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I really like the class, but I don't find it intuitive like the other two healers.
When do you use your cool downs to help manage your mp on Long fights?
What card do you usually try to have spread for a boss/trial?
What is astro's ideal dps rotation?
well, if the fight is intensive, i would use LA at around ~70% mp first time, maybe 60% being lowest, it coupled with AoE buff or anything else, then use CU to extend refresh with 5 more seconds and extend buff on people for 5 more seconds.. after that for 2 minutes of it's cooldown not much you can do than if you really need mp, to hope for ewer.
balance/arrow for spread, very rarely ewer. for ex roulette dungeons sometimes bole, whatever best comes up while dealing with trash and waiting for boss.
not much to say about DPS. Combust 2 + combust 1, and then just spam Malefic 2.
At lvl 50 you can use aero1(200p) since it's potency is higher than Malefic1(150). At 60 i still have aero but use it mostly only when there is some movement.
other than that, for quick burst dps, it's just spamming malefic2 and that's it(if need to kill adds quickly that dont have that much hp to take advantage of DoT's).
I tend to pop LA early when I am at 70%. You can pop it at 80 when you know you'll be doing a lot of casting to prevent any MP loss. Something to watch out for: If your LA is ready and your card draw is about 10 seconds away, wait before popping it. You might draw an Ewer for yourself (that would benifit from Celestial Opposition) or a Spear that would cut the cooldown. If you are really MP starved it is best to be selifsh with your cards. DPS cares only for Arrow/Balance anyways. Also, while Lightspeed is a neat "oh shit" button at times, I started using it as mana maintenance button. If you know there is a cast heavy section ahead use it and enjoy your value heals. Again, watch you draw, a Spear'd Lightspeed is even more value in the long run!
Damage wise Combust 2,Combust 1,Aeor,MaleficII untill Combust 1 and A run out,C1,Aero,MaleficII,Combust2. If you manage to keep that up your DPS should be fine. Going simply by potency AST dots tick for 110 while BioI/II,Miasma and Shadowflare tick for 120. Meanwhile Broil goes for 170 and MaleficII for 200 while Broil has the exact same mana cost as MaleficII. Granted there are more than enough tradeoffs, not to mention AST don't have Bane/Energy Drain or a pet, but in the singel target DPS department AST kinda does okay.
Regarding the Spread: Usually Balance. Arrow works as well. If you are really unlucky with your draws, settel for a Spear.
I almost always spread Balance or Arrow, Spear sometimes. I use LA at about 50% MP with CO. (or if the stars align, I use it after I pop The Spear to myself.). Sometimes I stack regen from AH and AB to myself and tank and cast CU near the tank. For DPS, if there are 3 or more mobs I use Gravity. If there's only 2, I cast Combust II followed by Combust I, and then Malefic II till it dies or till the tank needs my healing again.
It is nice to note that if you have time to cast only 1 DPS spell that you cast either the Combust Family or Aero as they are either equal or have more potent than Malefic II, unless you need front-loaded damage over a DoT.
Usage of Luminiferous Aether depends on the fight. General note is to use it if you know you are below 95% MP and know you're going to use almost 3k MP (20 ~ 28% of your MP) through back-to-back GCD spells. Lightspeed is used for when I know I'm going to be using Benefic II, Aspected Benefic, Aspected Helios or Helios as it lowers MP costs by a nice percentage.
You can also use Celestial Opposition on top of your Luminferous Aether and/or Lightspeed for an additional 5 seconds--just make sure you use it around 2 seconds before the buff runs out as it takes time for it to actually "hit" you.
If it looks like I have time for 3 gravity spams or more I always pop LA.
Ty for all the replies!
Do most Astros not keep diurnal aspected Benific up on the tank 100% of the time? I know it costs more but I find myself usually unable to keep up without it.
Aspected Benefic is not a costly skill (mp drain), it's only inefficient when your target is at full hp anyways. That said, I keep it up more-or-less constantly while the tank is getting hit but I try to have it fall off by the end of a pull in dungeons. It's definitely an important part of keeping the tank alive and good for your mp because it means you can make more use of Benefic instead of Benefic II.
I actually play almost always in Nocturnal lately though... Not because I find it "better", it's just more fun.