Let's get serious - rotation time

[Slickrock2]

With 4.0.1 coming very soon, either this Tuesday or next , lets's talk rotations. There's a pretty good discussion going on over at EJ finally regarding priority, but it's probably good to have a discussion here, where it's safer to ask questions . .

Myself, I'm going to work on the rotation first without the focus dumps (seems odd that we have those to and not just our pets) and then work those in once I have a feel for it...

So , beta testers... Let's here it...

[Kalliope]

Our pets don't actually have focus dumps anymore. Those are their main damage abilities now.

[Saturo]

What happened to Slickrock1? o.O

[Rawr]

What happened to Slickrock1? o.O

[bluddy]

...i ate him... sorry

[Makoes]

Rotation? dont we just spam whatevers not on cooldowns?

[The Insect Man]

We do not. We time things to make sure that our Big Hitter can be used immediately as it comes off cd, which means juggling arcane shots with steady/cobra, and it's giving me headaches on beta atm.

[Makoes]

thats probably why my dps sucks...I think I just spam steadyshot with thr occasional arcane, and sometimes scorpion. BW whenever thats free...bust mostly spam steady... ... I have no idea on rotations for any of my classes ^^;

[Curumor]

thats probably why my dps sucks...I think I just spam steadyshot with thr occasional arcane, and sometimes scorpion. BW whenever thats free...bust mostly spam steady... ... I have no idea on rotations for any of my classes ^^;

It's quite easy, really.
You simply fire your shots based on their priority and availability.

For example:
1: Killshot
2: Serpent Sting
3: Aimed/Multi Shot
4: Steady Shot
5: Arcane Shot

So Killshot is always first prio when it can be used. Then comes Serpent Sting, if it's not already up. Then Aimed/Multi whenever that's off CD, then Steady and finally Arcane Shot.
Then you just use BW, Rapid Fire and KC whenever you can.
And that's all there is too it. ^^

[The Insect Man]

er... this is a beta thread, ain't it? You sound as though you're talking about live with a mana economy, rather than beta with the focus shenanigans. For one thing, only MM have aimed shot, and for MM you need CHimera in there somewhere.

[ummeiko]

For bm, I tend to go as such:
Serpent
Arcane
Kill command
Arcane x 2
Cobra
Kill com
Cobra x 2
Kill com
Arcane x 2
Cobra
Kill comand
Cobra x2
etc

Kill shot takes priority when it's up.
Followed by kill command, so I try to work so that focus is up whenever cooldown is up.
Serpent shouldn't need refreshing b/c of cobra.
Arcane vs cobra depending on whether or not I will have 50 focus when kc is up.
During bw I just spam arcane in between kill commands.

No I don't have hardcore numbers to back it all up, but it seems to work as far as resource management. If nothing else it might be a decent starting point.

[Rikaku]

Really there's no final definitive rotation set in beta yet. Every other day a new build makes the priorities different, so to worry about the stuff now seems a bit unnecessary because by next week we'll have a new build and new numbers XD

[TobiasX]

It's going to depend on how the final build turns out but I *think* it will be a priority system similar to this:

1. Kill Shot.
2. Serpent Sting (replaced by Cobra Shot refresh for BM if Serpent Sting is currently on the target and has 5 seconds or less on its remaining duration).
3. Focus Fire (5 stacks) (BM only) / Master Marksman Proc Aimed Shot (MM only) / Lock and Load Proc Double Explosive Shot (SV only).
4. Bestial Wrath (BM only) / Fervor (if under the effect of Bestial Wrath and below 45 Focus) (BM only) / Explosive Shot (SV only).
5. Kill Command (BM only) / Chimera Shot (MM only) / Black Arrow (SV only) .
6. Arcane Shot (when your next Steady / Cobra shot will focus cap you or under the effect of Bestial Wrath).
7. Steady Shot Spam / Cobrat Shot Spam, depending on spec.

That should cover every spell you'll want to use in your standard rotation regardless of talent tree chosen.

[Nimizar]

That should cover every spell you'll want to use in your standard rotation regardless of talent tree chosen. Not sure where to put Fervor atm.

Fervor will likely be used to avoid casting Cobra while under the effects of Bestial Wrath (it means a guaranteed Wild Hunt hit for the pet, as well as more Arcane Shots for the Hunter).

[Nimizar]

Also, if Blizz get their scaling right (most likely through the masteries, where BM's mastery affects KC, but the MM and SV masteries don't), then only BM hunters should be using KC in their regular rotations.

SV currently has a use for it to fill the gap in LnL procs (to avoid clipping the first Explosive Shot), but hopefully Blizz will fix LnL to not affect Arcane Shot at some point (it used to be necessary since SV hunters could get LnL before they got Explosive Shot, but that is no longer the case).

[Sukurachi]

Wait a second.
Have they changed how Kill Shot works?

How can you "open" with Kill Shot when it requires your target be at or below 20% health?

[Vephriel]

Sukurachi, the priority system doesn't necessarily mean you will go in that order, it just means that Kill Shot, being at the top of the list, should always be the first thing to be cast if it's available. That list is not a rotation, it's a priority. So if Kill Shot is not available, you would use Serpent Sting, etc, etc, etc.

[Sinnu]

How can you "open" with Kill Shot when it requires your target be at or below 20% health?

Those are priority lists. Sort of a

Can I cast #1? If not, proceed to #2.
Can I cast #2? If not, proceed to #3.
And so forth.

Kill shot will still be rarely fired, but it should always be fired whenever it can be fired, and thats why its number 1 on those lists.

[TobiasX]

Sukurachi, the priority system doesn't necessarily mean you will go in that order, it just means that Kill Shot, being at the top of the list, should always be the first thing to be cast if it's available. That list is not a rotation, it's a priority. So if Kill Shot is not available, you would use Serpent Sting, etc, etc, etc.

Exactly.
Priority 1. Kill Shot if you can Kill Shot.
Priority 2. If you cannot Kill Shot, Serpent Sting (or Cobra Shot if Serpent Sting has 5 seconds or less left).
Priority 3. If you cannot Kill Shot, and Serpent Sting is already on the target, then...

Edited a few times for clarity.

Also, if Blizz get their scaling right (most likely through the masteries, where BM's mastery affects KC, but the MM and SV masteries don't), then only BM hunters should be using KC in their regular rotations.

I'll move KC to 4 then and bump up BW to it's own line as KC is essentially the "Spec Shot with a cooldown" for BM.

That should cover every spell you'll want to use in your standard rotation regardless of talent tree chosen. Not sure where to put Fervor atm.

Fervor will likely be used to avoid casting Cobra while under the effects of Bestial Wrath (it means a guaranteed Wild Hunt hit for the pet, as well as more Arcane Shots for the Hunter).

Makes sense, considering Fervor has double the cooldown of BW.

Also moved Explosive Shot (without LnL proc) up to simplify the list a little and now in color

[Ana]

i never used rotation or priority on Tårnfalk.. but then again.. i dont raid.. and in grps im aroud 4k -5k depending on what pet im using.. so im satisfied