only 3/5 Flurry!), still not taking hamstring into account. I’ll provide fixed simulation later on, but I’m pretty sure by now that sword spec is indeed superior over axe in every possible aspect with every possible build, including 31/30.
Terhix
October 29th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Even counting the orc racial +1% to crits in 2.3? (I’ll assume that you did.) I wonder if all humans are going to switch to swords.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Even with orc racial it failes unless you consider someone with as high as 35% avoidance, and that’s talking about damage only, if sword spec did same damage as axe spec over time, it would be still superior choice due to the rage (MS with SS proc gives rage, MS crit does not).
I’m really behind in gear due to my half year+ break from WoW, so I’m waiting for S3, and right now I’m planning to grab some S3 armor parts and S1 sword from honor first to try it out and compare, then I can go with either S3 sword or axe. There are some rumors that sword spec is still reseting the swing timer, if that’s the case, that’s virtually reducing the effectiveness of it by half.
Also, what makes swords more desirable are talents like Blessed Resilience and new in 2.3 focused will.
Axe can be still a good spec for PvE, as crazy double crits with sword can make you pull agro and die, and it’s not behind with damage on 0 resilience target, in PvP however, it seems there is no competition :(.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
That’s more or less my plan except that I plan on just grabbing all the Season 1 gear I can for honor (my arena team is going to be me and my wife and she’s too busy ATM) and then going for Season 3 gear as I gather the arena points.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
my plan 2 but im doin 5v5 arena and i goin for gladiator tier 2 set. but will WOLK have new armor sets?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Don’t buy S2, save your points and get S3 gear when the new season starts, should be in 3-4 weeks.
And WOTLK will bring 10 new levels, I’d say it’s obvious there will be new gear :P.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
lol
October 31st, 2007 at 12:38 am
but mace > all still
October 31st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I’m with Shyst on that one. For PVP, the DPS or both axe AND swords are good…but having an annoying ass mage trying to pop off that final frostbolt after he Frost Nova’s you - and you intercept out of it, auto-attack and have him stunned for just long enough to execute is priceless.