The Black Mage Rotations

[Versiroth]

Ok, new level 50 BLM here and although I've read through a lot of this thread, I just want to confirm what is currently the best rotations. Since there's been a lot of theory crafting going on and I've never really seen anyone post definites... unless I just missed it of course.

Single target:

Blizzard III, Thunder II, Fire III, Fire (until below 1K), repeat? Making sure to use procs any time they hit (Fire III and Thunder III)?

AOE:

Fire III, Fire II, Fire II, Fire II, SC/Flare, convert, Flare, Transpose/wait 2 seconds after first mana tick, Flare, Fire II, Flare, repeat from Transpose until everything is dead?

Thanks. ^.^

[Zapf]

Single target -- yes. Additionally, if you get a thundercloud proc and a Firestarter proc at the same time, your instant thunder spell takes priority over your free Fire III spell. The reason for this is that Thundercloud has a chance to immediately proc again, while firestarter does not.

AOE. I would suggest getting accustomed to hardcasting the first flare in this rotation and using swiftcast for the second. The reason for that is it's more likely your target is nearing death after your first flare and it really sucks to waste a global cooldown by blowing your second flare on a target that dies before you complete your cast. But this rotation as you describe is fine. Just pay attention to your targets' health and switch targets as necessary.

[Lemon8or]

Quick question: Why do you use Thunder II in the single target rotation? Is it because potency per second cast is slightly better than Thunder III? What if there's only 1 boss and I can swiftcast Thunder III?

[Versiroth]

Snip

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks.

Has anyone tested these out?

Fire III-Flare-Convert-Swiftcast-Flare-Transpose and wait a second after 1st MP tick-Flare-Flare, repeat From transpose. (So, basically cutting out Fire IIs in favor of more Flares)

Or

Fire III, Fire II, Fire II, Fire II, Flare, convert, swiftcast, Flare, Transpose, Bizzard III, repeat from the beginning? (without the convert/swiftcast the second time).

The endless Flares one feels a little clumsy, since it's so timing based. You'll some times end up having to sit and wait for transpose if you didn't time it right to get that MP tick after casting the UIII Flare. The second rotation wouldn't feel as clumsy, but I have a feeling it may not do as much damage.

[Versiroth]

Quick question: Why do you use Thunder II in the single target rotation? Is it because potency per second cast is slightly better than Thunder III? What if there's only 1 boss and I can swiftcast Thunder III?

I wondered that too, and the answer I kept seeing is because the MP difference may take away one of your fire I casts (before having to use Blizzard III) and also the extra cast time wasn't worth the slight difference in potency. It was also said that you'd sometimes have to wait a second for the first UIII MP tick after Blizzard III in order to have enough Mana to cast Thunder III again. Which could slow down your DPS.

Personally, I made this macro...

/macroicon "Thunder III"
/ac "Thunder III" <t>
/ac "Thunder II" <t>
/ac "Thunder I" <t>

This way, Thunder III is always used for procs and my hard casts after Blizzard III are based off available MP. So, my rotation never has to stop because I didn't have enough MP for a Thunder III or even II.

Before I'm yelled at for using a Macro, I'm on a controller and it's hard to have all three Thunders on their own spot.

[Judge_Xero]

I'm curious if anyone has compared only using a Firestarter proc to start a new rotation.
So holding it until after UI3 and then using it to start AF3 when full MP.

The reason I ask is because F3 has 3.5 second cast. So unless you get really lucky with more than 1 FS per F1 spam then would it be better to shave 3.5 seconds off getting into AF3 initially by holding the FS proc.

Single target might look like this.
B3>T2>SC F3>F1 Spam>B3>T2>Scathe>FS proc>F1 spam

[Maero]

While i have not read every single page i usually always for single target use swiftcast>Ice 3> thunder 2> Fire 3> Fire 1 until mana drain, then Ice 3 or how far into the fight would cast Flare > Convert> Ice 3> and so on
Of course when thundercloud or Firestarter procs i will cast it a few rotations after words. Also do people actually still use Transpose at lvl 50? I looked at transpose moreso of when you are low level and need to get into Umbral Ice or what not and once you get ice 3 there is no real need of it anymore? Just wondering if some feel the same

[Revoked]

Transpose is good for when you screw up your rotation and find yourself out of mana unexpectedly. I also use it after pulls that I end in astral 3 so that I will regen mana, or when bosses jump/disappear and I have some time to wait. That way I am almost always at full mana or close by the time the next part of the fight starts.

[O-Deka-K]

The reason I ask is because F3 has 3.5 second cast. So unless you get really lucky with more than 1 FS per F1 spam then would it be better to shave 3.5 seconds off getting into AF3 initially by holding the FS proc.

Single target might look like this.
B3>T2>SC F3>F1 Spam>B3>T2>Scathe>FS proc>F1 spam

That's not true. When you're in UI3, your next Fire/Flare cast time is cut in half. For F3, the cast will be reduced to 1.75s (not counting spell speed). Since your next cast after that will be limited by the GCD, this is effectively 2.5s, not 3.5s.

Actually, Swiftcast is not as instant as it claims. You have to cast Swiftcast and then wait a half a second or so before casting F3. Even if you do this, you still have to wait for the 2.5s GCD after casting F3 anyways, for a total of 3.0+ seconds. Thus, it takes longer to Swiftcast F3 (under UI3) than casting it normally!

The only advantage for Swiftcasting F3 or using a FS proc in this case is that it lets you move after casting (while you're waiting for the GCD) without losing DPS.

[Shiggysonson]

Anyone else notice more frequent thundercloud procs with thunder III?